Presenter, actor, content creator and video editor, Big Buba is one of the most loved members of the Mondraker family.
Source: Mondraker press release
Jakob knows how to face all the challenges that come his way in his day, without letting any limitations get in the way of his plans. It's been a long time since we spoke with him and it's time to catch up on his future plans and his relationship with mountain biking through F-PLAY 24.
Hi BB, you have been enjoying Mondraker's F-PLAY 24 ebike for two years. How was your adaptation to the model?
Hi everyone! Well, I have to say that I adapted perfectly. Before riding the F-PLAY 24, I hadn't ridden much. First, my health limited me a bit and second, my previous full suspension bike was a freeride model, and not an enduro bike designed for long distances. With the help of the motor I can now also use the bike to go to work. I can carry my heavy video equipment in a backpack and pedal wherever I need it. Something so simple, was totally unthinkable before.
So, do you use the F-PLAY 24 mainly for work?
Not exactly. Of course, when I film or take photos in the forests or mountains, I take it with me. I also use it for meetings from time to time, but mostly I try to use it as an enduro bike and enjoy the sights by doing kilometres, which wasn't possible before.
Sometimes, haters claim that electric bikes are for retirees. Has this type of rider ever made fun of you?
Oh yeah, you know how it is, some people have these opinions and make fun of you for fun. But that's only because they haven't tried an electric bike yet. Everyone thinks that an electric bike only makes things easier for a certain type of person. Which is true to some extent. On a normal bike without a motor, when you can't continue, you stop. On an ebike you move forward, so in the end you don't rest as much and cover much more distance. If you want to enjoy the technique in the forest, you can do it comfortably, in the same way or better than you do with a muscle model. If you want to push yourself, work like the strictest coach and exhaust you to the core 🙂
He told us he had health problems. It's probably not ideal to keep pushing yourself on mountain bikes and trails, right?
Well, that's debatable. Probably here, on the Mondraker website, I don't need to explain to any MTB enthusiast how the love of cycling works. I've been mountain biking since I was 12 and now I'm 34. I still love what I do and I have no intention of stopping doing it. However, the electric bike really helped me a lot to get back on the trails. I combine cycling with the F-PLAY 24 with proper physiotherapy training, and it's a combination that works perfectly! Four years ago, I thought I would have to replace both hip joints. However, today I train and ride almost as much as before. So thanks to Mondraker and thanks to Fyzio Gym Cooper, you brought me back into the game and this is just the beginning.
Who did you shoot your latest video with? Congratulations because it's incredible!
I did the editing with my old friend Adam Kovář. I wanted the montage to be filmed with a top-notch camera because I work in audiovisual production and I film myself. Adam shoots with a RED camera and is studying production at the best Czech film school. So there was no other choice! I just wanted a great memory of the video in general, so I would also like to thank my friends from the band Deaf Heart who allowed me to use their amazing rock 'n' roll song for this video montage. I'm super happy!
What are your plans for the next few weeks and months?
I have a big project with one of your favorite pilots, Richard Gasperotti and his colleague Míla Štáfek and I will film it with a colleague from my audiovisual company. I really want to start recording this video. It will be a crazy 'ols school' style and I trust Mondraker fans will see it very soon thanks to Gaspi. Other than that, I have many pending projects both in front of and behind the camera.
Sometimes I also play the role of an actor… 🙂 So at the beginning of next year we will shoot a four-episode series for national television here in the Czech Republic, in which I will act. And there are also two big films on the horizon. We are about to start several courses where I am responsible for directing and we are also preparing a sports podcast with Jiří Ježek, who is the most successful Paralympic road cyclist in the world (6 Paralympic medals and 6 World Cup medals). Even though we both come from the world of cycling, our sports podcast will not only revolve around bikes, but I won't reveal any further details for now!
