Make it snappy

The origin of the Moots alligator head badge

‘As a kid Kent Eriksen had a rubber eraser in the shape of an alligator,’ says brand spokesperson Jon Cariveau. ‘One day these bullies on the school bus took it from him and poked a hole in its head. When Kent got it back, as he squeezed its little head it called out what he thought sounded like “moots”. He named this little guy Mr Moots and it went with him everywhere.

‘It became somewhat of an imaginary friend for him. When he got to junior high he started drawing Mr Moots in cartoon adventures for the school newspaper. Mr Moots hiked, skied, rode bikes…

‘After high school Kent toured the US, ending up in Steamboat Springs. He went to work for a ski shop, which was a bike shop during the summer, before opening his own. Later he decided he wanted to build bikes himself, so he went to a frame-building class put on by Bruce Gordon, the famous American handbuilt frame-maker.

‘When Kent came back and built his first frame he asked himself, “What am I going to name this?” He still had that old pencil eraser so he said, “I’m going to name it a Moots.”

‘Mr Moots went on that very first bike, and he’s gone on every bike since.’