a frame company called American? They seemed to come and go in five minutes. I thought they looked great. Any info?

They were great frames. They also made real nice forks too. I remember their frames being bright orange, I think they were available in green and also yellow.

Are you talking the late 90's American Bicycles? If so I started it. We lasted two Summers only. I still have the original 4 page full color catalogs. The bike was tested in Snap June 98 (They used an Orange one). The bike was also shown in another issue of Snap with a Buyers Guide.

The below photo was taken from the catalog. It shows AA Pro Adam Provo on the left and myself on the right. We are sitting on the finish straight fence at Coal Canyon (in SoCal). The 97 uniform had custom Aero leathers. In 98 we got hooked up by Answer (Thanks Joey). BTW those two bikes were actually our first two prototypes made in the fall of 97.
Adam raced it at the Coal Canyon Fall Nationals.



Other factory Riders included AA Pro Brandon Taylor and two of his Texas buddies Casper Green and Kevin Herring. We also had Troy Kendrick of Minnesota and Mike Gul of Illinois.

Long story short. I started the company with my own money, which wasn't much. I had an investor lined up before starting it. The investor pulled out at the last moment. After the '97 summer tour and the prototypes were built a second investor was found. He pulled out after investing just 1/5th of the promised funds. I kept the company alive with the help of a silent partner for as long as possible. Just couldn't find an investor and was working Graveyard to pay my bills and it was just too much. My silent partner pulled out without warning the weekend we were supposed to go to Reno for a race. That was the final nail in the coffin of what could have been...sigh.

Sorry to hear that Racer. They where nice looking frames. Do you still own one?
I have started a BMX company up. In the R&D stages. ABout to make the first prototype. I am lucky because i had a phone call from my old boss to do some contract work for him. That will fund the company.
If you are ever keen to get back into it let me know. I have some good contacts.
Josh

Good luck Josh. Its alot of fun and alot of work. Everything that can go wrong will at some point. But the few big moments of success make it all worth while. As the owner be carefull, keep everything in writing and record everything. I had a clinic near the end of my 97 summer tour. Had a few hats and jerseys left is all. A couple riders wanted a jersey bad. I told them sorrry I was out. but we have a few more back at the office. They ask me to take the money to make sure they get one before they are all gone. Im like no. They asked again and I hate saying no. I forwared their info to my silent partner back in California and expect it to get taken care of. I never get a letter from anyone saying they never got their jersey. Then I hear, after we are out of business, a couple riders were angry they never got their stuff... Sigh. They probably fealt like I scamed them for the money. I should have just refused the money and told them to mail the order in. Live and learn.

I do have a few bike designs. If I start something again I'm pretty sure I know what Id do. Thats the whole fun Josh. Creating everything from nothing. The other company I started (Hyper) hasn't done so bad over the years. I was with Hyper when we agreed to pick up an Aussie named Travis Turreson. Great rider. Good luck, if you need any advice just shoot me a PM.

The picture posted went down. I will one day post more pictures of my short lived venture.

Another American frame was found recently up in the Northwest. We only had 25 made. Cheeta who made our bikes may have used our design later for their own line *&%^%$.
I made a website for American Bicycles http://americanbicycles.wordpress.com

Very cool, Mike Gull was a local to where i raced. I remember the uniforms now after seeing pictures. You got any frame stickers left?

I fancy having a go at making up some frames myself when later in the year here in the UK. Ive done a few sketches of jigs that im going to make in the summer as I cant afford to buy in a jig such as an anvil journeyman etc. So making my own is the only solution. Im actually at college now studying an advanced diploma in fab and welding so it shouldnt be a problem. Freshmale keep me informed of your progress id be very interested in seeing what you make.

Matt

No stickers, but I think I still have the original art for them. Are you the one that foudn the bike in the Northwest? I still need to dig up a catalog to send him.

No, Im in Illinois. I was thinking of getting it from him. Any chance thats a team riders bike? I noticed it has a yess fork.

It could be a team riders bike.
I know Troy Kendricks' was our candy red, it was one of our two prototypes. Adam Provo got the candy blue one.
I have no idea if our bikes even had serial numbers lol.
The only other bike or two we maybe flowed were to Texas (Casper Green and Kevin Herring), but I forget what color they were or if they were still on the team by the time our production bikes came in. Bad memory sorry. I was working a graveyard job and tried to run the company and just burned the candle at both ends, so a few things are fuzzy.

BTW I know your track, The Hill. Me and Mike did a American Bicycles clinic there.
If you get the bike I will send you a brochure for it and maybe do up a decal sheet if I have the original. Not silk screened lol (BTW the original decals were made on a Printing Press), just a Kinkos job, but you can use that to get better ones made.

Oh yea, I vaguely remember something about a clinic you guys put on. Rings a bell atleast. I used to teach the new rider clinics every other saturday morning. Ill let you know if I get that frame.