mtb-timeline

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===== Powerlite =====

Steve Rink opened the Peddlepower Bike Shop in 1972, in Orangle, CA, and started the Powerlite BMX brand in 1977.  Powerlite never produced a mountain bike, however many bike shop owners would convert Powerlite's 26" 3-Bar BMX's to geared cruisers strong enough to go down [[people:repack|Repack]].   In the 1979-1980 time period, just before mass produced MTBs showed up by [[murray:start|Murray]], [[sears:start|Sears]] and [[special:start|Specialized]], the only decent fat tire off-roaders were hand made and expensive.  Converting BMX bikes or left over 1940's Schwinn cruisers was the best path to improvising a reliable off-roader.
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The Powerlite BMX-MTB link is also worth documenting as [[https://www.sunshinebicycle.com/|Sunshine Bicycles]] of Fairfax, CA, in the shadow of Mt. Tam's Repack trail, sold these conversions to early Repack riders.  The [[https://mmbhof.org/mtn-bike-hall-of-fame/history/cragg_galleries/rolling_dinosaur_archive/|Rolling Dinosaur Archive]], documenting much of mountain biking earliest riders, shows many 3 bar geared cruisers amongst the first riders. 
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Powerlite was sold to GT in 1989 and then resurrected separately as Powerlite Bicycles in 2002 which appears to continue as [[https://www.powerlitebmx.com/|Powerlite BMX]].


resources:
  * [[https://www.powerlitebmx.com/]]
  * [[https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/powerlite/]]
  * [[https://powerlite.wordpress.com/about/]]
  * [[http://www.23mag.com/com/power/power.htm]]


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{{steve.jpg?300|Steve Rink, ca. 1980}}
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Steve Rink, ca. 1980
[[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2062951097066442&set=a.2062949233733295|NNational BMX Hall of Fame facebook]]
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===== 1979 3 Bar 26 ====

Sugino cranks, likely a SunTour GT rear derailleur (1978-83), side-pull brakes front and back, Ukai rims, BMX bars and stem.  The owner states this is a 1980, but the color scheme matches the other 1979s, as seen at [[https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/powerlite/]].  Purchased new thus.


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{{1979.jpg?300|1979 MTB}}
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1979 MTB
[[ https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/powerlite/44624|bmxmuseum]]
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===== 1980 3 Bar 26=====
A transitional, converted BMX, reminiscent of the [[lawwill:start|Lawwill-Knight Pro Cruiser]].  Just before the 1982 Asian tsunami of cheaper MTBs, shops would convert BMX bikes and sell them for less than the hand made MTBs.  Only [[murray:start|Murray]] and [[sears:start|Sears]] sold cheap MTBs before [[special:start|November 1981]].  This bike has a Sunshine Cyclery Fairfax decal, from the bike shop currently across from the [[https://mmbhof.org/|Marin Museum of Bicycling]] and 300' next to where the [[people:repack|Repack]] trail eventually dumps you out into town.  Meaning, this bike was built for Repack, and likely rode down it as well.  Just not up, given it's gearing.

SunTour Vx GT RD-2400 (1978-83) road rear derailleur, SunTour NSL FD-1700 front derailleur (1979-83), hub brakes.  42/52 front road chainrings.  Tall gearing for riding up to Repack.

{{sunshine.jpg?200|Sunshine}}
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[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/235433082462/permalink/10162421859532463|facebook]]
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{{1980.jpg?300|1980 MTB}}
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1980 MTB
[[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/235433082462/permalink/10162421859532463|facebook]]
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