Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- mitchell:start [2021/03/30 10:07] – gchandler
+++ mitchell:start [2024/01/14 16:48] (current) – mtbtimeline
@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ----
 ===== Craig Mitchell Overview =====
-Craig Mitchell was asked by Charlie Kelley in 1975 to build what would end up being the first custom designed mountain bike. Finished in the fall of 1976.
+Craig Mitchell was asked by Charlie Kelly in 1975 to build what would end up being the first custom designed mountain bike. Finished in the fall of 1976.
-((First bike in Fall 1976: [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/index.htm|Charlie Kelly's Website]] . See details on page: [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/mtbwelcome.htm|Charlie's Mountain Bike Hubsite]])) It used all klunker components with light weight road tubing, similar to Ritchey's later bikes. It didn't work for Charlie so he then asked Joe Breeze for a new frame in 1976.
+((See production note [[#prod1]].)) It used all klunker components with light weight road tubing, similar to Ritchey's later bikes. It didn't work for Charlie so he then asked Joe Breeze for a new frame in 1976.
+<blockquote>
+The first custom mountain bike frame that I know about was built for me in 1976 by a friend named Craig Mitchell.  The idea was good, but the resulting frame didn't have the desired handling characteristics, so the bike was dis-assembled.
+<cite>Charlie Kelly, in [[https://www.amazon.com/Richards-Mountain-Bike-Charles-Kelly/dp/0345341163|Richard's Mountain Bike Book]]
+</cite>
+</blockquote>
-The bike has been lost to time (in Australia somewhere?)
+The bike has been lost to time (in Australia somewhere?(([[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/breezer-number-one.166061/|retrobike]] "[Charlie] sold it back to Craig and the last I heard of it was in Australia. ")), or perhaps Japan? ((//"That bike frame was commissioned by Charlie Kelly yet it just "wasn't there" unfortunately so over time, it rested in a lotta hands, including mine at one point I 'believe' that it ended up in a Japanese cycling museum so if true, its prob'ly worth more all the money that was paid out for it every time it changed hands."//[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/206343713238299/?multi_permalinks=1101262870413041/|Stephen Wilde (K&F employee) on facebook]])).)
 Craig later went on to help found [[http://www.whiteind.com/where-we-started|White Industries]].
@@ Line 14: / Line 19: @@
 {{cm.jpg?300|E. T. Whippet }}
 \\
-E. T. Whippet.  [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/artofmountainbike.htm| Charlie Kelly's Website]]
+E. T. Whippet.  [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/artofmountainbike.htm|Charlie Kelly's Website]]
 </div>
-<div column 50% #jbx1>
+<div column 50% #s1976>
 ----
-===== Craig Mitchell =====
+===== 1976 Craig Mitchell =====
 The true first mountain bike? It used all klunker components with Excelsior geometry. And proved to not be good enough.(([[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/mtbwelcome.htm|Charlie Kelly's Website]]))
@@ Line 29: / Line 34: @@
 {{charles.jpg?300}}
 \\
-JBX1, the origin of the species. [[https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1419571|Smithsonian]]
+Charlie Kelly going down Repack on the first Craig Mitchell.\\
+ [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/artofmountainbike.htm| Charlie Kelly's Website]]
 </div>
+<div column 50% #s1977>
+----
+===== 1977 =====
+Craig Mitchell on a Sunday Morning ride.  Shimano 500/600 rear derailleur (1976-82.)
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1977.jpg?300}}
+\\
+.  Photo by Wende Cragg.
+[[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=7086022001412745&set=a.279398925408454|facebook]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1977b>
+----
+===== 1977 =====
+The same bicycle as above, hanging in [[https://www.sunshinebicycle.com/|Sunshine Bikes]], Fairfax, CA.
+\\
+Note the elevated bottom bracket for improved ground clearance.
+Shimano 500/600 rear derailleur (1976-82.)  Drum brakes rear.   The date is based upon components and evolution.
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1977b.jpg?300}}
+\\
+.  Photo by Gene Maruszewski.
+[[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=7086022001412745&set=a.279398925408454|facebook]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1980>
+----
+===== 1980 =====
+Perhaps the first downhill specific MTB, and it is built for speed.  Gigantic front ring, fairing, super-relaxed geometry and uncomfortably aero.  Competed in the March 9, 1980 Reseda to the Sea, organized by [[vva:start|Victor Vincente of America]].((Gary Fisher won the day, with no mention of Craig's effort, according to the race [[https://fattireflyer.com/2019/05/29/reseda-to-the-sea/|report]].))
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1980.jpg?300|1980}}
+\\
+, photo by Dean Bradley
+[[ https://web.archive.org/web/20190722060432/http://deanb.smugmug.com/Victor-Vincente-of-America/|smugmug]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1981>
+----
+===== 1981 =====
+SunTour Vx-GT rear derailleur, ((//"The B-screw had eclipsed the fixed stop by 1980."// [[https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=FC9AB947-7DA8-4836-8A27-4E2648EFFB19&E
+num=108&AbsPos=12|velobase]])) (1980-81) (34T capacity).  SunTour Cyclone front (1976-1982).
+MAFAC Criterium brakes (1946-1985) (painted black).
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1981.jpg?300|1981}}
+\\
+[[ https://www.mtbr.com/threads/anyone-own-an-early-craig-mitchell.1144231/|mtbr]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1982>
+----
+===== 1982 =====
+//"What's a mother to do?"//
+\\
+A slightly more evolved downhill machine than the faired downhill cruiser from 1980.  Yet the components look more primitive.  Drop bars, caliper brakes, perhaps a Shimano Altus derailleur (1970's-80's).
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1982.jpg?300|1982}}
+\\
+, Photo by Gene Maruszewski.
+[[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=9758656937508998&set=p.9758656937508998&type=3|facebook]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #misc>
+----
+===== Miscellaneous =====
+{{craig.jpg?200}}
+\\
+Craig Mitchell, [[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6732231560151566&set=gm.1101050310434297|facebook]]
+\\
+{{part.jpg?200}}
+\\
+Craig made parts as well... [[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6732231560151566&set=gm.1101050310434297|facebook]]
+</div>
+----
+==== Production Notes ====
+<WRAP #prod1 />
+[1]. First bike in Fall 1976: [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/index.htm|Charlie Kelly's Website]] . See details on page: [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/mtbwelcome.htm|Charlie's Mountain Bike Hubsite]]
+<WRAP #prod2 />
+[2]. Craig Mitchell continued to produce a limited number of custom mountain bikes. [[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]].