mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Cycles Libéria =====

Cycles Libéria((Liberia spelled with an é (e-acute) was used by Liberia for a time to distinguish the brand from the African country, after which it was named.))
was founded in 1918 by Antoine Biboud in Vinay, France.  Cycles Libéria at first sold only bicycles but soon moved into manfucturing both bicycles and motorcycles.

<blockquote>
1978: Gérard Biboud, recently back from the USA, decides to produce mountain bikes which he has seen evolve and which are very fashionable across the Atlantic. The first presentation in France will be at the Paris Motor Show where Ets Liberia will be the first to manufacture and sell Moutain-Bike, VTT (Vélo Tout Terrain) in French.
<cite>
[[http://club-ydral.net/liberia31.htm|club-ydral]]
</cite>
</blockquote>

However, by 1978, not a single MTB maker had produced more than ten examples in a single year.  The MTB evolution had yet to begin.  So, the Liberian dates are, of course, off.  At the 1980 Long Beach bike show there were four MTBs on display.  15 by 1981.  Perhaps Gérard visited at that point?

<blockquote>
In the early 1980s, Liberia was the first French company to manufacture mountain bikes. It will export up to 500 a week to the United States. Cock-a-doodle Doo !
<cite>
[[https://lepostillon.org/Quand-on-fabriquait-des-velos-a.html|lepostillon]]
</cite>
</blockquote>

The //**first??**//.  That would place the Liberia Burdet in 1981, which is very possible given its old components.  [[peugeot:start#s1982|Peugeot]] and [[motobecane:start#s1982|Motobecane]] both started making VTTs in 1982.  Liberia did not make very many VTTs in its history, as searches for used Velos Liberia return less than 5% VTTs.
\\

Also, who did it export to?  Liberia has a very distinctive rear cable hanger, which doesn't show up anywhere else.  The Liberia name appears on Tour de France jerseys for 20+ years, most recently in 1992 as part of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMO_(cycling_team)|RMO cycling team]].

The firm dissolved in 1993.



Sources:
  * [[https://www.velovintageagogo.com|velovintageagogo.com]]
  * [[http://club-ydral.net/liberia31.htm|club-ydral]]
  * [[http://www.classicrendezvous.com/France/bicycles/Liberia.htm|classicrendezvous]]
  * [[https://lepostillon.org/Quand-on-fabriquait-des-velos-a.html|lepostillon]]

</div>


<div column 45%>
{{poster.jpg?400|1934 Cycles Liberia}}
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1934 Cycles Liberia poster.  A woman (?) being chased by a sinister motorcyclist.
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[[https://bicyclingart.com/liberia-bicycle-poster/#gallery|bicyclingart]]
</div>





<div column 50% #s1982>
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===== 1982 Burdet =====
Liberia head badge.
Sachs Huret Rider rear derailleur (1981-83, in this style.)
Sakae Ringyo Apex cranks with a 1979 date code.  Pseudo loop-tail rear.  Liberia 102 tubing.
Drum brakes front and rear.
Triple shifters.
Internal 2-speed hub gearing mated to a 6-speed freewheel with a triple front crankset.  Yielding //**36 gears**//  A new record in gear range.
//"And the former owner who distributed Liberia, confirmed that it was one of the first mountain bikes of the brand."// [[https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t3368-liberia-80-s|velovintageagogo]]  It's possible that this is a 1981.
\\

Upon reflection - and having another look at the drillium chainrings, it seems very unlikely that this was a production model.  More of a prototype perhaps, or someone's pet project.  The hybrid hub is a Sachs Orbit HT (1980+), which was a rare and pricey option.  Great gear range.  The Liberia Burdet is a puzzle.
</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1982.jpg?300|1982 Burdet }}
\\
[[https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t3368-liberia-80-s|velovintageagogo.com]]
</div>


<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 =====
This is a terrible shot and the only component which is clear is the mystery shift lever.  Which is unlike anything found on [[https://velobase.com/SearchBasic.aspx|velobase]].  Mystery golf putter stem with fake bullmoose bars.  Interesting straddle cable catchers, which is exceedingly enlightened for the early 1980s.  A quick check shows that this //is the only bicycle brand in existence with this safety feature at this time.//  (!!)
((Excepting for fenders and reflector holders, which perform the same function.  Other French brands generally did not have cable catchers, even in catalog shots.  For example, front reflectors were usually mounted above the fork.  Plus, most MTBs did not have center holes in the front forks, which are made for caliper brakes.  This problem was solved for cantilevers using link wires, introduced in 1989.  Later V-brakes also solved this problem.  See: [[https://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html#yoke|sheldonbrown]].))
All future Liberia models include straddle cable catchers.
A few later French VTTs also adopt this.
\\

This left facing shot is the only missing link between the 1982 Burdet oddity and pretty Rock Spiders which follow.

{{cable.jpg?200|Cable hanger and cable catcher}}
Cable hanger with cable catcher.
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[[https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t23010p25-vtt-liberia-1990-sortie-de-cave|velovintageagogo]]
</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 }}
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[[ https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/vtt-fran%C3%A7ais-french-mtbs-components-info-pics-etc.422654/page-8|retrobike]]
</div>


<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Rock Spider =====
The new paint scehemes arrive.  The Liberia //Rock Spider// name is very similar to the MBK Rock Fighter, also sold in France at this period.
Deore MT60 (1987-88).

{{colors.jpg?200|Colors}}
Color samples from the 1990 catalog. 
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[[https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t23010p25-vtt-liberia-1990-sortie-de-cave|velovintageagogo]]
</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Rock Spider }}
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[[ https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t20911-liberia-rock-spider-fin-80|velovintageagogo]]
</div>



<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Rock Spider =====
Exage Trail (1988-89).
</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Rock Spider }}
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[[ https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2108004875.htm|leboncoin.fr]]
</div>



<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Rock Spider =====
Sachs Huret Classic 3000 (1987-90) with 1990 date codes on the front derailleur.  Maillard hubs, chainstay protector tabs.
</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Rock Spider }}
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[[ https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t23010-vtt-liberia-1990-sortie-de-cave|velovintageagogo]]
</div>


<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Rock Spider =====
Shimano Exage 300LX (1990-92)
Liberia returns to a more staid and economical color scheme.

</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Rock Spider }}
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[[ https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2223090388.htm|leboncoin]]
</div>



<div column 50% #s1992>
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===== 1992 Rock Spider =====
Shimano Altus RD-AT10 (1992-93)
</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1992.jpg?300|1992 Rock Spider }}
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[[ https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2173959561.htm|leboncoin]]
</div>