woodrupjoe - I went to RISD too and finished in 1981. Maybe we know each other?

The Rhode Gear founders did indeed go to RISD in Providence, R.I. Their first product, the Flickstand started the company off around 1976 or 1977, if I recall. By the end of the 80s or early 90s, Rhode Gear had been bought by Bell and they became Newbold Design and branched out to design and develop products such as child car seats apart from bike related products. The company folded after the untimely death of the principal, I think in the late 90s.

I knew one of the designers and on a late night visit to the studio saw full suspension mountain bikes for the first time. I was even more amazed when we went for a ride in the building's former production space up and down stairs and over all kinds of stuff on the floors!

I have one of the tool pods from an early production or prototype run in which the broaching for the bits was too tight. You needed a tool to use the tool (a pair of pliers). Other RG products I've had are the Ultralight helmet, a pair of shorts, and the Atmos pump which pumped on both the push and pull strokes.