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Jan/Feb 09
 From Mike
Very few bikes are as shrouded in mystery and controversy than the Yeti C-26. To many, this frame exists only as internet rumors and
the occasional poorly-scanned photo. Like a campfire ghost-story, its cursed tale is told by "cult" bike collectors and enthusiasts as a
relic of mountain biking's unadorned past, and its halcyon days of over-abundance. The rise and fall of the C-26 project mimics that of
countless other startups from that era, where thousands were thrown at the "next big thing" in design, only to have the company pull up
stakes to follow hotter trends that popped up seemingly overnight. Yet, where many exotic frames have vanished into obscurity, the
legend of the C-26 endures not as a success, but as perhaps the greatest failure of the impenetrable force that was Yeti Cycles, the big
little company that could seemingly do no wrong.
The C-26 name was derived from
Chis Herting's first initial and his age at the time he designed the prototype. Essentially, it was a FRO frame using Easton C9 tubes.
Herting needed a way to lighten the race bike, and Easton's design seemed the best fit at the time. Yeti produced one bike in 1989, and
it made its rounds beneath team rider Russ Worley. After the interest generated from the Mountain Bike Action test in June, Yeti decided
make it a production frame and brought it to Interbike. In 1990, select team riders raced on C-26s, however, most of its fame comes
from its use during the inaugural UCI World Championships in Durango. Juli Furtado won on her C-26, and John Tomac placed 4th and
6th in the downhill and cross country on his C-26 with drop bars. Sadly, by that time, the sun had set for the project. Yeti boss John
Parker never trusted the design, and he shelved it after worlds.
This is the Bugatti Veyron of mountain bikes. So rare you're lucky enough to even see a picture of one. As far as the actual frames, the
location of only five are known. There is rumored to be around 10 bikes in the world assembled from stolen tubes. I found a set of these
frame tubes here in Durango, and for over a year know. Chris Herting has been re-creating the prototype using my tubes. Its done now.
The White Whale caught, and the Dark Tower ascended. I can honestly say I've never seen a cooler bike.
Mike Wilk
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