../companies/Odyssey

Sources: www.odysseybmx.com, BMX Plus!, Dig, Freestylin, BMX Action, Freestyle, www.vintagebmx.com, digbmx.mpora.com, ...
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1985 www.odysseybmx.com: BMX started in the early seventies when kids began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks in Southern California, drawing inspiration from the motocross superstars of the time. The size and availability of the Schwinn Sting-Ray made it the natural bike of choice, since they were easily customized for better handling and performance. BMX racing was a phenomenon by the mid-1970's and it wasn't long before an influx of market-specific companies emerged. Fast-forward a decade and a whole new round of companies began to pop-up that were intent on addressing the needs of riders who had grown far more interested in doing tricks on their bikes than they were with racing them. It was during this time period, 1985 to be exact, that Odyssey started selling BMX and freestyle products from its original office in Carson, California. The initial goal was to fulfill the growing desire for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and aftermarket components in BMX alone, but the brand soon became devoted to the relatively new and wildly ground-breaking freestyle riding that was growing in popularity both in the United States and in other countries around the world. The brand's first products consisted of braking "systems" (calipers, pads, cables and levers), seating (clamps, posts, and seats), stems, handlebars, cranks, pedals, sprockets, frame and fork standers, aluminum pegs and a few novelty items like the infamous Barefeet tires. Many of these parts were specified as OEM equipment on some of the best bikes of the time period. Several of Odyssey's early components weren't much more than "me too" products that were based around the notion of offering aesthetically distinct OEM part kits. However, this approach fulfilled a market need and also catered toward the tendency for customization that was an important part of freestyle in this era. As a company, Odyssey's initial support for riding both in the US and internationally had relatively few equals, boasting a long list of co-sponsored riders, numerous monthly magazine advertisements (sometimes three or more per issue) and title sponsorships at events like Bob Morales' AFA Master Series and Ron Wilkerson's inaugural 2-Hip King of Vert contests.

First ad in Freestylin' november 1985.

SLIC-KABLE.
www.odysseybmx.com: The Slic-Kable was designed and introduced as one of the company's first products, and it's still one of the most popular brake cables in use today, this is due in part to its flattened outer wire profile, Teflon-lining and a limitless supply of housing colors.
1986 ODYSSEY SEATPOST CLAMP.
BMX Plus! august 1986: It seems that just a few months ago the name ''Odyssey" was practically unknown. Things have changed. Nowadays Odyssey's a household word used to describe the manufacturer of the most functional, and affordable line of BMX and freestyle products. But since this article is dedicated to their killer, drilled-out, ultratrick seatpost clamp, we'll start and finish by saying that the clamps are bad, Brad. These products hold like steel, Neal. The units are priced right, so they'll sell well, Mel. They come in red, pink, Iavender, green, white, blue and black, Jack. Um, I guess we've run out of things to say, and names to rhyme them with. Here's the way it is, Dizz (oops). You should romp on down to your local dealer and check out all the Odyssey stuff. That's all, Paul!

ODYSSEY GYRO.
Brian Scura designed the Odyssey GYRO and rakes in a commission of $1 per Gyro made.
Freestylin october 1986: THE GYRO WORTH THE WAIT. You've no doubt seen it advertised. Maybe you've even checked down at the local shop to see if they hadone. But you've probably never actually seen one ... until now. By the time you read this, you should be able to pick up an Odyssey Gyro at your fave shop. Who's the mastermind behind the new spinning system? None other than Brian Scura, inventor of many novelties and amusing devices. Gyro cost? Nineteen gringo dollars(cheap). Colors? Obviously you're gonna find at least ONE that'll match your bike ... choose from white, black, blue, red, lavender; orange, green, pink, or gray. How does it work? Excellent. It has a split-cable system that starts as one cable coming out of the brake lever, then separates into two cables about where your crossbar is, one going to each side of the Gyro. There're also two cables on the bottom of Gyro which form into one about halfway between the rear brakes and the stem. What this amounts to is SIX cables altogether, working to give you less side load and smoother spinning action on the Gyro itself. Of course, the cables are teflon-lined for a killer feel, plus there are SEVEN different places to adjust the Gyro, which means you can get 'em completely fine-tuned. Also, you might want to note that GT bought the first production shipment of Gyros, so it's pretty obvious where you'll be seeing a lot of them soon. One place you WON'T be seeing 'em is on Red Line RL-20-IIs, 'cause the wraparound twin top tube makes installation impossible. Whether or not Odyssey will make a new model to fit RL2O-lls hasn't been determined, but we'll keep you informed. Rip down to the shop and check a Gyro out-you'll like what you see.
www.odysseybmx.com: Originally invented by Brian Scura and still manufactured by Odyssey, the Gyro is one of the most important innovations in BMX history. It's indifference to stems and headsets meant that it was the only detangler that made the transition to 1-1/8" threadless, and it is still a product that's in widespread use today. The current Gyro G3 has received changes to its cables and bearing unit over the years, and our top-of-the-line Gyro GTX-R may not look like the original, but the basic detangling cable function for all of our Gyros is still the same. The Gyro truly helped to set Odyssey apart, and it also established our reputation for following through with the development of original designs.

LEADING EDGE SEAT.
odyssey gyro bmx rotor

odyssey bmx Leading Edge seat
Leading Edge seat.
1987 PIVOT WINGS PEGS.
Ad in Freestyle november 1987: The Odyssey Pivot Wings have a concave design to hug the fork for a cleaner look. But looking rad isn't the only advantage to these puppies. The spring loaded lock keeps them from floppin' when you're flippin'.

ODYSSEY FLYING WEDGE BARS.
BMX Action november 1987: The most distinctive bars on the market. You can spot'em from miles away. They will make you a stand out of any crowd! If you're a dull dude, you need thes bars.

EXCALIBUR ONE-PIECE CRANKS.
www.odysseybmx.com: Nearly everyone was riding one-piece cranks in the eighties, and the Excalibur had a reputation for being stronger than many of the other one-piece cranks that were on the market. Amazingly enough, production continued on the Excalibur through 2007, over twenty years after its initial introduction.
Odyssey Pivot Wings pegs

odyssey flying wedge bars
1988 The Excalibur ad first appeared in the january 1988 issue of Freestylin'

ODYSSEY PITBULL.
www.odysseybmx.com: In 1988, the Pitbull brake was introduced and found favor with BMX racers and freestylers alike. The brake didn't need dedicated frame bosses, and it's direct dual-pivot operation worked extremely well for a wide variety of riders. The Pitbull caused a temporary push away from u-brakes that would last into the early nineties.
odyssey bmx pitbull brake
1989 HAVOK SPROCKET POCKET.
www.odysseybmx.com: Street riding began to grow, and a small group of highly respected San Diego riders decided to bring their plastic Havok Sprocket Pocket to Odyssey for mass-production. As a result, one of the first bolt-on sprocket guards soon gained a level of wide-spread acceptance that would eventually lead to metal "sprocket pockets" from other brands several years later.
1996 BERMUDA TYRE.
Day Smith is designing a flatland tyre called the Bermuda Signature.
1998 Chris Cotsonas was hired by Odyssey in july 1998. Things started changing around then.
www.odysseybmx.com: Through the nineties, Odyssey meandered through a few mountain bike parts and shifted more toward BMX racing products, since these were the interests of most of the design staff. However, significant company-rattling changes happened at Odyssey when we began to reshuffle our employees in 1998 and moved our office to Cerritos, California a year later. Since then we've directed our focus back to our freestyle roots, and we've made it our mission to work with the best possible people both in our office and on our sponsored teams.
1999 Odyssey is dropping all of his pros.

41-THERMAL.
Odyssey is using a new tube process called 41-Thermal, a heat treated cromoly steel.
www.odysseybmx.com: 41-Thermal is the 4130 chromoly manufacturing process that we introduced back in 1999. This process ultimately starts at the design stage, carries on throughout manufacturing and is only completed when we get to the finishing steps. Every action along the way counts and matters. The process could be considered similar to a literal cooking recipe in that there are an endless number of variables to hone in on and fine-tune. We've been working with this process for close to a decade, and it continues to evolve and change along with the products that proudly carry this famously trademarked name. Other companies have attempted to write the process off as a "gimmick" or they over simplistically try to label it as "just heat-treating", but nothing has revolutionized the manufacturing of chromoly forks, bars, cranks and frames in the last 20 years like 41-Thermal has. We pioneered it, developed it and continue to perfect it, never at the mercy of feebly asking manufacturers to do "whatever the next guy is doing". Our lab and ride testing is methodical -constantly striving to make the process better through continuous experimentation and true engineering. 41-Thermal products are backed by years of research and development, and they have always been fully supported by a lifetime warranty. Since 1999 - nobody else can make that claim, or even comes close to it.

41 THERMAL FORKS.
Fred Murray, digbmx.mpora.com, september 2012: Over the past decade Odyssey’s 41 Thermal forks have established a reputation for superior strength and quality. In 1997 the guys at Odyssey sat down with intentions of producing the strongest forks that they were capable of making, and after two years of meticulous testing and prototyping they hit the shops. The forks were the first product that Odyssey used their now world renowned 41 Thermal Heat Treating process on. Before this, nobody had really messed around with the idea of post weld heat-treating chromoly to make it more resilient against bending or breaking. After they finished the forks, Odyssey applied the same thinking to anything they made using welded 4130. They followed with handlebars, cranks, seatposts, and eventually working with Jim Cielencki on Sunday Frames, all using the same proven 41 Thermal process. Odyssey were so adamant that their forks were the strongest available, that they attached a full lifetime warranty to anything with the 41 Thermal logo. 13 years later the 41 Thermal Forks are still the only choice of fork for many pro riders. The design has progressed right along with the rest of Odyssey’s ever expanding product line up, but after constant testing and refinement, the principal of creating the strongest fork on the market remains the same. Odyssey are always testing and refining their forks. The latest versions still cater for a wide variety of riding styles, and are available in a traditional 32mm offset, a more street influenced 25mm offset and even a set with brake lugs.
odyssey bmx pitbull brake
2000 BLACK WIDOWS CRANKS. odyssey bmx logo
2001 Rotor roulement scellés.

JIM BAUER.
Jim Bauer was hired by Odyssey in july 2001.
odyssey gyro 2001
2002 NUNO OLIVEIRA.
Nuno Oliveira was hired by Odyssey in 2002.
2003 GEORGE FRENCH
George French became involved.
2004 ELEMENTARY STEM.
Concept and engineering by G-Sport BMX man George French.  Designed and manufactured by Odyssey BMX.
One bolt simultaneously locks the handlebars and steerer tube into place. Available with or without Gyro tabs. Forged and machined 2014 aluminum main U-Frame. Extruded and machined 2014 aluminum inner components. 8 ounce weight. Available in late 2004.
odyssey elementary stem
2005 G-SPORT.
Press release, february 2005: Odyssey BMX and George French are pleased to announce that the G-Sport brand has become a part of the Odyssey family. An arrangement was agreed on in late 2004, and new projects for both brands are now underway. After working together on the Elementary Stem for the last two years, it was realized that a closer working relationship would be beneficial to both Odyssey and G-Sport. George French will work on product design and development for both G-Sport and Odyssey, with the focus at G-Sport remaining on the hub and wheel market that the company is already known for. This arrangement will relieve George of time consuming business-related commitments, giving him the needed free time to focus on product design and development that will now cover a much broader range. French will continue to work from his home in Sheffield, England, communicating daily with U.S.-based Odyssey employees; Chris Cotsonas (product design), Jim Bauer (graphic design) and Nuno Oliveira (sales).
Existing G-Sport component production will move to Taiwan, but will retain the strict quality control that has always been the hallmark of the brand. Odyssey in turn will use their strong customer support, distribution and marketing to make the products more affordable and readily available. G-Sport products will be available from Odyssey in Spring 2005.
2006
2009 BAYOU BARS.
Terry Adams' Bayou Bars is the first product to come out of our Flatware product line and it's finally in stock and available! Built to Terry's specifications, these bars are 41-Thermal processed and backed by a lifetime warranty. Height: 7.5", Width: 22.25", Backsweep: 0 deg., Upsweep: 3 deg., Weight: 1lb 7.1oz

ODYSSEY TEAM
Terry Adams
Mike Aitken 2002
Adam Banton 2002
Jim Bauer 2008 2009
Matt Beringer 2008 2009
Ryan barspinner Brennan .... - december 1998
Jimmy Buchans 2002
Jim Cielencki 2001-....
Chase Gouin 2002 2008 2009
Chase Hawk 2008 2009
Martti Kuoppa 1999 - .... pro team
Jimmy Levan 2002
Taj Mihelich 2008 2009
Vic Murphy 2001-....
Cory Nastazio 2001-....
Rob Nolli
Aaron Ross 2008 2009
Day Smith 1996
Gary Young 2002