Biography

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Wheels & Waves 2018, Steve Caballero & Elders Co. Helmet

Image courtesy of WheelsandWaves.com

Wheels and waves used to be a popular meeting agenda for motorcyclists and surfers, but now it has become a symbol of the Movement itself. The Wheels and Waves-Festival in Biarritz, France, is a real paradise for bikers and surfers. Amidst the magnificent architecture and the perfect waves, and the unity of enthusiasm comes to this festival to share in a refreshing new movement that is not tied to restrictive rules. Creative custom bikes earn the deserved respect, surfers and skater cultures are celebrated simultaneously. Everything goes together, and everything is accepted here.

Wheels and Waves this year is the seventh series of this yearly international event. This time it was centered in a French city called Biarritz. A beautiful seaside town which is also a popular tourist site since much visited by the royals of Europe in the 1800s. Now, Biarritz is a haven for surfers and motorists.

Wheels and Waves 7th edition is held for 4 days from 14-17 June 2018. Opened in the multipurpose building La Halle Iraty and immediately forwarded with Punk’s Peak Race on the edge of Spain called Jaizkibel. The second day was resumed with the Deus Swank Rally held in a French village called Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, a musical concert adding to the event until midnight. The next day, on the third day, followed by EL ROLLO racing session which is a Flat Track motor race. The fourth day is closed with water-surfing festivals and music performances.

Image courtesy of WheelsandWaves.com

There is a unique view in Wheels & Waves this time. Is a world skate legend named Steve Caballero who is an active Wheels & Waves participant in recent years, wearing a helmet made in Indonesia, the Elders Company. Appeared in a flat track racing session, Steve is very enthusiastic in wading through the oval-shaped track. Steve looks confident to use the Indonesian products, both in ensuring the safety of the head and add a slick appearance on the motor. Steve Caballero looks so ferocious on Indian motorcycles, with MX jersey and red-colored Premium Helmet Raid made by Elders Company.

This phenomenon at once proves that local products made in Indonesia have started to get a place in the international arena, so duly Brand Indonesia can be more confident in competing with products from abroad. 

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WHO IS MOWGLI? AND WHERE THE HECK IS SHE?

We want you to meet our new friend from America, Michaela A.K.A. Mowgli. Yes, Mowgli like in the jungle book. Mowgli is on an adventure through Indonesia, and during her busy time fixing her bike somewhere in Lombok Island we’ve managed to make a little Q&A session to get to know her better. Get to know her now, as we’ll be following her adventure through the country over the coming months.

Ok Mowgli, explain to us. Who are you?
Hey! Well, what a question. In a nutshell, I’m a chick that loves riding motorcycles and being in the ocean. I’m originally from the United States but I moved to Indonesia when I was pretty young, around 19 years old. I spent 6 years here, traveled all over this beautiful country and was loving life. I was very lucky. I’ve now been in Australia studying over the last few years and that’s where I got my first motorcycle and I became addicted to riding instantly.

How did you get here and decide to ride across Indonesia?
So when I was in Australia I had a little 250 with a surfboard rack on it and I started doing long trips around the country with my bike and surfboard looking for waves. Out of nowhere with just started dreaming about coming back to Indo and doing a long trip by motorbike here. Indonesia has some of the best waves in the world, and I thought it would be a super cool place to see from a motorcycle. Over a couple months, the dreams about this trip just wouldn’t stop, so I thought, I better just make it happen. There’s no better time than now.

What drives you this far?
I don’t know, I think I’m driven by the challenge of it. I like having to figure all this out, like how to get to all the places I want to see, learning about motorcycles (that’s been a slow learning curve for me, I knew nothing before I planning this trip.) I’m also just really inspired by Indonesia, the people here and it’s beautiful culture. I love how you can literally watch it change from the seat of your motorbike as you ride past – culture, religion, clothing, and food. It’s definitely inspiring.

tell us your plan!
So right now the plan has been to start in Bali and head east through Lombok and Sumbawa and then loop back to Bali before heading to Java and Sumatra. I hope to end things with a cheeky trip surfing the Mentawais. But I’m open to what the road has for me and I’m sure it will take me to some unexpected places. I also can’t wait to hang with you guys in Jakarta!

where are you now?
Right now I’m in East Sumbawa! It took me 5 days to get here from Bali and I spent a couple days in Lombok with a hole in my tank. Which was fine because I got to hang out with a local rider Kevin Pentaxian there, and he took really good care of us. It was really cool to check out their bike community there too. Bikes bring people together which makes traveling on one a really awesome experience.

Guys, this is fun, and we envy her. We wish we could be with her riding all day and all night, enjoying tropical winds and waves and saying hi to all the good people on the way. But life is not fair. So Mowgli is having all the fun for us while we are busy in Jakarta working. But at least we can have a bit of happiness by following along with her journey. So stay tuned for more adventures from Mowgli in Indonesia!

More about Mowgli at https://wheresmowgli.com/about-mowgli/
Follow her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wheresmowgli/

Photo Credit: Kevin Pentaxian

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Wheels of wanderer “Friendship across the border”

Today we are covering for you a journey of two friends from Indonesia en route to Kuala Lumpur to Pattaya to conquer the road, enjoying beautiful scene of South East Asia and meeting old friends. It is Teddy Sanjaya who started wheels of wanderer, a non profit brand (if we can call it a brand) you can find on Instagram that collects Teddy’s journey and his adventurous motorcycle life. Teddy started his passion with motorcycle in his early age and finally have his beautiful moment on his life when he owned a 1950’s Harley Davidson WL Flat Head. with his rustic lover, he conquered almost everything in Indonesia. From sumatera terrain to the wildersness of eastern Indonesia, Sumba.

In This journey, joining from Lawless Garage is Yusuf Abdul Jamil A.K.A. Ucup Lawless. big chance that you have already know him, so no introduction needed. Without further a do, lets the story begin!

DAY 1, Kuala Lumpur

Teddy and Ucup were welcomed by their malaysian friend, Badroel and Fahmi. Both is a senior motorcyclist in Malaysia and are very kind to the crew with lending Teddy and Ucup the bikes needed for the trip. They also accompanied Teddy and Ucup until the Malaysia-Thailand border, Padang Besar. on this trip Teddy rides 1982 Harley Davidson Shovel Head, while Ucup takes the honnor to ride the British made 1956 Triumph Motorcycle.

Started very early in the morning, Teddy, Ucup, Fahmi and Badroel rides fast but they experienced few engine trouble at the middle of the trip. they finished 500 Km in almost 24 hours. after several beating on the fast road triumph have to raise with flag and then replaced with a newer version of Bonnevile.  it was monday night when they arrived at the border and decided to call it a night.

This Picture above shows Ucup and Teddy Posing before starting their journey from KL to Pattaya

Day 2, Malaysia – South Thailand

They leave the border in the morning after a sip of coffee and start the second day of the trip. After 300 km ride and of course few bike trouble here and there, they arrived at a beach and make a small camp there.

Teddy discussing route with Fahmi while Ucup resting his back and enjoying the fresh air

Day 3, Bangkok

The third day was unpredictable, they have to say goodbye to Fahmi because his bike cannot continue the trip. they have to get the bike towed back to Kuala Lumpur. So it is just Teddy and Ucup now on the way to Bangkok, without knowing the route and without any friends to help them.

Ucup enjoying his triumph 

Day 4, Pattaya Bike week

Teddy and Ucup were lucky because finally they get helped from Thailand motorcyclist, apparently, they were Fahmi’s old friend. They guided the way in Bangkok to Pattaya Bike Week to visit Pattaya Bike Week.

The bike show was not the destination, but the journey is. Thank you guys for showing us what true bikers really are. it is not about posing in your bike and taking pictures, it is not about how many likes you can get from your bike post, but it is about leaving all things behind, seeing old and new friends in an unknown terrain and enjoy every second of the journey!

So it’s a wrap for today, you can enjoy the snaps from the trip below!

Dynamite duo, Teddy & Ucup

Teddy on Harley Davidson Shovel Head

Ucup rides fast with the old British friend, triumph motorcycles

Photography Credit to

Kevin_Pentaxian

Thanks To

Teddy_Aws of Wheels_0f_wanderer

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Tamara Bell – It’s not a Romantic Story from London.

We have always been fascinated by a female motorcyclist, and today we have the amazing chance to get to know one. It’s Tamara Bell. One of the most influential female motorcyclists based in London UK. She is a model, a motorcyclist & creative director who has produced a short video for Elders Co (Coming soon!). She also organizes UK Custom Chopper Show – ASSEMBLY. It’s our dream girl! When we heard that Tamara was visiting Bali, we were very excited to meet her in person but the timing didn’t work out and we felt pretty upset about it. Anyway, it’s 2018, if you can’t meet her you can DM her! So we did, we got her on board to shoot and had the chance to have an interview with Tamara. You are welcome!

EC (Elders Co.)
So, Tamara, we hope you enjoy your time in Bali. is it your first time? or you do travel a lot?
TB (Tamara Bell)
I was in Bali loads last year, I think I ended up being there on three separate occasions for a couple of weeks at a time, attempting to surf and just riding around. I love it over there! I travel a lot, I get pretty restless staying in the same place for too long and luckily my job allows me to do that.


EC
Every biker has its own love story with their bikes, How is yours? I mean, how did it all begin?
TB
I don’t have any romantic stories about getting into bikes sadly – I was just a really shitty kid and was drawn to things that were dangerous and stupid. I found out way after I learned to ride that my Grandfather was into bikes too but sadly I never got to have that conversation with him.

EC
Tell us how is motorcycle culture in the UK, especially in London.
TB
Whenever I go back to the UK I’m always just fucking impressed when I am reminded of the conditions that everyone rides in. It’s cold as fuck and rains constantly but we’re all still out there riding which is rad. We all travel the entire country to ride together and support each other’s events, it’s a small but good community. There are some great shows all over the country – The Trip Out in Woodbridge, The Hook Up in Wales. We recently started Assembly Chopper Show last summer which will be returning to House Of Vans this summer, so it will be awesome to have everyone in London for the weekend again.

EC
So, what is a motorcycle for Tamara Bell? is it passion? lifestyle? or a way of life?
TB
Currently its a 1977 HD Ironhead that’s in pieces all over London. If I could stay in one spot for long enough it might have a chance of getting rebuilt. Ha.
I don’t know, all of the above I guess. it’s where I feel most comfortable, most chilled and most afraid all at once.


EC
What is your first bike? and how old are you when you have it? and where is it right now?
TB
The first bike I had was a killer little Matte Black Yamaha SR 125, Think I got it like 10 years ago now. I bought that thing before I knew what the fuck I was doing and just used to ride it around London at night hoping for the best. I started going to the auto jumble near my parent’s house and just asking all the old boys loads of questions about how to use it. I sold it to another young girl who was just learning to ride which was cool.

EC
what about now, what is your bike right now? and what is the story?
TB
I got this old Ironhead from a guy around Liverpool through a friend, said it had been sitting for quite a few years and he hadn’t done anything to do it other than get it to turn over. I was so stoked to finally have a bike again, I rode the shit out of it and then one of the Pistons blew up somewhere along the M40. It’s a bit of a mess at the moment. In the meantime, I’ll ride whatever anyone will lend me. I ride my friends 55 Panhead when I’m back in London, and most recently borrowed my best babe Imogen’s Sportster while I was in LA to ride out to the desert. I’m really lucky, every country I go to someone is always willing to let me ride/break their bike, it’s awesome.

EC
We understand that you are well connected with other female bikers throughout the world? how did you guys do it?
TB
I love meeting Women who are just putting the miles down and getting on with doing their thing without making a song and dance out of it. I’m lucky to know some of the raddest women worldwide who I love riding with. Motorcycles are generally something favored by men over women, that’s just how it is. So I guess we have a bond in that we all share a similar interest in something that is fairly male-dominated. It’s nice. Similarly, I’ve been riding with men for years and have equal love for them and the respect they have shown me as just a person who rides and likes motorbikes, regardless of gender.

EC
you’ve been riding with friends in a lot of different places, which are your favorite one to ride? and why?
TB
I think getting to rag a Royal Enfield around the mud volcanoes in Romania is still one of my best motorbike experiences. I was filming a commercial for one of their bikes a few years ago now and the landscape was just completely mad. There are so many places I still wanna ride, I would love to do some more off-road excursions.

EC
what more do you want to achieve at the motorcycle scene? any dreams you want to fulfill?
TB
I’m really enjoying working on the Assembly show and getting all these rad bikes from all over the world over to the UK so looking forward to seeing how the show progresses over the years.

I’d like to get some more miles down in some different countries and just continue to prioritize fun over any real life commitments. Send it!
14-15th 2018 July at House of Vans, SE1 London.
Special Thanks to
Tamara Bell @tamaraiscool
James A Grant @jamesagrant
Small City Cycles @smallcitycycles