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Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: Jazzchimp on December 22, 2006, 10:12 PM

Title: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Jazzchimp on December 22, 2006, 10:12 PM
They were the wheel to be seen with BITD, but it seems to me that for racing they remain in question.

I suppose what I mean is the pros who raced with them never really did that well (realatively speaking)... so.... was it the rider or the wheel?

Were they too rigid, too heavy, was it the hubs or was it simply that Andy Patterson didn't pedal hard enough?

I'd love a set, but never ridden them

What's your views??
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: selfpreservation on December 22, 2006, 10:17 PM
only people who were sponsored ever had them that i seen , i can see no reason for racing in them  i would slap them on my bike in a new york minute though  :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: MeddlE on December 22, 2006, 10:22 PM
I race them at Hersden, took a set of Araya Aeros off the bike.  The graphites are the heaviest wheelset I have ever had, but they look the dogs so I will continue to use them.
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: oberonspacefruit on December 22, 2006, 11:15 PM
unfortunately, i have to agree with what meddle says.
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: ORANGEZIPPY on December 23, 2006, 12:53 AM
yup i'd agree,

complete waste of money, but pure old skool and they look the nuts,

campys are now $1500 a set, they;re only gonna get riden gently.

if i were building a new skool, i'd probably have a set of the latest grafs as they look nearly as good, ;)

Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Coastvl on December 23, 2006, 04:18 AM
I had them on my old PK and I was a crap racer. At least I looked good pulling tabletops in last place!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: theRuler on December 23, 2006, 11:17 AM
if looks are more important than performance then they are the wheels the get
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Luke on December 23, 2006, 03:37 PM
Deffo a bit heavy for the weight-obsessed racer and, although very strong, not particularly rigid when the power went down. However, this dude was almost unbeatable on them - UK and European champion:

(Pics by AP:CW - hope you don't mind):

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y251/lukebutler/howells21.jpg)


(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y251/lukebutler/howells1.jpg)
 
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: zed4130 on December 23, 2006, 03:56 PM
mags were all i used bitd but now at 16stone they aint a good idea  :2funny:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: AJWD on December 23, 2006, 05:27 PM
I had a white pair on my MRD BITD, and they were she-hite. The hubs used to seize up, and generally they aint very aerodynamic are they?! UKAI's all the way for me.

Merry Christmas, and I promise my two MRDs will make an appearance next year!

Adey. 
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: MeddlE on December 23, 2006, 06:29 PM
White graphites, I think not.

I am using the new ones on my bike, the hubs are hard to beat, very smooth and very free running.  Definitely rigid, much more so than standard tuffs, it's just the weight.  I aint that fast anyuway though.  Oh, and you cant buckle them.

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v738/meddlebmx/dirt.jpg)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: pkradman on December 23, 2006, 10:14 PM
 as some may know im not a tuff wheels fan , i think tuffs are heavy ,bulky,weak, and ugly looking  although i never had a chance to race em bitd so cant comment on there performance  :LolLolLolLol: watch for flack !! .... but anyway checkout  my prestine!! gen 1 early campy hub graffy`s
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v737/pkradman/floval010.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v737/pkradman/floval006.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v737/pkradman/floval011.jpg)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Jazzchimp on December 23, 2006, 11:08 PM
£50 quid and I'll teke em off your hands Lee, I'm doing you a favour - like you said they ruin the whole look!
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: pkradman on December 23, 2006, 11:11 PM
yeah yeah !! ... matskybeat is sucking on eggs looking at this :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: beard1973 on December 24, 2006, 12:38 AM
yeah yeah !! ... matskybeat is sucking on eggs looking at this :LolLolLolLol:

I'm feeling ill looking at that...  :buck2: that wallpaper is a disaster... still..!!!!  ;)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: pkradman on December 24, 2006, 12:49 AM
yeah yeah !! ... matskybeat is sucking on eggs looking at this :LolLolLolLol:

I'm feeling ill looking at that...  :buck2: that wallpaper is a disaster... still..!!!!  ;)
.. listen theres no need to get personal my wife has a thing with laura ashley  :knuppel2: , but anyway i wouldnt expect a burner head to have any taste or style .. case closed !! tip: for 07 start collecting proper bmx`s  :LolLolLolLol: happy xmas beard  :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: billstup on December 24, 2006, 12:51 AM
Andy Patterson and Richy Anderson seemed to get on with them OK  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: beard1973 on December 24, 2006, 12:52 AM
I've seen you dribbling over my Ultra Burner... on more than one occasion...  ;)

Tip for 07... Cover them friggin' legs up and buy some new socks!!

Happy Crimbo... Mr.PK..  :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: pkradman on December 24, 2006, 01:01 AM
I've seen you dribbling over my Ultra Burner... on more than one occasion...  ;)

Tip for 07... Cover them friggin' legs up and buy some new socks!!

Happy Crimbo... Mr.PK..  :) :) :) :)
  :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :knuppel2:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: MeddlE on December 24, 2006, 05:51 PM
Surely you were hoping that the bike would slip, tearing the godawful wallpaper and forcing a need to redecorate.

"Well darling, you chose the wallpaper last time so, fairs fair and all that, it's my turn this time." ;D ;)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Dingobmxer on December 24, 2006, 06:07 PM
I've seen you dribbling over my Ultra Burner... on more than one occasion...  ;)

Tip for 07... Cover them friggin' legs up and buy some new socks!!

Happy Crimbo... Mr.PK..  :) :) :) :)
touche  :LolLolLolLol:
Lee give the Graphites to me and I will wire your extension gratis  :LolLolLolLol: and I can wire in a self destruct function if the wife puts floral paper in there too mate  :knuppel2:
(note to Michelle, I can wire up the same function if Lee wears those god awful shorts in there too  >:D )
Merry Christmas both of you and have a pint in the White Elephant for me  8)
 :) DINGO :)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: pkradman on December 24, 2006, 06:31 PM
spot on dingo ! take it easy and have a good xmas ...  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Dingobmxer on December 24, 2006, 07:06 PM
You too mate  :D
 :) DINGO :)


2 bottles of wine and a couple of Russian beers in to christmas already  8)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Arma on December 24, 2006, 10:42 PM
skyways are filth its what we had b4 we had sense , how can you ride without putting 80+ in ya tires i dont no .
even stupps will back me up on this he argued a toss when we first met up again me on new skool him on some haro thing graphites included he put pegs on and trashed them cracked both wheels in a hour .
didnt read all the posts as usual  all i would say if ya gonna build a bike to put on your front room wall for memories then hell yea go for it, but if you wanna ride or roll then nooooooooooooooooooo  dont do it.
its abit like entering the 24 hour le man  in a ford anglia  leave that stuff in the past . skyway make wheels for hospital trolleys and so on now ..... glad they found a market .. bmx  they aint
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: billstup on December 24, 2006, 10:46 PM
Christ Pat, you`ve broke my heart  :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: madall on December 24, 2006, 11:37 PM
skyways are filth its what we had b4 we had sense , how can you ride without putting 80+ in ya tires i dont no .
even stupps will back me up on this he argued a toss when we first met up again me on new skool him on some haro thing graphites included he put pegs on and trashed them cracked both wheels in a hour .
didnt read all the posts as usual  all i would say if ya gonna build a bike to put on your front room wall for memories then hell yea go for it, but if you wanna ride or roll then nooooooooooooooooooo  dont do it.
its abit like entering the 24 hour le man  in a ford anglia  leave that stuff in the past . skyway make wheels for hospital trolleys and so on now ..... glad they found a market .. bmx  they aint

For me I Disagree totaly I get on great with them an im a 16st rugby player so they get a good kicking of me and there still going strong...touch wood. have cowboy'd them constantly and there ok. I agree they are not great for todays style of riding but for old school like me spot on.

Anyway Have a nice xmas guys,hope Santa brings you a nice shiny pair of Skyways ...lol
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Bren Gunn on December 24, 2006, 11:52 PM
Quote
Andy Patterson and Richy Anderson seemed to get on with them OK 

 :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Jazzchimp on December 26, 2006, 02:58 PM
Andy Patterson and Richy Anderson seemed to get on with them OK  :knuppel2:

See, now this is interesting you see because I would have rated AP as one of the fasted riders in the US pro series but when he rode skyways he looked... well a bit average, which to me suggests that he was slowed by the Tuffs. Would Big Stu have been as successful on tuffs?

Does anyone know the weight difference? how about the aerodynamics?  or am I being a bit over analitical?
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Trev on December 26, 2006, 03:03 PM
I would have rated AP as one of the fasted riders in the US pro series

Does that mean he didn't eat before a race??
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: darkersomeday on December 26, 2006, 05:32 PM
Mat Hoffman dabbled with bringing them back into bmx a good few years ago,

during a uk vert comp he hung up the back wheel on the coping and the wheel exploded!

some dude who picked up the bits sold them on ebay!

that was the last time i saw a pair being "actually" used

by todays standards they're heavy and weak,

nothing beats how they look on an old school bike though
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: billstup on December 27, 2006, 02:25 AM
Andy Patterson and Richy Anderson seemed to get on with them OK  :knuppel2:

See, now this is interesting you see because I would have rated AP as one of the fasted riders in the US pro series but when he rode skyways he looked... well a bit average, which to me suggests that he was slowed by the Tuffs. Would Big Stu have been as successful on tuffs?

Does anyone know the weight difference? how about the aerodynamics?  or am I being a bit over analitical?

He won the Worlds in Holland in 1983 on them though  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: theRuler on December 27, 2006, 12:59 PM
skyways are filth its what we had b4 we had sense

lol

not the thing to say on here
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: FuNMoNsTeR on December 27, 2006, 08:37 PM
I think its down to personal choice... I only raced with Tuffs once at Derby and the bike felt sluggish. I switched straight back to Arayas for the next meet. Tim March rode them with mixed sucess.
  I think a mag wheel gives you more ability to turn/move the bike in the air by turning the bars. You can do the experiment at home... grab a spoked wheel... grab the hub with both hands at arms length and spin it. If you move your right hand toward you the wheel will pull to the right. With a mag wheel the pull is stronger... this maybe just due to weight. i dont know  ???
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: ColoredTuffs.com on January 17, 2007, 10:45 PM
There's something about Graphites that make them so cool.  Sure, they are heavier than todays spoked 36 hole rims, but back in the day, having Graphites was a status symbol.  With the retro movement over the last few years, we've had alot go through the warehouse here, and personally, I love them. 
 On my current race bike, I use spoke wheels during the race season, BUT.... I do have about 12 other bikes in the garage- all with Tuffs, with a few graphites in there.  The LOOK so killer!
-Ed
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Tefore on January 17, 2007, 10:52 PM
hi ed welcome to rad :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: kennyhunter6061 on January 17, 2007, 11:46 PM
I had a set of Graphites BITD, with the campag hubs, they were fitted to my chrome Hutch Pro racer and looked rather nice I have to say.  I managed to pick them up in '85 I think from Hotwheels.  They belonged to Graham Merry who had bought them in the USA for his son Russell, and they had been raced by Charlie Reynolds.  I managed to get them for £75 (bargain!) as they weren't really that popular with UK racers and mega overpriced.  I had no probs with them down the straights, but they felt a bit heavy when cornering or in the air.  I still think they're the coolest looking wheels though.  I sold mine in '94 for £55 (ever sold something and then wished you hadn't?) to a guy called Miles who was into collecting all the old school stuff.

I'd agree with everyone who says if you want to be competetive then stick with regular 36H wheels.  The guys who were winning on them BITD were something special, Richie Anderson, Patterson, MRD, Ant Howells.  I'm sure the wheels slowed them down, but they were just so damn good it didn't show!  I'd love to get myself a set of the new Graphites, but until I'm in the same league as the riders I've just mentioned I think I'll stick with my 36holers.  Mind you, I could always use the Graphites as my excuse if I came in last!  ::)
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: ColoredTuffs.com on January 18, 2007, 12:28 AM
Thanks!  Cool site here!!
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: FuNMoNsTeR on January 18, 2007, 11:05 AM
My mate Warren is looking for a white set of graphites with blue anno hubs.... what are the chances???  ???
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Coastvl on January 18, 2007, 12:02 PM
No such thing as white graphites. They were factory rider options. White tuffs with blue annodised hubs.
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: ColoredTuffs.com on January 18, 2007, 01:48 PM
Yup... what Coastvl said is true....
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Jazzchimp on January 18, 2007, 02:03 PM
Hi Ed by the way, great to see you're on board
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: ColoredTuffs.com on January 18, 2007, 06:31 PM
Thanks so much!
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: FuNMoNsTeR on January 18, 2007, 06:40 PM
No such thing as white graphites. They were factory rider options. White tuffs with blue annodised hubs.

Thanks for that info... saved me a long and fruitless search  ;D  I would have looked a little foolish too "Wanted White Graphite Skyways"   :uglystupid2: 
  Maybe i could bleach a black set white  :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Waxintaxin on January 18, 2007, 10:04 PM
white tuffs

and anno a set of flanges blue

and hope someone can do a good job at re riveting them , cos  i know a few here are trying  :daumenhoch:

Rich
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: Waxintaxin on January 18, 2007, 10:06 PM
And hello Ed from quite obviously coloured tuffs .com Lol


welcome to Rad  :Great_Britain:
Title: Re: Were Skyway graphites ever any good?
Post by: FuNMoNsTeR on January 18, 2007, 10:28 PM
Yeah Hi m8  :daumenhoch:
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