Fat City Timeline

1977

1982

By 1982, Chris had become interested in off-road cycling and Fat City was born. He trained several apprentices and focused on one model in one color and several sizes. We tried tubing from a variety of sources (Tange, Columbus, Reynolds and aircraft stainless) and quickly acquired a reputation for nimble and super sturdy fillet brazed frames and box crown forks. They were bomb-proof and those were the early days of mountain biking.

1984

According to the Fat City Catalog "With the process change to TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding in 1984, Chris was able to reduce the weight and increase the strength of his frames. Then, he turned his attention to the raw materials, in an effort to improve upon what was then available. Working with True Temper offered him the opportunity to use his creativity and materials engineering skills and resulted in the creation of several custom butted and heat treated chrome-moly tube sets by 1987. Customers often ask us, “Why True Temper and why seamed tubing?” It’s because the raw 4130 chrome-moly sheet steel True Temper starts exceptionally clean and the tubing is consistent in its metallurgical structure around its circumference. This is extremely important to the integrity of a welded joint. Impurities encountered in the tubing during welding will undermine the quality of the weld and we can’t tolerate that. After all, we build our frames to outperform the competition and must scrutinize every detail. We have chosen to use True Temper’s tubing exclusively because we have found it to be metallurgical cleaner than seamless tubing and garbage in, ultimately, means garbage out."

1985

1986

September 1986 press release for the Grove-built Hammerhead stem:

1987

First women's bike with shorter top tubes.  About this time they changed from above the bottom bracket cable guides to a under bottom bracket plastic guide that was riveted on.  Bike review from November 1987:

February 1987 Mountain Biking magazine review:

1988

Neat series of ads from 1988 magazines:

1989

Introduction of the Slim Chance Road bike and Yo Eddy.  Top tubes began to slope on the mountain bikes and the sizing system was changed to "clothing" sizes.

1990

Models available include Wicked, Fat Chance, Yo Eddy, Random Tandem and Slim Chance road bike.  The mountain bikes were available with Shimano Deore XT II or Suntour XC Pro Grease Guard components.  The Wicked, Fat Chance and tandem were available in Fluorescent Orange, Porsche Red, Black and Kandy Wild Cherry as stock colors.  The Slim was available in Kandy Wild Cherry or Kandy Oriental Blue.  The Yo was stock in Fluorescent Yellow w/ Blue Metallic.  There was a Wicked women's version available in the 16.5, 18 and 19.5 inch frame sizes which featured a 1" shorter top tube (ST model). The Fat model featured a 69 head tube, 17 1/8" stays and a 2" fork rake.  The Wicked went to a 71 head tube and 1.75" fork rake while keeping the 17 1/8" stays.  The Yo used a shorter 16 7/8" chain stay, the new Yo Eddy fork with 1.5" of rake, top tube cable routing, clearance for 2.5" tires, new thread in cantilever brake studs, oversize sloping top tube and a 29.4 mm seat post.  The bikes still used the pressed in sealed cartridge bottom bracket.

Don Myrah, 1990 NORBA race, Campy equipped Fat:

1992

Models available include Slim Chance (road), Wicked Fat Chance, Monster Fat, Yo Eddy Team Fat Chance and the 10th Anniversary model.  The 10th was made out of True Temper OX 3 tubing with a 1" Yo Eddy Fork.  Each one featured a numbered titanium head badge and were painted a silver to violet fade.  The stock components were Campagnolo Record OR and sizing was small, medium and large.  The Yo was made of quad butted tubing and used the Yo Eddy fork with 1.5" of rake.  The stock components were Shimano XTR and the frame was available in small, medium and large.  Chain stays measured 16 7/8".  Stock colors were black, yellow, metallic teal and Kandy Wild Cherry.  The Monster Fat used 16 7/8" chain stays, top routed cables, sloping top tube, rear mono-stay and a Tange Strut fork.  The stock color was black, sizes were small, medium and large and the stock components were Shimano Deore DX.  The Wicked came stock with Shimano XTR components and the available stock colors were the same as the Yo.  The Yo was available in 14", 16.5", 18", 19.5", 21" and 23".  The 16.5", 18" and 19.5" frames were also available in the "ST" or short top tube model with a 1" shorter top tube. Listed in Bicycling magazine as have built 5,000 bikes to date.

1993

Models for 1993 include the Yo, Wicked Lite, Monster, Slim (road) and Ti Fat.    The Yo featured the Yo Eddy fork, 29.4 mm seat post, 16 7/8" chain stays and was available in sm, sm/med, med, med/lg and lg.   The Wicked Lite added top route cable guides, lighter tubing, hand built unicrown fork, 26.4 mm seat post, 17 1/8" stays and was available in 14", 16.5", 18", 18" ST, 19.5", 19.5" ST, 21" and 23".  The Monster changes to a 29.4 mm seat post, 1.25" seat tube, mono stay rear end and 16 7/8" stays.  Sizes are XS, S, M, and L.  The new Ti Fat used a 1" head tube, suspension correct geometry, externally butted chain stays and down tube with domed stays.  Sizes were XS, S and M with a 29.4 mm post, 16 7/8" stays and a Big One Inch fork.  There were also some experiments being done with an Amp-style rear suspension bike in 1993.

1994

By 1994, it was clear that if we didn't find someone with money and manufacturing management experience to come on board and invest in us, we weren't going to be able to carry on. And, so, after considering seven potential scenarios, we decided to join forces with Serotta Competition Bicycles, merge our operations and move to upstate New York.  Models for 1994 were the Shock-A-Billy, Ti Fat, Yo Eddy, Buck Shaver, Wicked Lite and the Slim Chance road bike.  The new Shock-A-Billy full suspension bike featured a quad butted cro-moly frame with an Amp rear end providing 2.75" of travel.  The bike came in Team Violet and was available in s/m, m, m/l sizes and used a 29.4 mm seat post.  The Ti Fat used the Big 1" fork, 29.4 mm seat post, 1 3/8" front derailleur and was available in xs, s, s/m, m, m/l and l.  The Yo Eddy used the Big 1" fork, 29.4 mm eat post, 16 7/8" stays, and 1.24" front derailleur.  The toothpick anti-chain suck device was included.  Sizes were s, s/m, m, m/l and large in colors Team Violet, Aquamarine Fade, Cosmic Dust Fade and metallic charcoal.  The new Buck Shaver replaces the Monster Fat as a less aggressive, less expensive bike.  It was named for Pat Egan who was a Fat employee who died and was known for finding good deals.  His likeness graces the head tube decal of the bike.  The bike was available in Lime Green or Black, used a 29.4 mm post, had 16 7/8" stays, used Tange Struts fork and was available in xs, s, m and l sizes.  The Wicked Lite featured the new suspension correct geometry, front and rear eyelets, a unicrown fork and was available in the same colors as the Yo.  Sizes were 14", 16.5", 18", 19.5", 21" and 23".  Rock Shox Mag 21 and Manitou 3 suspension forks were optional on the 1994 bikes.

1995

 Models for 1995 include the Chris Chance Road, Wicked Lite, Ti Fat, Shock-A-Billy, Yo Eddy and the Buck Shaver.  The road frame features a new Yo Eddy road fork, oval chain stays and a larger 30 mm down tube.  The Wicked Lite still uses the 26.4 mm seat post, eyelets and a unicrown fork.  Sizes are 14, 16.5, 18, 19.5, 21 and 23.  The Yo Eddy is 5 ounces lighter, uses the Yo Eddy Big 1" fork (suspension option) and 29.4 mm seat post.  Sizes are s, s/m, m, m/l, and l.  The Shock-A-Billy uses a Risse Racing shock with a forward pivot location and asymmetric stays.  Seat post is 29.4 and the sizes are s, s/m, m, m/l and l.  Colors for the road, Yo, Wicked and Shock-A-Billy are Aqua Fade, Sapphire Fade, Arrest Me Red! and Harlequin Fade.  The Ti Fat uses new machine butted tubing, 29.4 mm post and a Yo Big 1" fork.  Sizes are xs, s, s/m, m, m/l and l.  The Buck Shaver comes in Black or Arrest Me Red! with a 29.4 post and Tange Struts fork.  Sizes are limited to xs, s, m and l.

1996

By 1996, Fat decided to split the companies up in 1996, did it in 1997, left the frame building operation in place in New York and moved the offices and distribution to Stowe, Vermont. The result of this split was the benefits of having a sister company and to maintain Fat's independence.  Models for 1996 are the Shock-A-Billy, Yo Eddy, Chris Chance Road, Buck Shaver, Ti Fat and new Yo Betty versions of the Shock-A-Billy, Ti and Buck Shaver.  The Shock-A-Billy changes to a 3" travel, Chance designed rear suspension.  Sizes are s, s/m, m. m/l and large  in Chameleon Metallic, Sapphire Fade, Harlequin Fade and Arrest Me Red!  The Yo uses the same colors and sizes but adds an XL size.  The Ti continues in the same sizes as the Shock-A-Billy.  The Buck Shaver changes to the same suspension geometry as the Yo and is available in s, m and large.  Colors are Black, Arrest Me Red!, Sapphire Purple and Sapphire Blue. 

1997

New York built bikes include the new Bro-Eddy and Chris Cross cyclocross bike.  The Ti Fat, Chris Chance Road and Yo Eddy continue.  All bike switch to the 1 1/8" headsets.  The Bro-Eddy uses the 16.75" stays and smaller diameter stays to give a less stiff ride than the Yo.  Colors were Sapphire Purple or Sapphire blue in xs (Yo Betty), s, s/m, m, m/l and l.  The Yo keeps the 16 7/8" stays and is corrected for a 2.5" suspension fork.  Colors are Sapphire Fade, Sapphire Blue. Sapphire Purple, Chameleon Metallic, Chameleon Green and Chameleon Bronze in sizes s through xl.  Ti continues in xs through l sizing.

1999

 Models were Yo Eddy, Yo Betty, Team Ti Fat, Bro-Eddy, Chris Chance Road, Chris Cross and Ti Road.  The Yo came in s though XXL in Sapphire Blue, Chameleon Metallic, Chameleon Green, Chameleon Bronze, Ferrous Metallic, Hot Lava, Cherry Love and Arrest Me Red!.  The Yo betty was available in 10, 12, 14 and 16 frames in Blue, Black, Raspberry Ice and Arrest Me Red!  The Team Ti was in xs through l.  The Bro Eddy used smaller diameter tubing and was available in xs through l in Sapphire Blue, Arrest Me Red! and Glossy Black.