Born Aug 23, 1948 in Washington D.C. to artist Carol Cunningham and figher pilot Bruce Cunningham. Moved around as Air Force brats are known to do. Settled for good in Marin County in 1965, on the shoulder of Mt. Tamalpais, the peak revered by Miwok Indians as well as fat head bikers.

Charlie showing a bike in his shop

Charlie Cunningham didn’t climb on the clunker bandwagon by riding a heavy 1930’s single speed. In his late teens, well before the first balloon tire bikes appeared on Tam, he was solo pedaling Tam’s trails on his mom’s modified lightweight German  one-speed. Later, this was replaced by a ten speed Gitane road bike, improved for trails with wider of gear range, shortened chainstays, raised bottom bracket, knobbed touring tires and his first-ever custom toggle brakes. Riding these light, cyclclocross-like bikes for years on Tam’s narrow, technical trails gave Charlie insights into the qualities that were needed for a bike to excel in these conditions.