Fix Manufacturing is located in Laguna Beach, California in a neighborhood commonly referred to as Laguna Canyon. Our HQ is located in what used to be Terry Martin’s surfboard factory during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Hobie Alter invented the modern surfboard (foam + fiberglass resin) in Laguna Beach and later Terry was integral in the progression of surfboard shaping alongside the Hobie brand. Terry shaped surfboards for the likes of Gerry Lopez, Phil Edwards, and so many other surfing pioneers. Today, there are still resin drippings on our shop floor reminding us of our action sports history roots with every step we take.
Terry Martin photo: LA Times
The ‘80s and ‘90s saw the transformation of Laguna Canyon into a MTB mecca. Those unfamiliar with Southern California’s epic mountain bike terrain may be surprised to learn that Laguna Canyon is considered by many, including the legendary Hans Ray, to be one of the best mountain bike destinations in the world. To the uninitiated, Orange County conjures images of sunbathers, boutique fashion, and multi-million-dollar mansions, not rugged trails and pristine wilderness. Thanks to the convergence of several wilderness areas and parks, the greater Laguna Canyon area stretches for over 20,000 acres of mountainous terrain with over 1,000 feet of vertical drop, from inland suburbia to the beach.
Laguna Canyon and the Laguna RADS
Not only is Laguna Canyon home to some of the most iconic trails in the MTB world, it’s also the birthplace of one of the sport’s oldest and most influential riding crews: the Laguna RADS. Founded in the early 1980s, the RADS helped pioneer and protect this massive wilderness area. In 1983, they hosted the now-legendary Leaping Lizard downhill race, a boundary-pushing event that embodied their fearless style. The spirit of that race, and the RADS’ renegade ethos, helped shape modern mountain biking by elevating steep, technical, high-speed riding into an art form.
Riding steeps with the Laguna RADS
Laguna Canyon and the Mountain Bike Industry
Beyond legendary riders and world-class terrain, Laguna Canyon area also birthed some of the industry staples that helped propel mountain biking into the modern age. Horst Leitner began tinkering in Laguna Canyon and created the Horst Link, which is now used in countless full-suspension bikes. He was also one of the first to experiment with disc brakes for mountain bikes. Then there’s Jim Busby, who was instrumental in testing and developing some of the first GT bikes, like the Zaskar, LTS, and RTS, some of the most iconic bikes of the ’90s. They can be credited with the progression of full suspension bicycles on the world stage seeing that GTs dominated World Cup Downhill podiums during that era. All the testing and innovation happened right here, at Busby’s speed shop. Jim Busby’s father, Jim Busby Sr., was the first American to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The duo came from a racing pedigree and brought that mindset of speed and performance into mountain biking.
Troy Lee—now famous for Troy Lee Designs—was also part of this scene. While living in a trailer behind Busby’s property, he was painting helmets for Busby and his friends. The modern full suspension bikes that can be found all over the world were, for the most part, developed in Laguna Canyon. Laguna Canyon terrain averages a 20% grade and consists mostly of loose sandstone, which pushed the pioneers of MTB to innovate.
Troy Lee photo: Troy Lee Designs
Modern Tech Born on Laguna Trails
Much of the gear we now consider standard was tested—or even invented—on these trails. The first iterations of dropper posts came out of necessity in Laguna’s steep terrain, decades before they became industry standard. Riders experimented with spring-loaded seat posts, early disc brakes, and wide-rim, wide-tire setups long before they were mainstream. As one local said, “If it could survive Laguna, it could survive anywhere.”
Modern Legends Who Rode Here
Over the years, the steep ridgelines of Laguna have attracted riders like Brian Lopes, Steve Peat, and Nino Schurter, who’ve all trained, tested, or raced here. Even John Tomac, arguably one of the greatest mountain bikers of all time, once declared that Laguna’s trails introduced “a new dimension of steep.” More recently, the likes of Aaron Gwin, Bernard Kerr, and Ryan Pinkerton run laps to prep bikes for the rigors of World Cup racing.
Despite its global influence, Laguna Beach has never invested in mountain biking infrastructure. There are no official bike parks or flow trails—just raw terrain, local stewardship, and a deeply rooted riding community. There is online social media such as “Laguna Beach Bike Park” on Instagram that pokes fun at the irony. That grassroots spirit is part of what makes Laguna Canyon special. It’s not just a place where the sport evolved—it’s where it continues to live and breathe.
