Credits: @hugo_montage_

The One Block Down editorial archive is an ever-evolving resource detailing the cultures, movements and ideas that defined contemporary stylistic discourse. From unique takes on today’s leading pop-culture topics, to off-kilter stories that might have slipped through the net, our editorial archive is as fundamental as it is abstract.

Credits: Sinco Crew shot by @federicoearth

Who are you, and what do you do? How did you approach bike life, and what is the culture of bike life where you are from?

Milan

LN:Hi, I'm Luca Nosella, 24 and I'm a tattoo artist and biker.I got in touch with bike life thanks to the skatepark near my house that I frequented daily, seeing bikers with BMX riders doing tricks, and having a community. It's a very free culture, and that's the beauty of it, you are free to be yourself by practicing anywhere and with anyone, but mainly on the street in Milan.

DM: My name is Dave Maestrutti, I'm 24, and I currently live and work here in Milan as a photographer, model, and content creator. I started riding Bmx at the age of 7, thanks to my father, who, from an early age, passed on to me the passion for two wheels through motocross. I come from Udine, and the community is almost identical to Milan, which is growing rapidly with more enthusiastic kids passionate about bike life.

LP: I'm Luca Perrone, I'm 21, from Cesate, a small town in the province of Milan, and I grew up in the province towns near Varese and Milan. I work in a bakery and as a production assistant on sets, a job I want to learn more and more to do my own projects. Especially videos, starting with BMX, telling my vision of BMX in the city in a new way.
I approached bike life when I was about 14 years in a skatepark in my town, where I saw some guys on BMX. From there, I wanted at all costs how to ride a BMX; unfortunately, in the provincial cities, it's not very easy to do this sport because there aren't many skateparks, and people who do it, you have to struggle a bit to find your places and your community.

Credits: Sinco Crew shot by @federicoearth

Paris

T:My name is Terry, and I've been doing wheelies for two years now.Since I was little, I have been cycling with my family, whether on mountain bikes or the road; I have always done a lot of cycling, a family thing.
As I started looking at social networks, I saw more and more bike life content; after seeing it, I knew that was what I wanted to do.
Wheeling has always been something I wanted to unlock in my life. Paris was the perfect playground for bike life, and I was well aware of that.

In addition, we also saw a growing community on social networks that seemed very united.
These things made me buy my first Bikelife bike and visit the famous "13h Republique".

For me, the bike life culture is very communal.It doesn't matter where you come from, your age, or your physique. You will be accepted, and you will be able to integrate into the community.
It is a community where mutual aid and fraternity reign.

Credits: @fasterry shot by @hugo_montage_

How is your relationship with the Air Max line? What is your favorite silhouette? What does Air Max mean to your community?

Milan

LN:It's a relationship that started when I was very young, always looking for the Air Max style and carrying it with me until today.

DM: My favorite Air Max is the Tuned, and I've always been a huge Nike fan. Since I was a little sneakerhead, I was obsessed with Jordans, Air Max, etc...

LP: The Air Max line is essential for me; in recent years, I've been buying so many; they are a necessary aspect in terms of style, critical to the idea of the street that exists now.
My favorite model is precisely the 97.

Credits: Sinco Crew shot by @federicoearth

Paris

T: The Air Max accompanied us all our lives; they already fascinated us when we were in school, where we used to assume about the contents of the air bubbles.
We really thought they made us run a lot faster, lol
I like simple things, and I like classic things, Air Max 1 does the job!
Air Max is for comfort, beauty, and sport.

How do you see bike life growing in your city? What impact is it having on younger generation?

Milan

LN:I notice that lately, this movement is growing more than ever. This can only make me happier because what is being created is an even more significant, united community that makes itself heard.

DM: As I have already said, the community is growing visibly; the thing that is needed are suitable structures, events, and brands that are much more attuned to these realities.

LP: The bike life in Milan is growing well; there was an initial boom, then it stopped, but now it is growing again at a good pace, especially now I see a lot of kids who are getting passionate about this sport and the world of cycling in general, a very positive thing also to promote biking as a "green" means of transport even if unfortunately Milan does not yet offer many cycle paths or safety for cyclists, I hope that this will change over time, to favor those who practice this sport such as BMX but in general the bike life and cycling.

Credits: Sinco Crew shot by @federicoearth

Paris

T: Since I started getting into bike life, I have never stopped wanting to make it grow.
And promote our sport as well as possible on social networks to continue to expand the bike life community.The older ones influence the younger ones.
We know that and try to show them the right do's and don'ts. We are like big brothers to them.

Credits @le_19_ @lorem_paris shot by @hugo_montage_

What does “Give Fresh Air” mean to you? What would you like to pass on to the new generations?

Milan

LN:For me, it means going out into the open and emptying my head of all thoughts with friends.
I want to convey this sense of freedom and group that you can experience any time you ride your bike with your community, and therefore with this Air Max project, drawing even more people within the movement.

DM: "Give Fresh Air" for me means bringing something new, revolutionizing, and making it better, precisely like we do with our community every day, always creating something cooler and bigger.

LP: "Give Fresh Air" for me means bringing innovations and making them grow, like the BMX movement, in an innovative way and at the same time respecting our planet.

Paris

T:"Give Fresh Air" is something that feels good. The bike feels good, and it's in tune with the times.
The bike life gives fresh air to your life: Sustainable travel, sport, good times, friends, and, above all, a family.

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