Re-Up; Preserving BMX History #37: Henry Sarria (USA)

Feb 01, 2024

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 3496 times

Name: Henry Sarria
Hometown: Born in Havana, Cuba, grew up in Hialeah, FL, currently live in Isla Vista, CA
When did you start riding BMX: 1973
Number of bikes in your collection: 6 BMX race/dirt jump, 1 road, 2 MTB, 10 1970's-80's classic BMX bikes, 4 classic Schwinn cruisers (including the Schwinn Mini Twinn 20" wheel tandem my wife & I ride around town) & 1 all around beach cruiser. My wife has a few bkes too!

Which bikes have you built exactly to the spec a pro was riding it back in the day?
Henry Sarria: None, all my bikes I built for me, as nobody else was going to be riding it. Never cared

what the pros used, just what works.

Does it hurt to sell bikes you've worked on for so long?
Henry Sarria: Actually, never sold any of my bikes. I've given away a few to friends, but never really sold them. Maybe a trade for something.

Can you name 3 collectors that you respect?
Henry Sarria: Man, I don't know, I just have friends who love bikes, skateboards, surfboards, snowboards, guns, I don't see them as collectors because they actually use the stuff they have, too many to mention.

What products are a great help when you find an old rusty historical piece of shit bike that needs to shine again?
Henry Sarria: Jasco methyl chloride based paint remover, they also make a rust remover as well.

Do you have a man-cave where your bikes are displayed?
Henry Sarria: No man cave, I live in an apartment, some of my bikes, along w/ my wife's bikes, are in the apartment, some locked in the rec room just outside our door. I also have a couple of bikes in my office & yes, they're all used.

Do you always have room for "one more bike"?
Henry Sarria: I always have room for more repairs, I like to keep the bikes I've used going for as long as I can. No use in filling up landfills.

What's a bike (part) you have been looking for but haven't been able to locate?
Henry Sarria: The last time I looked for a part, it was for a 1970's Matthews double clamp stem & luckily, found 1 in a BMX swap meet. I'm not particularly picky, so anything will work.

Where can people reach you when they have that part available?
Henry Sarria: No need to get a hold of me, I'll find it.

Thanks to: Everyone who has ever ridden BMX & especially those who were there from the very beginning. We're the oddballs that the "new breed" seems to not understand. Also, thanks to my wife Kim for putting up w/ my shenanigans on a bike. She's an angel.

Previous Episodes on FATBMX:

Episode 1: Christophe Detandt (BEL)
Episode 2: James White (GBR)
Episode 3: JT Freestyle (USA)
Episode 4: Ben Murphy (IRL)
Episode 5: Rainer Schadowski (GER)
Episode 6: GAry Sansom (USA)
Episode 7: Michael Gamstetter (USA)
Episode 8: Grant Stone (GBR)
Episode 9: Steve Blackey (USA)
Episode 10: Shannon Gillette (USA)
Episode 11: Woody Itson (USA)
Episode 12: Oliver Kienzle (GER)
Episode 13: Kelly Swanson (USA)
Episode 14: Pat A Lar (GBR)
Episode 15: Billy Mills (GBR)
Episode 16: Steve Brothers (USA)
Episode 17: Aykut Hilmi (GBR)
Episode 18: Alex Leech (GBR)
Episode 19: Mike Janssen (NED)
Episode 20: Brian Gutierrez (USA)
Episode 21: Chad Powers (USA)
Episode 22: Alessandro Barbero (ITA)
Episode 23: Chris Daly (GBR)
Episode 24: Ian MacArthur (GBR)
Episode 25: Steve Strong (GBR)
Episode 26: Stephen Joseph (GBR)
Episode 27: Paul de Jong (NED)
Episode 28: Jon Western (GBR)
Episode 29: William "LaRock" LaRoque (USA)
Episode 30: Johan Janssens (BEL)
Episode 31: Darren Chan (USA)
Episode 32: Frank Lukas (GER)
Episode 33: Jason Teraoka (USA)
Episode 34: Shad Johnson (USA)
Episode 35: PJ McKenna (USA) (USA)

Pics by Henry Sarria