Profile: Spooky Bikes

Spooky bikes, manufacturer of one of the first hardcore hardtails to hit the riding scene way back in the early 1990s are coming back: pioneering frames such as the Spooky Metalhead will be reborn for 2008 using cutting edge technology and USA handbuilt craftsmanship while retaining all of their original East Coast, Punk Rock attitude and legendary ride quality.

Spooky was founded in 1992 as a result of frustrations with the inherent limitations of riding a California designed mountain bike in the wet and rocky conditions of their East Coast trails. A post ride dinner was quickly followed by ideas being sketched out on the collective's napkins and the Spooky brand was born. Initial production runs were funded by sales of Spooky T shirts but the brand soon gained momentum as the frames attained cult status amongst the hardcore riding community and the company moved production in-house with the acquisition of a 5000 square feet workshop within a few short years. Worldwide success followed during the mid to late nineties with Spooky also picking up contracts with more mainstream bike companies looking to capitalize on their specialist frame engineering expertise (Spooky were one of the very first bike companies to work with Easton aluminium) for production of their high-end and team bikes. Spooky eventually upped the ante once again by doubling their shop space before the factory eventually closed its doors for the last time after nearly ten years in business.

Skip to 2007 and ex-Spooky employee and team rider Mickey Denoncourt is in the process of re-launching the brand that he was part of from way back in '94. Just like the first time 'round Spooky is typically undercapitalized and the company has once again been funded by T shirt sales to get the company off the ground and pay for the initial production costs of the actual frames. Street, slalom and dirt jump frames will be first up; resurrecting the most popular Spooky designs brought right up to date for 2008 to reflect the progression in equipment and riding styles during the years that the brand has been dormant. Never ones to rest on their laurels Spooky are already working on a 'Darkside' steel XC race frame, a Cyclo-Cross frame, some full-suspension designs and even some more utilitarian urban designs for getting around car-free.

Details of the new Spooky bikes, clothing and accessories will be posted here on the Silverfish site and Spooky's own new website as and when we get details so check back often for regular updates.