Holey Moses! this bike can do it all. This is the 10” chef’s knife of bikes. The #2HB pencil of bikes. The 12 inch Wagner pan, the AMC Eagle, the Shure SM58, the 20 degree down bag, the 12 oz hammer of bikes. I could go on. The thing is, it’s a mighty fine go where-evering flat bar bike that you can ride with drops if you know of a brand called Discord Components, who makes a 0mm stem.
Most folks just rides an Alt bar, but we say, no Ma! Drop bars workin’ too.
Here’s what you can’t do on this bike: win the Tour de France, or even the Giro. Go downhill mountain biking at a high rate of speed. That’s it. It can do everything else, for a fine and affordable price. Lest you think it’s a cheap, poor riding bike, think again. It sports double butted steel tubing in the main triangle and seatstays. The fork is butted. So that means all that’s straight gauge is the chainstays. That’s nothing! Chainstays don’t do squat anyway.
Tire clearances: 700c x 47 with fenders! That means, realistically, 54mm tires without fenders. 27.5 x 2.8” tires (27.5 x 2.6” with fenders), and 26 x 3” tires (26 x 2.8” with fenders) That’s mondo. Way huge. Really, get two wheelsets. 27.5 x 2.8 and a 700c x 45 one, so you’re covered for whatever.
Normal 1990’s mountain bike head tube angle which means it climbs and descends fine, with or without a front load. 73 degree seat tube angle, so for sure ride it with a setback seatpost, 25mm or so. High enough BB for off roadin’ but not so high that it’ll feel like a singletrack only whip. Really, a fine bike for getting on and off trail at will.
Like all complete bikes, we think this needs some finesse to come to its final ideal form. Outta the gate it’s a bit like Peter Brotzmann without the rhythm section chiming in. Lots of potential. To be a good commuter, swap tires, add nice grippy pedals, fenders and racks. To be a good bike packer, go tubeless and add lower gearing.
But as ever, the best way to go is to build one up from the frame. We’re here to help with that, it’s our jam. Need a commuter bike that can also slay gravel roads? Sure! Drop us a line.
