Joe Breeze
Encyclopedia
Joe Breeze is a bicycle designer and bicycling advocate. He was an early pioneer in the development of modern mountain bicycles, and is widely considered to be one of its inventors, along with other pioneers, including Tom Ritchey
, Charlie Kelly, Charlie Cunningham
, and Gary Fisher
. Breeze is credited as having built the first special purpose mountain bike frames - the Breezer Series I. Nine of these original, purpose-built bicycles were made. Between 1980 and 1981, Breeze built 25 Series II frames, which had a more familiar diamond frame. Around 1983, Breeze built 60 Series III frames.
He attended Tamalpais High School
in Mill Valley, California
, at the foot of Mount Tamalpais
.
He was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
in 1988. While he continued to develop and refine the mountain bike into the latter 1990s, his passion was to see more everyday people on bicycles, not just the athletic and outdoor enthusiasts.
Today he continues to be a vocal advocate of cycling working with government agencies to make streets more bicycle-friendly
as well as with grass-roots organizations to promote the bicycle as a practical mode of transportation. His current line of bicycles encourages bicycle commuting, integrating modern and efficient bicycle technology (including folding bicycles) with fenders, racks, and lights found on traditional European town bikes. He was profiled in the 2007 documentary film Klunkerz: A Film About Mountain Bikes.
Tom Ritchey
Tom Ritchey is an American bicycle frame builder, designer, welder and founder of Ritchey Design. He is an accomplished road and mountain bicycle racer.-Early years:...
, Charlie Kelly, Charlie Cunningham
Charlie Cunningham
Charlie Cunningham is a mountain biking pioneer from Fairfax, California.With schooling in mechanical/aeronautical engineering, he rode a modified skinny tire ten speed bicycle up and down Mt Tamalpais, valuing nimbleness and gear selection over the ungainly 1930s ballooners then in vogue...
, and Gary Fisher
Gary Fisher
Gary Christopher Fisher is considered one of the inventors of the modern mountain bike.Fisher started competing in road and track races at 12. He was suspended in 1968 because race organizers cited a rule that his hair was too long. By 1972 this rule had been repealed and Fisher's career continued...
. Breeze is credited as having built the first special purpose mountain bike frames - the Breezer Series I. Nine of these original, purpose-built bicycles were made. Between 1980 and 1981, Breeze built 25 Series II frames, which had a more familiar diamond frame. Around 1983, Breeze built 60 Series III frames.
He attended Tamalpais High School
Tamalpais High School
Tamalpais High School is a public secondary school located in Mill Valley, California. It is named after nearby Mount Tamalpais, which rises more than above Mill Valley....
in Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, United States located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. The population was 13,903 at the 2010 census.Mill Valley is located on the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay...
, at the foot of Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais is a peak in Marin County, California, United States, often considered symbolic of Marin County. Much of Mount Tamalpais is protected within public lands such as Mount Tamalpais State Park and the Mount Tamalpais Watershed.-Geography:...
.
He was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Crested Butte Colorado. The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1988 to chronicle the history of mountain biking....
in 1988. While he continued to develop and refine the mountain bike into the latter 1990s, his passion was to see more everyday people on bicycles, not just the athletic and outdoor enthusiasts.
Today he continues to be a vocal advocate of cycling working with government agencies to make streets more bicycle-friendly
Bicycle-friendly
The term bicycle-friendly describes policies and practices which may help some people feel more comfortable about traveling by bicycle with other traffic...
as well as with grass-roots organizations to promote the bicycle as a practical mode of transportation. His current line of bicycles encourages bicycle commuting, integrating modern and efficient bicycle technology (including folding bicycles) with fenders, racks, and lights found on traditional European town bikes. He was profiled in the 2007 documentary film Klunkerz: A Film About Mountain Bikes.