A Personal Tribute to Charlie Cunningham

by Vernon Huffman

I first met Charlie in 1992. We were introduced by a mutual friend and fellow trail builder. I was told that I "had to meet" Charlie because we shared a love of singletrack and a frustration with the lack of access to it.

Our first meeting took place where Charlie seemed most at home: deep in the woods, on a trail I never knew existed. There I met the kindest, humblest, and most skilled trail builder I have ever known. He showed me the handmade tools he had designed for backcountry trail work, tools that could collapse for easy transport into remote places. We spent the day digging trail, and a friendship began.

Over time, we discovered another shared passion: high-fidelity music. Charlie eventually bought my portable Tascam DAT recorder, and I learned about the secret benches he had scattered around Mount Tamalpais, quiet places where he would retreat to listen to his favorite recordings and enjoy a moment of solitude.

Later, I was invited into Charlie's workshop and given a glimpse into the world he had created. I watched machines cycling endlessly as they tested the strength of bicycle spokes. I smelled unfamiliar scents from ovens where aluminum components were being heat-treated for custom Cunningham bicycles and parts. At the time, I could barely comprehend what I was witnessing, the ingenuity of the man before me or the lasting impact he would have on the sport of mountain biking that I loved.

In the years that followed, we built trails together and rode many miles. Looking back, I realize I took that time with Charlie for granted. He was simply always there: kind, generous, and quietly exceptional.

Charlie was also an incredible rider. While I pedaled the latest carbon-fiber technology, he effortlessly kept pace on an aluminum bike with drop handlebars. And then there was Charlie the tracker. He could study a tire mark in the dirt and tell you who had ridden that trail earlier that day. Trust me, I know this from experience.

Charlie left an indelible mark on the trails we ride, the sport we cherish, and the people fortunate enough to know him. More importantly, he left us with an example of humility, craftsmanship, curiosity, and kindness.

Charlie, you will be deeply missed. I hope you are riding endless ribbons of perfect singletrack somewhere beyond the horizon.

Godspeed, my friend.