Name/Title
1983 Cunningham R1 "Otto"Description
Cunningham Applied Technology
Heat-treated Aluminum Frame
Serial Number: R1
In the first mass-start mountain bike races in the early 1980s, Jacquie Phelan lined up in the front row, with the top male racers. In 1983, Phelan's partner and future husband Charlie Cunningham created the R1 race bike specifically for her. Dubbed “Otto,” the bike was the main form of transportation for car-less Phelan. Cunningham’s heat-treated, thin-walled aluminum frame ensured a lifetime’s worthiness over rough terrain at high speeds, while giving Phelan the distinct advantage of a bike that was lighter and stiffer than other racing mountain bikes. Otto’s double (instead of triple) chainring and modified rear cogset with eleven-tooth gear helped reduce the bike’s overall weight and reflected Cunningham’s impulse for efficiency through simplification.
Although the industry routinely disparaged aluminum as a durable frame material, Phelan’s longtime success on an unbroken frame challenged the critics. Cunningham’s patented Type II fork and Roller-Cam brakes added to the advantages Phelan had at her disposal. Her six-year winning streak included consecutive NORBA (National Off-Road Bicycle Association) championships in 1983, 1984, and 1985.Acquisition
Accession
L-2025.04.11-GellnerSource or Donor
Noah GellnerRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Jacquie PhelanPerson or Organization
Charlie CunninghamPerson or Organization
WOMBATSRelated Places
Place
* Untyped Place
Fairfax, California