Sky at Velo Cult has the full scoop on how this bike came to be, but I’ll do my best at paraphrasing.

Back in 1988, Chris Kostman was in the throes of the Race Across America, when his mechanics stopped at a little shop called Sore Saddle Cyclery in Steamboat Springs, CO. Inside, there was a frame builder named Kent Eriksen who spent his time crafting Moots bicycles.

Later, Eriksen made Kostman this 1989 Moots Zerkel – originally in a zebra stripe paint, which Chris didn’t like, so he recoated it in a crazy “rasta” paint job. It was built for Chris to race Iditabike and later, to take a crack at the first-ever 24 Hour Mountain Bike World Record.

Built with full Ritchey Logic components and American Classic hubs, it’s like a specimen from an almost forgotten age. The double fork ends, “gator jaw” gussets, custom stem and insane chainstays make this a truly unique shred sled. Look, this thing is insane and if you’re into the full, in-depth story, you should head to Velo Cult to read it all!

I went over the top documenting this one…