Fat-tire Bikes Widely Available Under $1,000
Date: 1979
Ross Bicycles of Pennsylvania first sold its Diamond Cruiser production bike, which was similar to the Lawwill Pro Cruiser, in 1981, and Schwinn offered its King Sting in 1981. Two more production mountain bikes came on the market about a year later: The Specialized Stumpjumper, made in Japan for Specialized Bicycle Imports of San Jose, California; and the Univega Alpina Pro, also made in Japan, for Ben Lawee, owner of Lawee Inc., parent company for Univega in Long Beach, Ca. These bikes, which first appeared at a bicycle trade show in September 1981, became available in 1982. The price for the Stumpjumper was $850 and the Alpina Pro was $695. Over the next two years, thousands were sold.
