One of the most important elements of a scene is the hardcore shop. In all the other sections, we'll be looking at anumber of shops across the country. With BMX however, things are little different, in that there is only really one shop in Scotland - West End Cycles [Ed's Note - if we're wrong about this, please email us!].

Shops are great - they supply us with products, provide advice and even fix our bikes when they break. Support your local shop, as the scene would be a whole lot crapper without them.

WEST END CYCLES - GLASGOW

How long has the shop been selling BMX products in the shop?
We've been doing it for 6 years now. It started off with my boss putting a serious financial commitment into starting a BMX shop. He got me involved and it's been going ahead ever since.

Do you think that being so devoted to BMX sets you apart from other shops in Scotland?
Definitely. A lot of people like to dabble and take the cream when it's there, but they won't put a good shift in when it's winter time, or whatever. We'll do it all year round - supplying parts and so on. We always try to have parts in stock rather than riders having to order them and wait.

Do people ever ask for really weird things?
Yeah definitely - you get people where maybe their friends have taken the micky out of them and they come in asking for things - maybe old school parts, or race parts or parts that you just generally wouldn't use, but that's what we're here for, you know? We try to give honest advice, and also because we ride, we don't want to give people the wrong stuff.

What are the best things about working in a shop like this?
I would say meeting all the people - interaction with the customers. You also get a lot of variety - you do repairs, you deal with people down south, professional riders and whatever. So just the variety. Plus you start at 10 o'clock [laughs]!

How would you like to see the shop change in the future?
I would like to be more involved in promoting events to do with riding, but you just don't get the time or the weather. But now there's the skatepark in Dumbarton we can do things, like have competitions regularly and things like that.

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How would you like to see the industry change, if at all?
That's a hard one! I'd like to see more young folk come into it, which is happening now. For years it didn't, you know, there was no young people coming into the sport, but now it's just so healthy and with all the young riders, the riding's just getting pushed further and further, which is what you want.

How long have you ridden BMX?
I've been doing it since the eighties, but I gave up in about '88, and then started again in about 1994.

How has the scene changed in Glasgow and Scotland over the years?
I've seen it going from just a small, handful of people who were keeping it going, to people of all ages going out in groups, who all have one thing in common - that they love riding their bike. I've seen it go through from flatland, to dirt, to street - all the different phases, which is great.

Who do you rate as Scotland's best ever riders?
I respect all the old guys who have ridden through all the phases - whether it's been vert, dirt or street, they've managed to get really competent at it. Guys like Scott Timmins, Gogo, Grant Smith - people like that.