Throwback Thursday: 1993 Klein Attitude ‘Gossamer’

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=640%2C832 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=645%2C838 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=693%2C900 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=45&resize=620%2C806 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-296944 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C723" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Few bikes epitomized the forward thinking of Klein's innovative alloy bicycle frames better than the early 1990s Attitude" title="1438886995272-ypb1liaozkq2-d4fbd7e" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Few bikes epitomized the forward thinking of Klein’s innovative alloy bicycle frames better than the early 1990s Attitude James Huang / Immediate Media

If you think things like hydroformed alloy tubing, press-fit bottom brackets, integrated headsets, internal cable routing, and one-piece cockpits are modern constructs, think again. Gary Klein was doing all of this more than two decades ago, proving yet again that what once was old is new again.

The concept of optimizing structures and assemblies is hardly new; it’s a defining characteristic of engineers, and alloy frame innovator Gary Klein embodied that perfectly. Steel was the standard back in the day but Klein insisted that alloy was a better choice – and by increasing the diameter of the tubes, he could make up for the material’s inherent stiffness and strength disadvantages.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-1qcy44ykdk3qy-1000-90-d327e93.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-1qcy44ykdk3qy-1000-90-d327e93.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-1qcy44ykdk3qy-1000-90-d327e93.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-1qcy44ykdk3qy-1000-90-d327e93.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-1qcy44ykdk3qy-1000-90-d327e93.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995272-1qcy44ykdk3qy-1000-90-d327e93.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Large-diameter aluminum tubes are the norm now but two decades ago, the concept was still going head-to-head with steel Tube dimensions like this are commonplace now but that was hardly the case when Klein was in its heyday

By the early 1990s, he had the process dialed in with this 1993 Attitude mountain bike model standing as a shining testament of what could be done. The reliability of the oversized tubes was very good, the smoothly welded joints were beautiful to behold, and as an early pioneer of hydroforming, the square-to-round chainstays also furthered bolstered the rear end while increasing tire and drivetrain clearance, too.

Simply changing the frame material wasn’t enough for Klein, however. He also saw deficiencies in how many of the then-standard ancillary components were built and attached, and many of his solutions were impressively forward thinking.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995291-82iu7fdpp5xf-1000-90-dc53464.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995291-82iu7fdpp5xf-1000-90-dc53464.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995291-82iu7fdpp5xf-1000-90-dc53464.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995291-82iu7fdpp5xf-1000-90-dc53464.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995291-82iu7fdpp5xf-1000-90-dc53464.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995291-82iu7fdpp5xf-1000-90-dc53464.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Cartridge bearings were pressed and bonded directly into the bottom bracket shell Press-fit bottom brackets are hardly new

Cartridge bearings were pressed and bonded directly into the smooth-bored bottom bracket shell, for example, which saved the weight of separate cups. Up front, the headset bearings were also housed inside the oversized head tube (which, in turn, surrounded a novel oversized steerer).

Klein wasn’t satisfied with typical cockpit arrangements at the time, either. Instead of a separate stem and bar that were clamped together, the groundbreaking Mission Control front end comprised an oversized aluminum stem that was welded directly to the bar, saving weight and improving steering precision over what was otherwise available.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995323-mo9z8unupeg0-1000-90-af1bcc9.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995323-mo9z8unupeg0-1000-90-af1bcc9.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995323-mo9z8unupeg0-1000-90-af1bcc9.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995323-mo9z8unupeg0-1000-90-af1bcc9.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995323-mo9z8unupeg0-1000-90-af1bcc9.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995323-mo9z8unupeg0-1000-90-af1bcc9.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> The original mission control cockpit used an oversized quill stem that was welded to an aluminum handlebar. klein claimed it was stiffer and lighter than conventional two-piece setups The Mission Control cockpit was a beautiful piece of work on its own

All that extra surface area had to be painted, of course, and Klein famously matched the cockpit finishes to the framesets. This particular sample features Klein’s extremely rare ‘gossamer’ paint scheme, which was made by heating the still-wet paint with an acetylene torch.

Externally run cables would naturally detract from that ultra-clean aesthetic so Klein was an early adopter of internal routing, too. It was far from the maintenance nightmare that many modern interpretations are, however, with Teflon liners running the full length of each path. As long as the owner was careful not to remove those liners during a cable replacement, servicing the bike was as easy as could be.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995315-99ck24uaechp-1000-90-ea65162.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995315-99ck24uaechp-1000-90-ea65162.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995315-99ck24uaechp-1000-90-ea65162.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995315-99ck24uaechp-1000-90-ea65162.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995315-99ck24uaechp-1000-90-ea65162.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1438886995315-99ck24uaechp-1000-90-ea65162.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Compliance’ is a popular buzzword in today’s bicycle marketing lexicon but there was no such thing back in klein’s day. it was all about rigidity and precise handling, as evidenced by this ultra-stiff, oversized aluminum fork Total travel on this massive alloy fork was somewhere on the order of… zero

The end result is undeniably stunning and wouldn’t look out of place even today. Although the ride was unyieldingly rigid, in stark contrast to today’s emphasis on ‘compliance’, Klein certainly achieved his goal of decreasing weight. Total weight for this gorgeous steed as shown here is just 10.57kg (23.30lb) – shockingly feathery for the time and an impressive figure even compared with modern machines.

Special thanks to Vintage MTB Workshop for loaning out such a priceless machine. Also, thanks to the folks at The Pro’s Closet , who will soon open up a museum of noteworthy vintage bikes at their headquarters in Boulder, Colorado.

Complete bike specifications Frame: 1993 Klein Attitude with ‘gossamer’ paint Fork: Uni-Klein rigid Headset: Klein sealed bearing, integrated Stem: Klein Mission Control, 150mm Handlebar: Klein Mission Control, 580mm Grips: ODI Attack Front brake: Shimano Deore XT BR-M734 Rear brake: Shimano Deore XT BR-M734 Brake levers: Shimano Deore XT STI ST-MC95 Front derailleur: Shimano Deore XT FD-M735 Rear derailleur: Shimano Deore XT RD-M735-SGS Shift lever: Shimano Deore XT STI ST-MC95 Cassette: Shimano Deore XT 7-speed, 12-28T Chain: Shimano HG Crankset: Shimano Deore XT FC-M730, 175mm, 26/36/46T Bottom bracket: Press-fit cartridge bearings Rims: Sun Chinook, 32H Front hub: Shimano Deore XT HB-M730 Rear hub: Shimano Deore XT FH-M732 Spokes: Wheelsmith 14g w/ brass nipples Front tire: Specialized Ground Control, 26×1.95in Rear tire: Specialized Ground Control, 26×1.95in Saddle: Vetta Gel Lite Seatpost: Syncros Pedals: Shimano Deore XT PD-M735 Weight: 10.57kg (23.30lb, complete, as pictured)