mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Novara =====


Novara was the private label brand of bicycles for [[https://www.rei.com/|REI]], a chain of sporting goods stores, from 1983 -> 2016((Details from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novara_(company)|wikipedia]].)).  Until 2021, REI was headquartered in Kent, WA, which is coincidentally also home to the headquarters of [[https://www.diamondback.com/|Diamondback Bicycles]], the early supplier of Novara bicycles ((Kent, WA. is also the home to [[raleigh:start|Raleigh Bicycle]] and [[https://www.redlinebicycles.com/|Redline Bicycles]])).  It's a coincidence because back in 1983, [[db:start|Diamond Back]] was in Newbury Park, CA.  Did they move closer together on purpose?  In mid 80's REI likely had only a dozen locations, increasing to over 165 by 2020((Six stores in 1980 and twenty six in 1990 [[http://www.reihistory.com/]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REI|wikipedia]])).
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Starting in 1987, Scot Nicols, of [[ibis:start|Ibis Cycles]] designed and produced Novara's Ponderosa mountain bikes.((Scot also designed Novara's X-R Road bike.  Catalog scans can be found here: [[https://www.ibiscycles.com/our-story/history/15-sebastopol-days-part-3-bikes|ibis cycles]]))



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<div column 45%>
{{rei.jpg?360|REI}}
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Mary (1909->2017) and Lloyd Anderson (1902->2000)\\
Founders of REI, in 1946.
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[[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/business/mary-anderson-died-co-founder-of-rei-cooperative.html|nytimes]]
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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983 Outback ====

SunTour Superbe Tech L (1983)((This is not the long cage GTL, but simply the medium caged Tech L.  See: [[https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=ec298789-fdbd-4f4f-ac6d-2f9e88b9d5c9&Enum=108|velobase]])).  Front fork bosses supposedly only on 1984s - yet 1984 rear derailleurs were MounTech (82-84.)
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This bike is nearly identical to the [[db:start#s1983|1983 Diamond Back Mean Streak]], except for the rear derailleur cable guide needed for the Outback's odd SunTour Superbe Tech L((Is this the only mountain bike the Superbe Tech derailleur exists upon?  [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/suntour_superbe_tech_gtl_derailleur_5400.html|Disraeligears]] states: //"The story of the SunTour Superbe Tech series is a perfect example of hubris - of overweening pride, self-confidence, and even arrogance resulting in fatal retribution"//, as a preface to how bad this derailleur was.  They were also spec'd on early [[univega:start|Univegas]].)).  They even have identical fork bosses, cable guides, and almost the same component sets.
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The [[http://www.parkpre.com/history.htm|ParkPre]] history page states that Junya (Cozy) Yamakoshi, the founder of [[db:start|Diamond Back]] and Centurion((The US version Centurion sold only road bikes.  Easily confused with [[centurion:start|Centurion]] of Germany, who had a similar logo early on - but appear to be separate.)) designed the early Novara bicycles.  Further evidence of the Novara - Diamond Back relationship.

{{superbe.jpg?260|Superbe}}
[[https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=ec298789-fdbd-4f4f-ac6d-2f9e88b9d5c9&
Enum=108|velobase]]
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Another look at SunTour's Superbe.  The entire parallelogram is sealed, which is unique amongst all derailleurs, then or since.
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<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|1983 Outback}}
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1983 Outback
[[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10226188567836006&set=pcb.1830364887150293|facebook]]


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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Outback =====

Looks identical - except for the rear derailleur, the cable guide, seat tube stickers, and missing water bottle cage holes.

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{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Outback}}
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1984 Outback
[[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159159228721321&set=p.10159159228721321&type=3|facebook]]


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


Designed by Scot Nicol, of [[ibis:start|Ibis Cycles]].
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Deore derailleurs (87-88), 29.5 pounds, $589.
This appears to be identical to the [[ibis:start#s1987|Ibis Avion]], which Ibis designed and imported from Japan.


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<div column 45%>
{{cat87.jpg?300|1987 Ponderosa}}
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1987 Ponderosa
[[https://www.ibiscycles.com/our-story/history/15-sebastopol-days-part-3-bikes|ibiscycles]]


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


Fillet brazed!  1988 Ibis Avions remained TIG welded.  ((With some exceptions.  See: [[https://www.facebook.com/vintagemtbworkshop/photos/a.858491370904382/2450092871744216/|Facebook]].  This Ibis Avion, from the Vintage MTB Workshop, has completely different cable routing.  Perhaps it's possibly a custom order using Avion model name?  Or did they import fillet brazed frames?))


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<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Ponderosa}}
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1988 Ponderosa
[[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/148170-show-us-your-vintage-mountain-bikes-298.html#&gid=1&pid=39|bikeforums]]



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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Aspen =====

Shimano Exage, 29 pounds.

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<div column 45%>
{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Aspen}}
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1990 Aspen
[[https://www.svipshops3s.cf/ProductDetail.aspx?iid=274657457&pr=87.88|svipshops]]


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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Arriba =====

First gen Shimano Deore LX.  The tires don't look very mountain bike like.

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<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Arriba}}
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1991 Arriba
[[https://www.proxibid.com/Estate-Personal-Property/Sporting-Goods/Mens-Novara-Arriba-Bicycle/lotInformation/49608283|proxbid]]


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