With the help of Bart Weems and Ken Coster over at Skyway, I wrote an article that was featured in last months BMX World magazine about the history of Skyway. If anyone missed the magazine, and you're interested in a bit of a history lesson, click the link below to read the story, and to see some pictures.
-Ed
The History of Skyway Recreation
Full Version: The History of Skyway Recreation Products
VERY COOL READ.............
thanks for sharing it.
thanks for sharing it.
Great job Ed!
quote:Yup!
the "Skyway T/A" frameset...was perhaps one of the nicest looking framesets ever produced, even to this day!
Very cool story Ed! Nice work Skyway on being true to its origins!
very nice...great story!! i got a set of metal flange tuff 2's on the race bike now...heres a pic ed... URL=http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p132/clark1536/SUNP0002.jpg] 
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very very cool......I did not know about the forks
Longere
Longere
COOL !!
..I just added a few more photos, including a Tuff Fork pic....
Thanks for the props guys!
-Ed
Thanks for the props guys!
-Ed
quote:I'm probably wrong, as i'm no expert, and I may very well be reading that wrong, but are you saying the XL has an 18-1/2" top tube? I was always of the impression the XL was closer to 20" TT (or 19-1/2").
Production on the T/A frameset went on for years, until the "freestyle" movement in 1986. The "T/A" was available in chome and white, and an inch longer XL version (in late 1984) that sported a 18-1/2" top tube also came out.
Nice read BTW.
Yup. That info is correct.
What was considered a "Pro Size" frame back in the day, is now considered a "junior size", by today's standards.
What was considered a "Pro Size" frame back in the day, is now considered a "junior size", by today's standards.
i saw that fork in another thread wanting info on a graphite mag...its cool!
all those old frames...so short! the old quad has a 18 1/2 top tube...it feels like a mini.
nice pic of the blue mag!
good job Ed!
all those old frames...so short! the old quad has a 18 1/2 top tube...it feels like a mini.
nice pic of the blue mag!
good job Ed!
Thanks for the history lesson ED.
nice story, i grabbed up a set of those tuff 2s. cant beat those prices.
quote:The T/A has an 18.5" top tube and the T/A XL has a 19.5".
The "T/A" was available in chome and white, and an inch longer XL version (in late 1984) that sported a 18-1/2" top tube also came out.
Thats right same TT length as todays flatland bikes, kids today have no idea how hard it was to race & jump those bikes.
dang... Bill nabbed me again. Sorry folks. The regular one is 18.5", and the XL is 19.5".
Sonic attack...... my apologies. You were right!
I should have known that fact. I own enough of 'em! LOL.
[ January 02, 2007, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: ColoredTuffs.com ]
Sonic attack...... my apologies. You were right!
I should have known that fact. I own enough of 'em! LOL.
[ January 02, 2007, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: ColoredTuffs.com ]
Very enjoyable history lesson. Thank you.
Awesome story, Thanks
thanks for sharing!
great story indeed....
great story indeed....
Speaking of which - does anyone know where I can get my hands on some Skyway race bar decals?
Cool info. Also, for all you SE guys out there, The Skyway Tuff forks were the very first SE used forks. They were painted SE colors with BMX Innovations stickers on them, pre Cycle Pro and Landing Gear. I remember the ads in the old BMX Actions for the forks. Had the SE team in the photo with PK up front with a loop PK and Skyway forks on it. If you search the JU6 threads, TIM and I both have them on our bikes. Very cool forks.
So if Skyway plays it right, we will buy Tuffs, then need wheelschairs. A Built in customer base! J/K
But it is smart of Skyway to stay clsoe to Wheels chairs. As the bubble of the boom. Old people need medical and assorted items. I'd say it's a much larger market than MX or BMX.
But it is smart of Skyway to stay clsoe to Wheels chairs. As the bubble of the boom. Old people need medical and assorted items. I'd say it's a much larger market than MX or BMX.
That is true. Their BMX market is MUCH smaller now, and only accounts for about 5% of their business now.
Why do they continue making BMX wheels??
Roots!
And I'm gonna get a sweet set of Graphite wheelchair wheels someday!
Why do they continue making BMX wheels??
Roots!
And I'm gonna get a sweet set of Graphite wheelchair wheels someday!
Phew, lucky I didn't go rip the stickers off my bike.
I did measure the top tube again and was still convinced I had a regular TA...Though I still want an XL as well. I'm greedy like that.
I did measure the top tube again and was still convinced I had a regular TA...Though I still want an XL as well. I'm greedy like that.
Ed,
Thanks for the COOL History lesson. It is alway interesting to see how things get started and see how they have progressed over the years. Oh and Thanks for putting my Picture in the article as well.
Dennis
Thanks for the COOL History lesson. It is alway interesting to see how things get started and see how they have progressed over the years. Oh and Thanks for putting my Picture in the article as well.
Dennis
AWESOME STORY ED ! Kind of wants to make go & order a set ! I ran Campy Graphites BITD & run the new skool version W/ Kool Kaps on my '82 Patty . I WOULDN'T RUN ANYTHING ELSE !
Hey Ed , Mabye this subtopic is elsewhere , & since it's Tuffwheel related , hopefully you or someone can answer this question , what's the story with the anodized (red & blue )flanges that R.L.& Buff sported way back when , was it one off thing for them ?
Skyway did do some cool personalization for their sponsored riders. Usually, whatever they wanted, they got!
Ya know after reading this.
I was thinking Ed that you guys should do a video and it should be added as another chapter in the Joe Kid Video. As a matter of fact Id love to see a few companies do some videos to add to the Joe Kid Video. Sort of like A History Channel series or something.
I was thinking Ed that you guys should do a video and it should be added as another chapter in the Joe Kid Video. As a matter of fact Id love to see a few companies do some videos to add to the Joe Kid Video. Sort of like A History Channel series or something.
lowchin
I do have in my possesion a 24 minute video that Skyway made back in 82. It has 3 segments -
1) Shows the factory making wheels, pedals, and testing the T/A frame
2) The Skyway BMX Freestyle team
3) Skyway at the races.
It's really cool. At this time there is no permission granted to me to do ay reproduction of it, but I'm sure that Skyway would release it if a reputable film maker (hint hint, Mark Eaton) wanted to use it for a future project. There are some interested people, but so far it's just been talk.
We could play it at Rockford I'm sure......
I do have in my possesion a 24 minute video that Skyway made back in 82. It has 3 segments -
1) Shows the factory making wheels, pedals, and testing the T/A frame
2) The Skyway BMX Freestyle team
3) Skyway at the races.
It's really cool. At this time there is no permission granted to me to do ay reproduction of it, but I'm sure that Skyway would release it if a reputable film maker (hint hint, Mark Eaton) wanted to use it for a future project. There are some interested people, but so far it's just been talk.
We could play it at Rockford I'm sure......
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