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