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% #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.
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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]]