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Ken Pliska



One of my favorites because of its path in life. In late 1979, one of my friends got this new Patterson and his Dad sold off his GT. After a few races, he realized he didn't like the Patterson and I had an older GT that was my thrasher bike. We traded the Patterson F/F for the GT F/F and I used the Patterson as a street bike with Tuff IIs for a couple of years.

In about 1983 or 1984, I ended up selling off the Patterson as a complete bike with Takagi Cranks, Brute Stem, etc. For the next two decades, I never remembered who I had sold the bike to.

Fast forward to 2003. Danny Garcher had told me that a new guy (old racer, now new racer's Dad) had shown up at one of the local tracks on an old Patterson and promptly broke his shoulder during a practice run.

A couple months later I ran into the same guy at that track and it turned out that he was a local kid from BITD. His Dad had actually talked DY and I into training him out at Riverside Park BMX back then and after all of these years the guy had remembered that.

When he sold me the Patterson back in 2003, it wasn't until he brought it over and we looked at the serial number that it dawned on us. It was his father that had bought that same bike from me in the 1980s. So, for the 19+ years that it was out of my possession, it was less than two miles from my house in the same garage that it had always been in (as this guy had bought his parent's house from them and now lived in it).

Somewhere along the way, it lost its cranks, seat, bars and wheels (they were all replaced by new school parts), but it did find its way back home.



1979 Patterson Frame and Forks
Redline Brute Stem
Redline V Bars
Ame Tri Grips
Uni Seat
Tange Seat Clamp
Takagi Cranks
Sugino Spider
Sugino Chainwheel
KKT Pedals
Dia Compe MX-1000 brakes
Matthauser Brake Pads
Araya 7B Hoops
Shimano Hubs
Cheng Shin C-183 Tires

[ May 12, 2006, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: Ken Pliska ]
Randy
Ken is rollin'....

Yet another beauty.
TIM
oh boy....
pk ripped
Awesome story!!

Would this frame be a Sentry?
Code Blue
Nice bike & history Magnum B.I. (bicycle investigator)
AndyDiamond
Classic man.
Especially the 7B hoops - they look great (and straight) on there.

What are you going to do with it?

I have to get mine built...
Evan
Mighty, mighty fine bike! That just screams late '70s.

quote:
Would this frame be a Sentry?
I believe the Sentry frames had Champion-style dropouts, i.e. slotted into the chainstays. Can someone confirm?
BillWilliamsBMX
WOW This is almost exacly My Bike !!!
What a great Bike and story !!!!

Mine is a 1980 or 1981.
Patterson Frame
Tange TRX Forks
Redline V bars Chrome
Redline Stem Blue
MX 1000 Brakes front/Rear
Haro Brake triggers
Takagi Crank 175
Sugino 44 Chainwheel
Sugino Spider
Kashimax Seat Blue
Suntour Seatpost Clamp Blue
Fluted Aluminum Seatpost Blue
Steel KKT Beartrap Pedals
Acs Z Rims Black
shimmano DX cassette Hubs Blue

I'm restoring the bike to 100% period correct everything.
I'll post pics when I get some.

Awsome.

Bill Williams
Mattblack
Very nice, I like these stories
Frostie
Great story and what a bike to have come home!

Where are the serial numbers on the patterson's and can you age them from it?

I think I may have just bought one from Canada, not sure if it will be a pro or long is there anyway of telling?

This is the only pic I have.



Thanks

Paul
pquinnbmx
Alex, that's not a sentry. the sentry were like old school champion squarebacks. frostie, the serial number on the older pattersons, {1979} would be on the dropout. the serial number on the 1982 pattersons would be on the bottom bracket.
Mike Corvin
Those wheels rock!!! 7B's have always been my favorite rim.
Ken, do you have those spokes zip-tied at the crosses? We use to do that, too, thinking it would cut down on wheel flex.
I've heard of old road racers actually soldering the crosses on their wheels.
Man, here is yet another first-class restoration. You guys take this seriously and are at the professional level as far as the art of restoration is concerned. I could seriously see some of you doing this for money like guys do with old cars.
Anyone who says that BMX bikes are not a serious collecting endeavor has another thing coming, and your efforts are what is making that a reality.

[ May 11, 2006, 11:53 AM: Message edited by: Mike Corvin ]
motomags
Great looking build. How can ya not love a patty.
Infamous
What a treasure. That bike rocks, Ken, and the story is icing on the cake!
BillWilliamsBMX
What is the Serial Number on the 1979 Patterson ?
Mine is a 1980 Serial Number PO733
There is a Patterson in the Museum that has a Serial Number of PO730 Owned by Pat Quinn.
(photo with a cat )
and is listed as a 1980.
(anyone know Pat Quinn's screen name?)
That's how I now know Mine is a 1980

Does anyone know how to get decals for this bike

Bill Williams
Ken Pliska
Bill,

1979s have no "PO" in the serial number. Just a simple four digit number.
pquinnbmx
i just guess on serial numbers- years from 1979-81
avalanchefan
Plus the early models were nickel plated & came W/ a flat brake bridge . I have the reciept somewhere on my first low Patty but i remember the ser.# starting W/ a 0064 something . Bars,seat, chain,tires,brakes ,& headset is all thats left to complete my Patterson as I FINALLY scored a set of 177mm P3's W/profile spider . I think the 177's are a good representative on a "standard " or "pro" since I don't have a long frame .
larryS
Great bike & cool story behind it's history.
www.martin-bike.com
I wish that would happen with my old Redline MXIII. Awesome.
pquinnbmx
quote:
(anyone know Pat Quinn's screen name?)

I resemble this remark.
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