Gary Klein
Encyclopedia
Gary Klein is an inventor, bicycle designer and innovator of the oversized tube aluminum bicycle
, now a fixture in the cycling market. He first developed the concept in 1973 as part of the Independent Activities Period aluminum bicycle project at MIT
, where he was an engineering student and bicycle racer, then took the concept commercial after graduation
.
Their 1994 road racing aluminium
frame "Quantum Pro" was the first high reputation mass production frame to bear an integrated headset
fork with threadless aluminium
steering shaft for a headset type stem. Additionally, the frame had brake
and shifting cables inside the tubes making the design clean and mud resistant. Some off-road models featured one-piece welded stem-bar combinations, marketed as Mission Control, eliminating clamping bolts and excess parent material. Each of these features became trends in bicycle frame manufacturing. adhesive lugged frames in the early '90s and Bianchi
before them, they were lesser known items. Gary Klein frames were the official supplier of German
cycling Team Gerolsteiner
before 2003. They also made personal sponsorship in the professional road bicycle racing
eg. some riders of Team ONCE
normally riding LOOK frames at the mid '90s period.
Klein's company, Klein Bikes, was purchased by Trek
in 1995; production was moved from Chehalis, Washington
to Trek's Wisconsin manufacturing facility in 2002. The mainstay of the Klein mountain bike product line continued to be the hardtail Attitude model. Attempts were made to design and market a full suspension
bicycle, such as the Mantra model, with efforts culminating in the Palomino model. The Palomino, based on a Maverick rear suspension design, was discontinued after the 2005 model year. In recent years, Gary Klein has shifted his focus to manufacturing telescopes.
Trekking bikes
Road Bikes
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
, now a fixture in the cycling market. He first developed the concept in 1973 as part of the Independent Activities Period aluminum bicycle project at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where he was an engineering student and bicycle racer, then took the concept commercial after graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
.
Their 1994 road racing aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
frame "Quantum Pro" was the first high reputation mass production frame to bear an integrated headset
Headset (bicycle part)
The headset is the set of components on a bicycle that provides a rotatable interface between the bicycle fork and the head tube of the bicycle frame itself. The short tube through which the steerer of the fork passes is called the head tube. A typical headset consists of two cups that are pressed...
fork with threadless aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
steering shaft for a headset type stem. Additionally, the frame had brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
and shifting cables inside the tubes making the design clean and mud resistant. Some off-road models featured one-piece welded stem-bar combinations, marketed as Mission Control, eliminating clamping bolts and excess parent material. Each of these features became trends in bicycle frame manufacturing. adhesive lugged frames in the early '90s and Bianchi
Bianchi
Bianchi, a plural of bianco , is a frequent proper name; notable people with that surname include:*Andrea Bianchi, an Italian film director*Bianca Bianchi , stage name of Bertha Schwarz, German/Austrian opera soprano...
before them, they were lesser known items. Gary Klein frames were the official supplier of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
cycling Team Gerolsteiner
Team Gerolsteiner
Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized....
before 2003. They also made personal sponsorship in the professional road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
eg. some riders of Team ONCE
ONCE
ONCE , or Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles , is a Spanish foundation founded on December 13, 1938 to raise funds to provide services for the blind and people with serious visual impairment....
normally riding LOOK frames at the mid '90s period.
Klein's company, Klein Bikes, was purchased by Trek
Trek Bicycle Corporation
Trek Bicycle Corporation is a major bicycle and cycling product manufacturer and distributor under brand names Trek, Gary Fisher, Bontrager, Klein and until recently, LeMond Racing Cycles...
in 1995; production was moved from Chehalis, Washington
Chehalis, Washington
Chehalis is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,259 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County.-History:...
to Trek's Wisconsin manufacturing facility in 2002. The mainstay of the Klein mountain bike product line continued to be the hardtail Attitude model. Attempts were made to design and market a full suspension
Bicycle suspension
A bicycle suspension is the system or systems used to suspend the rider and all or part of the bicycle in order to protect them from the roughness of the terrain over which they travel...
bicycle, such as the Mantra model, with efforts culminating in the Palomino model. The Palomino, based on a Maverick rear suspension design, was discontinued after the 2005 model year. In recent years, Gary Klein has shifted his focus to manufacturing telescopes.
Klein models
Mountain Bikes- Mountain Klein (1 inch head tube, rectangular chain stays, from 1985 to 1989)
- Klein Pinnacle (1 inch head tube, 1988 to 1995)
- Klein Fervor (1 inch head tube, 1994, 1995)
- Klein Rascal (1 inch head tube, 1989 (Top Gun), 1990-1993), replaced by the Fervor
- Klein Pulse (similar to Attitude MC2, but with 1 1/8" head tube)
- Klein Attitude (MC1 and MC2 to the acquisition of Trek, from 1990)
- Klein Adroit (MC1 and MC2 to the acquisition of Trek, from 1991)
- Klein Mantra (full suspension)
- Klein Palomino (full suspension)
- Klein Adept (full suspension)
Trekking bikes
- Klein Adept
Road Bikes
- Klein Performance (touring bike with a slightly longer wheelbase)
- Klein Advantage (custom Performance)
- Klein Stage (custom Performance with boron fiber on seat and chain stays and fork blades)
- Klein Competition (?)
- Klein Kirsten & Panache(small frame size)
- Klein Quantum
- Klein Criterium (custom Quantum)
- Klein Team Super (custom Quantum with boron fiber on seat and chain stays and fork blades)
- Klein Quantum Race
- Klein Quantum Pro
- Klein Aeolus (triathlon frame for 26-inch wheels, 28" wheels 58cm and larger frames)
- Klein Reve (road bike with polymer rear suspension )
- Klein Q Carbon