<div column 50% #intro>
----
===== Crotch Rocket Bicyles =====

Crotch Rocket Bicyles was started in Santa Barbara, CA in 1983 by Terry Marchiando, who hand made aluminum bicycles locally before offshoring to Taiwan.  In 1985, Terry moved the company's address up the road to Goleta and continued there until 1988 ((The last ad for Crotch Rocket is from the Nov/Dec 1987 issue of [[http://cbklunkers.com/pdf/novdec_1987.pdf|Mountain Bike]] magazine.)).
\\

Data from [[https://archive.org/stream/1987SbMagazine/1987%20sb%20magazine_djvu.txt|archive.org]], [[https://www.bizapedia.com/ca/crotch-rocket-bicycles-inc.html|bizapedia]] and [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Crotch_Rocket.html|mombat]].
\\

Goleta was also home to the perhaps related Crotch Rocket Factory, a motorcycle component company active during the same period.  Terry may have been employed there (?):

<blockquote>
Marchiando was designing aluminum motorcycle parts and racing motorcycles when he became interested in the new sport. In 1980 he built his brother a mountain bike out of aluminum tubing that lay scattered around his yard. He grew to like the new sport because it "seemed environmentally conducive to this new age we're in." By 1983 he was making limited quantities of aluminum frame bikes.
<cite>
1987 Santa Barbara Magazine, [[https://archive.org/stream/1987SbMagazine/1987%20sb%20magazine_djvu.txt|archive.org]]
</cite>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div column 45%>
..
</div>


<div column 50% #s1983>
----
===== 1983 AL2 All Aluminum  =====
SunTour MounTech GTL rear (1982-84), Le Tech front (1982-85)
\\

This is frame #2, using BMX style forks, looptail rear, bmx bars & vertical dropouts.
\\
The component dates are ambiguous, but multiple sources list a 1983 start date: 1985 Bicycle Guide [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Crotch_Rocket.html|mombat]] and the 1987 Santa Barbara Magazine [[https://archive.org/stream/1987SbMagazine/1987%20sb%20magazine_djvu.txt|archive.org]]
</div>

<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|AL2}}
\\
1983 AL2 [[https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/386528242363583/|facebook]]
</div>


<div column 50% #s1984>
----
===== 1984 AL2 =====
SunTour MounTech 4900 rear (1982-85), Le Tech front (1982-85)
\\

Although the pic comes from a 1985 Bicycle Guide [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1249190-road-test-bike-review-1985-crotch-rocket-al-2-a.html#&gid=1&pid=2|review]], it's likely a 1984 as their 1985 catalog shows XC components.
\\

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|AL2}}
\\
1984 AL2 [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1249190-road-test-bike-review-1985-crotch-rocket-al-2-a.html#&gid=1&pid=2|bikeforums]]
</div>

<div column 50% #s1985>
----
===== 1985 AL2 =====
SunTour XC derailleur (1984-85), shifters (1984-89)
\\
The [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Crotch_Rocket.html|1985 catalog]] shows the switch from MounTech to XC.
\\

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{1985.jpg?300|AL2}}
\\
1985 AL2 [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/304462623171|ebay]]

</div>

<div column 50% #s1986>
----
===== 1986 AL2 =====
Repainted, so the dating is very unreliable.
\\

SunTour XC derailleur (1984-85), shifters (1984-89), SunTour CB-6100 XC rollercam brakes (1984-86)
\\

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|AL2}}
\\
1986 AL2 [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/334439319448|ebay]]

</div>


<div column 50% #s1987>
----
===== 1987 AL2 =====
Pic from the Nov/Dec 1987 issue of [[http://cbklunkers.com/pdf/novdec_1987.pdf|Mountain Bike]] magazine.
\\

No clues from the pic on components - other than they seem black.  By 1987, no one produced a black rear derailleur cage with a black body.  Reflection?  Photo touchup?  Now, all derailleurs seem to be all-black.

</div>

<div column 45%>
{{1987.jpg?240|AL2}}
\\
1987 AL2 [[http://cbklunkers.com/pdf/novdec_1987.pdf|cbklunkers]]

</div>