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1988 Wicked Fat - Tomac & Litsky

7K views 36 replies 23 participants last post by  joeduda 
#1 · (Edited)
Here is the build thread for my Wicked Fat Chance

The information I have gathered about this bike from various reliable sources is as follows:

> Serial Number 09998W - the 999th bike done in the 88 year.
> Decorated by Mike Pappaconstantine and Bob Fulk at Fat Chance. They were both riders for Fat. Mike Pappaconstantine was the creator of the YoEddy character. Bob Fulk created the Wicked graphic for Fat Chance.
> Welded by Scott Bengtson
> Base paint and clear by Hoss Rogers and his dog Cow. :) Hoss drew the cactus on the bike, his trademark, since he was from AZ.
> Charlie Litsky ( The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame Inductees ) ordered this bike for a particular bike event. John Tomac used it to race on then it became Charlie's personal bike.
> When Charlie ordered this bike he chose the base colors and asked that Bob Fulk and Mike Pappaconstantine to do an over the top paint job on it.
> The drawings are done with colored sharpie markers and clear coated over them.
> "DRAFT TOMAC NOT HUMANS" was put on there because John Tomac seemed to be winning all the events at the time.
> It has an original YoEddy character inside a knobby tire drawn by Mike Pappaconstantine.
> The race scene which shows Ron Andrews of King Cage formerly of Fat City beating out Ned Overend, John Tomac and Max Jones.
> This bike has been featured in at least one bike mag. I am trying to find out which one and get a copy….any help with this would be appreciated!!!

Specs: Components are original to the bike when it was built.

1988 Wicked Fat Chance - Serial # 09998W
Brake levers - Campagnolo Euclid
Brake pads - Campagnolo Euclid
Brakes - Campagnolo Euclid
Cables - Campagnolo Euclid
Cranks and rings - Campagnolo Euclid
Front mech - Campagnolo Euclid
Headset - Campagnolo Euclid
Hub quick releases - Campagnolo Euclid
Hubs - Campagnolo Euclid
Rear mech - Campagnolo Euclid
Seat post - Campagnolo Euclid
Seat post quick release - Campagnolo Euclid
Shifters - Campagnolo Euclid
Seat - Specialised branded Fat City
Freewheel - Regina
Chain - Sachs
Stem - Salsa
Grips - ODI - Tomac design
Bar - Fat City
Rims - Mavic Oxygen M6 - 36h
Tires are NOS - Specialised Ground Master (not original to the bike)















 
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#8 ·
I seem to remember a conversation we had awhile back about you not being a collector..........

Seriously though, that's one of my favorite bikes of all time, it's such a one-off and the backstory just adds to it. I think you should bring it along if you ever get back this way so I can see it in person.

Great find!
 
#9 ·
Hey Will….you are 100% correct…I am in denial about my collection. :)

But this showed up at my LBS, someone from there gave me a call and asked "you like old mountain bikes right? Something just came in that you might like."

It was there on consignment and the owner told them it had a connection to John Tomac but didn't elaborate.

How could I pass it up? It was perfect for my non-collection. :) :)
 
#20 ·
Thanks for the reminder I hadn't put the rim type on the build specs. Mavic Oxygen M6. I edited it at the top too.

Also thanks to everyone for the nice comments.

It is fun contacting some of the original people involved with this (Mike P, Wendyll and Scott B so far). I am still on the track of trying to contact a few more.

I want to get as much information about it as possible. If anyone can contribute or help with contacts please let me know.
 
#24 ·
They are an engineering marvel. :)

They are 11 inches long….each.

This bike weighs 28 pounds...how much of that weight is the brake lever assembly?

They have all kinds of adjustments.
1. The lever handles can be taken apart in the middle and reversed to suit the fingers you chose to use to brake.
2. There is a quick release for the brakes so you don't have undo the cables.
3. They adjust back and forth for reach with a couple of set screws.
4. The shifters adjust in and out and have adjustable rotation all with set screws.
5. They probably do more things too, who knows...bottle opener, pry bar, etc. :)

I can appreciate these as fun/interesting and as part of the history of mountain bke components.

I was told that Fat was one of the first companies sponsored by Campagnolo. Apparently Valentino went to Fat City to hang around and ride with them when they were developing the off road bits.
 
#28 · (Edited)
I have been asked about Charlie Litsky...

From the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame: The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame Inductees

Charlie Litsky - Inducted 1993

Charlie Litsky: Litsky was an absolute freak for cycling as well as the man behind the Tomac PR machine in the early '90s. How internationally renowned was the always-hyper, Brooklyn-born bike freak? Valentino Campagnolo once said that dealing with Charlie was like dealing with "a Puerto Rican with his ass on fire!" Former racer Daryl Price remembered Charlie most for his knack of inclusion. " In my first year racing mountain bikes," recalls Price, " he made me feel like a longtime NORBA player. Whether it was at a BMX or track race, or even on the strand in Redondo Beach, he always wanted everyone to feel the love of the cycling community." Yeti Cycles founder and Hall of Fame inductee, John Parker added, " I'll never forget him throwing schwag down to the spectators from an elevated platform at the '90 Worlds. He was a ringleader who could work any crowd into a frenzy. He was the right guy at the right time fro what he was doing."

At the age of 31, Charlie suffered a heart attack after competing in a track race, and his funeral, held just days before the '93 Big Bear opener, attracted bike industry players from around the world. Charlie "Leapin" Litsky was greatly loved and remains dearly missed.
 
#29 ·
I have been asked about Charlie Litski...

From the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame: The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame Inductees

Charlie Litsky - Inducted 1993

Charlie Litsky: Litsky was an absolute freak for cycling as well as the man behind the Tomac PR machine in the early '90s. How internationally renowned was the always-hyper, Brooklyn-born bike freak? Valentino Campagnolo once said that dealing with Charlie was like dealing with "a Puerto Rican with his ass on fire!" Former racer Daryl Price remembered Charlie most for his knack of inclusion. " In my first year racing mountain bikes," recalls Price, " he made me feel like a longtime NORBA player. Whether it was at a BMX or track race, or even on the strand in Redondo Beach, he always wanted everyone to feel the love of the cycling community." Yeti Cycles founder and Hall of Fame inductee, John Parker added, " I'll never forget him throwing schwag down to the spectators from an elevated platform at the '90 Worlds. He was a ringleader who could work any crowd into a frenzy. He was the right guy at the right time fro what he was doing."

At the age of 31, Charlie suffered a heart attack after competing in a track race, and his funeral, held just days before the '93 Big Bear opener, attracted bike industry players from around the world. Charlie "Leapin" Litsky was greatly loved and remains dearly missed.
Thank you for posting that.

Charlie was 100% responsible for any and all of the sponsorship we (Team Brooklyn) received. He was proud to support his Brooklyn gang and at whooped it up for us at every NORBA race we attended. He was family and despite the fame he deservedly achieved, he never failed to find time for any and all of us whether a big race or a small, big problem or one of little consequence. A truly truly great human being and dearly missed.
 
#30 · (Edited)
Got this information the other day from a friend of a friend. Original built sheet from Fat Chance that has some information about this bike.

Confirms the welder as Scott Bengtson and has a weld date of October 21 and 22 so will be 25 years old in a few weeks.

As you can see in the photos (serial number 09998) there are a couple of asterisks after the number, when you look at the bottom of the page for what the asterisks mean, it says Campy - Tomac.

Kind of cool.

Line Parallel Document Paper Number
Text Pattern Parallel Circle Number
Text Handwriting Number Kitchen utensil Symbol
 
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