mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Moots Overview =====

Kent Eriksen started Moots(([[https://freehubmag.com/articles/kent-eriksen-cycles-%E2%80%93-industry-hands|freehub]]The name Moots came from a pre-Mr. Bill, Gumby-like 2-inch rubber alligator that Eriksen had kept since the 3rd grade)) Bicycles in 1980 out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado (([[https://kenteriksen.com/about/our-story/|kenteriksen.com]])).  Moots continues today to make beautiful, mostly titanium, mountain bikes: [[https://moots.com/]]

<blockquote>
Moots’ niche in the bike industry is well established. They make gorgeous, shockingly expensive bikes for people who want refined, grown-up rides.
<cite>
[[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/not-a-review-the-moots-womble-is-more-than-just-a-boomer-bike.html|pinkbike]]
</cite>
</blockquote>

In 1984, Kent invented what we now call bar-ends; those nifty, multi-position gadgets found on so many mountain biker’s handlebars today. (([[https://mmbhof.org/kent-eriksen/]]))
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Kent left Moots in 2005, and continues to produce custom bikes part time in collaboration with [[https://binghambuiltbikes.com|Brad Bingham]] from [[https://kenteriksen.com/|Kent Eriksen Cycles]] and [[https://binghambuiltbikes.com|Bingham Built Bikes]].


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<div column 45%>
{{kent.jpg?400|Kent Eriksen}}
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Kent Eriksen, ca. 1981
[[https://kenteriksen.com/about/|kenteriksen.com]]
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<div column 50% #s1981>
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===== 1981 Mountaineer =====

At the very beginning all Moots bicycles were polished and perfect.   Kent states he built a mountain bike for himself in 1980, but no pictures exist and hence the Moots timeline starts at 1981.

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<div column 45%>
{{1981.jpg?300|1981  Mountaineer}}
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1981  Mountaineer
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/jimi911%E2%80%99s-1981-moots-mountaineer-is-the-2020-retrobike-bike-of-the-year.425966/|retrobike]]
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<div column 50% #s1982>
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===== 1982 Mountaineer =====

Shimano Deore RD-DE20 touring long cage (1981) rear, XT front (1982-3)


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<div column 45%>
{{1982.jpg?300|1982 Moots Mountaineer}}
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1982  Mountaineer
[[http://socketsetcycles.blogspot.com/2010/03/1982-moots.html|socketsetcycles]]
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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983 Mountaineer =====

Four water bottle cages?  All Moots were custom, and every detail was taken care of.


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<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|1983 Moots Mountaineer}}
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1983 Mountaineer
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1983_Moots_Mountaineer.html|mombat]]
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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Mountaineer  =====
Many replaced components.  Original Shimano FD-T105 front derailleur (1983-86), single bolt mini shoulder pad, Moots Mounts, Shimano 600 headset, lugged frame, fillet brazed stem.  Frame #398.

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<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Mountaineer}}
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1984 Mountaineer
[[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10156899450025867&set=pcb.2225667894166060|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 Mountaineer =====

Outfitted for mountain trekking.  Those wooden knobbies sticking out front are the first "road levers," aka bar ends.

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<div column 45%>
{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Moots Mountaineer }}
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1985 Mountaineer
[[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/moots-mountaineer-s-n-587.649937/|mtbr]]

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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 Mountaineer =====

Every customizable option selected.

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<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Moots Mountaineer }}
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1986 Mountaineer
[[https://moots.com/story/28-years-old-and-still-going-strong/|moots.com]]

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<div column 50% #s1987>
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===== 1987 Mountaineer =====

Cool internal front brake routing.

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<div column 45%>
{{1987.jpg?300|1986 Mountaineer }}
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1987 Mountaineer
[[https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/12773363/|pinkbike]]

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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Zirkel =====

Named after local [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Zirkel|Mount Zirkel]].  Moots mounts are now bolted in, rather than strapped.  Cool front brake cable routing.  Full Shimano Deore XT.

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<div column 45%>
{{1988.png?300|1988 Zirkel }}
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1988 Zirkel
[[https://generationmountainbike.com/project/1988-moots-zirkel/|generationmountainbike.com]]

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<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Zirkel =====

This example was raced [[https://theradavist.com/2014/09/jah-blessed-1989-moots-zerkel-mtb/|extensively]].

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<div column 45%>
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Zirkel }}
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1989 Zirkel
[[https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnprolly/15072794928/|flickr]]

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<div column 50% #extra>
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===== Extra =====

Moots/Eriksen bikes had a few pioneering features which should not be forgotten.  For example, the //Moots Mounts// to the right allowed for adjusting wheel sizes by simply moving the brake mount clamps up or down.  Thus, you can switch from 26" to 650b/27.5" with a screw driver, rather that having to throw out your frame((Or simply buying brake post [[https://www.promaxcomponents.com/product/brake-post-extenders/|extenders]] to add arm reach for cantilevers)).  All early Moots frames had clamp on brake mounts.
\\

Or, as mentioned previously, Moots invented "bar ends," which were actually wooden meditation balls which acted as a precursor to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_handlebar#Triathlon_or_aero_bars|aero bars]] than [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_handlebar#Bar_ends|bar ends]].  In any case, they're cool and someone should make them again.



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<div column 45%>
{{brakes.jpg?300|Moots Mounts }}
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Moots Mounts
[[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4614764358568428&set=p.4614764358568428&type=3|facebook]]

{{barends.jpg?300|Moots bar extender thingies }}
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Moots meditation balls
[[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219641546541368&set=p.10219641546541368&type=3|facebook]]

</div>

==== Production Notes ====
<WRAP #prod1 />
[1]. 320 frames by 1985, 240 of them mountain bikes.  Roughly 50/year.  Perhaps less the first year.  See: [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Moots.html]]