An Amusement & Diversion for The Genteel Cyclist. Daily.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Is this the "most perfect" mountain bike ever built?


Glancing through a recent issue of Dirt Rag, we noted a fine spread on the Handbuilt Bike show, in which the work of Christopher Igleheart figured prominently. Today in the Boston Globe, we read this fine little introduction to the framebuilder, which incidentally makes a case for Boston being Cycle City-- going way back to the 1870s and the Overland company, and then making the (somewhat dubious) leap all the way to Fat City Cycles -- where Igleheart lit his first torch.

Then there was this:



Fat City Cycles, begun in 1981, brought together many skilled builders who created such models as the "Wicked Fat Chance" mountain bike, which aficionados still reverently consider one of the most perfect ever made.


No kidding? OK, afficionados -- we expect a hearty dialogue as to the "most perfect" mountain bike ever made. (What, and NOT a singlespeed 29er? No fucking way!) Never having swung a leg over a Fat Chance, but feeling especially close to my Indie Fab, I'm willing to entertain the idea.

2 comments:

-kw said...

Had one.
Whatever you say ... different times, kid-sized wheels, overrated, or whatever.
Mine was actually the most perfect.
Whatever you else say ... second hand, third hand, still serving the fourth owner well.
That Wicked (can't speak for the others) continues to be the most perfect mountain bike ever built.
So far.

Pinchie said...

the indie fab is very early generation-- I've even got the frame pump nipples behind the seat stay! -- and it too feels nearly perfect to me, without fancy "s" shaped chainstays, nor titanium, nor any of the other bling of subsequent "advances" in bike design.

But so we're all working with the same definitions, what does "perfect" mean? TO me, "perfect" means designed ideally for winding hardpack singletrack, fast in the hands, a great "eastern woods bike," meaning for hardwood forests with windy intentional singletrack.

The IF is perfect for that... and as I understand it, is an apple that fell off the Fat Chance tree.