In the late 1980’s the sport of BMX had reached a plateau in both technology and popularity. By 1990 the sport was mature enough to have seen its early stars come and go. Some riders had spent there entire youth racing BMX only to settle into an adulthood unrelated to bicycles. This was not going to be the case for a young man named Clay Goldsmid.
In the early 90’s Clay’s passion for bicycles still burned extremely strong, but he knew that even while he was competing successfully as a professional at the National and World levels he was becoming a veteran. He began to consider, not retirement for himself as an athlete, but the birth of himself as a bicycle company owner. Wanting to bring the sport new vitality through the innovation that the sport had been lacking, he transitioned his energy, redirecting his passions to what would eventually become Hyper Bicycles
Hyper’s beginnings, like many other companies, were humble to say the least. As it turns out, the tenacity that Clay sharpened as a racer served him well as a businessman. In 1990 with nothing more than a passion for cycling, some innovative ideas and $100 to get things started, Hyper Bicycles was born.
The HPR20 was the first frame Hyper developed, which featured a detachable rear end that allowed the rider to change the front triangle of the frame to achieve a custom fit. Although very few of these frames were made they sold quickly and the Hyper dream was off and running. (fig1)
Around this same time Clay started to re-build his personal riding track that he first built in 1980. This practice track would become one of the best riding spots in the country. The aggressively designed Hyper track has been ridden by most of the top BMX athletes in recent history. Legendary riders such as Eric Carter, Brian Foster, Charles Townsend, Robbie Morales, Todd Corbitt, Travis Pastrana and Donny Robinson all have “sampled the dirt” in Malaga New Jersey. In 1991, one of the first BMX dirt jumping contests was held at the place the riders had begun to call “Clayground.” (fig2) The track was equipped with lights, water, a pumping sound system and some of the most challenging jumps of its time. The Hyper track has seen many rebuilds, but it has remained a place to ride in some shape or form for more than 20 years. Currently the “Clayground” has been leveled to make way for a bigger and better version that should be completed in the Spring of 2011.
The next generation of frames from Hyper was the made in the USA, lightweight, 4130 Chromoly Hyper Metro. The momentum for Hyper had begun, and with the launch of the new Metro frame, Clay was looking for a top rider to be the “face” of the Hyper Race Team. Clay took a chance and called an old friend (and former competitor of his) who had retired from racing, to try and convince him to return to BMX. Eric Carter liked where Hyper was headed and agreed to make his come-back as a Pro. In 1993 Eric toured the racing circuit in the Hyper van, one of the first custom painted race vehicles the sport had seen. In his first Season back in BMX he won the NBL Pro National Championship. (fig3) The demand for Hyper frames was booming and for the next few years Hyper developed and sold high end frames including the Hyper FS, the company’s first aluminum frame and the Hyper Boxsters Series of frames.
Hyper had established itself as a top frame builder within the racing community. In early 2001 the opportunity to reach more kids and spread Clay’s passion for BMX and cycling presented itself. He was in the right place at the right time and met the bike buyer for the mass merchant Toys R Us. At this time, Hyper had only manufactured high end racing products, but the challenge of producing entry-level complete bikes was something Clay knew he couldn’t pass up. After some hard work and a steep learning curve, Hyper placed its first BMX bike in Toys R Us. The company was now growing both in the Mass Merchants and on the race scene. While building the mass market business, Hyper never lost focus on its racing roots. In 2003 Hyper teamed up with the number one toy company in the world to form the Hyper/Hot Wheels Team. Under the guidance of Bill Zimmerman the Hyper/Hot Wheels Team would end up winning back to back NBL National Team Titles in 2003 and 2004. (fig4)
In 2005 Hyper solidified its position as a key player in the mass market with the introduction of the innovative Motobike in Walmart stores. (fig5) The Motobike would become one of the most highly advertised and best selling bikes at Walmart. As Hyper’s mass merchant sales continued to grow so did the demand for race frames which led to the introduction of the Assault frames which would become the best selling Hyper frame to date.
In 2008 Team Manager Jud Ciancio was attending the NBL Christmas Classic where he noticed that Donny Robinson, one of the most decorated athletes in the history of BMX, was without a Sponsor. He made a quick phone call to Clay and shortly after that call Donny Robinson was the newest member of the Hyper Factory Team. Later that same year Donny or “dR” as he is called, qualified to represent the United States in the first ever Olympic BMX race. Donny would eventually stand proudly on the podium with an Olympic Bronze medal around his neck. He would continue his wining ways by becoming the World Champion in 2009. (fig6) In spite of its successful Olympic debut, the sport of BMX was still declining at the time and Clay asked himself “what can I do to help BMX grow?” The answer was clear; use the manufacturing expertise that he had honed over the past 10 years with the mass merchants to develop the most affordable BMX race-ready bike the industry has ever seen. The dR Replica was born. The result was a complete, ready to race BMX bike for less than $100. Hyper then joined forces with the NBL to offer a free 30 trial membership with every dR bike sold. (fig7) This collaboration is driving hundreds of new riders to NBL tracks and getting them involved with the great sport of BMX racing.
For 2011 expect to see a new bigger and better Hyper Race Team out there competing to win the “new NBL” Team Title. Everyone at Hyper is excited about the changes the NBL has made and is proud to be the Title Sponsor for the 2011 NBL Season.
Hyper has grown from a small frame company to one of the top suppliers of bicycles in the world, but the roots of the company will always be BMX racing. If you know Clay Goldsmid and ask him how he’s doing he usually responds “I’m living the dream” and that just about sums up the history of Hyper Bicycles, a dream come true.
