---- ===== Fat City Cycles ===== Chris Chance started his own business in 1977 building race bikes before starting Fat Chance in 1982 to focus solely on mountain bikes in Somerville, Mass. ((History from: [[https://mmbhof.org/chris-chance/]], [[https://fatchance.bike/chris/]] && [[https://fatchance.bike/chris-blog-coming-full-circle-again/]])) \\ In 1992 he took a 23 year sabbatical to open a massage therapy business: [[https://www.yelp.com/biz/chris-chance-shiatsu-san-rafael|Chris Chance Shiatsu]]. ((In San Rafael, CA, just four miles from the birth of mountain biking in Fairfax. Coincidence?)) In 2015 Fat Chance was resurrected with Chris back holding the welding torch: [[https://fatchance.bike/]] \\ Fat Chance's have a cult following, more than [[potts:start|Steve Potts]] or [[ibis:start|Ibis]]. The [[https://fatcogs.com/]] forum has 2,880 members and is very active. Fat Chance lists an impressive set of community resources at: [[https://fatchance.bike/vintage/]].

{{chris2.jpg?280|Chris Chance, 1980's}} \\ Chris Chance, 1980's\\ [[https://mmbhof.org/chris-chance/]] \\

{{chris.jpg?340|Chris Chance, today}} \\ Chris Chance today, better jigs and a clearer vision [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BSMWTcMga-p/|instagram]]

---- ===== 1982 Fat Chance ===== All models from 1982 -> 1985 were called "Fat Chance." In following years they became more creative ((list from: [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Fat_Chance.html|mombat]])): \\ * **1985**: Kicker * **1987**: [[https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2017/10/13/wicked/|Wicked]] Fat * **1988**: Wicked Fuck'n Fat Chance * **1988**: Fuck'n Fat Chance * **1988**: Monster Fat * **1990**: Yo Eddy * **1992**: Slim Chance * **1992**: Ti Fat * **1993**: Wicked Lite * **1993**: Shock a Billy * **1994**: Buck Shaver * **1994**: Beam Bike * **1998**: Chris Cross * **1999**: Bro Eddy Not a complete list. \\ See timeline for more pics.

{{1982.jpg?300|1982 Fat Chance}} \\ 1982 Fat Chance \\ [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Fat_Chance.html|mombat]]

---- ===== 1983 Fat Chance ===== In 1983, Fat Chance Cycles started to transition to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_tungsten_arc_welding|TIG]] welding, often with TIG welds brazed over by Chris for aesthetic purposes. ((The original FCC welders comment on the transition to TIG: [[https://fatcogs.com/threads/who-has-welded-the-1984er-fat-chance-frames-tig.4720/|fatcogs]]))

{{1983b.jpg?300|1984 Fat Chance}} \\ 1983 Fat Chance \\ [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/927406034014215/permalink/5560200420734730/|facebook]]

---- ===== 1984 Fat Chance ===== Shimano XT v1 (1982-84)

{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Fat Chance}} \\ 1984 Fat Chance \\ [[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1984-fat-chance-tig.322719/|retrobike]]

---- ===== 1985 Competition ===== TIG welded frame with brazed bullmooses. Magura brake levers. SunTour XC RD-6300 (1984-86). Serial #85533.

{{1985b.jpg?300|1985 Competition}} \\ 1985 Competition \\ [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/294786330128|ebay]]

---- ===== 1986 Fat Chance ===== As shown at the 2015 North American Hand Built Show (NAHBS.) Reynolds 531. Full XT. {{1986fin.jpg?200|1986 Fat Chance}} Shark fin detail on chainstay. [[https://singletrackworld.com/2015/03/north-american-hand-built-show-1-fat-chance-returns/|singletrackworld]]((This came as part of the Shimano XT gruppo, part #DF-M730. Details: [[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/the-official-shimano-xt-shark-fin-thread-df-m730-only.1015375/|mtbr]]))

{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Fat Chance}} \\ 1986 Fat Chance [[https://singletrackworld.com/2015/03/north-american-hand-built-show-1-fat-chance-returns/|singletrackworld]]

---- ===== 1988 Wicked Fat Chance ===== Interesting box crown fork. {{1988b.jpg?120|1988 Wicked Fat Chance}} \\ Front view, with box crown fork. [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905102146/http://velocult.com/bikes/fat-chance-wicked-1998-black-yellow/|velocult]]

{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Wicked Fat Chance}} \\ 1988 Wicked Fat Chance \\ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905102146/http://velocult.com/bikes/fat-chance-wicked-1998-black-yellow/|velocult]]

---- ===== 1989 Wicked Fat Chance ===== Factory custom paint job Shimano XT M730 (1987-88) - but it's uncertain how much is original. Cook Bros cranks.

{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Wicked Fat Chance}} \\ 1989 Wicked Fat Chance \\ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905105207/http://velocult.com/bikes/fat-chance-wicked-199/|velocult]]

---- ===== 1990 Fat Chance ===== Pretty "lifesavers" paint job. SunTour XC Pro.

{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Fat Chance}} \\ 1990 Fat Chance \\ [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1990_Fat_Chance.html|mombat]]

---- ===== 1991 Yo Eddy ===== XT M735 (1990-92)

{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Yo Eddy}} \\ 1991 Yo Eddy \\ [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/927406034014215/permalink/5602137759874329/|facebook]]

---- ===== 1992 10th Anniversary ===== Campagnolo Record OR (1992-95) derailleurs, hubs, shifters, brakes, seat post & bars.

{{1992.jpg?300|1992 Fat Chance}} \\ 1992 Fat Chance \\ [[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0ZwsZ7VsdM4ugJsUhry8CMYkWrn3XKfugS5wx69bbEn6JMKRrs1ipKt9n2tRLXFUsl&id=884673908591635|facebook]]