1984 Fisher MountainBikes Competition

This is a one of the first mountain bikes to be called a "Fisher." Early on, Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly and partnered with Tom Ritchey to produce Mountain Bikes. The company they formed was called "MountainBikes." In 1983 Charlie Kelly sold his share of MountainBikes to Gary Fisher, giving Gary more control of the company, which eventually became Gary Fisher Bicycles. This bike with its "Fisher MountainBikes" decal on the head tube, was presumably built soon after Kelly left the company - most earlier bikes either say "Ritchey" or "Ritchey MountainBikes." The down tube decals are long since gone.

In addition to being an early Fisher, this bike was originally owned and ridden by Gary Fisher himself. Gary sold this as a "used" bike in late 1984, and confirmed that we had ridden it down "Repack Road" in Marin County, CA. Afterward the bike remained in Marin where it was well used until I purchased it (even more used).

Few of the components remain from 1984. The bars, cranks, and front wheel may be it. I do have the original matching rear wheel, but it's not on the bike. The bike was converted to a Shimano 6-speed drive train in the mid to late '80s, and most of the components on the bike are that of vintage. At this point I'm unsure if I'll try and return the bike to it's 1984 state, or leave it as is.

Close ups of many of the components and additional pictures of the bike can be found at www.oldmountainbikes.com.

- el