PETALING JAYA: Despite his age, a man from Shah Alam is defying gravity and proving that his passion for riding BMX bikes never fades.
The 50-year-old IT programmer, Alan Chew, said he was inspired by two movies he watched when he was in his younger years, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Magic BMX (1983), which inspired him to try riding BMX bikes.
"After watching those films, I was hooked. I started riding BMX around 1989 and 1991, but eventually stopped due to life commitments.
"Even after I stopped riding, the passion never left me.
"I hope my story can inspire others, especially older riders or anyone who thinks it’s too late to chase their passion," he said, when contacted on Wednesday (April 30).
He said that he had always thought of getting back into it and had waited until 2017.
"I finally decided to buy a new BMX bike and start shredding again.
"Once I got back on the bike, I realised I loved it even more than before, and from that point on, I couldn’t stop. It became part of my lifestyle and identity," he said.
He added that he would normally join younger generation BMX riders together, and they have been welcoming.
"We learn a lot from each other. BMX is a shared passion regardless of age," said Chew.
Asked if he was part of any BMX Club, he said that he was not, but "the local BMX community is very small and tight-knit.
"Most of the active riders know each other. Because of my age, I tend to stand out a bit, and I’m proud to show that age is never a barrier to doing what you love," he said.
