Campaigns - #OperationDIRTWERX - The Story
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Bringing Harry’s Bike Home
This story was developed with contributions from the Leary family.
This was Harry Leary’s bike.
At some point, it left his hands — passed down, moved on, nearly lost to time.
But unlike so many pieces of BMX history…
it found its way back.
Then the work began.
Getting the bike is a story that will stay "offline" - but it is a doozy that includes a Team USA rider.
Ch. 1: It Was Retrieved
Not every bike gets a second chapter.
This one did.
After years away, this DIRTWERX bike — once ridden and owned by BMX legend Harry Leary — was reunited with his family.
What we’re looking at isn’t just a frame and parts.
It’s a piece of lived history, carried through decades of riders, stories, and moments.
Now it sits here, waiting.
Not to be displayed.
To be understood.
Ch. 2: Taking It Apart to Save It
Every restoration starts the same way:
You take everything apart.
Bars. Stem. Wheels. Drivetrain.
Each piece removed, inspected, and evaluated — not just for condition, but for meaning.
What stays original?
What gets replaced?
What tells the story best?
Because this isn’t about making it “look new.”
It’s about deciding what parts of history survive.
Ch. 3: The Reality of Time
Time leaves its mark.
Underneath the surface, the condition of the bike told a different story — one of wear, stress, and years of use.
Damage wasn’t a surprise.
But it forces a decision:
Do you preserve what’s left…
or try to bring it back?
This is where restoration becomes something more than mechanical.
It becomes philosophical.
Ch. 4: Can This Be Saved?
The bars were one of the biggest questions.
Bent. Worn. Clearly ridden hard.
These weren’t just parts — they were Harry’s.
We attempted to bring them back.
Carefully. Slowly.
Not to erase their past…
but to give them a future.
Some pieces fight you.
Some pieces remind you why they matter.
The bars on this bike weren’t fixed in a shop.
They were straightened in a driveway — using a tailpipe, a little leverage, and a lot of determination.
That’s how Todd did things.
He was the kind of neighbor everyone hopes for — always willing to help, always ready to figure something out.
Not long after this, Todd passed away.
These bars carry more than just the history of the bike now.
They carry a piece of him too.
Ch. 5: A Community Support
This is where BMX is different.
You don’t rebuild something like this alone.
Parts showed up.
Support showed up.
People who understood what this bike meant stepped in to help — not because they had to, but because that’s what BMX has always been.
A network. A culture. A shared respect for what came before.
This bike may have started with one rider…
But it never belonged to just one person.
Ch. 6: Every Piece Matters
The small parts tell the bigger story.
A freewheel.
A seat.
Components most people would overlook.
But these are the touchpoints — the places where rider meets machine.
Restoring them isn’t about perfection.
It’s about connection.
Because history doesn’t live in the frame alone.
It lives in every detail.
The Work Continues
This project isn’t finished.
And maybe it never really will be.
Because every piece we uncover leads to another story…
another connection…
another reason to keep going.
This is Operation DIRTWERX.
And this is how we preserve BMX history.
Related Media
Related Artifacts:
Artifact 26.0037 - Cactus Park BMX State Qualifier - "1st" - Radical Rick Plaque - First of the Leary Locker purchases
Artifact 26.0021 - Harry Leary Thrill ROC 1 Jersey (Race Of Champions)
Artifact 26.0007 - Eddy King Lapel Pin
"Ride and Shine with Lititz BMX" - We Look Forward to Sharing with You
Campaign Sponsor
This Campaign Is Supported By
Green Mountain Cyclery
Ephrata, PA
Proud supporters of grassroots BMX culture.
Supporting the preservation of BMX history through storytelling and artifacts.
Lititz BMX is an independent archive documenting the
history and culture of BMX through artifacts, interviews, and storytelling.
Amazon Affiliate Link
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases - paid link below
Product Name: Day One: Remembering why you came here in the first place
Description:
We are all excited when we start something new. As the newness fades, we often forget what we saw that brought us here in the first place. This is my story and how once I realized what was going on, I became much happier in my day to day life by remembering Day One. While remembering day one will not guarantee you will become unhappy with something, forgetting day one will almost guarantee your focus will change to the negative aspects and away from the positive aspects of it.
Available on: Kindle - Paperback - Hardcover
Visit our book club series on this book - find out why and how this book changed Kyle's life.
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