Full fabrication from US-made (Ancotech and Sandvik only) 3Al/2.5V titanium alloy round tubing. No dorky shapes here.
Custom-bent chain stays from Chris at Axis Machine. Simple and functional! He does wonderful work.
Hand-bent seat stays from yours truly.
Rear loading dropouts from Paragon Machine Works spaced at 135mm. Rear loading = horizontal dropouts for singlespeed action; don't let the geometry schematic fool you.
The bike comes standard with onespeed dropouts and no derailleur hanger.
The stock headset size is 1 1/8".
Seatpost size is 27.2mm. The normal size.
The BB shell is 73mm with English thread. Make sure you get the right bottom bracket!
Submitted by
Brian Dukek
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, MN Date Reviewed: April 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
gravel roads
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Direct from MC
Strengths:
Very good finish Rider specific, custom geometry Customized any way you want including number of water bottle mounts, frame pump peg, drop bar or flat bar, etc.
Weaknesses:
Very bad wait time.
Similar Products Used:
Surley Cross Check Litespeed Appalachian
Bike Setup:
Fixed gear with Midge drop bars, front and rear cantilever brakes (bad knees. . .), three water mounts, 29" tires
Bottom Line:
Matt Chester is an interesting mix of frustrating businessman and gifted builder.
When I ordered the bike I was told it would take around six months to build. It finally came after eight months and right before a race I was promised I would have it for. During the last month or so of my wait I decided it wasn't worth it, and if I had it to do over again I would have done just about anything else.
When the dang thing finally arrived I was optimistic. The finish was very good, and the frame seemed. . . big. After I built it up and went for a ride I realized that no, the frame wasn't big. It was freaking huge!!! But it was built specifically for me and had exactly the right amount of crotch clearance, perfect handlebar height with no need for a single spacer, right reach, etc. I was simply used to bikes with shorter. . . everything and the need for long seatposts, spacers, or stems to compensate.
After two rides I realized it was definitely worth the wait, and that though I had to wait two months after Matt's estimated timeframe I would have the bike for a lifetime. The bike is extremely comfortable, and was built as I requested for long distance on gravel roads.
One highlight has been the superb customer service after the bike arrived. I mentioned that the handlebars lined up with the top tube and that I was afraid I would dent the top tube if I crashed wrong. Matt immediately mailed some rubber bar ends to help, though he thought it was a non-issue with the thick walled tubes. When it was clear that the steerer on the fork that I ordered from another company (based on Matt's recommendation) was slightly too short, he offered to buy me a new one with a longer steerer and trade forks. Mind you, he didn't make the fork and I didn't buy it from him, but he is going to trade anyways to get the bike setup perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricky deLeyos
a Cross Country Rider
from College Park, MD Date Reviewed: July 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Frederick Watershed
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Chester hisself
Strengths:
Great-riding, non-rusting, just-enough-flexy, wunderbike. Excellent customer service as well.
Weaknesses:
Chester hisself acknowledges it, but the wait time is long. But what's a few extra months for a bike that'll last forever? No disc option.
Similar Products Used:
Litespeed Owl Hollow & Fat City Yo Eddy.
Bike Setup:
At the moment, it has a Fox F80RLT, Race Face cranks, BB, and bashguard, Magura HS-33 rear brake, Hope Mini front brake. Seven Ti bar, Thomson stem and seatpost. King hubs laced to Velocity Aeroheat rims.
Bottom Line:
This bike always gets rave reviews. I'm here to add to it.
I love the bike, and I'm glad I got it. It's well built, well priced, and rides very comfortably.
Matt is a pleasure to work with, and is very knowledgeable about Ti and bike geometries. (I guess the mech engineering degree doesn't hurt.) He listens, you bounce ideas back and forth, and he comes up with a gameplan.
I'd recommend this to anyone that is considering a high-end singlespeed that is built to fit him/her perfectly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Will Hansen
a Racer
from Modesto Date Reviewed: June 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
wherever
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1550.00
Purchased At:
From Jimbo in Texas
Strengths:
Beeeeuuuutiful! One of the nicest looking Ti bikes I have seen. This bike has the looks and performance people! The Man Matt makes a premium quality product and backs it up with great customer service. Nice guy he is.
Weaknesses:
None whatsoever.
Similar Products Used:
Trek, Schwinn, Titus
Bike Setup:
IF rigid forks, Mavic,Avid,Paul this and Paul that, Race Face, Easton and a fine Brooks Saddle!
Bottom Line:
and the bottom line is..........
In my stable is one of the most fun bikes that I have ever owned.
Get one if you can!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DanO
a Weekend Warrior
from Riley, KS Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
55
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Matt-Mart
Strengths:
Strong, light, round tubes. Thick, solid fork ends. All custom. Hand made.
Weaknesses:
The waiting is the hardest part.
Similar Products Used:
Many geared hardtails + Bianchi T.U.R.D.
Bike Setup:
Moots seatpost Azonic DH stem, bar Profile cranks Atom 80 32:18
Bottom Line:
The bike rails like mad and on the occasion it does start to slide out, it's real smooth and predictable. The numbers don't say it (long chainstays and high bottom bracket) but it's super stable and very well balanced. I get on through tight, twisty stuff great and those long ti chainstays + the Moots ti post really smooth out the ride. It's like it's speed sensitive- when I slow down to get through tight stuff, the bike really stands up and whips around, but as I get on with speed and start to haul arse down hill, it seems to stretch out and flow more. Don't know how it does this, but it just works.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ed
a
from newark, ca Date Reviewed: August 12, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
matt chester
Strengths:
yes
Weaknesses:
animal dung still sticks to ti
Similar Products Used:
92 schwinn paramount series 70 94 litespeed ocoee
Bike Setup:
geared: titec hellbent, titec mag shorties, oury, 94 xt top mounts, 94 paul love levers, 94 wtb speedmaster brakeset, thomson stem and post, flite saddle, king headset and hubset (on 517's), 94 xtr cranks, 94 747's, 99 zoke bomber
ss: titec hellbent, titec mag shorties, oury, paul love levers, wtb speedmaster brakeset, thomson stem and post, flite saddle, king headset, surly rear and 94 white tracker front, velocity aeroheats, 94 xtr cranks, 93 737's, rigid off-some-new-bike fork
Bottom Line:
got the geared mc first around 10-00 and then got the ss on 03-01. the fact that i have 2 of the same frame (except for one being geared) says a lot. i initially set up the geared one as an ss first, and really enjoyed that. then i set it up to see how it would climb mission peak in a granny gear. that's when i decided to get the ss specific also. this bike can do it all. i really enjoy it's quick, precise, steering, it's climbing ability, and it's stability. it's also a comfortable bike to ride. thanks to matt for being such a great craftmans to work with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Oat Hill Mine
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Direct from Matt
Strengths:
Attention to Detail 'Custom' Feel Well Thought Out Geometry that REALLY Works
Utilitiman / Fox Float RLC / Chris King Hubs & Ti Headset / Phil Wood Ti BB / Moots Stem & Seatpost / Seven Cycles Handlebar / Paul's Motolites and Love Levers / XTR Pods & Front & Rear Derailleurs / RaceFace Turbine Cranks / Action-Tec ELS Ti Chainrings / Egg Beaters
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is that this bike is TRULY an AMZING Ride. I have the honor of owning the one and only Utilitiman built to run a multi-gear set-up. I must admit that I feel somewhat guilty, because after the tortuous process of working with me to build this frame, MAtt decided to never build another geared UTE. Sorry gearies! Matt's uniqie geometry was developed to compliment his preferred style of riding sans derailleurs, but let me tell you it just plain works. The slightly taller BB and 1/4" longer Chainstays really add the this bike's trail manners!! There are a fair amount of roots and tree trunks to ride over on my local trails and that taller BB gives me that little extra clearance. I can't tell you how many people told me that a hardtail with 17" chainstays would wallow through attempted turns. Talk about the effectiveness of marketing and glossy bike mags, come on get real. The slightly longer stays give me another extra little bit of compliance on climbs, the rear end really holds the terrain. Matt also described the feeling of 'loading' the chainstays like a ski as you enter a turn, well its a great analogy because this bike carves through singletrack. Matt's attention to every detail shines through on the Utilitiman. This is a bike built by a guy who loves to ride, you don't have to ask him, just RIDE of of his frames and you'll know!! Dealing with Matt gives new meaning to the term Service. I have literally been offered 3 times what I paid for this frame more than once. I'm not a seller at ANY price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex Baker
a Weekend Warrior
from Coventry, West Midlands, UK Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Afan-a-goed (2001 SSWC)
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
direct from MC
Strengths:
A bike built for riding, clean lines, semi-customisation option, excellent welds, customer service
Weaknesses:
???? $250 shipping to UK, Oh and $300 import tax / VAT on top!!
$ 1000.00
Overall Rating:
