Skyway Recreation

Skyway is a company based in Redding, California, best known for its BMX Bicycle products. The company was a leading name in BMX during the 1980s thanks to its composite mag-type wheels, which are still produced today.
Origin
The company began in 1963 with a small workshop in Van Nuys, California. After originally supplying specialist parts to Disney, the company concentrated in its early years on Motocross components. It also made parts for use in space vehicles. As its business expanded, the company relocated to San Fernando, in 1967.
BMX and the Tuff Wheel
In 1971 Skyway Recreation was formed. After an abandoned attempt to manufacture a composite wheel for motorcycle use, the company decided to redesign the wheel for use on the then new BMX bicycle. The result was the Skyway Tuff Wheel, which was introduced in 1974. This was the world's first composite bicycle wheel made from glass reinforced nylon. The problem of heat build up in the metal hub, which delayed the initial project release, was much less of a problem for bicycle applications, directing the company towards bicycles. The wheel initially was available only with a coaster (back pedal) brake hub, and only in one color, black.
In 1977, the Schwinn bicycle company requested a yellow wheel from Skyway as original equipment on their "scrambler" model. Skyway began supplying yellow and other colours for general sale. After the success of the original Tuff Wheel, Skyway began redesigning it in 1978, to reduce weight. The result was the 1979 Tuff Wheel 2 which was lighter, and could carry 30% greater load. A new hub designed to combat heat buildup known as the Kool hub, employed a star shaped flange that attached to the composite wheel at five points, effectively leaving the hub itself floating in the centre with a gap around it, virtually eradicating heat build up. A freewheel hub was then introduced by association with Suntour, and later a racing version called the Skyway Graphite was introduced for the new Skyway BMX racing team. This wheel had a special hub made by Campagnolo and a gold anodised finish.
Skyway TA
After a brief foray into bicycle front fork manufacture in 1976 with the Tuff fork, and the introduction of Tuff pedals in 1981, Skyway expanded their range of BMX products. 16" Tuff wheels and wheels for wheelchairs followed. Then in late 1982 the company began selling a complete frame and fork called the T.A. which stood for Totally Aerodynamic. This referred to the special teardrop shaped tubing used, produced by a Japanese company. Once the frame and fork were shipped back to the USA, Skyway then heat treated them. This frame and fork was comparatively light. With a Mongoose Supergoose frame and fork tipping the scales at over 7lbs, the Skyway offering weighed just 5 lbs 9 1/2 oz.
The TA frame and fork became one of the icons of BMX in the 1980s. An XL derivative appeared in late 1984 that was an inch longer for the taller rider, and a 24" version with wheels to match for the "cruiser" riders. In 1985 the Tuff 2 wheel was revised with a new integral hub, where the alloy shell was unnecessary, instead the centre of the composite wheel used fins to create airflow. This version of the wheel was reintroduced in 2005, and it is possible to purchase covers that give the modern wheel the illusion of being the alloy hub version.
Freestyle and market decline
In 1986 Skyway concentrated on the growing BMX Freestyle sub culture, which was becoming dominant. New products included Stunt Pegs, handlebars and a bolt on Stunt Platform for the TA frame. In addition, new colours were offered in the Tuff 2 wheel range, including lavender, grey, pink, green, orange and light blue. White had been available since 1984. Skyway offered complete bicycles, such as the Street Beat, Street Styler and Street Scene, plus a version of the new BMX invention, the Giro that allowed a rider to spin the handlebars 360 degrees without tangling the brake cables. This Skyway product was called the Spin Master. In 1988 two new bikes were offered, the 280TA and the 300TA that were designed for racing. The BMX scene was then in decline, giving way to the mountain bike. When BMX made a comeback in the 1990s Skyway did not feature prominently, because composite mag wheels were largely shunned in favor of spoked wheels.
Return to prominence
In 2005 Skyway made the Tuff 2 wheel again and capitalized on the demand from restorers and enthusiasts of early 1980s machines. The company also supplied wheels to other applications. Skyway BMX products can again be found in shops including the original TA frameset, made from surplus tubing left over from its original run in the 1980s.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu