mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== S&G Cycles =====

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]]))
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.  [[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]].))
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<blockquote>
They had to come up with a new name and realised that this new market warranted a grungier name than S&G Cycles. The Araya Bikes were named as 'Fun Picnic' and other such tosh but one was called "Muddy Fox" so they picked that as their name - it sat nicely with off-road biking.
<cite>
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/who-knows-what-about-muddyfox.18576/page-4|retrobike]] and [[https://www.wikicorporates.org/wiki/Sports_Direct_International_plc|wikicorporates]]
</cite>
</blockquote>

It's not likely that S&G imported more than a couple hundred Muddy Foxes into the UK before dropping the //**S**ecurity & **G**eneral Finance// from each bike.  Otherwise, no other Araya branded mountain bikes seem to have ever escaped Japan to the west.
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There remains a small bike shop in Cambridge, England, named "S&G Cycles."((Its only web presence is a humble [[https://www.facebook.com/-S-and-G-Cycles--160557604021832/|facebook]] page.))  Probably unrelated - but ...

{{sg.jpg?200|S&G Cycles, Cambridge}}
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S&G Cycles, Cambridge
[[https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x47d870bccae5ae55%3A0x4d291f2e7f076318!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMU7KrDaH56sCA4fsu2MJMM56_yvU0Pr8qrw03v%3Dw266-h355-k-no!5s%22s%26g%20cycles%22%20cambridge%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipMU7KrDaH56sCA4fsu2MJMM56_yvU0Pr8qrw03v&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj6n7rjkKryAhVBZ80KHevrANIQoiowF3oECF8QAw|google map pics]]

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<div column 45%>
{{drew.jpg?400|Ari & Drew}}
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Ari & Drew
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[[https://www.facebook.com/drew.lawson.775|facebook]]

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<div column 50% #araya>
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===== Araya Bicycles of Japan =====


Araya started making wooden bicycle rims in 1903 in Yamanaka, Japan.  ((See google translation of company history: [[https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.araya-kk.co.jp/company/|google]].))  In 1980 it launched its industry changing 7x bmx rim: a light weight, highly robust, 32mm wide aluminum rim.  Not only did it drop pounds off klunkers, it could brake when wet, it could survive Repack and it was cheap ((And only came in 20" and 26" sizes for BMX bikes, setting mt. bike rim standards for decades.)).  What most people outside of Japan
((And Thailand: [[http://www.arayathailand.com/index.php/bikes/]].  In the US, the Araya website is all about rims: [[https://www.araya-usa.com/about-us]]))
don't know is that Araya makes mountain bikes ((Starting in 1983 and lasting through today.  See:  [[http://araya-rinkai.jp]])).
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In 1983, Araya's series of mountain bikes spanned a range of twelve models ((Probably the most of any maker in 1983 - but the differences were minor.)), all of which were called MuddyFox.  Prices ranged from $800 for a fillet brazed version ((See 1983 catalog: [[http://araya-rinkai.jp/catalog]])) to $260 for a basic lugged, but quite competent, complete mountain bike.



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<div column 45%>
{{2020cat.png?300|2021 Araya Catalog}}
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2021 Araya Catalog
[[http://araya-rinkai.jp/pdf/araya_2021.pdf|araya 2021 catalog]]

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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983 S&G Muddy Fox made by Araya =====

Date verified by serial number.  Missing grips but seems to match Araya's 1983 catalog: [[http://araya-rinkai.jp/catalogue.html]]
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So, is this an S&G?  An Araya?  A Muddy Fox?  Answer: it's all three, but S&G comes first on the branding, so it wins the entry in the timeline.  Araya is undoubtedly the designer and manufacturer - and deserves a page of its own.

</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|1984 S&G Muddy Fox}}
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1983 S&G Muddy Fox
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/s-g-araya-muddy-fox-1983-4.221662/|retrobike]]

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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 S&G Muddy Fox made by Araya =====

Appears to be later than a 1983 due to component and sticker upgrades.  Araya's "MB-MF26A" early model number is clearly shown.  This model wasn't available from Araya later years.  This was their mid range Muddy Fox.
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<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 S&G Muddy Fox }}
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1984 S&G Muddy Fox
[[https://www.flickr.com/photos/timandmegan/4617090541|flickr]]

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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 Muddy Fox Courier =====

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 column 45%>
{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Muddy Fox Courier }}
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1984 Muddy Fox Courier
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1985-muddy-fox-courier.63938/|retrobike]]

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

Suntour XC Sport 7000 (1987-88), Tange MTB tubing, MF branding everywhere.
Suntour roller cam rear brakes, 



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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 column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Roadrunner =====

Suntour Alpha-3040 (1988+), u-brake rear, pulley quill stem, MF branded tubing &
 brakes, lugged frame.


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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 column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Pathfinder =====
Shimano Exage (Country/Mountain?) (1989), with Muddy Fox branded shoulder strap/bag & disc wheel covers.
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<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 column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Adventurer =====
SunTour XCM (1989-90)
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<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 column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Alu Pro =====
Shimano Deore (1989-90)
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<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 column 50% #sad>
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===== Ad Campaigns =====

Thanks to Drew, MF had many good ads.  A few should be attached.
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See also a TV ad: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpe0ur02Utg|youtube]]

{{mfad1.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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{{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 column 45%>
{{phelan.jpg?440|Jacquie Phelan }}
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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]]  ((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]]

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<div column 50% #s1997>
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===== 1997 Intereactive Ultimate =====

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 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 column 50% #production>
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==== Production Notes ====
<WRAP #prod1 />
[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>