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.

MBHoF 'Ham #1

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.