As spring quickly approaches and the cold slowly fades away, riders across the US rejoice at the idea of bringing their bikes out from their winter slumber.  Even in states that see mild weather all season, the wind chill alone is enough to keep our high-performance machines garage-bound for a large portion of the season. Some brave the icy conditions and go for a few crisp cruises, while most prefer to stay inside.  One amazing stunt team has completely immersed itself in all things frozen and leaped over the boundaries winter riding usually presents.  The riders of the Vertical Mischief Crew, from the snow-blanketed state of Wisconsin, actually practice their mind-blowing sport bike stunts on the ice.  Frozen lakes, ice skating rinks, and even the Amsoil World Snowmobiling Championships are no match for studded tires, nerves of steel, and a commitment matched by none.

We had the opportunity to ask Ryan Suchanek what it takes to pull successful tricks on the ice that most can’t do in even the best conditions.  When it comes to dedication, this man goes far and beyond, and he’s 10 steps ahead of Mother Nature.

  Whether you are look at an award winning show bike or just thumbing through the pages of a bike magazine, the first thing people notice, (whether they are enthusiasts or not) is the paint.  The paint job can make or break an entire bike and can also mean the difference between winning the “best of show” trophy, or go home a loser.  A great paint job will catch an eye from across a show and bring you staggering over in disbelief.   Anyone can add chrome and even a few custom parts, but your bike isn’t a true custom sportbike if it still has stock paint. There are a million guys out there who call themselves bike painters, but there are only a handful of painters out there that can deliver a true show winning results time and time again, which leads us into this weeks feature.

Meet Jeff Ryan, Sick Airbrush owner and artist.