Wilderness Trail Bikes
Encyclopedia
Wilderness Trail Bikes (usually shortened to WTB) is a privately owned company based in Marin County, California
, USA. Founded in 1983 as a company that specialized in mountain
bicycle
parts, today WTB sources and sells its product worldwide supplying bike manufacturers and bike shops with bike components such as tires
, saddles
, rims, wheels
, and grips.
, which had its origins in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Steve Potts, who was already building bike frames in Mill Valley in 1980, teamed up with Mark Slate to help meet demand. Charlie Cunningham
, in Fairfax, had been building mountain bikes since 1979 with heat-treated aluminum frames which had unique Type II forks, roller-cam brakes, custom-made hubs and other components that were among the first of their kind designed specifically for mountain bikes.
Steve Potts, Charlie Cunningham
and Mark Slate worked together informally from 1980 on limited production components, almost exclusively for the bicycles that they produced individually. In 1983, they founded Wilderness Trail Bikes, or WTB. Increasing demand and per-unit price advantages had led the three to form WTB to produce components for the new and fast-growing sport of mountain biking in the mountains of Marin
and to market the components that they were producing.
In 1988, Patrick Seidler, a lawyer, entered the scene in connection with Wilderness Trail Bikes Licensing, Inc. This new company focused on licensing technology developed by WTB to mainstream bicycle industry manufacturers. This company built on WTB's historic licensing work. Examples of technology developed by WTB that weres produced under license includes designs for tires made by Specialized Bicycle Components
, the Blackburn B-52 water bottle cage, geometry for the 1987 Trek Bicycle Corporation
mountain bike line and the use of Greaseguard in the top-end Suntour
XC Pro component group.
In 1996, the WTB logo was changed to the version in use now.
In 2002, Cunningham and Potts ceased to be part of WTB, leaving Mark Slate as the sole original member. Details of the split have not been made public and there is no mention of Cunningham or Potts on the WTB website.
Over time, WTB has changed from its origins of designing and selling high-end components and bicycles built in the United States to become a seller of tires
, saddles
, rims, wheels
, grips and other parts mass-produced overseas. WTB now competes with other companies in OEM field as well as the aftermarket, whereas it once was limited to the high-end, boutique market. Today, WTB components can be found on bikes all around the world and are used for transportation, recreation, adventure and racing.
WTB continues to support racers, providing sponsorship particularly for riders using the company's tires.
rates and increased traffic
around Marin County, Wilderness Trail Bikes created a sister non-profit organization Transportation Alternatives for Marin (T.A.M.). T.A.M.’s mission is to develop safe bike routes for commuting and for schools throughout Marin.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. Founded in 1983 as a company that specialized in mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
bicycle
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....
parts, today WTB sources and sells its product worldwide supplying bike manufacturers and bike shops with bike components such as tires
Bicycle tire
A bicycle tire is a tire that fits on the wheel of a bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, quadracycle, bicycle trailer, or trailer bike. They may also be used on wheelchairs and handcycles, especially for racing...
, saddles
Bicycle saddle
A bicycle saddle, often called a seat, is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the pedals and the handlebars.The bicycle saddle has been known as such since the bicycle evolved from the draisine, a forerunner of the bicycle...
, rims, wheels
Bicycle wheel
A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a wire wheel, designed for bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels....
, and grips.
History
Marin County is the birthplace of the mountain bikeMountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
, which had its origins in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Steve Potts, who was already building bike frames in Mill Valley in 1980, teamed up with Mark Slate to help meet demand. 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...
, in Fairfax, had been building mountain bikes since 1979 with heat-treated aluminum frames which had unique Type II forks, roller-cam brakes, custom-made hubs and other components that were among the first of their kind designed specifically for mountain bikes.
Steve Potts, 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 Mark Slate worked together informally from 1980 on limited production components, almost exclusively for the bicycles that they produced individually. In 1983, they founded Wilderness Trail Bikes, or WTB. Increasing demand and per-unit price advantages had led the three to form WTB to produce components for the new and fast-growing sport of mountain biking in the mountains of Marin
Marin
-Places:*Marin, Haute-Savoie, a commune in France*Le Marin, a commune in the French overseas department of Martinique*Marín, Nuevo León, a town and municipality in Mexico*Marín, Pontevedra, a municipality in Galicia, Spain*Marin County, California...
and to market the components that they were producing.
In 1988, Patrick Seidler, a lawyer, entered the scene in connection with Wilderness Trail Bikes Licensing, Inc. This new company focused on licensing technology developed by WTB to mainstream bicycle industry manufacturers. This company built on WTB's historic licensing work. Examples of technology developed by WTB that weres produced under license includes designs for tires made by Specialized Bicycle Components
Specialized Bicycle Components
Specialized Bicycle Components, more commonly known simply as Specialized, is a major American brand of bicycles and related products. It was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard and is based in Morgan Hill, California-History:...
, the Blackburn B-52 water bottle cage, geometry for the 1987 Trek Bicycle Corporation
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...
mountain bike line and the use of Greaseguard in the top-end Suntour
SunTour
SunTour or SR Suntour is a manufacturer of bicycle components. It was Japanese owned and managed, based in Osaka, until the mid 1990s when its name was sold to a Taiwan conglomerate. Its products ranged from suspension forks to derailleurs...
XC Pro component group.
In 1996, the WTB logo was changed to the version in use now.
In 2002, Cunningham and Potts ceased to be part of WTB, leaving Mark Slate as the sole original member. Details of the split have not been made public and there is no mention of Cunningham or Potts on the WTB website.
Over time, WTB has changed from its origins of designing and selling high-end components and bicycles built in the United States to become a seller of tires
Bicycle tire
A bicycle tire is a tire that fits on the wheel of a bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, quadracycle, bicycle trailer, or trailer bike. They may also be used on wheelchairs and handcycles, especially for racing...
, saddles
Bicycle saddle
A bicycle saddle, often called a seat, is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the pedals and the handlebars.The bicycle saddle has been known as such since the bicycle evolved from the draisine, a forerunner of the bicycle...
, rims, wheels
Bicycle wheel
A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a wire wheel, designed for bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels....
, grips and other parts mass-produced overseas. WTB now competes with other companies in OEM field as well as the aftermarket, whereas it once was limited to the high-end, boutique market. Today, WTB components can be found on bikes all around the world and are used for transportation, recreation, adventure and racing.
WTB continues to support racers, providing sponsorship particularly for riders using the company's tires.
Corporate advocacy
Due to high pollutionPollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
rates and increased traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
around Marin County, Wilderness Trail Bikes created a sister non-profit organization Transportation Alternatives for Marin (T.A.M.). T.A.M.’s mission is to develop safe bike routes for commuting and for schools throughout Marin.
Products
- WheelsBicycle wheelA bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a wire wheel, designed for bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels....
(hubs, spokes, and rims)- Stryker, Laser TCS, Laserdisc, Speed TCS, SpeedDisc and Dual Duty rims
- Stryker, Laserdisc Hubs from Singlespeed to DH
- Double Butted Spokes
- Rims
- All types from low to high end, Cyclocross to 29'er
- Features the safety seal, which helps keep tire seated and sealed
- SaddlesBicycle saddleA bicycle saddle, often called a seat, is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the pedals and the handlebars.The bicycle saddle has been known as such since the bicycle evolved from the draisine, a forerunner of the bicycle...
- Saddles fit for any kind of rider or racer
- All saddles have the "Love Channel" and the "Comfort Zone"
- HandlebarsBicycle handlebarBicycle handlebar or often bicycle handlebars refers to the steering mechanism for bicycles; the equivalent of a steering wheel. Besides steering, handlebars also often support a portion of the rider's weight, depending on their riding position, and provide a convenient mounting place for brake...
- Mountain Road drop bar
- TiresBicycle tireA bicycle tire is a tire that fits on the wheel of a bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, quadracycle, bicycle trailer, or trailer bike. They may also be used on wheelchairs and handcycles, especially for racing...
- Tires for all disciplines of cycling, from low to high end
- Inner Peace Technology
- Features DNA Rubber
- TCS (Tubeless Compatible System) Technology
- Grips
- Lock On
- Traditional
- PedalsBicycle pedalA bicycle pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with their foot to propel the bicycle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket spindle and propel the bicycle's wheels...
- Flat Pedals
Teams and athletes sponsored by WTB
- Brian LopesBrian LopesBrian Thomas Lopes is a professional mountain bike racer who specializes in four-cross. Lopes started riding BMX in his childhood and turned professional at seventeen years old....
(Ibis) - Fabien Barel (Subaru)
- Mark Weir (WTB/SCB/Fox)
- Max Plaxton (Specialized/Sho Air)
- Harlan Price (Independent Fabrications)
- Forrest Arakawa (WTB/SCB/Fox)
- John Hauer (X-Fusion/Intense)
- Dejay Birtch (Niner)
- Nicola Cranmer (Peanut Butter and CO )
- Justin Swett (Giant/Northstar Team)
- Joel Hubbart (Bionicon Team)
- Ben Furbee
- Andy May
- Bobby McMullen (RideBlind Racing)
- Team Jamis Pro XC Race Team
- Norco Factory Team
- X Fusion/Odi/Intense Team
- Team Fuji MTB-US
- MS Evil Racing
- Kona Clump Team
- Voodoo Factory Team