New bike day: Black Mountain Cycles MCD
 

Second one on the road. I only got to ride it around enough to dial in the position, but first impress are it is an amazingly capable bike!

Going on a ride tonight, and a 50+ in the morning, so I will have more reporting later. SRAM Rival 22 groupset, Praxis 165mm cranks with sub-compact chainrings.

The color of the bike really changes depending on the light. The back is mostly shop florescent lighting, while the front is more natural light from the doorway. The front is the true color of the bike.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f430251934.jpg

Great looking bike! Congratulations on a fine bike. What kind of pedals are those?

The are eggbeater Double Shots, they have clips on one side, flat pedals on the other.

Are those Archetypes? Interesting choice if so. What size tires are on those rims?

The tall head tube is refreshing to see. It looks comfy, not like some of the short head tube, slammed stem bikes out there.

I'm digging some of the parts in that display case - a stack of Chris King headsets, high flange track hubs and piles of wheels in the background. I'd love to rummage through that place.


-Tim-

Yes, they are Archetypes, 36H, since I am a clyde. Mike Varley recommended them, and I have to say they are nice, not harsh at all, and yet don't flex when I am out of the saddle and hammering.

Tires are Soma Vitesse EX 38s.

Mike's shop is like stepping into a time machine, one of the reasons I enjoy buying stuff from him... he even keeps proper mesh back cycling gloves in stock!

Rest of the build:ItemDescriptionFrameBlack Mountain Cycles Cross frame setHeadsetCane Creek 40 BlackSpacersAs NeededCranksetPraxis Alba 48/32 165mmBottom BracketPraxis M30ShiftersSRAM Rival 2x11HandlebarSalsa Cowbell 2 44cmStemDimension 31.8 Grips / TapePRO Sport Control BlackFront DerailleurSRAM Rival 22 w/ adapterRear DerailleurSRAM GX 2x11 Brake LeversInclude w/ shiftersBrake CalipersAvid BB7Brake RotorsShimano RT-66 160mm Center-LockCaliper AdaptersSRAM/AvidWheelsetFront HubShimano 105 R7070 36h BlackRear HubShimano 105 R7070 36h BlackRimsH Plus Son Archetype Black 36hRim StripsClothSpokes / NipplesDT Competition 2.0/1.8 w/ brass nipplesThru-axleRobert Axle ProjectTiresSoma Vitesse EX 38TubesPrestaCassetteSRAM PG-1130 11-36ChainSRAM PC-1130SeatSeat PostDMN 27.2 ForgedSeat ClampIncludedPedalsCrank Bros Doubleshot


Here is another shot of the bike on the stand, with a view of the workshop itself:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e2e56fead.jpg

^^nice!

Nice sidewall/bartape/saddle coordination. I lack the patience and discipline for that sort of thing, so I always appreciate those who can do that.

That is a fantastic photo.

I expect to see lots of dirt on this bike in the next photo. ;)


-Tim-

That Turbo saddle looks amazing on that bike. I love it, well done!

Love it. Just love it. Ride the hell out of it!

Dunnit tho?


-Tim-

It dunn

Bad news, as you can see our dirt is more or less the same color as the bike. This is taken 30 miles into the ride and with it so damn dry the dirt did not really stick, and what did is nearly invisible.

But I did ride the hell out of it!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7afd20ec4.jpeg

Ok, that did not work. Here is some more:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e7dfdca7f5.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...620870bae1.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...91b57768ce.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...34d0e35bab.jpg

It comes in Panther Pink too... if that is your style.

That is probably the nicest Black Mountain Cycles bike I have seen yet. :thumb:


What are your thoughts on that straight fork, in terms of ride characteristics?

There is some significant trail there, the fork is not totally straight inline with the steering fork.

As a result, it definitely sucks up the bumps while not being so slack as to make it slow to respond to steering input. It handles curves with authority, about 80% of the handling of my road bike.
You can definitely sit up and put on/remove a jacket or dig out some food from the handlebar bag without worrying about losing control.

That bike looks great! My Olive Oil MCD frame is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I hadn't planned to get one this soon, but when Mike told me that someone had cancelled on a 53cm (odd sizing based on actual seat tube length - top tube is 57.5cm), I couldn't stop myself from pulling the trigger. I've been itching to get back onto a Black Mountain Cycles frame since I first heard that a disc version of the Monster Cross was in the works. My first generation canti-brake version was the best riding dirt road bike I've owned.

It may take me a couple of weeks to get it built up.

Heh. This is a 53 as well.

It is very odd sizing, but it works well for me with my long torso and shorter legs. Might be the end of the year before he gets more in, so good call on snatching that one up!

Hey, good deal. Report back on the old vs new ride experience.

Crashed it this morning, hit a patch of oil on the street that someone thoughtfully covered with sand...

Not scratch to the bike, just the pedal and a scrape on the rear derailleur, nicked the saddle a little too.

Me? 3 patches of road rash + several gooseggs, plus a bruised rib or two.

Broke it in right!

Actual sizing is between a traditional 56 and 58, which is right where I usually fall. My setup will be very different than yours as I have a shorter torso and longer legs. I'm 5'11" (down from my former 6') with a PBH of 34.25". I also have a neck that will not bend up very far, so I have to run my handlebars higher than my saddle height. So I will be running more spacers, a shorter stem and definitely will not have my stem flipped down like yours. I'm hoping a 90mm 6 . degree up stem will work so I can use a Red Shift Shock Stem.

I have actually moved to a 0 degree stem. Raising the saddle to where my knees did not hurt meant going an inch higher on the seat post. With a full day in the saddle the -12 degree was just too low.

Might be ok when I lose a little more weight, but for now it going to be the zero degree stem to be a little more comfortable.