The Prodigal Daddy returns
Like a lot of us in the 80s I lived for my bike. I first had a bmx in 1982, a Huffy Pro Thunder 3 SE, “progressed” to a burner, then a supergoose 3, a trm, diamond back and onto Haro, first a blue sport to be like Wilkerson and a red FST to be like Blyther. I was an OK rider.
Being close to Cardiff I was fortunate to be a regular attendee of the “ramp room”. As Andy Reardon was a top Pro back then, there were always riders from all around coming down there, it was an experience to see them in action,
I slowly stopped riding in the late 80’s, where the pub etc took over!! I kept buying all the mags but didn’t ride that often. Many of you have bought them from me on ebay!! Cheers!!
I still had the FST, now sprayed british racing green with Woody Bars, Anlun Stem and Flights, and had to take my parents to a wedding in Bath in about 93. I had been to the Victoria Park ramps a few times and seen the BCR jams so I took my bike along this time. Phil Dolan was in the park that day, so I got chatting and he showed us some moves, amazing skills. At this time I was starting to get hooked again, A few months later I sold the Haro for £50(without the fights) bought a Shredder dlx and tried my hand at it. I was still too old and fat back then!! I also had a go at some spoof brand t-shirts which I shifted at some events to pay for my trips. If I find any I’ll post them on here for a laugh.
1996 a mate of mine at the time had a bashguard master, he loved haro stuff and one Saturday morning my travelled up to Dai Leisure Brierey Hill near Dudley, where he bought this brand new Blammo. In the shop they had this red Big Daddy. I totally loved it. I went back home and that week was selling a set of drums, so the £500 for that went straight to Backyard for a chrome complete Big Daddy.
During this time, I also picked up a brand new Morales flatland frame, Kore straight forks and depending on my mood would swap the bits around to ride each of the bikes. My mate broke his knee in the SK8 Extreme park in Newport and after that his Mrs wouldn’t let him ride. The bikes were used less and less.
In 2003 I had a call from another mate, asking if I wanted to shift any of my stuff, at this time I didn’t but a few months later my Mrs was pregnant and we were saving for a deposit. I let the Morales frameset go for £100 and the Hoffman for £250. By this time it had the flights on, super 7x with GSport front hubs, static coaster, V monsters and graveyard sprockets front and rear. Real tricked out. I also chucked in original redline flight 44T and 36T chainrings, haro kneesavers and more as I wouldn’t need them again. Just wish I had photos of them.
Last year I moved on my Diamond back F&F on,I also still had my goose, both listed in ebay for 99p along with some bits I had left. I wasn’t planning at this time for a comeback.
In October 2012, I bought my 5 year old a GT Jamie Bestwick 16” off ebay for £30. I’m now itching for one. I had tried to locate my bits but was told they were long gone. Morales in Newbury somewhere, the Lovehandles up north, the flights in Kent, well gutted, I knew the guy had sold them for a nice profit!! That’s life!!!
The Mrs had told me that if I got a bike I was back living with my Dad!! Ironically the day I picked up the GT I bumped into another local rider of my own age, asked him did he have the Hoffman I had, as I had heard he was about the 4th owner down the line. He said No!! I was gutted, then he said my neice has it!! A call and a day later the bike shown below was back mine for £50. It wasn’t in best condition compared to the minter I had owned but I had it! It was well ridden and abused. Just like it should be!! The only parts left from when I sold it was the F&F, seat clamp and primo seat, the haro bars I’d chucked in to the Morales deal.
Welsh Denny put me onto this site, I must say that I have enjoyed my short time on here, wish I had done it earlier. Hope you enjoy the photos below. I’ve built the bike up not as a show bike but as a rider as I do intend to learn/relearn some trick, or just have some fun with my kids. I wanted to ride, I don’t want to be some 43 year old lycra clad cyclist on a mtb or road bike.
The parts I have put on there I’ve got from here or the bay and from some shops. I’ve not got a lot of free time these days, it’s taken me a while but I am pleased with the result. I know some of the parts are not age correct but it’s a rider.
If I could I would have changed a few parts, stem cranks bars but there you are!! My funds were very limited so I couldn’t spend too much. It’s not perfect but its my one and only and I do intend to ride it. Thanks for taking your time to read this, sorry if its long winded but I expect we all have stories like this.
Thanks to Denny for putting on here and keeping the welsh scene alive, Dordy, Gav, Ed for parts, Voivod for the Haro stickers and Del for the BD decals and everyone who has given me advice and help, you lot for posting your magnificent bikes and anyone who has bought bits and bobs off me in the past to help me fund this.
Garran
Frame: 1996 Hoffman Big Daddy (HKF serial)
Fork: 1996 Hoffman Big Daddy
Decals: by Del
Stem: Diamond Back
Bars: Haro Kneesavers
Brake Levers: DiaCompe Tech 77
Brakes: DiaCompe Hombre Fiesta Front + Rear, DMR Front AD plate
Gyro: SST Oryg with g sport headset lock, Ruption gyro cover
Cables: SST Oryg and Odyssey slic, Odyssey knarps, peace cable hanger!
Grips: AME tri
Seat Post: Straight
Seat Clamp: Hoffman Double Bolt
Seat: Primo Steroid
Cranks: Generic 175mm sprayed with Hoffman decals
Sprocket: Profile Imperial 39T
Pedals: Primo Strickler clear
Hubs: Haro Megahubs
Rims: Araya 7x 48
Tyres: United Direct
Tubes: Tesco
Pegs: Haro Fusion
