Given that it’s Thursday (or “throwback thursday” as the kids call it) maybe it’s time to take a look back to an earlier era for a moment.

It’s the 90s and a young, plucky racer named Craig Reynolds had determined that the production model frames he was running just weren’t cutting it anymore.

According to Craig,

Every sponsor I ever had (excluding BADD) I had to have a custom made bike because they were all too short. My long legs were cramped.*

After a couple calls to Cyclecraft and the 2 “B”s in 2B clothing (Steve Buddendeck and Hal Brindley), Craig had secured himself both a frame manufacturer and a logo/graphics package for his fledgling company, Reynolds Racing. (You can read more of the backstory over at BMXMuseum.)

One of the first products of the company was the Fresh 40.

For taller riders, the 21.5″ top tube was a god-send.

Reynolds Racing quickly developed a reputation for long frames that could stand up to trails riding as well as racing. It didn’t hurt that Craig Reynolds superb manualing skills also showed the frame’s geometry was spot-on for keeping it low and fast as well.

The Rap 42 (built for Barry McManus) would follow. With it’s 42″ wheelbase, the “longer the better” theme continued.

In the end, like many smaller companies in BMX, it’s time on the BMX scene was short-lived.

However, for a brief time back in the 90s it provided a true alternative to taller riders that were looking for a high-quality race frame (that actually fit them).

As for Craig, he would later finish out his racing career with Mongoose and then still later, transition into a series of broadcasting gigs.

*excerpted from BMXMuseum “My RR Story”