The 1990 Fat City Cycles Yo Eddy Team was a highly sought-after race steed back in its day. Though not the most comfortable ride, it was lauded for its efficiency and precision handlingJames Huang/Future Publishing
This is still the original paint and amazingly, it’s still as fluorescent as it was 24 years agoJames Huang/Future Publishing
The trademark Yo Eddy segmented chromoly fork was exceptionally stiff and reinforced with small tangs that were brazed on the backsideJames Huang/Future Publishing
Aside from a slightly blemished non-driveside down tube decal (they weren’t clearcoated back then), the paint and graphics on this sample are admirably pristineJames Huang/Future Publishing
Fat City Cycles was always proud of its east coast heritageJames Huang/Future Publishing
Yo Eddy!James Huang/Future Publishing
Generous handlebar drop, only slightly sloping top tube, and long stem was typical for the timeJames Huang/Future Publishing
Aside from a few bends, both the chainstays and seatstays are constant diameter throughout their lengthJames Huang/Future Publishing
Unlike modern hardtail frames that put a high priority on ride comfort, the Yo Eddy Team was all about stiffnessJames Huang/Future Publishing
These pointed stay caps are still used by former Fat City Cycles welder Mike Flanagan, who now runs his own framebuilding company called Alternative Needs TransportationJames Huang/Future Publishing
Back then, the design goal for a fork was to make as efficient as structure as possible. While suspension forks had already been introduced, they weren’t widely used yet so there was no need to make rigid forks suspension-correctedJames Huang/Future Publishing
If you look closely, you can see reinforcing rings welded into the ends of the head tubeJames Huang/Future Publishing
The chainstays are bent asymmetrically to clear the standard-sized 26/36/46T chainrings. Tire clearance around the 2.5in-wide Specialized Ground Control Extreme tire was fairly minimalJames Huang/Future Publishing
And people think press-fit bottom bracket bearings are new…James Huang/Future Publishing
It’s been quite some time since mountain bike builders used clearances this tight between the tire and fork crownJames Huang/Future Publishing
A brazed-on bit keeps the quick-release seatpost collar in place. Later Fat City Cycles frames upgraded to more weather-resistant collars with integrated upper lip sealsJames Huang/Future Publishing
The Answer Hyperlite bars measure just 590mm wideJames Huang/Future Publishing
Thick rubber coatings grace the Suntour XC Pro thumbshifters and brake leversJames Huang/Future Publishing
Suntour perhaps takes the prize for the finest barrel adjusters of all time. Knurled surfaces yielded a very positive gripJames Huang/Future Publishing
The Grab-On MTN-2 grips are period-correct but the Kraton foam rubber certainly isn’t as cushy as it once wasJames Huang/Future Publishing
Another Fat City Cycles trademark was the curved ends on the fork bladesJames Huang/Future Publishing
The welded aluminum American stem featured a built-in roller for the front cantilever brakeJames Huang/Future Publishing
The three-o’clock cable routing was another Fat City Cycles trademark. The hot pink housing is original to the bike, right down to the roughly braided 6mm brake cable and oversized housingJames Huang/Future Publishing
The Suntour XC Pro forged aluminum crankarms wore a gorgeous polished finish and then-typical 26/36/46T chainringsJames Huang/Future Publishing