contact sheely, he would know the whole story. but fuzzy memory says one in the same.

I meant to respond to this days ago... It is an American bike frame (maker). I knew a few guys that worked for them while attending SCSU

Race Tech = American Bicycle Manufacturing's BMX Division. And yes, Sheely rode for them.

Those are indeed Race Tech frames. We had one in our family when my sister and I were younger. She got it when she raced on the Hawk team, and then I rode it for a few years, complete with a Uni disc and 2-piece Bullseye cranks. As of 2 years ago the people I sold it to still had it, and a kid was still racing it!

Tim

Thanks for all the info guys. Nate grew up in my hometown & had a few BMX bikes. A Redline 500a & he owned the Skyway T/A that made the rounds in Red Wing for a time.
So while he's not the big BMXer we are, he still has an interest & is really pretty excited about these bikes. I'll try to get him to bring them out to one of the Faction or All The Racing events.
-Bill

Welcome Tim!

It would be interesting to see one of those frames in person... maybe we can talk him into firing the rocket motors on the twin top tube model.

Tim who?

Gallant

Gallant who?

Pipeline who?

KNOCK-KNOCK...Who's there? ......Ummm I'm pretty sure no one's home....

What ever happened to the excitement of new members coming on here?

Tim Gallant-Tell us a little about yourself. Old School? New School? Just a fan?

This Tim Gallant?

LAND O LAKES PRERACE

A PRO Total Riders = 15
1 "BRUTAL" BILLY ANDERSON, ACTION SPORTS DEPOT, FONTANA, CA
2 JOEY (THE BOMB) BERTHIAUME, FUSION FORCE/MIKES BIKES, CEDAR, MN
3 DAN MAIER, , RICHFIELD, MN
4 KARL CLARK, BIG OX/SUPERCAMP, SURPRISE, AZ
5 TIM GALLANT, , RICHFIELD, MN
6 BRANDON BROWN, PSYKOPATH/MONSTER/ODI, BRAINERD, MN
7 SHANE BANKS, REVOLUTION BIKE, TONGANOXIE, KS
8 JORDON "MOJAVE" DAHME, , ABERDEEN, SD

He races against ( the bomb)? If he can compete with him,, this dude must be good. Yeah, lets here some more. How long he been racing? and what up for coming year?

Hi Guys,

I'm one of those lurkers who looks at forums a lot but doesn't post much...

I've been racing since '86, grew up in Brainerd, and now live in Richfield. I race Vet when I can, A Pro when there isn't a vet class. That said, I only hit a few races a year these days (I have a 2 year old). I still have a good time though, and have made a lot of friends while riding my bike. You'll still see me sometimes riding at the barn (Rebhein's), in Faribault, and my new favorite MN track Mankato. I swear that's the best, bumpiest track ever! Last time I was there I had so much fun that I didn't stop riding until my hands were bleeding (literally; it was from blisters that popped!!!).

Anyway, nice to meet you folks

Welcome Tim, you left out your kick *** job at QBP. Tim is a top notch dude! Its funny how I know so many of his friends and relatives and finally got to know him. Tell Dan to get his *** back to the track sometime this winter, and make Kim come out too. I need to go see your sis skate sometime soon as well. Check out MN Roller Girls for a way fun time.

Its great to see you vbmx, you need to make sure you hit the Condo Classic, check my signature for details.

I suk with names....Are you the 36yr old with the old school helmet and Haro mouth guard?

Also, please forgive the King of Pipe, he's laid of of work and is spending to much time in his attic....



NOW I KNOW who you are DAMMMMMMNNNNIT!

We expect this from Jerry, but Mark... You're slippin old man.
-Bill

I second that!

Hey Guys - good thing I checked in huh? Well those Americans certainly got my attention anyway.

To answer a couple of questions - there were 10 of the freestyle frames made from what I understand, although there's a chance there is only one. I never saw any of the frames, and I don't remember if they went to production.

I thought I had the prototype hard anodized, looks like the one in the pic was blue - but I don't remember for sure. I do know I put a pair of Redline cranks and a DK freestyle stem on the proto, as well as a (now unobtainable) SST race lace coaster hub on the back.

The other one is a first run racing frame, it looks like it maybe had black paint on it - so it could have been one of the first prototypes. I had a black painted spare that was my first frame - they later built me a frame to my spec. This is geometry that went to the production of 50 frames, although mine had a higher quality, thinner top tube (I still have the bike).

Now, who's your buddy - and how did he end up with these bikes - that's the part of the story I'd like to hear.

I have some pics on my server that I posted before:

btw- I'd love to know if that FS ever goes up for sale. I've been hoping that it would surface some day.

Hey, are there any serial numbers on those frames?

You know, it's sad, when my night tonight is going to consist of watching Urban Cowboy.. I got it on DVD..

Hey Shawn, thanks for the info. Perfect timing! I'll try to get in touch with my brother in-law Nate and find out who his buddy is & such. Check back later this week, I should have that info by then.
Nate has no intention of selling them, but you never know. It'll at least be a project to clean them up. He wants to repaint them as well.
Did they originally have any graphics on them. And if they did are there any pics of that?
-Bill

Cool..

Those first bikes had crappy stickers I still have one on my old frame - I can get a pic at Xmas if you want it.

I've been thinking about that freestyle frame - it may have been anodized blue? That may be the only FS frame ever made, I think the number quoted elsewhere for produced bikes was supplied by me - 10 FS and 50 racing frames, but that may have been the only one made - I just don't know. I'd be interested in chatting with the guy who had them in the first place, might jar some memories.

If you do restore them, get in touch with me and I can let you know how they were originally finished and built-up. The FS bike was my first project for American, I worked with Brien Anderson and Mike Lindorfer to bring that design to life in 1984.

I was told I could use any material they were currently using for the racing frame, so I had them knurl a couple of bottom bracket shells, flatten them with the press - and mill out the back so you could slide the wheel in. The double top tube was the only way to make the frame strong enough, and the flip-up behind the seat was for all those era - hop tricks.

I just remembered something, are the top tubes knurled? The proto had knurled top tubes.

Hey Shawn! Long time no login! Are you going to make it to the Jan. 4th Barn Event?

Since Sheely has logged back in...Repost time...

Shawn - I haven't had a chance too see the bikes in person, that won't be until X-Mas.
But looking at the pics on my computer (I have larger versions) It doesn't seem that the top tube is knurled. Zooming in to the inside of the standing platforms, it does look like the color is like annodized blue, but there looks to be light flaking like paint. And Nate did tell me that his friend said he had stripped the paint off himself.
And as ugly as it might be snap a shot of the decals when you get a chance. It'd be interesting to see.
-Bill

Bill - my memory is not so good, but I think the prototype had knurled top tubes.

There was a pic on this site of the sparkle graphics that came on the production bikes - maybe do a search for Race-Tech. The sticker on my bike is different.

Mark - nice biking beaver... yea, I'm planning on being there this year. I have my bike almost ready to go, looking forward to riding the barn more often now that I have a bike (and a car).

Too funny!! I used to stay at Beaver Trails with my cousin's Family back in the 70's during the weekends. I remember it raining everytime and it was a mud hole by Sat night.

Shawn, good to see around again...

First off, welcome Tim. I think I remember seeing you at the races this summer. Did you practice a few times without racing (Faribault & Elk River)?

Bill - interesting bike find you have going on. It's fun to hear the history of those bikes. Maybe Nate can bring them to the Condo in January.

Fellow Richfield resident!

Looks like Sturmeys on that prototype bike... I love those hubs.

Three posts in a row but WTH...
Speaking of excitement when new peeps would show up, remember when Scott K showed up on his Hutch at the first ride in March? We were all so blown away. Cool to see Scott back in the BMX groove!
Condo Classic is going to be huge this year!

Good eye Mikko,

This bike was designed in early '84 - the same year they introduced the first rotor at Interbike (as well as many other Freestyle parts).

I was sponsored by dK at the time, so I asked them to build a stem with a hollow bolt, I used the Sturmey front alloy, high-flanged drum brake on the front and the SST coaster on the back. Parts for the freestyle scene came pretty rapid soon after, so the bike is definitely dated.

Another industry mainstay was developed in the Sheely's Wheels garage early that year - the Uni mini with graphite pro post. I asked them to build one for my under 20 lb cruiser project (my personal Robinson cruiser).

It's been a great year. I'm so glad I found this site and got hooked up with you guys. I remember sitting at the pavilion by the lake waiting for you guys to show up and not having a clue what to expect. That ride downtown was awesome. I felt like a teenager again. I can't believe how much fun I've had and how far I've come in nine months. Last year at this time, the bikes were collecting dust and were a distant memory. I could have never guessed I would be looking forward to another year of racing and Faction gatherings. Thanks for everything guys.

For some reason, I see you sitting on the couch blubbering with a box of tissues right now

No, I think you're getting me confused with Captain Springer. I hear he is really into the daytime soaps.

More like 3 days of watching the Grand's in his living room...

LOL, that was a great ride! That was mos def one of the best times as we rolled down Hennepin.
That was the afternoon when Rod became Snakebite.

Scott, trade me your Hutch for the rare rusted Laguna frame I have in the garage. I'll even throw steel rims in for free.

Only if you race it at the Condo.

The Hutch or the Laguna? Har har!
I am still planning on hitting the Barn in Jan. My Christmas presents will be in by then.

You racing the condum classic El'M? I hope there is a good OS display.

Mark, I was almost thinking the OS display might be cool on the Mike's bike side right down that isle..??? Just a thought. It gets so crazy in the front/staging area.... Plus, this way I won't have to dust off the blue bomber..... Isn't that a double point weekend? I bet the rider turn out will be huge again...

Nah, I am not racing the condo, but I'll be up there a few times in Jan to ride and check it out. I have always wanted to race, I'll see what I think about it when I get out there.

.

I'm not racing either. Its also my daughter's 2nd Birthday on the 4th so I'm sure I'll have a full plate that day and I'm just coming for some fun. Looking forward to hang out and bring the GT out.

You friggin tulips, I can't wait to get back. At the very least I will be rollin around on Jan. 4th but not riding to hard till my left wing heals a bit more.

The condo classic is going to be a riot, huge turn out I expect. I have a heard a rumor that we may have some people flying in from out state.

WTF? are ya going to say something or what?? haahaaa... sometimes I forget what I'm going to say too...

Ya I heard the BND "Utah Hacker" was fly'n in.... or was it Utah Slacker? anyway, ya, I hope he comes out so Boecker and him can kiss and makeup.... Do you suppose Russ "Colorado Coaster" Newcomb will show up? heeeheeee

I heard someone bought this NOS (NAWS) off eBay in preparation for the Condo Classic: