First Mountain Bike in Europe? 1976 Klunker on GMBN Tech.

[Duxuk]

But who invented the suspension fork? It certainly wasn't me but I built my first in 1977! We called our beaten up 26" X 1 3/8" wheeled bikes "scramblers". My second suspension fork was A Rockshox Quarda 10 in 1995 and it was OK but not as good as my first. Though at least the front brake could still work with the RS.

 

[Tsundere]

But who invented the suspension fork? It certainly wasn't me but I built my first in 1977! We called our beaten up 26" X 1 3/8" wheeled bikes "scramblers". My second suspension fork was A Rockshox Quarda 10 in 1995 and it was OK but not as good as my first. Though at least the front brake could still work with the RS.

Pics of 1977 suspension please?

 

[greencat]

But who invented the suspension fork? It certainly wasn't me but I built my first in 1977! We called our beaten up 26" X 1 3/8" wheeled bikes "scramblers". My second suspension fork was A Rockshox Quarda 10 in 1995 and it was OK but not as good as my first. Though at least the front brake could still work with the RS.

Pretty sure I have seen patent sketches of bicycle suspension forks from 1920s or earlier. And there's this:

https://flic.kr/p/cK2oGS

And more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_suspension#History

 

[onyerbike531]

My dad used to tell me about how he and his mates used to go off roading down a local hill back in the '60s, he called tracking, wonder if they'd have been riding racers or similar bikes not designed for the like? they were probably trying to emulate scrambling.

 

[pete_mcc]

But it was the first bike called a mountain bike

Charlie Kelly himself says that the first use of the words ‘Mountain Bike’ was in 1979/80 in reference to his company so I’m not sure how a 1976 bike would get that moniker.

why the hate

No hate, but that bike is the epitome of a klunker. For me a mountain bike is a purpose built bike, not a cobbled together Frankenbike. All the bikes we used in the 70s etc were frankenbikes, as were klunkers, the first mountain bike for me was the Breezer, purpose built for the job, not cobbled together from scrapyard parts. I just dislike the hyperbole ‘the first mountain bike in Europe’, nope It’s not.

ffs support the guys that helped make it what it is today.

all kudos to them for creating a great hobby but the guy who made the sport what it is today is Mike Sinyard

 

[longun]

But neither was the tracker, bomber, scrambler etc., and for pushing a road bike up a gravel path.......didnt do much for making at as popular as it is today. Mike sinyard, the greatest copycat there was and is haha.

I get what you and others are saying but everytime a klunker emerges, especially a real one from the guys that helped make the first actual mountain bike, like you correctly said, everyone jumps on the, they didnt invent it blah blah blah...... just pisses me off, that's all.

As much as I'd love an original breezer, a ride on the bikes that inspired a better design to ride up and down hills will make my year

Peace x

 

[longun]

Pretty sure I have seen patent sketches of bicycle suspension forks from 1920s or earlier. And there's this:

https://flic.kr/p/cK2oGS

And more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_suspension#History

Singlespeed hardtail with comfy bars,flat pedals and bike backing panniers......itll never catch on.....

Haha

 

[pete_mcc]

But neither was the tracker, bomber, scrambler etc.,

thats exactly my point, none of them are mountain bikes, they are frankenbikes made up from all manner of parts, none originally built for the job in hand. Trekkers, trackers, scramblers, klunkers are all off-road bikes of a sort but not mountain bikes. That comes with bikes like Breezers, Mountainbikes, Cleland and others, all creating at around the same time on different tangents/continents etc but in full knowledge of each other’s work.


That all said, we got lucky when Sinyard developed and mass produced the bikes properly and for a sensible price, otherwise we’d not be doing this today, it would have remained a niche, marin hobby.

 

[Duxuk]

Our scramblers were not mountain bikes but we used them in the same ways. Trail riding, jumping, cornering and even climbing. We tackled sections like trials riders with not much in the way of brakes and only one gear. I have no photos of my 1977 suspension fork, which fractured after a few months. I went back to our old haunts in the early ‘90s and some of it was really good. I had a break of 13 years before buying a Diamondback Sorentto and have ridden continuously since. I agree that Mike Sinyard was pivotal in commercialising MTB. Anything before was a hand built special.

 

[vtwinvince]

I started hitting the trails when we moved to a semi-rural area in 1974. I used whatever modified balloon tire setup I could find, and when that wasn't happening I used my Bottecchia, until I hit a tree and destroyed it.