Christopher Igleheart
Christopher Igleheart has a long association with the bicycle. After running his own shop for many years in Portland, ME, he became an early and vigorous champion of mountain bicycles. At Fat City Cycles in Somerville, MA Igleheart honed his craft. From there he was on his own, making cross bikes, commuter bikes, tandems and of course the mountain bike. Many forks, frames, friends, races, trail miles logged and a continental crossing later, he settled down in Portland, OR with his machine shop, knowledge and expertise.
From Portland to Portland:
A Very Brief (Non-Fact-Checked) History of Christopher Igleheart’s Place in the Evolution of US Bicycle Manufacturing (& some other stuff)
Written by Joseph Ahearne
Bicycle Times:
Movers and Makers
Christopher Igleheart is probably the nicest guy in the bicycle industry—but don’t hold that against him. He’s been making bikes longer than most folks have been riding them and he does it a deep sense of understanding and a gracious smile.
We got to know him when he relocated to Portland, Oregon and started building custom frames in a shared shop space with Joseph Ahearne. His bikes are simple, but they’re beautiful and they’re strong. He should know a thing or two about making tough bikes as he had a big hand in the building of the iconic and coveted Fat Chance mountain bikes in the 80’s.
Sharing a conversation with Chris about bikes is like taking a history lesson from the coolest professor on campus, who also happened to have a hand in the making of the very history they are teaching that semester. He’s wise, he’s insightful, and he’s probably one of the best people to share a post-ride beer with that we’ve ever met.