Phil Atwill joins Bikeflip as new investor
From the downhill World Cup to Positive Crew: the story of Phil Atwill, Bikeflip's newest investor.
Some riders spend their whole career chasing the perfect line.
And then there are riders who, beyond chasing it, love inventing it. Phil Atwill definitely belongs to the second category.
Downhill, freeride, enduro, BMX, motorbikes, videos and projects with other riders: throughout his career he has never been afraid to change direction. Today, after years at the top level of international downhill and the creation of Positive Crew, Phil opens a new chapter by joining Bikeflip as an investor.
A choice that, knowing his story, feels almost natural.
Who is Phil Atwill?
Born in 1995 in Berkhamsted, in the UK, Phil is one of the most recognisable and versatile riders on the British MTB scene.
Downhill has always been at the heart of his career, but it would be reductive to simply call him a downhill racer.
He has built his own style by combining speed, technique and creativity, moving naturally from World Cup tracks to trails, from big jumps to motorbikes.
From a very young age, the bike becomes a fundamental part of his life. First rides with friends, jumps and riding for fun. Then races, first teams and, gradually, the move to professionalism.
It is precisely this combination of competition and fun that remains a constant throughout his journey.
For Phil, the bike has never simply been a tool to get from point A to point B faster. It's a way to explore, create and be together with other riders.
From the beginnings to the World Cup
Phil Atwill's path quickly takes him from the British scene to international downhill. Over the years, he wears the jersey of several professional teams, including Madison Saracen, Orange Dirt World Team, PROPAIN and CUBE Global Squad.
The move to the World Cup represents the definitive leap into professional downhill. But as results start coming in, Phil also builds a reputation for another reason: his style.
Manuals, whips, creative lines and an extremely natural way of riding make him instantly recognisable in the paddock.
Then comes a result that would change the course of his career.
In 2017, Phil takes his first World Cup podium in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. It was a huge turning point in his career, giving him the confidence that he could compete at the very highest level.
That breakthrough would be followed by some of the strongest results of his career. In 2020, in Lousã, Portugal, Phil finishes the DH World Cup final in fifth place.
A result that shows that behind the spectacular rider is an athlete capable of competing with the very best.
Speed, in short, was never lacking.
The choice to live in Greece
At a certain point, however, Phil starts seeing the world of mountain biking differently. Together with his girlfriend, he moves to Athens, Greece.
Here he finds something far removed from the classic life of a professional racer: mountains, trails, sun, motorbikes and an MTB scene still very much evolving.
Greece soon becomes much more than just a base for training.
It becomes home.
Phil starts immersing himself in the local scene, getting to know new riders and contributing to the growth of the Greek community.
It's a choice that says a lot about how he lives mountain biking: less tied to a calendar and more interested in the possibilities the bike can offer.
Positive Crew is born
From this new life comes also one of the most important projects of his career: Positive Crew. After about ten years spent racing downhill with professional teams, Phil feels the need for more freedom.
He doesn't want to stop racing. He simply wants to be able to do other things too. Race, create content, travel, help other riders and contribute to the community. Riders, filmmakers, mechanics and creatives come together around a simple philosophy: living the bike without being forced to choose just one discipline.
And it's perhaps here that Phil Atwill finds his most natural dimension.
A rider without labels
Downhill, freeride, enduro, BMX, motorbikes. If there's one thing that defines Phil Atwill, it's precisely the difficulty of defining him.
Downhill remains his main terrain, but over the years he has kept exploring different disciplines and different ways of riding on two wheels. Motorbikes, in particular, have become an important part of his life in Greece.
This cross-pollination also shows in his riding: speed, control, slides, jumps and, above all, a constant search for new lines.
He's the kind of rider who can spend one day preparing for a downhill race and the next exploring a new trail or shooting a video with friends.
And that's exactly what makes him so recognisable.
Why Phil Atwill chose Bikeflip
This is where Phil's story meets Bikeflip's. Phil doesn't join Bikeflip simply as an ambassador. He joins as an investor.
And there's an important detail: Phil already knows Bikeflip from a rider's perspective. He has used the platform several times to sell his own bikes, and the experience was positive.
"Selling my bikes on Bikeflip was incredibly simple. I finally had the feeling of having a platform where riders can meet and buy and sell bikes in a simple, safe way, without complications."
For someone who has spent years travelling, racing and changing bikes, being able to sell a bike without turning the experience into a long series of messages, negotiations and logistical problems makes all the difference.
And that's exactly one of Bikeflip's goals: making the buying and selling of used bikes simpler, safer and more accessible.
Two worlds meeting
Phil Atwill's investment in Bikeflip therefore goes beyond a simple relationship between an athlete and a brand. There's a shared philosophy. Throughout his career, Phil has always looked for new ways to live mountain biking. When the traditional professional team model didn't offer him enough freedom, he created Positive Crew.
When he discovered a different way to live and ride, he chose Greece. When one discipline wasn't enough, he explored others.
Bikeflip is born from the same drive to question the way things have always been done. The used bike market too can be simpler, safer, more accessible. And closer to the community that actually uses those bikes.
A new chapter
Phil Atwill's story is anything but linear. It started on bikes in the UK, went through the downhill World Cup and took him all the way to Greece, where he built a new life and gave shape to Positive Crew.
Today he adds a new role to his journey: investor in Bikeflip. Phil will keep racing, filming, travelling and living mountain biking his own way.
But from today he will also contribute to the growth of a project that wants to change the way cyclists buy and sell their bikes. Because if there's one thing Phil's career has taught us, it's that there's never just one line to follow. Sometimes you just need the courage to try a new one.
Welcome to Bikeflip, Phil.
Want to take a look at Phil's bike? You'll find it now for sale on Bikeflip.
And if you're after a PROPAIN for your next adventures, discover all the PROPAIN bikes available on Bikeflip.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bikeflip?
Bikeflip is a marketplace specialised in buying and selling used and refurbished bikes. The platform lets cyclists buy and sell bikes simply and safely.
Who is Phil Atwill?
Phil Atwill is a British professional rider specialised in downhill. Throughout his career he has raced at the highest international level and has also built experience in freeride, enduro, BMX and motorbiking.
What is Phil Atwill known for?
Phil Atwill is best known for his downhill career and for his creative, spectacular riding style. He is also the founder of Positive Crew, an MTB crew born in Greece.
Where does Phil Atwill live?
Phil Atwill lives in Athens, Greece, together with his wife. Greece has become his base for riding, for the Positive Crew projects and for his mountain biking activities.
What is Positive Crew?
Positive Crew is the project created by Phil Atwill to bring together riders, filmmakers and professionals from the MTB world. The crew combines races, content, travel and community, with particular attention to the Greek mountain bike scene.
Is Phil Atwill a Bikeflip investor?
Yes. Phil Atwill has joined Bikeflip as an investor, combining his experience in the mountain biking world with that of the platform's other athlete investors.
Has Phil Atwill used Bikeflip?
Yes. Phil has personally used Bikeflip to sell his own bikes and frames describing the experience simple, safe and hassle-free.
Why did Phil Atwill invest in Bikeflip?
Phil's personal experience with Bikeflip and his closeness to the cycling community contributed to his decision to invest in the platform. Bikeflip also shares a vision of cycling based on accessibility, community and circularity.