Who was the first frame pioneer?

KonaKurt
Posts: 720
Someone just asked me a question I am stuck on about MTB history.
Who was the first in history to produce an MTB specific frame geoometry, and in what year? Was it Gary Fisher, Kona, Marin or someone else....?
KK.
Who was the first in history to produce an MTB specific frame geoometry, and in what year? Was it Gary Fisher, Kona, Marin or someone else....?
KK.
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Joe Breeze, I think back In the mid 70's.It's not a ornament, so ride It0
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2 names i was told were important in history are gary fisher & gary kleinStart Weight 18st 13lbs March 2009
17st 10lbs August 2009
17st 4lbs October 2009
15st 12lbs December 2010
Final planned weight 12st 7lbs0 -
Google...It was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that road bicycle companies started to manufacture mountain bicycles using high-tech lightweight materials. Joe Breeze is normally credited with introducing the first purpose-built mountain bike in 1978. Tom Ritchey then went on to make frames for a company called MountainBikes, a partnership between Gary Fisher, Charlie Kelley and Tom Ritchey. Tom Ritchey, a welder with skills in frame building, also built the original bikes. The company's three partners eventually dissolved their partnership, and the company became Fisher Mountain Bikes, while Tom Ritchey started his own frame shop. The first mountain bikes were basically road bicycle frames (with heavier tubing and different geometry) with a wider frame and fork to allow for a wider tire. The handlebars were also different in that they were a straight, transverse-mounted handlebar, rather than the dropped, curved handlebars that are typically installed on road racing bicycles. Also, some of the parts on early production mountain bicycles were taken from the BMX bicycle. Other contributors were Otis Guy and Keith Bontrager.
Tom Ritchey built the first regularly available mountain bike frame, which was accessorized by Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly and sold by their company called MountainBikes (later changed to Fisher Mountain Bikes then bought by Trek, still under the name Gary Fisher). The first two mass produced mountain bikes were sold in 1982: the Specialized Stumpjumper and Univega Alpina Pro.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_mountain_bike_and_mountain_biking0 -
I thought Gary Fisher claimed he was first to discover 'mountain biking'????
Not sure about specific frames though.0 -
I am sure Joe Breeze was making frames for Gary Fisher who was then building them Into bikes and selling them.It's not a ornament, so ride It0
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RobGT: Yeah, this is something that confuses me. I have heard Fisher's name crop up alot in magazines and the like, but I'm not sure he was first to produce a specific geometry.
Thanks guys.
KK.0 -
Joe Breeze? Not in the UK!
The first UK foerunner must have been the Raleigh Bomber.... especially the fancy blue one.0 -
If you want to know more about the history of MTB I can highly recommend Klunkerz, It' s a very good documentary.It's not a ornament, so ride It0
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SmackMyPitchUp! wrote:Joe Breeze? Not in the UK!
The first UK foerunner must have been the Raleigh Bomber.... especially the fancy blue one.
They were great my older brother had one, I had the Raleigh GrifterIt's not a ornament, so ride It0 -
SmackMyPitchUp! wrote:Joe Breeze? Not in the UK!
The first UK foerunner must have been the Raleigh Bomber.... especially the fancy blue one.
http://raleigh-bomber.co.uk/resources/bomberadx.jpgYou only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.0 -
Fisher was the first to adopt the classic 71/73 degree frame angles on an MTB.0
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Joe Breeze built what is widely regarded as the first purpose-designed mountain bike frame in 1977. He and Gary Fisher started the company "Mountain Bikes" in 1978.
You can read more about Joe Breeze and the other pioneers HERE0