Ok, we've covered some of the Frame/Fork combinations and two complete bikes so far. Now we're gonna move on to the components that were used to build up these stylin' machines to make them even hotter. Genuis or Garbage? The opinions about these components are as varied as the colors they came in. We present them here as parts that have earned legendary status through either innovative design or everlasting construction. Without further adieu, I give you the "must have" parts from the 80's and three items that looked good on paper but became popular through thier ability to produce fits of laughter in the eye of the beholder.
ACS Potts mod and ROtor
This is the set up that changed freestyle forever. No more tangled cables! A clean design that was friendly to your knees, but without the upper bearing cup guide that was introduced later the lower cable tended to break alot. Access to the lower cables anchor point wasn't exactly convienent.
Skyway Spinmaster
Skyway wasn't far behind ACS with this device that claimed to work better than the Rotor. Based on the same principle, it had a spring that forced the system back down and it was easier to change busted cables. Although it forced the user to run the stem a tad higher than the rotor.
California Freespin
This is probably the cleanest looking of all the rear Potts mod devices that came out. Based on the Rotor but with a much smaller profile, this device worked well but didn't sell as well as the Rotor did.
Tioga Comp ST
Tioga originally intended this tire for use as an indoor race tire. It was quickly seen as a great freestyle tire by the early freestylers. The tire of choice for many years, it featured a triangular design to reduce rolling resistence and a smooth soft tread.
Haro Multisurface
The original multisurface tire still seen today. Marketed as a uni-directional tread design that didn't feature the name Haro anywhere except the sidewall. Noone could figure out why the tread was only supposed to work in one direction.
Hutch Freestyle
This tire was made by Tioga (Mitsuboshi) for Hutch and featured the Hutch name in the tread every so often. A nice rounded design with a soft compound made this a great tire for flatland use. Only available in 1.175 size though.
Skyway axle pegs
These puppies probably took freestyle further than any other innovation made. They allowed riders to stand in a place on few had dreamed of. Pogos and bent axles were common sites on every bike in the early 80's. Sold in both 24 and 26 TPI for all your axle bending applications.
GT Forkstanders
This was high tech stuff in 84'. A borrowed design from the motorcycle world, these bulky things bolted onto the fork legs at whatever height you wished and promptly bent after exactly twenty two pogos. Once bent a little they refused to stay up and would flop around endlessly.
GT Framestanders
Now here was a great idea. This design relieved the rear axle of the crushing weight of the rider bouncing up and down and ushered in a new era of rear wheel hops. Large enough to accomodate a foot, but tapered to be out of the way of your heel on the upstroke of the pedal.
Pacific Freestyle Forkstands
Pacific Freestyle made about three parts, and as far as I know only Ron Wilton used them. This was the worst of thier inventions. Place so high on the fork legs, it was sure to give you back problems. Noone ever figured out why so many companies were apparently competing to place thier fork stand designs so high. Apparently inspired the wave of handstand tricks.
Odyssey Forkstands
Now here's a design that went over many peoples heads. So you remove your front wheel and slide these up the fork leg effectively removing any paint you may have purchased with your bike. Utilizing some old seat post clamps they had laying around, Odyssey attached a folding stand design that wouldn't work once you tightened the clamp on your fork. Great.
Schwinn YO! Stools
Well, at least they named these things correctly. I can't think of a better word than "stool" to describe these axle pegs. Could've been a design inspired by what the R&D boys were eating when they thought of this one. A rounded smooth surface at the end of the peg insured that your shoe would slip right off. At least it wouldn't puncture your ribs if you feel on them.
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