Awesome early Repack pics

[Pondo]

Here's a cool inside look at the museum and great info on the early evolution of the mountain bike:

 

[birdzgarage]

Your bikes never fail to please and impress. Very nice stuff!

Thanks man.i didn't mean to post that in this thread tho.oops

 

[Deleted member 72895]

HUH? I wonder what fork Joe Breeze on those "1st" Mountain Bikes?

 

[J-wagon]

Here's a cool inside look at the museum and great info on the early evolution of the mountain bike:

Cool video, great klunker geometry insight and nice looking 1890s bikes towards end.

 

[Pondo]

HUH? I wonder what fork Joe Breeze on those "1st" Mountain Bikes?

According to Charlie Kelly in his book Fat Tire Flyer:
"Although the bikes he sold had forks from a BMX supplier, for his own bike he had styled the fork after the old-school bikes, with a pair of '30s style fork braces added to a fork with standard, tapered blades."

Here's an interesting little blurb on Breezer #1:

Breezer 1 Mountain Bike

First prototype of the JBX1 "Breezer 1” mountain bike.

americanhistory.si.edu

Also, I had previously said that I thought Joe Breeze built the frames and that Charlie Kelly and Gary Fischer completed the builds which is incorrect. Joe Breeze built the bikes complete and ready to ride including a tire pump. I think Charlie and Gary completed the builds on the Ritchey built frames.

 

[Pondo]

A couple of good videos with Joe Breeze talking about his bikes:

 

[Pondo]

And another with Tom Ritchey

 

[Rocket Man]

This is the bike I built for myself in 1967 just to stay out of car traffic and ride off road.
This is the only pic I have.

 

[Pondo]

This is the bike I built for myself in 1967 just to stay out of car traffic and ride off road.
This is the only pic I have.

View attachment 1688936

That's awesome! 2 years before my time. Is it a Varsity? It looks like it has TA cranks. I'm guessing 5 speed? I love the rat traps and abbreviated fenders. I'm going to base one of my klunker builds on an early 10 speed, probably a Varsity, at some point. I really dig yours, it's very cool. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks for the interest Pondo?
I found the 3 speed frame in a ditch. Refinished it in a really nice light metallic blue from the auto parts store.
Then while in a bicycle shop I ask about the knobby tires that were hanging on the wall. They were for bicycle speedway, remember this is in the U.K. I had them lace the 26'' rims to a road bike 5 speed hub, then spread the frame to fit. Shifting on the top tube and cow horn bars worked great for sliding around in the dirt speedway style.
The front crank arms and bottom bracket are cotter key style, standard issue back then in the U.K. as were the abbreviated fenders.