| When I was a kid there were few things more | | | | was a kid were Mongoose, Diamondback, GT, |
| important to me than my bike, and there were | | | | Dyno, and CW. The fact that I can still list these |
| few things I'd rather be doing than riding my bike. | | | | brands at my age is a testament to the impact |
| Just up the road from me was an empty dirt lot | | | | this period had on my life. |
| known as "the Jumps". All the kids in the | | | | I'm talking about 80's, that halcyon decade when |
| neighborhood went to the Jumps to jump our | | | | BMX and freestyle riding was just getting big but |
| bikes. The local streets and driveways were | | | | it wasn't the huge deal that it is today. These |
| where we attempted the tricks we saw on TV | | | | days you can see riders on television hawking |
| and in freestyling magazines. This was when | | | | everything from deodorant to mobile phone |
| freestyling was just getting popular, before the | | | | companies to video games. Heck, a bunch of |
| modern era of X Games and multi-million dollar | | | | riders have video games named after them. Dave |
| stunt riders. The names of pros were known only | | | | Mirra comes to mind when I think of such |
| to the dedicated few who spent their allowances | | | | mega-popular ridres. Another superstar is Matt |
| on freestyling and BMX magazines. | | | | Hoffman. Hoffman has his own bike company. I |
| I remember there was an older kid a few blocks | | | | remember when he was the young gun. Dennis |
| over who was the hero of all the younger kids. | | | | McCoy, who I mentioned earlier, was another |
| He just seemed cooler, ya know? And his bike | | | | young up-and-comer who exploded on the scene, |
| was better than ours. He rode a Redline. Nobody | | | | took over, and has since become one of the old |
| else I knew had a Redline. Redlines were the | | | | guys. Time flies, doesn't it? |
| ultimate bike in my mind. It was the brand | | | | If you're interested in learning more about BMX |
| legendary freestyler R.L. Osborn rode. That cool | | | | and freestyle history, there are some excellent |
| older kid a few blocks over had a Redline and he | | | | web sites which will jog your memory and take |
| was the best rider I knew. Now that I think about | | | | you back to the days when doing an "endo" was |
| it, though, I have no recollection of having actually | | | | the coolest thing to do, when riding in circles in |
| seeing him ride. I just remember him sitting there | | | | your neighbors driveway was a way to pass an |
| on his gleaming Redline, just being cool. That's | | | | afternoon. If you're in the market for a bike |
| what cool's all about. Another bike company which | | | | today, there's also plenty of info online for that. |
| was popular at the time was Haro. Haro had all | | | | Most of the companies I mentioned are still in |
| the best riders like Ron Wilkerson and Dennis | | | | business and continue to lead the market and |
| McCoy. Then there was Hutch. Know anyone who | | | | sponsor the top riders. All of them have web |
| had a Hutch bike? Know anyone who still has one? | | | | sites providing more information on their history |
| It could be worth something because Hutch is no | | | | and their current product lines. |
| longer in business. Other popular brands when I | | | | |