The Canadian "Team Chance"

[SFP]

Okay, so for starters I am well aware these frame-sets were not made by Chris Chance or Fat Chance.

A few days of searching the web, here is what I have found.... and I will be the first to admit this all my be BS or myth.

"Its one of Chris's side projects. Canadian brand (owned by Veltec).
Chris was the designer.
Basically Chris decided to license/market his name to another company and thus I suppose, make some coin without having to actually pick up a torch (or declare it on the fatcity books).
Except for the dropouts and tubing spec, it was virtually the same bikes (identical geometry).
Now I'm not positive on this aspect, but I bet Chris Dekerf might know a bit of the origin story too as he was welding for rocky mountain under contract at the time, and there's a decided BC influence in the Team Chance bikes." - from a MTBR post dated May 27, 2004.

"This is a moderately made Japanese frame that was a test in the Canadian market which taught us that there was no point in doing anything other than building all of our frames by hand in at our shop." - Wendyll via MTBR (I assume somehow connected with Fat Chance)

"The frames was manufactured by Hodaka, a Taiwanese company. They contract manufactured several brands, including Bianchi, Jamis and GT, among" - Aug 6, 2016 - Bike Forum

To my understanding the company that brought them into Canada was the same company that handled the Concorde line of mountain bikes in the late 80s and early 90s. The frames were Tange Prestige tubing and they came stock with Tange Struts forks.

The 1991 edition retailed for about $1200.xx at the time. The '91 came with a DX groupo (hubs, mechs, pedals brake levers), Deore above bar shifters, Ritchey Vantage Comp rims, Ritchey stem, Ritchey headset, Deore crankset, Sakae Powerbuldge Titanium handlebar (anyone have feedback on this Ti handlebar???).

Some frames have double eyelets on rear dropouts some have only single - go figure. Sounds like they were produced between 1991 and 1993.

Working in shops during that era I did see a few of these come across my repair stand and honestly always found them to be nice bikes.

In '92 a good buddy of mine bought one and rode with us until it got stolen a year later at which time he replaced it with a custom Yo Eddy handbuilt by Chris (that was a seriously beautiful bike). That said, the Team Chance he had rode really good (we all use to trade bikes on rides eh).

----- Fast Forward to this Week -----

A friend has asked me to pic up a used one (while I am making a trip to the mainland) for them which I have agreed to do and worst case I'll end up with said bike.

The bike is a Small (16" Seat tube, 20" top tube) that has been taken care of and by the sounds of it, been a pavement princess. The other bike they are looking at is a 16" RM Hammer Race that has been well used and loved - shocks require a full rebuild, wheels need work, new cables needed.

As you may be aware I love my Rocky Mountains, but in this case for the money wise I think the Team Chance may be the better bike.

So, any of my fellow Canadians have or have owned these Canadian Team Chance bikes and have real world feedback?

Cheers,
Scott

 

[Elev12k]

I doubt this was Chris' project. My knowledge is that it was a project by the Fat Chance importer for Canada (Veltec) who used (a part of) the name with or without permission. Apart from the Tange Struts, I do not see resemblance with a Fat Chance. The frame looks Canadian. I do have a Concorde that looks very similar.

 

[shackleton]

I've also owned a Team Chance for two weeks and can't find much information about the bike. Here are a few photos. I've since found a Struts, but unfortunately, the stem is too short. The bike has the complete LX groupset. The bike is from the first owner and has been very well maintained.

In the photo there are still some XT components attached, I received the LX separately.

 

[Elev12k]

In the Archive there is the 1993 Concorde catalogue. I think this Team Chance is the same frame as the Team Half track model.



My Concorde Mirage: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/2-riders-miyata-concorde.461365/

 

[MattiThundrrr]

So, any of my fellow Canadians have or have owned these Canadian Team Chance bikes and have real world feedback?

Nice find. That is all bew to me, will have to add to my lists! Subscribed for the info.

 

[SFP]

I have to agree, a very Canadian frame as it were.

Yes, looks like a twin to the Concorde Team Half Track eh.

Only ever worked at one shop that sold Concordes (Western Cycle in Edmonton) - It was damn hard to beat the value they offered for the price they sold for.

More than one staff member bought a higher model just for the full groupo as it was cheaper even with staff pro deal to buy a complete Concorde than a full groupo.

I'll update the post once I am back with some better photos. And if it is not too small for me (very well may be, me being 5' 9"), I'll give a rider review eventually.

 

[SFP]

I've also owned a Team Chance for two weeks and can't find much information about the bike. Here are a few photos. I've since found a Struts, but unfortunately, the stem is too short. The bike has the complete LX groupset. The bike is from the first owner and has been very well maintained.

In the photo there are still some XT components attached, I received the LX separately.

Nice. Looks like 20" frame.

Cool on finding some Struts, what length of stem do you think you require? I would suspect a 130mm or 140mm stem would stretch it out nicely but obviously your height and preferred riding style would be the big factors. It seems 130mm to 140mm higher quality stems from back in the day are hard to locate. That being said, I have a buddy who has a silver 140mm OG Syncros (1 1/8" quill) they may be willing to part with. If you'd like, I can ask him.

My buddy who had his (prior to it being stolen) dropped a second gen Manitiou fork on his, and it looked wicked (no pun intended eh) and handled very nicely as a result.

 

[SFP]

I've also owned a Team Chance for two weeks and can't find much information about the bike. Here are a few photos. I've since found a Struts, but unfortunately, the stem is too short. The bike has the complete LX groupset. The bike is from the first owner and has been very well maintained.

In the photo there are still some XT components attached, I received the LX separately.

And damn, those Z-Max tires look like they are almost new! Damn nice find you got there.

 

[vtwinvince]

I used to see these things all over town BITD, but never could figure out what they were exactly.

 

[shackleton]

Nice. Looks like 20" frame.

Cool on finding some Struts, what length of stem do you think you require? I would suspect a 130mm or 140mm stem would stretch it out nicely but obviously your height and preferred riding style would be the big factors. It seems 130mm to 140mm higher quality stems from back in the day are hard to locate. That being said, I have a buddy who has a silver 140mm OG Syncros (1 1/8" quill) they may be willing to part with. If you'd like, I can ask him.

My buddy who had his (prior to it being stolen) dropped a second gen Manitiou fork on his, and it looked wicked (no pun intended eh) and handled very nicely as a result.

Thank you! The frame measures 20" when you measure the entire seat tube from both ends. From the center of the bottom bracket to the end of the seat tube, it's just under 19".

I'm generally interested in the stem. However, I live in Germany. What's the stem's pitch?

And damn, those Z-Max tires look like they are almost new! Damn nice find you got there.

Thanks, yes, they're really great, no cracks or anything. The bike has been kept in a (warm) garage for years.