Vintage MTB

Throwback Thursdays: '89 Ground Control Extreme Drawings

Obviously bigger is better.  I came across this lovely illustration while digging for material.  In August of 1989, it was certainly known that a larger contact patch is superior to a smaller con...

Throwback Thursdays: The Return of Drop Bars?

Todd DeAngelis leading Joey Peterson, roughly 1985. I recently went on a singletrack fest group ride and encountered a curious situation.  Strewn about were different people's takes on appropria...

Throwback Thursdays: 1987 Price List & Mailer

I stumbled across this today, totally intact, haggard staple still holding pieces together along with another added to cobble more now to it.  The pages have an oh so nice aging color to them, I ...

Throwback Thursdays: 1990 Black Specialized Hardpack 2.2 Tires

 The 1998 Specialized (Designed by WTB for Specialized) Hardpack 2.2 tires came with tan sidewalls.  It's it, that's that.  However, a small batch, 8 total, of black Specialized Hardpack 2.2 tire...

Throwback Thursdays: 1992 WTB Trailgrips

We now call them Original Trail Grips, a head nod to the history of the Trailgrip.  That also means we still sell 'em.  Yes we do.  These are my absolute favorite grips - there is something about...

Throwback Thursdays: 1985 Grease Guard Tandem Hub

The Grease Guard Tandem hubs were available with a double threaded design, mirroring one drive side from another potential drive side.  So, what does that actually mean?  It means that back in th...

Throwback Thursdays: 1995 VelociRaptor Killer Traction Ad

Pop quiz, hot shot.  On the left hand side of this stellar ad, what is an SASE it's referring to?  I sure didn't know.  An SASE is a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.  BLAOW!  1995.  Al Gore must ...

Throwback Thursdays: WTB Way Wide (or Extra-Wide) front Grease Guard Hub

The Grease Guard Way Wide front hubs, also known as Extra-Wides as there had been standard, wide, and extra wide options were pretty special.  For one thing, the name was no joke.  They were 118 m...

Throwback Thursdays:1988 WTB Chainstay Protector

While some might not think chainstay protectors are necessarily the most exciting thing going, WTB's 1988 Chainstay Protectors were pretty sweet.  For one thing, they were some of the first and the...

Thowback Thursdays: 1993 Chain Pup

32 grams.  That's all the WTB Chain Pup chain tool weighed.  Yes, gram counters have existed for centuries.  How can I be so sure?  Well, there probably was some guy in the 1800's named Gram.  Yes,...

Throwback Thursdays: 1993 WTB/Blackburn Bomber

To water bottle, to backpack?  The inevitable question seems to surface every time I start rummaging for tools, spare tube, CO2s, and other odds and ends I deem necessary for a ride.  At what leng...

Throwback Thusdays: 1988 Ads for WTB-Designed Specialized Hardpack and Ground Control S Tires

WTB designed 25 different tread patterns for Specialized from 1985 through 1993.  Team WTB racers rode many of these tires to victory, like the 1985 NORBA Championships where 4 out of the top 10 fi...

Throwback Thursdays: Evil Peter and the Angel Island Derby

The Derby is a big part of Marin mountain biking history.  Many refer to derby now as foot down.  Regardless of what you call it, those clunking were messing with each other early on in Marin try...

WTB Throwback Thursdays: 1989 Moab Trip with Snowbound Team Vehicle

Driving a muscle car in the snow can be, well, hairy.  While I immediately assumed that Mark Slate couldn't help himself while driving the 1969 Pontiac LeMans equipped with a bigger engine and fier...

Throwback Thursdays: 1980 5th Annual Pearl Pass Ride

1980 is before WTB's official time because WTB was founded in 1982.  However, there are plenty of soon to be WTB characters in these fun videos.  Matt, Hebberd, WTB Employee #1, is the one shamel...

Throwback Thursdays: 1985 NORBA Championships, Team WTB SunTour, Santa Barbara CA

Team WTB SunTour rider Casey Kunselman rocking a WTB Modified Drop Bar, WTB Toe Flips, WTB Grease Guard Roller Cam Brakes, WTB Grease Guard Hubs, and Ground Control tires (designed by WTB) among o...

WTB Throwback Thursdays: 1996 Raptors Ad

So, what's sweeter than Raptors and Lasers?  That's right, nothing.  Well, there may be something... or someone. Yep, that's Todd Franklin, one of WTB's original crew of employees, sweating up the...

Throwback Thursdays: 1986 WTB Modified Drop Bar and Shifter Mounts Pre 1994 Mailer

The lovely copy above from post 1986 and pre 1994 pretty much sums up what the early origins of WTB were all about - taking what was being used for what people at the time called mountain biking, ...

Throwback Thursdays: 1992 WTB Midnight Oil® and Black or White Ad Campaign

Ever find yourself wondering how much or how little chain lube should be applied to your chain?  Better yet, how frequently - really, like really really before every ride?  What about only before ...

Throwback Thursdays: WTB 1985 Fixed Angle Seatpost

So picture this, you're riding along, aboard your soo-weeet bike full of modern fancies.  You come upon Downieville's famous waterfall rock section and amidst the multitasking moment of gritting y...