In the beginning there was BMX and Scott Barrette saw that it was good. From the primordial soup that is BMX evolved all manner of off-road riding, as well as riders who moved on to other disciplines. Champions of mountain biking (Cherri Elliott), supercross (Jeremy McGrath), road (Robbie McEwen) and track have all stood on the BMX podium.

And so it was with Scott. The 1979 national cruiser (24” wheel) champ, he raced BMX from 1976-1982, often in the side hack class with his brother. Together, they held the UBR (United Bicycle Racers) top stop for three years, with Scott in the pilot seat and Craig as the “monkey” in the sidecar. They rode frames by Gary Littlejohn, a legendary Hollywood stuntman (Easy Rider, Howard the Duck, BJ and the Bear) who made some of the first prototypes. Concerned that kids were trashing their Stingrays (and bodies) racing and jumping, Littlejohn designed a sturdy geometry that would withstand the rigors of BMX.

As in many sports, there are other fascinating tales that can only be told by one who has lived and breathed BMX as long as Scott has. He now owns The Bike Shop in Fair Oaks, which has become the unofficial ABA BMX museum, and certainly the Mecca for local racers. Pilgrims have come from all over the country to see the panoply of frames and memorabilia Scott has collected. Rather than attempt a history in these pages, I urge you to visit this homage to BMX. You may find that you long to be 16 again, racing around a 1200-foot dirt track with abandon or, as in my case, having big crushes on the boys who did.

In the mid-seventies, The Bike Shop was Scott’s hangout and eventually employer, as he saw a passion for cycling extend to every corner of his life. A talented artist in a family of artists, he made every effort to pursue a “serious” study of architecture, only to find academia a cold slap to a creative mind. He returned to the business of cycling and eventually, through a series of interesting twists and turns, bought the store. In the nine years since, he has grown the business quite nicely, enabling him to sponsor a team. His racing days are fond memories as Scott now rides road and mountain bikes to feed his passion for two-wheeled adventure. An avid supporter and member of the Sacramento Wheelmen, he hopes to fuel more interest in mountain bike club rides.

One of the first things you notice as you enter The Bike Shop is the Wheelmen merchandise. It is our source for club jerseys, shorts, jackets and accessories. This year, Scott plans a major overhaul of the store and will split the space between road and off-road cycling. He will design a floor plan that makes more room for the unique paraphernalia of each discipline. Despite the segregation, he will never forget the inextricable bond that connects all cyclists. In Scott’s store, as in his life, you will find a rich history of BMX, and an ongoing devotion to the evolution of cycling.

The Sacramento Wheelmen salute Scott Barrette for his contribution to our understanding and appreciation of cycling, and especially for his support of BMX racers everywhere.

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