Jay Graves

One of the founders of BMX racing in Oregon in the 1970s, Jay Graves, through his shop, The Bike Gallery, supported BMX through its early stages and sponsored many of the sport's first stars. Darrell Young, Ben Joy, Ken Pliska, Craig Wiswell, Lisa Grossman, Myke Landis, Vince Taft, Mike Henderson, Neil Locke, Troy Critchlow, Dino Matoni and Anthony Tangalin were just some of the riders that wore a Bike Gallery jersey at one point in their careers. During the mid 1970s and again in the 1980s, Bike Gallery was THE team to beat.  

Graves was also one of the first riders in Oregon to begin racing the Cruiser class when the ABA started it in 1981. Traveling throughout the state of Oregon, he always had two things with him, a smile on his face, and the biggest toolbox in BMX. Jay was always willing to lend a hand to kids, parents, and even competitors with his tools, products and knowledge of the sport.  

After the demise of Northern Oregon BMX in the late 1980s, Jay hung up his BMX bikes and began to focus more on life and business. Jay has grown The Bike Gallery from a single store in Portland's Hollywood district, to more than half a dozen stores strategically located throughout the Portland Metro area.

These days, Jay is president of the National Bicycle Dealers Association and is heavily involved with community and nonprofit boards all around the Northwest. 

When he retired from BMX in the late 1980s, he was still capable of winning the top amateur classes on both 20" and 24" bikes. 

Jay Graves rides, lives, and works in Portland, Oregon and has four children.

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