Why would he phone shiner??
I thought backyard and the seventies were sole importers of hoffman. It all went through mad john who rode for hoffman.
To be honest I can't see the bbc keeping the bike and letting a staff member sell it on. Surely it was given to the beeb to give away as a prize?
But then again after the recent happenings of the bbc behind closed doors. Who knows!!
However most times hoffman came to the uk he used to get a bike set up sent to the uk and then give it away to charity as it cost so much to ship it back. To him it wasn't worth it as he had them on the shelf back in the us.
Most got auctioned or were in a draw from the make a wish foundation.