Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

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SIL4
Posts: 98
Joined: 24 Oct 2008, 9:24am

Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

Post by SIL4 »

Geoff Apps, the proclaimed father of mountain biking and founder of Cleland Cycles, is back with a contemporary take on his classic Aventura, arguably the original ATB - and 29er.

True to the concept of the original, with all of the features of a Cleland intact - plus many more design innovations (check out the "swing" pedals) - the new good news is that Geoff is looking to put his "Aventura TT" (Twenty Ten") into production, with an initial limited potential run of 100 - and may be more, with further variations in the pipe.

His website gives a full run down of the latest Cleland, as well as providing a fascinating insight into how it all started - if you haven't seen it, check it out.

It won't appeal to the hardened down hiller, but the latest incarnation is pretty special and the closest I think there is to a truly built - for - Britain ATB with a twist.

I'm not affiliated to Cleland but just wanted to share this link, as it's possible to register now for interest in a pre-order...and me wants one!!

SIL4
http://clelandcycles.wordpress.com/bikes-1978-2010/
Anura
Posts: 234
Joined: 5 Aug 2008, 3:18pm
Location: Near Risley Moss Warrington

Re: Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

Post by Anura »

I was about to post a link to Geoff's site, would have done it before but wasn't sure where to put it.

The website is really interesting. I'm not affiliated but have known Geoff for many years but only actually met up with him on cycling events half a dozen times. I wish him the best of luck.
Nearholmer
Posts: 5169
Joined: 26 Mar 2022, 7:13am

Re: Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

Post by Nearholmer »

Truly ancient thread, but …..

I met a chap riding an Apps Rangerider up on the Ickniekd way today. First time I’ve seen one in the flesh, and a what an interesting bike it is.
Biospace
Posts: 2793
Joined: 24 Jun 2019, 12:23pm

Re: Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

Post by Biospace »

Nearholmer wrote: 22 Jun 2024, 7:04pm Truly ancient thread, but …..

I met a chap riding an Apps Rangerider up on the Ickniekd way today. First time I’ve seen one in the flesh, and a what an interesting bike it is.
Aren't they just! Your next move would be to ride one...

Here are a couple of other relevant threads
viewtopic.php?t=106274
viewtopic.php?p=938068
Nearholmer
Posts: 5169
Joined: 26 Mar 2022, 7:13am

Re: Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

Post by Nearholmer »

Ah, thanks, I couldn’t find that old thread, which is why I put it here, in an even older one!

Those bikes are so rare, that I shouldn’t be surprised if the chap I met was one of the contributors to that thread and, yes, I was mightily tempted to ask him for a go on it, but I thought that might be a bit cheeky, given that he’d owned it for 40+ years and that it was very clearly his pride and joy!
NewHorizon
Posts: 471
Joined: 14 Mar 2007, 10:10am
Location: UK

Re: Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

Post by NewHorizon »

For completeness, it should be noted that Geoff died in July of this year. I was a subscriber to Making Tracks and New Cyclist back in the day, it seems like a lifetime ago now, and much of what was in the making then is now mainstream.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Apps
Graham Wallace
Posts: 19
Joined: 19 Mar 2014, 10:27pm

Re: Cleland Cycles & Geoff Apps are back!!

Post by Graham Wallace »

NewHorizon wrote: 15 Oct 2024, 10:31am I was a subscriber to Making Tracks and New Cyclist back in the day, it seems like a lifetime ago now, and much of what was in the making then is now mainstream.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Apps
Unlike modern mountain bikes, Geoff Apps' designs were intended to cope with the worst that the British landscape and weather could throw at them. And this with the minimum of after ride maintenance. In this regard they are the equivalent of the original Land Rovers. However, I would describe mainstream mountain bikes as the equivalent of rally cars, designed for speed and excitement but requiring regular maintenance and cleaning to keep them functioning properly.

Compared to mainstream mountain bikes, the big difference is that with Apps machines is that 80% of the rider’s weight sits over the rear-wheel.

Another key difference is that Apps' later bikes were designed to cope with actual off-road use as Apps used them for wild-riding in Scotland in his later years. In comparison, mountain bikers are mostly ridden on man-made trails. His liking for off-piste riding meant his bikes were made to cope with the worst conditions riders are likely to encounter.

These photos of Apps' 2016 Cleland Landseer Design show just how far his thinking deviated from the mainstream:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/38236150@N06/

A muddy Landseer requires virtually no maintenance as the dirt is constrained to the wheels and guards, with virtually nothing getting through to the mechanisms or the rider.

Today, we have thousands of 'look-alike' mainstream mountain bike designs, but it's a great shame that no Geoff Apps' influenced designs are currently available.
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