mtb-timeline

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<div column 40% #intro>
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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.  ((History from: [[https://mmbhof.org/chris-chance/]], [[https://fatchance.bike/chris/]] && [[https://fatchance.bike/chris-blog-coming-full-circle-again/]]))
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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/]]
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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/]].

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<div column 25%>
{{chris2.jpg?280|Chris Chance, 1980's}}
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Chris Chance, 1980's\\
[[https://mmbhof.org/chris-chance/]]

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<div column 25%>
{{chris.jpg?340|Chris Chance, today}}
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Chris Chance today, better jigs and a clearer vision [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BSMWTcMga-p/|instagram]]
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<div column 50% #s1982>
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===== 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]])):
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  * **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.
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See timeline for more pics.

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<div column 45%>
{{1982.jpg?300|1982 Fat Chance}}
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1982 Fat Chance
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[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Fat_Chance.html|mombat]]
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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 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]]))

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<div column 45%>
{{1983b.jpg?300|1984 Fat Chance}}
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1983 Fat Chance
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[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/927406034014215/permalink/5560200420734730/|facebook]]

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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Fat Chance =====

Shimano XT v1 (1982-84)


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<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Fat Chance}}
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1984 Fat Chance
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[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1984-fat-chance-tig.322719/|retrobike]]

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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 Competition =====


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

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<div column 45%>
{{1985b.jpg?300|1985 Competition}}
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1985 Competition 
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[[https://www.ebay.com/itm/294786330128|ebay]]

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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 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]]))

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<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Fat Chance}}
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1986 Fat Chance [[https://singletrackworld.com/2015/03/north-american-hand-built-show-1-fat-chance-returns/|singletrackworld]]

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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Wicked Fat Chance =====


Interesting box crown fork.

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


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<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Wicked Fat Chance}}
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1988 Wicked Fat Chance
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[[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905102146/http://velocult.com/bikes/fat-chance-wicked-1998-black-yellow/|velocult]]

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<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Wicked Fat Chance =====
Factory custom paint job  Shimano XT M730 (1987-88) - but it's uncertain how much is original.  Cook Bros cranks.


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<div column 45%>
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Wicked Fat Chance}}
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1989 Wicked Fat Chance
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[[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905105207/http://velocult.com/bikes/fat-chance-wicked-199/|velocult]]

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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Fat Chance =====

Pretty "lifesavers" paint job.  SunTour XC Pro.


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<div column 45%>
{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Fat Chance}}
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1990 Fat Chance
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[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1990_Fat_Chance.html|mombat]]

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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Yo Eddy =====

XT M735 (1990-92)



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<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Yo Eddy}}
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1991 Yo Eddy
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[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/927406034014215/permalink/5602137759874329/|facebook]]

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<div column 50% #s1992>
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===== 1992 10th Anniversary =====

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



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<div column 45%>
{{1992.jpg?300|1992 Fat Chance}}
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1992 Fat Chance
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[[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0ZwsZ7VsdM4ugJsUhry8CMYkWrn3XKfugS5wx69bbEn6JMKRrs1ipKt9n2tRLXFUsl&id=884673908591635|facebook]]

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==== Production Notes ====
<WRAP #prod1 />
[1]. 15 bikes:  [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Fat_Chance.html|mombat]]
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[2]. Based upon serial numbers, and a stated 1,500 bike production in 1988:
  * **1983**: 200
  * **1984**: 300
  * **1985**: 450
See: [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Fat_Chance.html|mombat]],
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Fat_Chance.html|mombat]],
[[https://www.oldschoolracing.ch/archiv/fat-chance/|oldschoolracing.ch]]
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