Please help me to sort out a few things,
I was told that there was also a Czech Biker František "Franta" Mrázek, the key technical mind behind the Kangaroo suspension forks and DH bikes mid to end of the 90ties. Just the business side of the company was done by Rudolf Novotný.
1998 brochure linked https://www.mtb-kataloge.de/html/kangaroo.html
Is that the same person that later, maybe after the end of Kangaroo starting own business and producing Hnida?
There is another Mrázek, he relocated to US and has done a bit iconic bike designs in the 90ties and for instance early and nice V-Brakes View attachment 859127 View attachment 859126 View attachment 859125
This is a different person, just having the name in common, right?
Thank you!
Yes, it is as you write. After leaving Kangaroo, František started working as a locksmith, but he mainly made frames and suspension service. He moved more than ten years ago and started working as a dam keeper. Since then, he only welds frames during the winter.
František has a brother, Jan, who rides motocross, but they both started with mototrials. In 1993, Jan took fourth place in Sittendorf at the MX World Championship in the 500cc class.
Bohumil Mrázek is a different person, as your picture proves. Mrázek is a common surname here.
Lately, I've been missing trial riding. After the Uzzi became quite a versatile bike even for trips, nothing was stopping me from getting back into trial (after 12 years). Many components from the original trials bike were used on this fs bike as well.
I've always really liked the Leeson. My original trials bike was a 24", and I wanted it to look as nice as the 609. This time, I wanted a 26", so I aimed to get as close visually as possible to the 660 model. An original Leeson would’ve been great—except for a few technical details (like the BB)—but in the end, I once again chose Franta Mrázek. So now I have everything standard, enough clearance for the rear tire, and custom geometry.
Evolution I (completed after a week and a half, on March 16th.):
Frame: Franta Mrázek, 1020 wb, 375 cs, +20 bb and 73° ha
Fork: Inspired Steel fork, A-C shortened to 398 mm from the original 410 mm, pivots for 26" and without disc mount
Headset: Chris King NoThreadSet
Hubs: Chris King Classic
Rims: Mavic D521 Ceramic
Spokes: 2-1.8-2 DT Swiss and Sapim
Crank: Middleburn RS7 with titanium Super Pro Trial bash
BB: Race Face Signature DH
Pedals: Trialtech with Ti axles and modified for needle bearings
Stem: Thomson Elite 100x5
Handlebar: Black Sheep Bikes Flatter
Saddle: Cionlli
Brakes: Avid Single Digit 25 brake arms with SD7 levers
Tires: Conti Race King 2.2" Protection, Mountain King 2.4" Protection
Weight 9.9 kg
28th March: Mavic
But just three weeks in, I found the rear rim was cracked in around eight spots. So changes came pretty quickly. I knew I wanted the Trialtech Carthy rims. I was still able to get the rear one, but unfortunately, the front with 32 holes is no longer available—production has been discontinued. So I had to look for an alternative and went with Dartmoor. Besides the rims, I also replaced the pedals, the handlebars and the stem. From today’s perspective, the Black Sheep Bikes Flatter bars feel a bit too underbuilt in terms of strength. I also swapped the brake arms for Deore ones, which have longer arms and therefore more leverage. I managed to keep the weight the same only thanks to a lighter (130 g) tube in the rear wheel compared to the standard one in the Evo I.
Evolution II (May 8th):
Frame: Franta Mrázek
Fork: Inspired Steel fork
Headset: Chris King NoThreadSet
Hubs: Chris King Classic
Rims: Trailtech Carthy Signature rear and Dartmoor Fortress front both de-anodized
Spokes: 2-1.8-2 DT Swiss and Sapim
Crank: Middleburn RS7 with titanium Super Pro Trial bash
BB: Race Face Signature DH
Pedals: HT PA03A
Stem: Thomson Elite X4 100x10
Handlebar: Race Face Atlas ½“ 720mm
Saddle: Cionlli
Brakes: Shimano Deore brake arms with Avid FR5 levers
Tires: Conti Race King 2.2" Protection, Mountain King 2.4" Protection
Weight 9.9 kg
I'm still working on the brake pads. I'd like to avoid sanding the rim, but that's a minor detail. I'm currently very happy with the bike and it brings me joy.
