Max Nerurkar: Making Marks

Max Nerurkar is a mountain biker and artist from Sheffield, UK. As a teenager, he grew up skateboarding and hoped to pursue a future there before finding his way to two wheels. Being drawn into the woods, he quickly found a formula that ran parallel to both board and bike: go out all day, go as hard as possible, do what you want to do, and film it.

Max is no stranger to the different and unusual. Exploring different ways to express himself on and off a bike is seemingly built into his DNA. Spend any amount of time with him and his can-do attitude is infectious. After filming Making Marks, we caught up with Max with a set of offbeat questions to see what inspires him and why he rides.

Star sign?
Cancer. It lines up pretty good.

How are you today?
Running on 8+ hours of sleep so better than usual.

What did you have for dinner last night?
I cooked rice noodles with peanut sauce and broccoli. It was banging.

What is the best thing about Sheffield?
Wharncliffe. Nah, jokes; all my friends and family.

And the worst?
The outdoor skateparks.

Where did the inspiration for Making Marks come from?
The fact I was finding so many parallels between painting and riding.

Why do you ride for Cannondale?
Because they support and trust me to bring my ideas to life. Even the ones they don’t feel so familiar with. They really have helped and encouraged me to integrate other creative activities into my riding which I am extremely thankful for.

Why don’t you race?
I’m not fast enough.

Favourite place to ride?
Wharncliffe, UK.

Are you picky about your set up?
Yes, in the way that I know what I like and what feels best to me. But if you give me an hour or so with anything I will do my best to enjoy it.

Are you superstitious?
I didn’t think I was but then I do all sorts of stuff that tells me I am. I don’t like telling people about stuff that could go well for me as I feel like it curses my chances of a good outcome.

Other than riding what gets you pumped up?
Art, music, and love.

What is one thing you have done on a bike you thought you’d never do?
A backflip. As a kid, I always wanted to do them on trampolines and was always too scared. Managed to break the seal at 25.

Anything new you want to try in the future?
There's a couple of specific spots I would like to ride. Mainly I am just excited to find new and exciting ways to move on the bike, especially when it comes to braking and cornering.

Riding or painting tomorrow?
Both hopefully.