RADBMX.CO.UK
Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: kungfunky on August 07, 2012, 12:14 PM
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The Bike Gallery was started in 1974 by Bob graves and his Son Jay. They were the earliest, most organized shop in the Oregon and arguably the NW. They supported a full BMX Team and sold a ton of gear including SE Racing, Torker, Redline, Race Inc, Mongoose, Laguna, DG, FMF etc etc.
Theres a few photos of the Bike Gallery which are pretty well known already on the net, but I'd like to thank Ben Joy for all his help with my research and taking the time out to chat to me and send me dozens of amazing unseen pictures from BITD :4_17_5:
The Bike Gallery circa 1978
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/bikegallerystorefront1975.jpg)
Some of the amazing bikes that were for sale in the shop, note the BD-III on the wall which became Mike King's Wheels N Things sponsored racer.
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1978B-Copy.jpg)
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1978A-Copy.jpg)
The Gallery also had a sponsored team which included the two jr pro's Ben Joy and Ken Pliska, Ben raced for and also worked at the Gallery from 1978-1980 when he was forced into retirement due to a badly broken arm, Ben was racing alongside Stu Thomsen and winning when Stu wiped Ben out on the final berm resulting in Ben crashing, breaking his arm and then retiring.
Ben had a duel sponsorship with SE Racing and The Bike Gallery where he was given a JU-6, he raced this for a while when the Gallery insisted he switched to DG as they were a main stockist.
Ben with his JU-6
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1978F-Copy.jpg)
and a couple of 1st place trophies
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/ser05.jpg)
and the Gallery race team
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BikeGalleryTeam.jpg)
L A Coliseum
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/LA_Coliseum.jpg)
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BikeGalleryJersey.jpg)
Ben said while working in the shop they had on display a 1978 SE Racing BD-III, "the jewel in the shop". "Everyone loved this bike and everyone wanted it". I was too tall for it so had the JU-6 otherwise it would have been mine.
One of the most famous old school bike shop pictures, the SE Racing BD-III.
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1978E-Copy-1.jpg)
Such was the impact of this picture for me I had to use it for inspiration and build my very own Bike Gallery BD-III
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/005-10.jpg)
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/0014-4.jpg)
This is by far the best bike I've built. The time spent on researching the shop, bike and race history from that era has been fantastic and I am indeed honoured to have spent time talking to Ben. Your a legend and a gentleman :daumenhoch:
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:4_17_5:
Imagine walking into that shop as a wee kid BITD!! :shocked:
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Thats spot on Ash :4_17_5:
Glad you got the velcro sorted :idiot2:
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:LolLolLolLol: it's all in the detail Pete :D probably the hardest thing to sort though :P
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Great history and awesome build :4_17_5:
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Thats a great read ASH and some Great pics :coolsmiley: ................... AND WHAT A WAY TO FINISH THE STORY OFF :smitten:
Thats a FANTASTIC BUILD :daumenhoch:
Nice one WOODY
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ooooooooooooooooooh funky mr kung
i loves that :)
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great pics ash,i bet you wish you had a time machine :shocked:
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cracking story :daumenhoch:
with a stunning end result :smitten:
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what an awesome read....thanks for sharing ash :daumenhoch:
all those Tuff 1's hanging
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I told you i loved this bike Ash but those pics are THE COOLEST BIKE SHOPS PICS EVER, i bet they had kids coming in from miles away just to drool over the kit they had in there. I could look at those pics for ever and see something new and cool everytime. :smitten: All those rims and Skyway hanging from the ceiling look awesome and what about those DG's :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
Am i reading that sign right that says the bike you have built was selling for $295.00? :shocked:
Wicked read Ash and if you have any more info and pics of this shop im know we would all love to see them :daumenhoch:
Adam
PS: i've changed my mind, you don't look like that kid in the DG coat touching the bike but it does look like you have styled your hair after Bens. ;D
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JEEEZUS H :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
I've been waiting a while to see this build and fcuk me that is Thee dogz b'jollocks 8)
Oustanding Ash, Well done mate :4_17_5:
:coolsmiley:
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Great story and great pics Ash , thanks for sharing :daumenhoch:
Onto the bike ....
Stunning :4_17_5: Reckon that is pushing the RTT Ripper as my favourite build of yours ... love it :smitten:
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Wow Wow & Wow
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Love it :daumenhoch:
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STUNNING!!! :4_17_5:
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Thanks a heap for all the comments, you guys rock :4_17_5:
Adam your right, in 1978 the BD-III was indeed for sale at $295.00 ^"^ and yes a time machine would be fookin awsome :buck2:
Heres a couple more pictures of the shop from 78-around 82. :daumenhoch:
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1978C-Copy.jpg)
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1979-Copy.jpg)
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1980sb-Copy.jpg)
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o.m.g. :shocked:...................... what a shop , great pics Ash . as always a "wish i had that in my collection " build simply stunning . And a massive thanks for sharing your knowledge , always enjoying seeing the bikes you build , always special :4_17_5:
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cheers Lenny :daumenhoch:
and when I said "theres only 2 in the UK that I know of"...now you know who has the 2nd one :D :daumenhoch:
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now thats a bike shop..awesome pictures Ash, and the build is class, looks like a lot has gone into it...nice1...
....but you are now officially....
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/pp287/rollin72/train.jpg)
>:D
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Awesome Ash
You just dont see bike shop like that anymore, well I dont, you always get, heres a catalogue I can order it in it will take a couple of weeks, gone are the days of walking in and browsing for bits
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thats my idea of heaven right there :smitten:
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Now that's more like it, what a lovely lookin' machine, pure class Ash.
and if i close my eyes i can almost smell that shop from here :smitten:
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Great thread Ash ;) and superb recreation of that bike ! :4_17_5: .
Those shop pics are awesome too , like a kid in a sweet shop to the max ! ................... :shocked:
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Like everyone else on here I could have spent hours just standing in that shop looking as a kid :4_17_5:
Had a couple of cool replies from Scot the other day.
"you've done it again Ash, . . Looks fresh off the showroom floor !!! You have restored a BEAUTIFUL piece of HISTORY and made me PROUD Mate !! Ben Joy is a wonderful friend, historian and networker in addition to a perfectionist when it comes to building bikes to exact detail from BITD!! GREAT JOB !!.
you and Jeff Jt Tollefson have made the two best BDIII bikes ever built..I'm flattered and honored you guys..C-YA. "
High praise indeed from the OM and to be put in the same class as JT is way cool :shocked:
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Now that's more like it, what a lovely lookin' machine, pure class Ash.
and if i close my eyes i can almost smell that shop from here :smitten:
Nice one Ash!!! Steve,we alway talk about the smell of old bike shops and fingering..thanks for the great read Ash :daumenhoch:
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great pics ash :daumenhoch: cant wait to see your bikes at MK :smitten:
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cheers mick. I have plenty more pics to put up too and a bit more history to go along with them. As for mk, pop over to the vintage SE tent for a chat and bring a beer too lol.
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i'm going to let all the tyres down ;D
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cheers mick. I have plenty more pics to put up too and a bit more history to go along with them. As for mk, pop over to the vintage SE tent for a chat and bring a beer too lol.
now that i can do :shocked: :daumenhoch:
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Absolutely awesome build fella 8) The pics of the shop r fantastic :daumenhoch:
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Another pic of the shop circa 78 :smitten: note the lack of chrome bikes :D
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1978D-Copy.jpg)
Now if only these prices were todays.. :-[ The Cook Bros UNI clamp fetch around $1000 now.
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BG1980sa-Copy.jpg)
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Awesome :smitten:
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Comp lll tyre AND a graphite Z Rim for $30 or a pony wallet for $8.50 :shocked: I know which I'd rather have.
On another note, how 'circa' is circa 78 as the pic shows a 'Loopy Quad' with Quadangle padset but I thought they renamed the STR-1 the Quadangle in 80 / 81?
These pics rock. :daumenhoch:
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Comp lll tyre AND a graphite Z Rim for $30 or a pony walle for $8.50 :shocked: I know which I'd rather have.
On another note, how 'circa' is circa 78 as the pic shows a 'Loopy Quad' with Quadangle padset but I thought they renamed the STR-1 the Quadangle in 80 / 81?
These pics rock. :daumenhoch:
Only the top pic is from 78 pal, the other one is 80 :daumenhoch:
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Something else VERY cool. Ben's original race card from 1977. Ben's never shared these before so we're super lucky to have them on RAD :4_17_5:
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BlueLakeMembershipCard2.jpg)(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/kungfunky/BlueLakeMembershipCard.jpg)
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Great pics again Ash :4_17_5:
If only there was a bike shop like that that has been boarded up since the 80's :'(
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Awesome thread Ash :4_17_5: top build just stunning :smitten: :smitten:
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Cool as! Can we have a Pee Wee class at MK? ;D
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Cool as! Can we have a Pee Wee class at MK? ;D
:LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: we could but Spen's not going
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:LolLolLolLol:
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You should really blank out Bens telephone number Ash.
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Adam........Ben was 15 at the time and living with his parents...that number is no longer part of the Joy family :LolLolLolLol:
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Just checking. :D
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Ash that BD-III might just be the nicest thing i have ever seen in my life :shocked:
And them pics too :smitten:
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I think we need a Pee Pee class after all the drinking Rob ;D
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You been looking? ???
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^^ wow thats serious praise indeed thank you :daumenhoch:
and thanks to everyone who's taken the time to read my thread and look at the pics. I've had the best time ever building this bike and putting this thread together. Yes it's taken a very long time to do it but it's beenworth every second :)
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Fantastic thread Ash :4_17_5:
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That's fecking awesome ash, only just seen the thread, very well done buddy :daumenhoch:
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^^ cheers Pete appreciate it :daumenhoch:
Just had a nice email from Jeff Haney 8). We had a good chat about the bike and a few other bits, he's a top bloke to chat to and really knows his stuff plus he has the best collection on the plantet :4_17_5:
He goes on to say..
" Amazing ! Every detail is spot on . I like the pedal choice for that era and the color scheme looks just like the bike in the old bike gallery photos. I really love this bike ! perfection ". :4_17_5:
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Awesome to feedback like that mate :4_17_5:
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Really not sure how I missed this, probably because it's been stickied and I don't check up here regularly, but fook me what a build Ash :4_17_5:
I love that all this SE heritage is on our shores. Brilliant.
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Quality thread mate, thanks for posting. :daumenhoch:
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Really not sure how I missed this, probably because it's been stickied and I don't check up here regularly, but fook me what a build Ash :4_17_5:
I love that all this SE heritage is on our shores. Brilliant.
Wake up Tom ffs :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:
I do try my best as you know pal to get as much of the cool SE and heritage stuff over here :daumenhoch:
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Really not sure how I missed this, probably because it's been stickied and I don't check up here regularly, but fook me what a build Ash :4_17_5:
I love that all this SE heritage is on our shores. Brilliant.
Wake up Tom ffs :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:
I do try my best as you know pal to get as much of the cool SE and heritage stuff over here :daumenhoch:
It's cos you're punting these out one a week - common as muck these pre 80 SE bikes :LolLolLolLol:
I can't begin to imagine how long it must've taken to find the parts. And then to stick all the research/ pics/ archival stuff up for us to see is fooking ace. Love your builds pal :daumenhoch:
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Trust me pal, finding the parts is easy compared to finding out the history and sorting through thousands of pictures etc.. ^"^
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I love threads like this, the Nostalgia in here is over loading and that bike.....I took a loooooonnnnnng look at that at MK12..... :smitten:
The story behing the build is awesome and the bike is something special mate
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I love threads like this, the Nostalgia in here is over loading and that bike.....I took a loooooonnnnnng look at that at MK12..... :smitten:
The story behing the build is awesome and the bike is something special mate
thanks fella, you should have had a chat at MK :daumenhoch:
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:4_17_5: :daumenhoch: :coolsmiley:
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Wow! Brilliant work and thread, great story :)
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Thanks, I have heaps more pictures that I'll be adding at some point soon :daumenhoch:
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Hats off to you
That's some stunning shop pix
I think I would peed me pants if I were lucky enough to of visited the shop BITD
The closest I had to me in the way of BMX shops in Early 80s was Sixar in Upminster Essex
Which a mate of mine was sponsored by them , he had some lovely Rbikes from a DB medium pro in candy red & gold/yellow & a fully tricked out PK in 82 & a few more I between
This shop I still recall the smell from all the tyres & bugging the assistants with the same Qs on every visit lol
When the shop shut down in 1990 I just wasn't quick enough to bag a few treasures
A pal got a KZ1 £150 it came with flight cranks lol another got Silver Streak for £75 complete
When I say I wasn't quick enough I mean that after getting a fully tricked out Supergoose built & put £50 deposit I just didn't go back to pick it up ............M25 raves & E I blame lol
Anyways great thread & fantastic tribute rebuild with the BDIII
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Awsome shop....I dont think bike shops will ever seem quite the same as when we were kids...I used to drool everytime i walked through the doors of the old East Hill OT cycles :)
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What a shop. :shocked:
Thanks for posting pic's. :)
How you would love to go back in time. :smitten:
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Cheers fellas glad you'r enjoying these awsome old pics :daumenhoch:
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Imagine walking into a shop like that nowadays. Fcukin' dreamland ! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
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Imagine walking into a shop like that nowadays. Fcukin' dreamland ! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
Fcukin expensive too ;D
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Keep coming back for another look at these pic's. :)