BMX Brand
Profile Racing
Profile Racing is a Florida machining company founded in 1968 that makes BMX cranks and hubs in the United States, best known for its cranks and Elite hubs.
Updated 2 min read474 words
Profile Racing is a machining company in St Petersburg, Florida, founded in 1968 by Jim Alley. It makes BMX cranks, hubs, sprockets and related parts in the United States, and it is best known for its three-piece cranks and for its Mini and Elite hubs, which are used in both racing and freestyle.
History
Profile started in 1968 as a racing and machining business before BMX existed as a sport. As BMX racing grew in the 1970s and 1980s, Profile applied its machining to bike parts, and its three-piece chromoly cranks became a standard choice for racers who wanted something stronger than the stamped and one-piece cranks on most bikes.
The cranks crossed over into freestyle in the 1990s as riders needed parts that could survive grinds and hard landings. Profile cranks, with their 19 millimetre spindle and simple design, earned a reputation for lasting through years of abuse, and the company's willingness to service and rebuild them added to it. Hubs followed. The Mini cassette hub became one of the most common hubs in freestyle in the 2000s, and the larger Elite hubs added a heavier duty option.
Profile has stayed a family run manufacturer in Florida rather than moving production overseas. It also runs Madera, a sister brand for freestyle parts. The company remains active and still makes its core products on site.
Products
Profile's range is narrow and focused on drivetrain and wheel parts.
| Product | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Profile cranks | Cranks | Three-piece chromoly cranks, offered in race and freestyle versions and many lengths |
| Mini | Cassette hub | Compact cassette hub, long running |
| Elite | Cassette hub | Larger, heavier duty cassette hub |
| Z-Coaster | Freecoaster hub | Freecoaster with adjustable slack |
| Mini and Elite front hubs | Front hub | Matching front hubs |
| Imperial | Sprocket | Machined aluminium sprocket |
| Hub guards and spindles | Accessories | Made to fit the brand's own hubs and cranks |
Profile parts are widely available in a range of colours, and the brand's spare parts policy means old cranks and hubs can usually be rebuilt rather than replaced, which is relevant to BMX maintenance basics.
Team and riders
Profile has sponsored racers for decades and runs a freestyle team through both Profile and Madera. Riders associated with the brand have included:
- Matt Beringer
- Mark Mulville
The company has also supported many regional racers and riders through its race programme.
Influence
Profile is one of the few BMX companies that still manufactures in the United States at scale, and it has done so for the whole life of the sport. Its cranks set the expectation that a good crankset should last a decade, and its hubs helped make the cassette hub the standard rear hub in freestyle. The company's focus on repairability, with every small part available separately, is unusual in an industry that mostly sells replacements rather than spares.
Related
Frequently asked questions about Profile Racing
Are Profile cranks made in the USA?
Yes. Profile machines and assembles its cranks and hubs at its own facility in St Petersburg, Florida.
What is the difference between Profile Mini and Elite hubs?
The Mini is the compact, long running cassette hub. The Elite is the higher end version with a larger, stronger shell and bearings, aimed at heavier use.
What is the Profile Z-Coaster?
The Z-Coaster is Profile's freecoaster hub. It lets the rider adjust the amount of slack before the drive engages.
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