Bicycles

Charlie’s first mountain bike was completed in 1979. Between 1980 and 1995 Charlie built about twelve custom mountain bikes a year, for a total of about 175. The frames, all made with 6061-T6 aluminum, were heat treated with a sophisticated process that he developed, resulting in amazingly light, strong, long lasting bikes.

'Ham in the sun

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.