Geoff Apps - The Father of the English Mountain Bike
Geoffrey Cleland Apps, an ‘ACU expert’ English motorcycle trials rider, began modifying conventional bicycles for off-road use in 1965. By 1979 he had created a custom-built lightweight bicycle which was a logical solution for the often wet and always muddy off-road conditions found in the south-east of England. These were eventually marketed under the Cleland Cycles brand, until 1984. Had Geoff Apps been based in the US, he would doubtless have hooked up with Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, Charlie Kelly, Tom Ritchey et al, and may well have influenced mainstream mountain bike design. Geoff is, however, a Brit, and developed his designs in isolation. His ideas offer a fascinating insight into an alternative evolutionary direction, that off-road bicycle design could have taken.
Geoff with a Cleland
Geoff was a co-founder of, and regular contributor to, Making Tracks before moving to Scotland to work on New Cyclist. He also published a cycle maintainance guide and co-wrote an beginners guide to off-road cycling with Jim Mcgurn.
Geoff is a highly accomplished illustrator and draftsman, his work having appeared in many publications including Mike Burrow's "Bicycle Design".
Read more about the history of Cleland Cycles.