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sng:start [2021/08/13 20:48] – gchandler | sng:start [2024/04/30 17:03] (current) – mtbtimeline |
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S&G Cycles ((S&G comes from the name "Security & General Finance", see: [[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/who-knows-what-about-muddyfox.18576/page-4|retrobike]])) was founded by Drew Lawson and Ari Hadjipetrou "during a card game in an ex-pat bar in Saudi Arabia." | S&G Cycles ((S&G comes from the name "Security & General Finance", see: [[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/who-knows-what-about-muddyfox.18576/page-4|retrobike]])) was founded by Drew Lawson and Ari Hadjipetrou "during a card game in an ex-pat bar in Saudi Arabia." |
((Short review in [[https://www.bikebiz.com/founders-of-muddy-fox-reunited-by-mtb-history-film/|bikebiz]] of the documentary: [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5947702/|Mountain Biking: The Untold British Story]])) | ((Short review in [[https://www.bikebiz.com/founders-of-muddy-fox-reunited-by-mtb-history-film/|bikebiz]] of the documentary: [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5947702/|Mountain Biking: The Untold British Story]])) |
S&G Cycles imported Araya's MuddyFox mountain bike into the UK from 1983 until around 1991, replacing the S&G/Muddy Fox/Araya branding with the simpler "Muddy Fox" in 1985. The Muddy Fox Bicycles brand continues today ([[https://www.muddyfox.com/|Muddy Fox]]), with new owners but they're no longer made by Araya nor in Japan. | S&G Cycles imported [[araya:start|Araya]]'s MuddyFox mountain bike into the UK from 1983 until around 1991, replacing the S&G/Muddy Fox/Araya branding with the simpler "Muddy Fox" in 1985. The Muddy Fox Bicycles brand continues today ([[https://www.muddyfox.com/|Muddy Fox]]), with new owners but they're no longer made by Araya nor in Japan. |
((muddyfox.com states that: //"Muddyfox can lay claim to the first Mountain bike brand in Europe."// [[cleland:start|Cleland]] & [[schauff:start|Schauff]] both started in 1981...)) | ((muddyfox.com states that: //"Muddyfox can lay claim to the first Mountain bike brand in Europe."// [[cleland:start|Cleland]] & [[schauff:start|Schauff]] both started in 1981. [[centurion:start|Centurion]] of Germany started in 1982.)) |
Arraya continue to make their own line of MuddyFoxes along with many other bicycles, presumably in Japan ((See Araya's web page: [[http://araya-rinkai.jp]].)) | Arraya continue to make their own line of MuddyFoxes along with many other bicycles, presumably in Japan ((See Araya's web page: [[http://araya-rinkai.jp]].)) |
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===== 1985 Muddy Fox Courier ===== | ===== 1985 Muddy Fox Courier ===== |
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The branding change-over occurred in 1985 and sales improved while heading more down market. Ari states that they sold 30,000 Couriers in a two day trade show. ((See the excellent documentary on Youtube: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6zbENQcwkk|Mountain Biking The untold British story]])) Muddy Fox really brought mt. biking to the UK. | The branding change-over occurred in 1985 and sales improved while heading more down market. Ari states that they sold 30,000 Couriers in a two day trade show. ((See the excellent documentary on Youtube: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6zbENQcwkk|Mountain Biking The Untold British story]])) Muddy Fox really brought mt. biking to the UK. |
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</div> | </div> |
</div> | </div> |
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| <div column 50% #s1987> |
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<div column 50% #s1985> | ===== 1987 Explorer ===== |
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| Suntour XC Sport 7000 (1987-88), Tange MTB tubing, MF branding everywhere. |
| Suntour roller cam rear brakes, |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 45%> |
| {{1987.jpg?300|1987 Explorer }} |
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| 1987 Explorer |
| [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/233887150624113/search/?q=1987|facebook]] |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 50% #s1988> |
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| ===== 1988 Roadrunner ===== |
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| Suntour Alpha-3040 (1988+), u-brake rear, pulley quill stem, MF branded tubing & |
| brakes, lugged frame. |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 45%> |
| {{1988.jpg?300|1988 Roadrunner }} |
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| 1988 Roadrunner |
| [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/233887150624113/permalink/1390591608286989/|facebook]] |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 50% #s1989> |
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| ===== 1989 Pathfinder ===== |
| Shimano Exage (Country/Mountain?) (1989), with Muddy Fox branded shoulder strap/bag & disc wheel covers. |
| </div> |
| <div column 45%> |
| {{1989.jpg?300|1989 Pathfinder }} |
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| 1989 Pathfinder |
| [[https://mountainbikemuseum.nl/en/mountainbikes/muddy-fox-pathfinder-437|mountainbikemuseum.nl]] |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 50% #s1990> |
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| ===== 1990 Adventurer ===== |
| SunTour XCM (1989-90) |
| </div> |
| <div column 45%> |
| {{1990.jpg?300|1990 Adventurer }} |
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| 1990 Adventurer |
| [[https://mountainbikemuseum.nl/en/mountainbikes/muddy-fox-adventurer-516|mountainbikemuseum.nl]] |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 50% #s1991> |
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| ===== 1991 Alu Pro ===== |
| Shimano Deore (1989-90) |
| </div> |
| <div column 45%> |
| {{1991.jpg?300|1991 Alu Pro }} |
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| 1991 Alu Pro |
| [[https://mountainbikemuseum.nl/en/mountainbikes/muddy-fox-alu-pro-370| mountainbikemuseum.nl]] |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 50% #sad> |
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Thanks to Drew, MF had many good ads. A few should be attached. | Thanks to Drew, MF had many good ads. A few should be attached. |
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{{mfad1.jpg?300|Muddy Fox Ad}} | See also a TV ad: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpe0ur02Utg|youtube]] |
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| {{mfad1.jpg?200|Muddy Fox Ad}} |
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Muddy Fox Advert, from Drew's Facebook page: | Muddy Fox Advert, from Drew's Facebook page: |
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| {{mfad2.jpg?200|Muddy Fox Ad}} |
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| Muddy Fox Advert, from Drew's Facebook page: |
| [[https://www.facebook.com/drew.lawson.775|Drew's Facebook]] |
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| {{mfad3.jpg?200|Muddy Fox Ad}} |
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| Muddy Fox Advert, from Drew's Facebook page: |
| [[https://www.facebook.com/drew.lawson.775|Drew's Facebook]] |
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</div> | </div> |
Jacquie Phelan, three time NORBA champion. | Jacquie Phelan, three time NORBA champion. |
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See: [[https://mmbhof.org/jacquie-phelan/|mmbhof]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquie_Phelan|wikipedia]] and her account of the pic: [[https://www.flickr.com/photos/wombatbiker/1437514484|Jacquie's flickr]] | See: [[https://mmbhof.org/jacquie-phelan/|mmbhof]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquie_Phelan|wikipedia]] and her account of the pic: [[https://www.flickr.com/photos/wombatbiker/1437514484|Jacquie's flickr]] ((Also see the video: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS3Lehv0inw|First Wednesday: Unmitigated Gal with Jacquie Phelan and Friends]], where Jacqui describes how the shot was made.)) |
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[[https://www.facebook.com/drew.lawson.775|Drew's Facebook]] | [[https://www.facebook.com/drew.lawson.775|Drew's Facebook]] |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 50% #s1997> |
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| ===== 1997 Intereactive Ultimate ===== |
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| A little skip ahead to 1997, to focus on some amazing Muddy Fox tech. The **Intereactive** ((Note the spelling adds an 'e')) first appeared in 1995, during the wild scramble of all bike makers to find the [[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/the-short-turbulent-life-of-urt-suspension-mtb-history.html|sweet spot]] of perfect suspension: stiff while pedaling, compliant while descending and balanced while braking. The single shock, controlling both the front and rear, kept the bike even. But not pretty. |
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| </div> |
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| <div column 45%> |
| {{1997.jpg?300|1997 Muddy Intereactive }} |
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| 1997 Muddy Intereactive Ultimate |
| [[https://iconicmtb.com/iconic-mtb-s/muddy-fox|iconicmtb]] |
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</div> | </div> |
==== Production Notes ==== | ==== Production Notes ==== |
<WRAP #prod1 /> | <WRAP #prod1 /> |
[1]. ? | [1]. Early numbers seem slim, as few examples remain. |
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| <WRAP #prod2 /> |
| [2]. The Muddy Fox Courier really took off. As Ari Hadjipetrou states above, they sold 30,000 Couriers in a single day. Whether they delivered is unknown, but Muddy Fox's early great success implies that they exceeded this goal early on. |
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</div> | </div> |