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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. 1)

In 1992 he took a 23 year sabbatical to open a massage therapy business: Chris Chance Shiatsu. 2) 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 Steve Potts or 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/.

Chris Chance, 1980's
Chris Chance, 1980's
https://mmbhof.org/chris-chance/


Chris Chance, today
Chris Chance today, better jigs and a clearer vision instagram

1982 Fat Chance

All models from 1982 → 1985 were called “Fat Chance.” In following years they became more creative 3):

  • 1985: Kicker
  • 1987: 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 Fat Chance
1982 Fat Chance
mombat

1983 Fat Chance

In 1983, Fat Chance Cycles started to transition to TIG welding, often with TIG welds brazed over by Chris for aesthetic purposes. 4)

1984 Fat Chance
1983 Fat Chance
facebook

1984 Fat Chance

Shimano XT v1 (1982-84)

1984 Fat Chance
1984 Fat Chance
retrobike

1985 Competition

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

1985 Competition
1985 Competition
ebay

1986 Fat Chance

As shown at the 2015 North American Hand Built Show (NAHBS.) Reynolds 531. Full XT.

1986 Fat Chance Shark fin detail on chainstay. singletrackworld5)

1986 Fat Chance
1986 Fat Chance singletrackworld

1988 Wicked Fat Chance

Interesting box crown fork.

1988 Wicked Fat Chance
Front view, with box crown fork. velocult

1988 Wicked Fat Chance
1988 Wicked Fat Chance
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 Wicked Fat Chance
1989 Wicked Fat Chance
velocult

1990 Fat Chance

Pretty “lifesavers” paint job. SunTour XC Pro.

1990 Fat Chance
1990 Fat Chance
mombat

1991 Yo Eddy

XT M735 (1990-92)

1991 Yo Eddy
1991 Yo Eddy
facebook

1992 10th Anniversary

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

1992 Fat Chance
1992 Fat Chance
facebook

Production Notes

[1]. 15 bikes: mombat
[2]. Based upon serial numbers, and a stated 1,500 bike production in 1988:

  • 1983: 200
  • 1984: 300
  • 1985: 450

See: mombat, mombat, oldschoolracing.ch

1)
History from: https://mmbhof.org/chris-chance/, https://fatchance.bike/chris/ && https://fatchance.bike/chris-blog-coming-full-circle-again/
2)
In San Rafael, CA, just four miles from the birth of mountain biking in Fairfax. Coincidence?
3)
list from: mombat
4)
The original FCC welders comment on the transition to TIG: fatcogs
5)
This came as part of the Shimano XT gruppo, part #DF-M730. Details: mtbr
chance/start.txt · Last modified: 2023/03/29 15:10 by mtbtimeline