breezer:start
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Table of Contents
Breezer Overview
Joe Breeze developed the first purpose built, successful mountain bicycle. He was part of the original community in Marin which raced on Repack. In 1976, Charles Kelly commissioned Joe Breeze to build a custom mountain bike to improve upon the heavy and fragile clunkers that were being used to race Repack.1)
Breezer Bicycles, owned by ASI/Fuji2), continues to make decent mountain and town bikes: https://www.breezerbikes.com/
Looking proud. mmbhof.org
JBX1
Breezer Series 1 used a Shimano 600 derailleur, which had a 28T capacity, the same as the old Gran Sport. With a low gear was 32×26 and a weight of 38 pounds, it was barely enough to get up Pine Mountain. Later Series I would improve their low gearing. Ritchey solved the weight and gearing problems the following year with a low gear of 28×32 and a weight of 30 pounds. Both Joe Breeze and Tim Ritchey would improve their specs over the next few years, by which time mountain bikes took off.
JBX1, the origin of the species. Smithsonian
Breezer Series I
And the concept was proven. It's very different than a clunker.
A few years ago (2015?) one went on sale on Craigslist from Mill Valley. I gave it a pass as the frame was too small for me.
1978 Series I. MMoB
Breezer Series II
Twin-lateral dropped, weight and gearing improved. Already there were a dozen competing bike designs.
1980 Series II. The Pro's Closet
Breezer Series III
Joe Breeze planned to make 60 of these, but his new successful Hite-Rite took much of his attention.
1982 Series III. The Pro's Closet
Hite-Rite
Joe Breeze finally achieved commercial success.
1984 Hite-Rite. 37 years later, and eBay remains flooded with them.
eBay
Joe Breeze Road Bike
Joe started frame building in 1974 building road racing frames. The pic to the right is Otis Guy racing near Monterey. It's interesting that Joe & Otis later went to Tom Ritchey to have their cross country race tandem built.
This is a picture of me racing at Laguna Seca by Wende Cragg MBHOF inductee. I am riding the second frame Joe Breeze ever made. Wende has it in 1979 it may be 78. Check out the Sunshine cap over the hairnet helmet. Otis Guy
Pics of Joe and Otis riding Ritcheys:
Joe Breeze (left) with Monte Ward, 1982.3)
Anchor Steamer Ritchey mountainflyermagazine
photo by Wende Cragg
Otis Guy on an early Joe Breeze
instagram
photo by Wende Cragg
Production Notes
[1]. First bike in Sept 1977: Smithsonian National Museum of American History. See also: The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto page 58.
[2]. Next 9 bikes by June 1978: Wikipedia. See also: The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto page 58.
[3]. 25 Series II bikes made. Vintage Mountain Bike Workshop
[4]. Only 24 Series III bikes made, out of 60 planned. Vintage Mountain Bike Workshop
breezer/start.1619788635.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/04/30 06:17 by gchandler