Custom Fat Chance bike
09-29-21, 03:56 PM
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Custom Fat Chance bike
My neighbor in Northeastern Massachusetts bought this sweet custom bike from Chris Chance in Cambridge, around 1980. It is still in mint condition.
Here is my neighbor with the bike. It weighs 30 pounds.
Custom Fat Chance build made by Chris Chance in Cambridge, MA, circa 1980.
Fat Chance
The Fork.
Here is my neighbor with the bike. It weighs 30 pounds.
Custom Fat Chance build made by Chris Chance in Cambridge, MA, circa 1980.
Fat Chance
The Fork.
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09-29-21, 04:10 PM
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Sweet!
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09-29-21, 04:15 PM
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WOW -- that's a classic in the truest sense of the word! 
(The rear der cable ferrule needs attention @ the chainstay.)
(The rear der cable ferrule needs attention @ the chainstay.)
09-29-21, 04:57 PM
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Later I bought a frame from Peter Mooney, one of the other Boston bike boomers. I think Peter had worked with Rob H. I wonder if Chris worked with Rob too. I'm still riding the Mooney frame.
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09-30-21, 02:24 AM
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That's the first thing I noticed too. Just needs the outer popping back into place. Really nice bike. Almost like a vintage "gravel" bike with the high volume tyres.
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09-30-21, 05:19 AM
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Yeah, that’s supercool!
I ordered a Yo Eddy! from Fat Chance in ‘93, and built it up into a gorgeous machine. It was sublime at high speed, and irresistible in it’s burgundy metallic flake paint and custom polished and gold anodized kit (rims, seatpost, bars and crank); too irresistible, as it was stolen within months. Thieves ran into the back of the restaurant where I worked and snatched it from inside. Brazen. It was a great ride while I had it, and had Chris’ signature written on the NDS chainstay.
I ordered a Yo Eddy! from Fat Chance in ‘93, and built it up into a gorgeous machine. It was sublime at high speed, and irresistible in it’s burgundy metallic flake paint and custom polished and gold anodized kit (rims, seatpost, bars and crank); too irresistible, as it was stolen within months. Thieves ran into the back of the restaurant where I worked and snatched it from inside. Brazen. It was a great ride while I had it, and had Chris’ signature written on the NDS chainstay.
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09-30-21, 05:31 AM
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Beyond cool! Snap it up when he ages out of cycling.
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09-30-21, 09:40 AM
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Way cool. With the Deore deer head long-cage/triple derailleurs to boot!
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09-30-21, 09:58 AM
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Yeah, that’s supercool!
I ordered a Yo Eddy! from Fat Chance in ‘93, and built it up into a gorgeous machine. It was sublime at high speed, and irresistible in it’s burgundy metallic flake paint and custom polished and gold anodized kit (rims, seatpost, bars and crank); too irresistible, as it was stolen within months. Thieves ran into the back of the restaurant where I worked and snatched it from inside. Brazen. It was a great ride while I had it, and had Chris’ signature written on the NDS chainstay.
I ordered a Yo Eddy! from Fat Chance in ‘93, and built it up into a gorgeous machine. It was sublime at high speed, and irresistible in it’s burgundy metallic flake paint and custom polished and gold anodized kit (rims, seatpost, bars and crank); too irresistible, as it was stolen within months. Thieves ran into the back of the restaurant where I worked and snatched it from inside. Brazen. It was a great ride while I had it, and had Chris’ signature written on the NDS chainstay.
09-30-21, 10:44 AM
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Is that an example of ‘excessive’ fillet brazing at the headtube joins of top and down tube?
Not sure I have seen that on a 1980 steelie.
edit: maybe I just need coffee to wake up my eyes.
Not sure I have seen that on a 1980 steelie.
edit: maybe I just need coffee to wake up my eyes.
09-30-21, 07:48 PM
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This would definitely be appreciated in the classic and vintage forum. Lots of guys with an unhealthy love of early mountain bikes, and American custom builders, and 531.
09-30-21, 10:49 PM
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I mean, unless one is forgoing life-saving medical care. Or beer.
--Shannon
PS: If this place had a "bike of the year" contest, which it totally should, this would be that bicycle. When the only things wrong with an all-original 41 year old one-owner bike from a legendary builder are... a grease stain on the head tube and the rear derailleur housing popped out of it's ferrule... Damn.
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10-01-21, 06:47 AM
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At what level does "love of early mountain bikes, and American custom builders, and 531" become unhealthy?
I mean, unless one is forgoing life-saving medical care. Or beer.
--Shannon
PS: If this place had a "bike of the year" contest, which it totally should, this would be that bicycle. When the only things wrong with an all-original 41 year old one-owner bike from a legendary builder are... a grease stain on the head tube and the rear derailleur housing popped out of it's ferrule... Damn.
I mean, unless one is forgoing life-saving medical care. Or beer.
--Shannon
PS: If this place had a "bike of the year" contest, which it totally should, this would be that bicycle. When the only things wrong with an all-original 41 year old one-owner bike from a legendary builder are... a grease stain on the head tube and the rear derailleur housing popped out of it's ferrule... Damn.
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10-31-21, 10:15 AM
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Hey everyone, thanks for your comments. I will show them to my buddy. Since I took that photograph he has started riding the bike again—distances of 4 to 7 miles at this point. We go together usually, but he has done a few rides on his own. Each time he gets a little stronger. He remembers the days when a 50-mile ride was nothing to him.
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