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In the early eighties, the make-up of the mountain bike was being defined by a handful of custom builders. Charlie’s bikes were considered most unusual. His use of aluminum was controversial and his bikes were full of unconventional ideas and never-before-seen components that he designed specifically for this rapidly evolving new breed of bicycle. Other custom builders and newly appearing mass manufacturers of the time took note of Charlie’s use of aluminum and the components he developed. His bikes and components worked well and eventually many of his design features were adopted as industry standards. Charlie’s bikes were popular among hard-core enthusiasts, especially in the racing scene, winning many races. The success and renown of his bikes did much to remove the confusion and doubt about aluminum and helped to establish the credibility and popularity of today’s aluminum mountain bike frames. Even so, his bikes are easily distinguished from the mass produced aluminum bikes of today, the differences being evident in the time and attention he invested in every bike. Scrupulous attention to design and fabrication – involving extensive testing and refinement – were (and are) considered commercially unfeasible. Riders found him anyway since the Cunningham reputation extended around the world (propelled in part by his peripatetic pedalhead partner, Jacquie Phelan). Only a perfectionist and an artist ignores the dictates of manufacturing convenience and price-point competitiveness, parameters that define today’s equipment. Charlie’s first mountain bike, built in 1979, can be seen at the Fat Tire Museum and Hall of Fame in Crested Butte, Colorado. It weighs 23 pounds and was surprisingly sophisticated. Seen in its historic context, one can appreciate the features that are now considered standard in the modern mountain bike. The frame geometry that Charlie used in his first mountain bike is a good example: 71 degree head tube, 72 degree seat tube, 41.75” wheelbase, 16.9” chainstays, 11.8” BB height. Other early mountain bikes owed their inspiration to the Schwinn Excelsior with its superlong wheelbase, high bottom bracket and shallow frame angles.
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