We thought we’d share some sports minor disasters, the ones that were left on MBA’s cutting room floor as we were writing an article about sports ten worst disasters. It will be in the next issue of MBA.
AUSA Cycling gives the sport to the UCI. NORBA rolled over when the governing body for cycling in Europe, the UCI, insisted that the first Mountain Bike World Championship race at Mammoth Mountain in California was invalid. France Cyclings control continues to see NORBA’s willingness to follow UCIs lead to this day. Cross-country courses became flatter and downhill races were slower. Dual-Slalom became the Dual and then the Four-X. It is hard to imagine how American racers would fare internationally if USACycling wore pants and made the sport more in line with our riding style.
Parts anodized with BPurple: Jeff Ringle selected it as his signature color for his CNC-machined parts. They even made a movie about it called The Color Purple by the end of 1980s.
Every suspension that relied on plastic cushions has failed since the Manitou forks. There are still a few suspension forks today that use elastomersya. You have to wonder what the designers thought.
DThe Pong Suspension bicycle: Cannondale claimed that the monolith, 50-pound, rotary-sprung, aluminum-cast monolith, that Alex Pong had carved and assembled with 100s Allen screws, would be ready for production within a year. Interbike photographers flitted about the mounted masterpiece like moths to flame. It was the only unusual design Cannondale did not produce.
EShort track racing. It must have sounded like this: We all are road racers. This mountain biking stuff is just for the money. Why can’t NORBA races have four-corner circuits with no jumps, hills, or technical sections? Fans want to see a race and not just a cross-country ride. Napa should have hosted the first short-course race, as everyone there is a whiner. Yes, that’s right. Every mountain biker dreams about unloading their mountain bikes in a wooded glen and then speeding around a dirt parking area for half an hour.
FAllsop beam bicycle: It looks almost like a small diving board attached to a mountain bike. It rides as if you’re riding on a divingboard that has been bolted onto a mountainbike.
GTrek Ybike: This was the most popular suspension bike in the mid-90s. It was also the most stylish. They were not ridden by anyone. You can search for them on any singletrack in America to find out the answer.
EFlex stems. Before Paul Turner’s suspension fork, the flex stem seemed like a good idea. The development of flex stems continued for many more years. You must have boxes of these things stored away somewhere.
