Unboxing legendary history! 📦 Huge congrats to Craig Reynolds of Reynolds Racing on his recent induction into the Illinois BMX Hall of Fame! 🏆 We were stoked to support the fundraiser and grab these limited edition shirts. They look even better in person. Craig, thanks for everything you do for the scene! ------ This is a classic "boots-on-the-ground" story of an underdog brand built on integrity, geometry, and a refusal to settle for a bike that didn't fit. Here is a summary of the Reynolds Racing (RR) legacy, broken down by its most important "measurements." 1. The Catalyst: "The $200 Request" In 1992, while a student at Northern Illinois University, Craig Reynolds was riding for BADD & Co. When he asked for a modest monthly salary ($200–$500), they stopped taking his calls. Instead of finding another sponsor, Craig decided to build his own frames—specifically because, at his height, every "pro" frame on the market felt too short. 2. The Geometry-First Philosophy Craig was obsessed with measurements. He partnered with Cycle Craft for manufacturing and Barry McManus as his pro rider. The Prototype Lesson: His first prototype had a 71° seat tube angle; he knew it was wrong within 30 seconds of unboxing. He corrected it to 73°, creating the legendary "Fresh 40." The Lineup: * The Rap 42: Barry McManus’s pro model (named for its 42-inch wheelbase). The Puppy: A high-end bike for kids who were struggling on sub-par, oversized frames. The Formula: The "mid-sized" filler, named after Craig jokingly threatened to name it "The Refrigerator" after picking a random word from the dictionary. 3. The "Garage" Years RR was a true DIY operation run out of Craig's parents' house. He handled inventory, stickering, and shipping via UPS from his bedroom. His business model was simple: "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday." Every cent of profit was reinvested into the company for more frames, ads, and shirts. 4. The System Cycle Supply (SCS) Era To focus more on racing and less on logistics, Craig sold the RR name and stock to System Cycle Supply (associated with DK). 5. Integrity Over Profit: The End of RR The downfall came through manufacturing delays and SCS facing financial struggles. When SCS offered to move production to Taiwan to keep the brand alive, Craig refused. He felt the quality wasn't there yet and didn't want to disappoint his customers with an inferior product. He took his final "victory lap" at Lake Perris, CA, ending the company on his own terms rather than compromising the "Reynolds" name. 📚 About Lititz BMX Lititz BMX is an independent BMX preservation project dedicated to documenting and preserving the people, bikes, artifacts, race history, and stories that shaped the sport. What began as a private collection has grown into an expanding digital archive featuring hundreds of artifacts, rider profiles, interviews, educational resources, and historical research spanning BMX’s earliest days through today. Every artifact tells a story. Every rider leaves a legacy. Every piece of BMX history deserves to be preserved. Each recording helps preserve BMX history by documenting the people, artifacts, and stories that might otherwise be lost to time. 🔗 Discover More in the Archive This recording is one chapter in the story of the Lititz BMX Archive. Whether you're researching BMX history, rediscovering a favorite rider, or exploring the stories behind the artifacts, there's always something new waiting in the archive. 🏁 Explore Lititz BMX https://www.lititzbmx.com 📚 Explore the Complete Archive https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/ ⭐ Featured Archive Highlights 🔹 Campaigns - #RebuildRadicalRick https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/campaigns/rebuild-radical-rick-campaigns 🔹 Musicians Who Ride - Dimebag Darrell https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/in-entertainment/musicians-who-bmx-or-ride/dimebag-darrell-musicians 🔹 International BMX History – The Netherlands https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/international-bmx-history/the-netherlands-international-bmx-history 🚲 🚲 Support the Archive The Lititz BMX Archive is independently developed and maintained. Sharing recordings, identifying artifacts, contributing historical information, and connecting riders with the archive are some of the best ways to help preserve BMX history. • Museum-quality BMX artifacts • BMX team and manufacturer history • Vintage BMX memorabilia and catalogs • International BMX history • Educational resources and historical research • Original photographs, videos, and documents • Original Lititz BMX media productions • Restoration projects and behind-the-scenes stories New artifacts, rider profiles, interviews, and historical resources are added regularly as the Lititz BMX Archive continues to grow.