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Now that I've had it a few weeks, and have ridden it enough to know, it's time to share. I'll keep this short (really short version: it's fantastic!). I had a custom bike built, here's why:
Back story: I travel a lot for work and play, get to go a lot of places that have great riding, or would be fun to explore on a bike, take a bike tour, or have some kind of riding vacation. So I wanted a bike I could take with, without dealing with large cases, hassles, bike/bag fees, and having to rent a bigger car.
Goal: the ultimate adventure bike.
1. I wanted a frame that could be broken down easily and fit into a smaller case.
2. I wanted a bike that could go anywhere and do anything, but was first and foremost a great mountain bike.
3. I wanted a bike that I could use in multiple configurations: rigid, squishy fork, geared, singlespeed.
4. I wanted something I could tour with, on and off-road, with racks that would be quick release and sturdy when loaded.
5. I wanted something solid and rugged: Titanium and overbuilt.
6. I needed it quick, lots of upcoming travel.
Called Wade @ Vulture Cycles, who about 3 years ago built me a steel SS that I love. He got excited about the idea and we started bouncing it back and forth. This is what we came up with:
-Titanium, nice and fat tubes.
-Breaks down at the chainstays and seatstays using a design he'd built before with good results. (chainstays come together and bolt to the BB, seatstays come together and bolt to the ST)
-Steel suspension corrected fork, built around a Reba @ 100mm sagged.
-2 bottle cages on fork, 3 on frame.
-Custom racks and mounts, with pull-pin quick release mounting. Built for Ortlieb panniers, with the largest gauge tubing that they'd fit.
-Paragon sliders for versatility
Results:
The bike is amazing. I was worried that it was going to be the jack of all trades, master of none... but it rides perfectly in every config. It's very solid with racks and panniers, to the point that it will still be a very fun ride fully loaded. With the quick release Ortliebs, and the quick release racks, I can go from Touring to Mountain Biking configs in less than a minute. Couldn't be happier with any aspect of working with Wade, or the results.
3 wheelsets transform the bike:
1. king/arch/racing ralph - XC
2. king/flow/rampage/resolution - AM
3. xtr/arch/vulpines - urban/touring/go anywhere - centerlock rotors make it easier to assemble when traveling.
Next up:
Custom travel case from Mark @ PikaPackworks
2 week loaded bike tour in Costa Rica (leaving late Jan 2010)
Ultralight bag setup (bar, seat, frame, etc) for the spring/summer
On to the pics:
Headbadge
Mountain bike config
Rigid, Urban, Mtn, Go-anywhere config
Racked 'n Ready
Loaded
Rigid in Sedona
Front triangle
Rear triangle
Front rack
Rear rack
Paragon Sliders
Having a blast on it!
Back story: I travel a lot for work and play, get to go a lot of places that have great riding, or would be fun to explore on a bike, take a bike tour, or have some kind of riding vacation. So I wanted a bike I could take with, without dealing with large cases, hassles, bike/bag fees, and having to rent a bigger car.
Goal: the ultimate adventure bike.
1. I wanted a frame that could be broken down easily and fit into a smaller case.
2. I wanted a bike that could go anywhere and do anything, but was first and foremost a great mountain bike.
3. I wanted a bike that I could use in multiple configurations: rigid, squishy fork, geared, singlespeed.
4. I wanted something I could tour with, on and off-road, with racks that would be quick release and sturdy when loaded.
5. I wanted something solid and rugged: Titanium and overbuilt.
6. I needed it quick, lots of upcoming travel.
Called Wade @ Vulture Cycles, who about 3 years ago built me a steel SS that I love. He got excited about the idea and we started bouncing it back and forth. This is what we came up with:
-Titanium, nice and fat tubes.
-Breaks down at the chainstays and seatstays using a design he'd built before with good results. (chainstays come together and bolt to the BB, seatstays come together and bolt to the ST)
-Steel suspension corrected fork, built around a Reba @ 100mm sagged.
-2 bottle cages on fork, 3 on frame.
-Custom racks and mounts, with pull-pin quick release mounting. Built for Ortlieb panniers, with the largest gauge tubing that they'd fit.
-Paragon sliders for versatility
Results:
The bike is amazing. I was worried that it was going to be the jack of all trades, master of none... but it rides perfectly in every config. It's very solid with racks and panniers, to the point that it will still be a very fun ride fully loaded. With the quick release Ortliebs, and the quick release racks, I can go from Touring to Mountain Biking configs in less than a minute. Couldn't be happier with any aspect of working with Wade, or the results.
3 wheelsets transform the bike:
1. king/arch/racing ralph - XC
2. king/flow/rampage/resolution - AM
3. xtr/arch/vulpines - urban/touring/go anywhere - centerlock rotors make it easier to assemble when traveling.
Next up:
Custom travel case from Mark @ PikaPackworks
2 week loaded bike tour in Costa Rica (leaving late Jan 2010)
Ultralight bag setup (bar, seat, frame, etc) for the spring/summer
On to the pics:
Headbadge
Mountain bike config
Rigid, Urban, Mtn, Go-anywhere config
Racked 'n Ready
Loaded
Rigid in Sedona
Front triangle
Rear triangle
Front rack
Rear rack
Paragon Sliders
Having a blast on it!
