0:00:02 > 0:00:03This programme contains strong language
0:00:03 > 0:00:08BikeLife is an underground movement which sees motorbikers performing dangerous stunts on public roads.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11See the police in the bushes behind me?
0:00:11 > 0:00:14It's become a worldwide phenomenon that started in the US,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16and has now exploded across the UK.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20They want to label us thugs, and we're not thugs.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23For the riders, it's a way of life, but the police see them as gangs,
0:00:23 > 0:00:25and are determined to crack down
0:00:25 > 0:00:27on the criminal menace they bring to our roads.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30They've killed two people in the space of two years on bikes, chasing them.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32You're lucky you're a police officer, innit,
0:00:32 > 0:00:34- I'll tell you that now, innit. - They can lock up ten people,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37doesn't matter, you know how worldwide BikeLife is?
0:00:46 > 0:00:48I'm in south-east London to meet Wavy,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51one of the UK's most notorious riders.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54While I'm on the bike, I don't want my whole face in there.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56I don't want that on camera, bruv.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02We show respect when we're riding, we respect the people that are on the...
0:01:02 > 0:01:05We respect pedestrians, we respect other cars, know what I'm saying?
0:01:05 > 0:01:08And we even try and respect the police.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Go on the left side of me, yeah?
0:01:12 > 0:01:13We're on the Thamesmead estate,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15one of the most deprived places in the UK,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17where Wavy and other riders
0:01:17 > 0:01:20regularly take over a strip of road to perform their stunts.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23But there's a battle brewing with police,
0:01:23 > 0:01:24who have fears for public safety.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28It doesn't take long for them to turn up in force.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Wavy can't resist a bit of showboating to taunt the officers.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37They see we're not doing nothing wrong.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39They've sent the fucking chopper out.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41All that taxpayers' money
0:01:41 > 0:01:43to come out and watch us do a few tricks up and down the road.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Cos they're not going to catch no-one from this.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48As you can see, everyone's got their faces covered.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50We're not going to run from them. They've killed two people
0:01:50 > 0:01:52in the space of two years. On bikes. Chasing them.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Kids under the age of 20.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56They're the terrorists, they're the hooligans,
0:01:56 > 0:01:58they're the ones that cause the trouble, not us.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01BikeLife is never going to stop, you know what I'm saying?
0:02:01 > 0:02:04No matter how many choppers you send, no matter how many police cars
0:02:04 > 0:02:07you send, BikeLife's never going to stop.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09It's true that two riders have been killed
0:02:09 > 0:02:10whilst being pursued by police,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14but in both cases the police say they were responding to reports
0:02:14 > 0:02:16of robberies by people on mopeds.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21With the police buzzing round the strip,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24the guys decide to load up their bikes and head to a nearby flat.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Wavy introduces me to fellow riders Cones and Bubbles.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33You see the guys, the bus drivers, out the window, going like that.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Doing the wanker sign when we drive past.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38With police pressure mounting, the guys are feeling defensive.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39In the papers, we're all drug dealers.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42We're not drug dealers, I've been at work all day.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44You think that people think that you're all criminals,
0:02:44 > 0:02:45riding around on stolen bikes?
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Exactly. My bike's bought and paid for. I own it outright.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50If anyone steals a bike, it's the fucking police.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51They steal our fucking bikes.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54- Yeah. For real.- See them tearing round the streets,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56popping the wheelies, and they think you're criminals.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Police rolled up next to a man, the policeman said,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01"I hope you fall off and die." And spun off.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Going through puddles, trying to splash the bike with puddles and shit,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06you know what I mean? Trust me, they're scumbags, man.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09People think we're endangering the public, I'm not going to lie,
0:03:09 > 0:03:11there's scatty riders that jump on and off pavements.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14When we ride, it's like we're legit, but we're just doing wheelies, like,
0:03:14 > 0:03:1630-40 mile an hour wheelies, maybe even slower,
0:03:16 > 0:03:17do you know what I mean?
0:03:17 > 0:03:21What happens if a kid runs out from behind a car?
0:03:21 > 0:03:24What happens if a kid runs out from behind a car and a bus is coming?
0:03:24 > 0:03:27What happens if a kid runs out behind a car and another car's coming?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30If a kid runs out in front of you, what can you do about it,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32- do you know what I mean? - Yeah, what happens?
0:03:32 > 0:03:34For people that don't know the scene,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36people that have never ridden a bike,
0:03:36 > 0:03:37they're going to be like,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39these guys are putting themselves in danger.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Why do you keep saying we're putting ourselves in danger?
0:03:42 > 0:03:43Cos, well, you kind of are.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Imagine you've done nothing all your life,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47you've played it safe all your life,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and then you get run over by a bus leaving your house.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51How would you... How...
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Your soul leaving its body would be like, "You wanker, you wanker,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59"you've wasted me all my life!" Know what I'm saying, like?
0:03:59 > 0:04:00I'm out here living.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Wavy's meeting his brother at a boxing gym.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10I tagged along to find out what drives him to take such big risks.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Come to see my little brother, striving to be a professional boxer,
0:04:14 > 0:04:15training hard and that.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I'm just trying to be a professional rider, know what I'm saying?
0:04:18 > 0:04:19Professional stunt rider.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21That's what our goals are, know what I'm saying?
0:04:21 > 0:04:24We just want to turn pro and everything.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27It's go hard or go home, innit?
0:04:27 > 0:04:29This is my little brother, Jordan.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Show them how you hit that.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37So casual.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40I always used to try and copy him on the pedal bikes, you know,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43trying to do my own wheelies and stuff, it just never happened.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45From our dad, I took the riding skills,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47and he just took the boxing skills.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49He's got the more disciplined side of things.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51I was the reckless side of things.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54When I went to secondary school, I met the wrong people,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and I was doing the wrong things, I didn't have time for boxing no more.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Basically, when we was younger everyone used to, like,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01steal mopeds and steal cars and shit.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04One time, I was on a pizza bike, I look to my right,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and my mum was sitting at the lights with my dad
0:05:07 > 0:05:10in the passenger seat, sitting at the lights, the first car.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11They're like this...
0:05:13 > 0:05:14Watched me go past.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Literally, like, I'm looking at them, like, phone was ringing,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21know what I'm saying? I got home, like, "That was not me!
0:05:21 > 0:05:23"I was at school all day! I was at school all day!"
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Know what I'm saying?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- They knew.- They knew it was me, yeah.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Wavy, you seem to like to do things that relieve stress,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34like punching a bag, riding a bike.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37To relieve stress, innit?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39What do you want me to tell you?
0:05:39 > 0:05:40Well, what is it?
0:05:40 > 0:05:43What's so stressful about your life that you need to relieve
0:05:43 > 0:05:45- stress all the time?- No-one wants to pay me for anything,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48everyone wants everything off me for free. It's stressful.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Even though many people see BikeLife as a menace,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Wavy tells me there's another side to it,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00which I start to see the next time I'm on the estate.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02So do you try and unload as fast as you can?
0:06:02 > 0:06:05You've got to get your bike out the van and get away from it, lock it,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07fill up and keep it moving.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- Don't give the police any chance to stop you.- No.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16I'm surprised to see young kids there,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18watching the riders perform their stunts.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20I asked them why they come down to watch.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22What do you think to the BikeLife?
0:06:22 > 0:06:23Great.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Wheelie, that's what they do, that's their thing.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29They're just sick at riding.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32It's just a good environment, like, to be round for me,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- cos I love motorbikes. - We just come down here to watch,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38have a bit of fun and learn tricks when we drive motorbikes,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40- when we have motorbikes. - What does your mum think about it?
0:06:40 > 0:06:42She thinks it's all right.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44And she's OK with you, like, coming down here and seeing...
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Yeah...- ..these guys.- Yeah, she's all right with that, cos, like,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50she knows, kind of like, yeah.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52It's like they like it more than us, do you know what I mean?
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Like, like I said, when I was that age, 12, nine and shit,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58all I was thinking about was bikes, you know what I mean?
0:06:58 > 0:06:59And when I seen bikes,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01I would be running to see that person on a bike,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- if I hear them over the field. - Do they teach you things, then?
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Yeah, Cones is teaching me stuff all the time.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Popping wheelies, stuff like that.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Whenever I see him, he says, "try this, young Cones",
0:07:12 > 0:07:14stuff like that, so I try it.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16They're going to be the next ones out killing the bikes
0:07:16 > 0:07:18when we're too old to hurt ourselves,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20they're going to be the ones we're watching.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Gotta show the kids love as well, man.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24What were you like before you started riding?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27I didn't even care about school. I didn't even really want to go.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31So, now, just, as soon as I get home, I do work.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I go to school, do my work, come home, get dressed,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36go straight on my bike.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Wheelie around with my mates. So if I had a stressed day at school,
0:07:39 > 0:07:40it'll calm me down, going on my bike.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42They look up to us, you know what I'm saying?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Like, it's more positive than looking up to a gang member
0:07:45 > 0:07:46or whatever, you know what I'm saying?
0:07:46 > 0:07:48In America, it's guns down, bikes up.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Out here, knives down, bikes up,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52same thing, you know what I'm saying?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Teach kids about bikes, they'll never have money for drugs.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57These things ain't cheap, mate, you feel me?
0:07:57 > 0:07:59HE LAUGHS
0:07:59 > 0:08:01The more time I spend on the Thamesmead estate,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04the more the BikeLife scene surprises me.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07It's clear the boys on the estate see the older riders as stars,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09but what I wasn't expecting
0:08:09 > 0:08:13was the riders spending so much time teaching them new skills.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Another big surprise is when Wavy tells me he's treating himself
0:08:16 > 0:08:18with a trip to Miami.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20But once again, it's all about BikeLife.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Boy, this is my second trip to the US,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26so going Miami this time.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28For the MLK Rideout.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Yeah. One of the biggest rideouts of the year.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34There's going to be hundreds and hundreds of bikes there.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41South Beach is the spot.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Look, there's people riding around with no helmets on.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Wavy might be one of the top riders in the UK,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52with over 50,000 followers on Instagram,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54but the American scene is so much bigger.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58See, Miami Weekend is the weekend.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Hundreds of riders from across the States take over the Miami streets
0:09:01 > 0:09:03on Martin Luther King Day.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05It's not only the place to be seen,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09but also a great event to show off their skills via social media.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13But for Wavy to take part, he needs a bike.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16After travelling so far, he doesn't want to miss out on the main event.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Everyone's bikes is booked up from early,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21so you've got to know if that person's got the bike or not.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24You feel me? Especially if you're coming from fucking London.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25Desperate to ride,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Wavy is turning to other riders to see if anyone can loan him a bike.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Hey listen, I'm going to just go to Jimmy's crib, bro.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33But I want to see if there's a bike there I can ride.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- I need to ride, fam. - Fed up with waiting, Wavy?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Yeah, man, I can't wait, bruv. I'm out here to ride.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Like, I didn't come out here to stand outside shit.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43So, Wavy, you riding?
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Maybe. Hopefully.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48What did homeboy say? Nah.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52A rider Wavy knows through Instagram finally pulls through.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Look, this is my bro, yeah?
0:09:54 > 0:09:58- What's it? Harlem? Where are you? Queens? The Bronx.- From the Bronx.
0:09:58 > 0:09:59Bronx? Get me?
0:09:59 > 0:10:03BX to fucking 305 North London to the 305...
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Trust me. Bikes bring bonds.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Holding me down.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10So we're doing it, trust me.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13He brought a bike from fucking...
0:10:13 > 0:10:15all the way from NY to Miami, just for me to ride.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Having got himself a bike, Wavy finally gets to ride.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Seeing Wavy on his bike, I'm beginning to understand
0:10:24 > 0:10:26why he takes such extreme risks on the road.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28It's what we love to do, innit?
0:10:28 > 0:10:30It's what makes us feel most alive, innit?
0:10:30 > 0:10:34You don't feel more alive than when you're dancing with death.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37But Wavy's Miami ride doesn't last long,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39as the police are out in force.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41It was only for, like, 20 minutes, man.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42They had task force out,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45undercover police cars parked at fucking all the gas stations.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Like, parked near them.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50So when they saw the bikes pull in, they just swerved out, innit?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52It was all mad. It was all mad yesterday.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56People was getting fucking bikes taken left, right and centre.
0:10:56 > 0:10:57And there is worse news.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Remember Shiny? He fell, like an hour ago, had to go to the hospital.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04- You witnessed an accident. What happened there?- Yeah, man.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05I see a guy crash his bike
0:11:05 > 0:11:08and basically, I don't know, apparently...
0:11:08 > 0:11:09Apparently he died.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13But, yeah, he was...
0:11:13 > 0:11:16He crashed his bike right in front of me, basically.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Does that not make you think that you're taking your life
0:11:18 > 0:11:22- in your hands when you ride? - Yeah, course, I know that, though.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Listen. Everyone ain't me.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Certain people got it, certain people haven't got it.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Know what I'm saying? No matter what he was doing,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32nobody deserves to go out like that, you know what I'm saying?
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Came out here to have fun and didn't make it home.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Who knows if he has a family, whatever, you know what I'm saying?
0:11:38 > 0:11:41He didn't make it home.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43He didn't make it home, it's fucked up.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56Back in the UK, and the Thamesmead estate has been attracting riders from across the country.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00The increased action has brought more police attention,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02so Wavy is looking for a new spot to ride.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07It's not always been like this.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09What's happened to make it like this now?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Some dickheads that don't know what they're doing
0:12:12 > 0:12:13and just want to cause trouble,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16kicking police cars and all that bullshit.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21What do you look for, like, when you're looking for a new strip?
0:12:21 > 0:12:23You can ride there at night, that's the best.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25If it's lit up and it's smooth,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28away from houses where there's going to be at least people
0:12:28 > 0:12:30who could, like, complain, you know what I'm saying?
0:12:30 > 0:12:34I'm just trying to see if we can go to, like, a different strip, innit?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Change it up a bit. Cos it's getting a bit hot there.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Every time we go there, the police come.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Is that what you have to do, then? Keep finding new strips?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44I try to. Not out here to terrorise the police.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47I've been looking at this one here.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Wavy leads us into an industrial estate.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51That's a private road as well.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54These are all private roads here.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57For riders, private roads make better strips,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59as they believe police can't make an arrest
0:12:59 > 0:13:01without a complaint from the landowner.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04No, I like this, I think this one's calm, man.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13I've heard that Cones is in trouble,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16and could be facing serious jail time because of BikeLife.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Basically, I went up to Manchester,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23was having a little ride around on the street,
0:13:23 > 0:13:24and then the police come,
0:13:24 > 0:13:26started following us in helicopters and all that.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30The chase went on for three hours. Obviously, yeah, I'd got caught.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32One of the police officers said that I actually ran over his foot,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35then I tried to ride back to run him over.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37So that's why it's been transferred to Crown Court,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40but that's basically a lie, do you know what I mean?
0:13:40 > 0:13:43I wouldn't use my bike as a weapon against police or anyone.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46The case don't look too good because of what the police officer's saying.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49I'd do anything not to get a custodial sentence right about now.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52I've pled guilty. I've put my hands up to what I've done,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54but I've always been brought up
0:13:54 > 0:13:57that riding bikes or whatever is not a serious crime.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58You can make it serious,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01like going on the roads and getting into crazy chases,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03and, yeah, if you crash into someone, it's a serious crime.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08But, to me, I've not looked at BikeLife like it's a serious crime.
0:14:08 > 0:14:1127-year-old Cones has a young daughter.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13And with the prospect of going to prison,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16does he really feel BikeLife is worth the risk?
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- Do you ride every day? - Nah, I don't ride every day.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21I try to ride as minimum as possible now,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23because... you know,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26I live on the estate where we ride, so I'm well known around here.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I can see, even with this, there is a lot of risks to it.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33For me, personally, I'm taking a lot of risks, do you know what I mean?
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Cause, you know...my flat, if I get caught for riding,
0:14:36 > 0:14:40I'll lose my flat, I'll go back to jail, you know what I mean?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42It's going to affect my daughter and staff if I go back to jail,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44so, yeah, I'm taking a lot of risks,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46but, at the end of the day, I love this.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51They'll literally have to take my arms so I can't grab a bike,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53you know what I mean, before I stop riding.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Talking to Cones, I can see how much BikeLife means to him,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58despite the trouble he's in.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02He loves riding and the thought of giving it up is killing him.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Outside, he introduces me to the mechanic of their group.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10I'd do anything for these boys. It's like family, innit.
0:15:10 > 0:15:1223-year-old Liam, a plumber,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16also has a family, and he too has something to say about the police.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19I'm not a criminal. I'm a man with kids.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22A missus. I've got shit going on in life,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25you know what I'm trying to say, but I just love riding my bike.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Today's ride will have to wait,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30as the cat and mouse game with the police continues.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Just another day in Thamesmead, the bird's out.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35If they're looking for someone on a motorbike,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37they should be putting their money to better use.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Once the coast is clear, they make their way through the estate
0:15:40 > 0:15:41to the strip.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50The strip is usually quiet but it's still a public road.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52There are learner drivers and pedestrians
0:15:52 > 0:15:54who find themselves getting in the way.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56The situation is far from ideal.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I've heard bikers say they need a proper place to ride
0:15:59 > 0:16:02but I'm unsure how this will ever happen.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04Liam is quick to defend the riders
0:16:04 > 0:16:06and their reputation as a public nuisance.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10They want to label us thugs, yeah, we're not thugs.
0:16:10 > 0:16:11We ain't thugs.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13No-one can take this away from me.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Otherwise jog on, that's the way I look at it.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19No disrespect to anyone, but we're not kids, we're just having fun,
0:16:19 > 0:16:21releasing that inner stress.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23I don't want to go home and take stress out on my family,
0:16:23 > 0:16:27- so I take it out on this bad boy here.- How is it having a little one?
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Don't get me wrong, you have to be careful, because if I hurt myself
0:16:30 > 0:16:31I can't go to work, then I can't feed him.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34I have to always think about them, you know?
0:16:34 > 0:16:36This is my freedom, this is me, this is my time,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38but I've still got them on my mind.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40But this is BikeLife, I love it.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44You know what I'm trying to say, I love this shit.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47The riders all seem to love the risk of riding, but I wonder if there's
0:16:47 > 0:16:49anything that could ever stop them.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54The next time I see Liam, he's in hospital.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Can't really see the full extent,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59but my bone's come through my foot.
0:17:03 > 0:17:04While riding the strip,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Liam came off his bike after hitting another rider.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12So I'm just here a couple more days then I'll be riding soon.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16What's going to happen with work and stuff?
0:17:16 > 0:17:19I'm self-employed, so now this has done me.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I can't even earn a penny.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23I've got friends and family,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26support which I'm very grateful for, but being a man,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29that depresses me because I can't earn my money.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31I'm fucked, basically.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34There's no insurance, there's no pay-out, there's nothing,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36it's just suffer.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Like I say, this is the risk we're all taking.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41This is the risk that, yeah, we're aware of
0:17:41 > 0:17:43but we don't really think of.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45I want people to see this and know that we have to deal with stuff
0:17:45 > 0:17:47like this to get to the level we're at.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Do you think if there were somewhere for you to ride,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52- this might not have happened? - Yeah, no, I don't think, I know.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55If we had somewhere properly to go, yeah,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57supervised proper place, this wouldn't happen.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59None of this would happen.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02But like I say, that's the risk we take.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05BikeLife. BikeLife till I'm dead, you know.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06I'm not stopping.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Sunday is usually a big day for the riders in Thamesmead.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14But today something is different.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17It seems as though Wavy was right to start avoiding the strip,
0:18:17 > 0:18:21because police are here and are carrying out a major crackdown.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Tell me what's going on.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34We're down the strip, waiting for the bikes,
0:18:34 > 0:18:35but loads of police turn up,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37and they're just blocking the roads off.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40The police are over there, and then the bikes don't want to get
0:18:40 > 0:18:43caught, so he's obviously gone back because he's on his own.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45It's unusual to see the street so quiet,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48but police have blocked every entrance to the estate
0:18:48 > 0:18:50in a major operation.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I don't really see the point in the police trying to stop them.
0:18:53 > 0:18:54They're not doing any harm.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58There could be people out there shooting, robbing these houses,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00burning them and all stuff like that,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03and then spend it on there, like, look, like this, yeah.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05And then they come down here
0:19:05 > 0:19:09and then just start spoiling all their fun for no reason.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11They just get annoyed with it,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14that's why they argue about it by saying, "Give us somewhere to ride."
0:19:14 > 0:19:16It's true, though.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21With no-one on the strip,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25I take a ride with Bubbles to find out what's going on.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Obviously, they've got some sting operation going on.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30They've been pulling up the motorbikes today.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33But it's not long before we attract attention ourselves.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Now we're being stopped by the police.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37The police are behind us, yeah?
0:19:37 > 0:19:40- This is Joel from the BBC. - OK, mate.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43OK, can you tell us why you've stopped us, please?
0:19:43 > 0:19:48We're being stopped because of the BikeLife sticker on Bubbles' car.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Whilst we're split up, the police do a search of the vehicle.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54After finding nothing, we are let go.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Just got stopped by the police, and now they're sort of like,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01they went over the car but, obviously, the police have got
0:20:01 > 0:20:03a big operation going on, as you can see.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Look, we're back on the strip and more police.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07It looks like they've shut it down today.
0:20:07 > 0:20:08No bikes are coming over here at all,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11because the police have blocked off all the roads.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13The police are taking a zero tolerance approach
0:20:13 > 0:20:16towards anyone that looks like they could be part of BikeLife.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21The moped rider has been stopped due to a faulty mudguard.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23I've done nothing wrong.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25It is roadworthy, it's got three years' warranty,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28three years' MOT, three years' tax, three years' everything.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31This is the highlight of your day, to come and bully me.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34There's people robbing shops and burgling people and that,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37and you can go and stop them right now, but you've got one, two,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40three cars and a riot van driving up and down here just for us.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Come on, really? We're not causing trouble.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44This is keeping us out of trouble.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47My bike's all legit and now they're telling me it's not legit.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49They're telling me my bike is not legit on the road.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52even though I have insurance, MOT, tax, everything.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54They're telling the front wheel's out of line, everything.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56They're just lying. They just lie, man, look.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58They're going to try take it off me,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00I don't know what they're going to do.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02It makes you feel better when you go home and sleep at night.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Sweet, mate. You don't need all this police.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07For one bike and a couple of pushbikes!
0:21:07 > 0:21:09The police say the bike's not roadworthy.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11They think the front brake is defective.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Ha, you's lot, you're just bullies, innit?
0:21:14 > 0:21:17If I chuck that on the floor, you going to do me for littering?
0:21:17 > 0:21:18Can be done.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22They give the rider two hours to get home,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25and the bike will need a new MOT before he can legally ride it again.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30That's your fault, you know. You're lucky you're a police officer, init.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32I'll tell you that now. If you weren't a police officer,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35I'd whack you in the jaw, you know that.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38It can't be denied that the police have made a big difference
0:21:38 > 0:21:40to the Thamesmead estate today,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42but I can see how angry some of the young men now are.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Your mums don't love ya!
0:21:46 > 0:21:47I asked the police about this.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50They won't appear on camera, but in a statement they tell me that
0:21:50 > 0:21:53dangerous and reckless riding has been affecting the safety of the
0:21:53 > 0:21:57community, and that they've made five arrests for offences including
0:21:57 > 0:21:59being unfit to drive and other traffic violations.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04I find out one of those arrested is Cones,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06who was visited by the police at his home
0:22:06 > 0:22:08and then immediately sent to prison.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10I was meant to meet Cones down there on Sunday,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13but I heard he got arrested Sunday morning, you know what I'm saying.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Like, police, they came early Sunday morning,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18raided his house, basically,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21and arrested him for riding a dirt bike on the road.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22Because he's on a ban.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25It's messed up, what they've done. They raided him when it was just him
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- and his six-year-old daughter in bed.- Exactly that.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30They're going to traumatise a six-year-old girl
0:22:30 > 0:22:33who's going to see her dad getting arrested,
0:22:33 > 0:22:35at six years old, over him riding a bike.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Now people are going to wonder why she hates police all her life.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40- Trust me.- You know what I'm saying. That's why, because they came in
0:22:40 > 0:22:44and they've took her dad away from her while he was looking after her.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45Strange men came in the house...
0:22:45 > 0:22:50- Not even for murder, for riding his bike.- It's crazy.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53The police say Cones was arrested because they see him as one of
0:22:53 > 0:22:55the main BikeLife organisers on the estate.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Do you think it would try to help if you try to open up a dialogue with
0:22:58 > 0:23:00the police? If you tried to speak to the police and say,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02- "Look, just give us..."- Tried it.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- You tried that, what happened? - We always try things like that.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08"Oh, we'll be in touch with you..." They're enjoying that,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11they love that, they love chasing you, they get a thrill from it.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Just like we get a thrill from wheelieing down the road,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16they get a thrill from chasing down a bike, you know what I'm saying.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19What's the future for BikeLife if the police carry on like this?
0:23:19 > 0:23:22It's going to carry on going the same way it's going now.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26This doesn't, this is not a scratch
0:23:26 > 0:23:28on the surface, you don't understand.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30They've locked up one person through BikeLife.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Or they lock-up...they could lock up ten people, it don't matter.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Do you know how worldwide BikeLife is?
0:23:37 > 0:23:38Saudi Arabia.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39Africa.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Jamaica. They see us as a gang.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45We're not a gang. We're a movement.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53Liam is out of hospital,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56and his injuries have earned him respect with the boys.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58How did he do that?
0:23:58 > 0:23:59Disgusting.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02See, you know he's a true rider.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04I head over to his house to check in on him.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06How you doing, mate, you all right?
0:24:06 > 0:24:09- What's happening, mate, how you doing?- Good. How's your foot?
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Getting better. Getting better, mate.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Are you worried that you could be nicked soon?
0:24:13 > 0:24:16In a way, yeah, they could, they could nick anyone.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18But, at the same time,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21what can I do? I can't be worried about it.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Yeah, I'm worried in a way,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26but give me somewhere to go and I won't ride there.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Obviously, I understand, they've got a duty to do and whatever else,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32but I believe they're doing it in the wrong way.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Do think you you might be trying to get your message to them or to other
0:24:36 > 0:24:39people in the wrong way by riding on public roads?
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Yeah, don't get me wrong, we are.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43We shouldn't be doing it and we know that.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45I worry that a kid's going to step out into the road.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Yeah, I worry about that all the time, don't get me wrong.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53It can happen. My missus takes my dogs for walks, my son,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57I don't want to have them in danger by people riding dirt bikes.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59I want him to do wheelies and that if he wants,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02but it's not something I'd ever push him into, though,
0:25:02 > 0:25:03because it's a dangerous sport.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Hello. You going on the motorbike?
0:25:05 > 0:25:08What does a motorbike do? Does it go "bing"?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Bing, bing!
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Can you go like that? Bing, bing!
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Does he like riding a bike?
0:25:20 > 0:25:21He loves them.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Trust me, he comes on them with me.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27He's got a little helmet and whatnot.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I just literally hold on to one side and he rides it,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32does the throttle a little bit.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34It's been the last, like, month or so,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36he's been able to actually move the throttle
0:25:36 > 0:25:39so it actually brings it obviously on,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and yeah, we pootle about.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43It's quality. Right, he wants me to get off
0:25:43 > 0:25:45because he wants to do it himself.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47See what I mean? Look. See?
0:25:47 > 0:25:49He's not even two yet.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51When's he going to get his first bike?
0:25:52 > 0:25:54I keep saying for his third birthday,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57but I'll probably end up getting it before.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59There. Help me service it.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Look, my chain, look.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04See, he wants to do it, he knows about tools
0:26:04 > 0:26:06and he tries to help as if he's fixing it,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09so I let him think he is, do you know what I mean?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12His mum hates it, because we get all filthed up and dirty but he's a kid,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14he's a boy, I would never let him get hurt.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16I'm going to take him in anyway.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21There's the chopper out now.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23- Someone's riding. - Someone's probably out riding now.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29For many of the young men on the estate,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32BikeLife is something they are born into, and while Liam can see
0:26:32 > 0:26:35the dangers it might pose, I can't ever see him giving it up.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46I catch up with Cones's girlfriend, Kirsty,
0:26:46 > 0:26:48to see how Cones's prison stretch
0:26:48 > 0:26:50is affecting her and their daughter, Lily-Mae.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54- Do you understand why he rides? - I do and I don't.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56It must be the adrenaline.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59It's in his blood. His parents were both riders.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03I think he probably had his first bike when he was probably younger
0:27:03 > 0:27:04than our daughter is now.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Is it hard sharing Luke with that side of his life?
0:27:07 > 0:27:09It can be. But I don't know, I suppose...
0:27:11 > 0:27:13..if you don't let him go and do what he wants to do,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15it wouldn't really be fair.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17I obviously look after our daughter,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and he obviously goes out and has fun.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23- Is it hard now he can't be there for her?- Yes, of course it is.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Because now I have to look after her and try and struggle with work,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28but that's life.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Life could get even tougher for Kirsty because Cones
0:27:30 > 0:27:33is facing another 18-month sentence for the Manchester case.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37If the sentencing doesn't fall in Cones's favour,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40then that affects you in quite a big way, won't it?
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Yeah, of course it will,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44because I'll be left on my own with my daughter again.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52It seems the police operations have worked,
0:27:52 > 0:27:56as the strip is still empty with no signs of bikes at all.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59The police are saying they'll continue to crack down on any bikers
0:27:59 > 0:28:02in the area, in an effort to shut down BikeLife for good.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05People in that area might be like, "The police seem to have done a good
0:28:05 > 0:28:08"thing here and stopped the bikes from coming."
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Well, they're in for a shock.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Them ones, they are in for a shock because the police didn't do it,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19nothing of the sort. We decided not to go there any more.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20It was a decision that we made.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22We'd like to find a new strip anyway.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Going to the same place is boring.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Cones is out of prison. He served eight weeks inside
0:28:29 > 0:28:31for his London arrest and got another driving ban
0:28:31 > 0:28:34with a suspended sentence for the previous Manchester case.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38He seems relieved to have avoided any further jail time.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40It gives you enough time to reflect on your life,
0:28:40 > 0:28:41and it has made me think,
0:28:41 > 0:28:43when I come out I want to do things different.
0:28:43 > 0:28:44You know, I'm not going to be out there,
0:28:44 > 0:28:48getting my face out there, doing wheelies up and down in places
0:28:48 > 0:28:50where I know that it's a risk of me getting caught.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52I have to keep my nose clean for 18 months,
0:28:52 > 0:28:56or I'm going away for 15 months.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57All I want to do, really,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59is just dedicate most of my time to my family.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01I've got a lot of making up to do.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Just try and stay out of trouble,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06but I'll be back on the crosses again,
0:29:06 > 0:29:08don't worry about that, do you know what I mean?
0:29:08 > 0:29:11As soon as my ban's out of the way, Thamesmead, wow,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14they are going to have the worst day of their life when my ban is over,
0:29:14 > 0:29:18because I'm going to be out there absolutely taking the piss.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21Despite all the battles with police over Sewell Road,
0:29:21 > 0:29:25Wavy is still 100% BikeLife and has already found a new place to ride.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27It's not like I'm pulling out my bike
0:29:27 > 0:29:29to come and terrorise your street,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32and get in your way and be a nuisance, know what I'm saying?
0:29:32 > 0:29:35All I'm doing is, I'm coming out and putting my work in,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38like, if you're a boxer you're going to go to the gym and train,
0:29:38 > 0:29:39spar, hit the bag, you know what I'm saying?
0:29:39 > 0:29:43If you're a runner, you're going to go to the track and run and train,
0:29:43 > 0:29:47you know what I'm saying? If you're a swimmer you'll go to the pool
0:29:47 > 0:29:49and train. I'm saying, like, I'm a rider.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51I need somewhere to train.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53If you ain't got the resources around you,
0:29:53 > 0:29:55you've got to make it happen.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57That's why we have to hit the streets.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00The only way I'm going to stop riding
0:30:00 > 0:30:03is when I'm buried and I'm six foot, you know what I'm saying,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05when I'm six foot deep?
0:30:05 > 0:30:08BikeLife to the death, to the fullest, that's it, simple.