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Jackson's 1989 Wicked Fat Chance

If you've been around the shop for a while, you have probably had your bike worked on by Jackson. If not, you've probably seen him riding around local CT trails and roads on his many different vintage bicycles. Marking 9 years at MCC in 2024, Jackson started working here as a 16 year old who wasn't really into cycling and was just washing bikes to make some extra cash. Now he sits as our head service lead and vintage bicycle enthusiast. He is also MCC's tie dye artist who creates all of our team's tie dye shirts. He is a huge wealth of knowledge around the shop with both vintage and current bicycle tech. Below he talks about one of the many vintage bikes he owns, all the upgrades he has done, and some of the cool features.

Weighing in at an even 25 pounds, my favorite bike I’ve ever owned. This is my bright A$$ orange trail eating machine. My 1989 Wicked Fat Chance. At the heart is a light and stiff frame and fork hand built in Somersville, MA by Fat City Cycles. Right now it’s built up with my favorite vintage mountain bike tires still in production, the Panaracer Smoke and Dart; some of the most confidence inspiring rubber I’ve ridden on. After totally wearing the original XT derailleur, I put on my favorite looking but not favorite shifting XTR M900 rear derailleur. The bike also came with a stem that was gorgeously painted by the previous owner.

I was so lucky to get this bike. Back in the summer of 2020, a customer came through our doors and asked if we were interested in some old mountain bike stuff from her and her late husband. Luckily I was at work that day, and one of my coworkers immediately phoned me down to meet her. After seeing a couple photos and exchanging phone numbers, I was psyched. I eagerly set up a time to go over and pick through what she had. If I remember correctly, she and her husband had been riding mountain bikes since the late 80s or early 90s and competed in races. They had quite the collection of spare parts, full bikes, and tools. I filled a couple boxes with what I thought I could use, and pulled out the main event: her husband's old Wicked Fat. Let’s just say I received the deal of a lifetime for the stuff I was taking.

Now, the bike was ridden hard and well loved which makes it perfect for me, since I plan to keep riding this bike until I can’t anymore. I just recently put some major work into this bike; replacing just about everything that’s worn out. The old press-fit bottom bracket proved particularly hard to take care of. But when I went to install the Chris King headset I got, I didn’t realize what kind of battle I was in for. Not only was that beautifully painted stem seized in the steerer tube, but both headset cups were battles in their own right. Much trial and tribulation, a big hammer, a propane torch, and a whole lot of hope, I was victorious. Goes to show me the importance of regular bike maintenance.

- Jackson