Mike Giant is the infamous tattoo artist with roots in graf, skating, punk rock—and bikes.

When did you start riding bikes with no brakes and what made you decide to take the brakes off?
I got my first conversion fixie in 1999, in trade for a tattoo. I had tried out my buddy Sope’s track bike a year or so before, and I really liked it.

What was the hardest part about adjusting to a fixed gear?
Just the fact that it never stopped pedaling, and it could throw you really easy. Slowing it down was tricky at first too. It took me a while to be able to skid down the hills in SF with any confidence.

What kind of bike are you riding right now with what parts?
I’m still riding my first track bike. It’s an early ’80s Gitane. It’s pretty crooked after numerous wrecks. It’s got box rims with Shimano Superbe hubs, risers cut from European cruiser bars, a Nitto deep drop stem, Paul cranks, and a cool new bell.

What’s your favorite city to ride your bike around?

Well, I’m living in Amsterdam now, and I’d have to say this is my favorite city to ride in thus far. Albuquerque, New Mexico is actually really fun too. SF and NYC are definitely in the top ten, too.

Did skateboarding affect your biking in any way?
I rode skateboards every single day for 13 years. Now I haven’t been on one in a few years due to injuries. When I look back, I can see that I rode bicycles as a kid, then skateboards in my teens and twenties, then back to bicycles in my thirties. The common thread between them is my love for rolling free through the streets. I think it’s as simple as that