BMC Alpenchallenge pics!
#26
Senior Member
There's a French and UK site that updated and added the videos to their YouTube. I can't post links yet because I'm new but it's beastybike . com and youtube is just beastybike
#27
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for that, just looked at them. Alpenchallenge reviews and videos are so hard to find. Good thing I owned one and know the bike well.
#31
Junior Member
Thread Starter
#32
Newbie
#33
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I was told they did away with 11 speed due to reliability issues. The lights are cool, ill have to see how well they work for me at night. I like a nice bright light.
#34
Senior Member
I was told my LBC got the 01 Three in amber color with some other models on a pallet but are still unpacking and assembling them so I haven’t been able to pop in to confirm.
That copper colored two is pretty amazing looking but I want a carbon drive after trying one so I’m sticking with the 01 One.
That copper colored two is pretty amazing looking but I want a carbon drive after trying one so I’m sticking with the 01 One.
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 927
Bikes: Death machines all
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The 8 speed IGH AC01 is a joy to ride, and it has held up well, considering I have commuted with it daily during all seasons for four years, including the local corrosion-inducing winters (with studded tires, which barely fit). It's not super hilly where I live, but I have ridden it recreationally in hilly areas and the gear range is comparable to my road bike. I think there is one odd gear gap in the 8 speed compared to the premium 11 speed IGH, but I'm not sure this is worth the extra $400+. At 30 mph+ the ride is super fun and stable, which is surprising considering the heavy IGH in the rear, the extremely short chainstay and wheelbase, and the super stiff hydro-formed frame.
Things that I have busted/replaced/repaired/modified, and some beefs:
Things that I have busted/replaced/repaired/modified, and some beefs:
- Busted hydro brake handle (accident, not the bike's fault)
- The shifter cable housing corroded and frayed where it enters the frame, had to fish a replacement. I think my winter commuting was the cause for this one.
- Minor beef: typical crappy OEM factory wheel, I should have set the spokes and re-tensioned after the first few rides, but I always forget, then the spokes started popping . I rebuilt by hand with DTS Alpine III spokes and haven't looked back.
- Medium beef: the custom-fit Curano fenders are sexy, but very flimsy, they are not really removable as advertised, they only allow 30mm+/- tires, and these fenders are the only ones that will fit. I patched up the tail of the rear fender when it cracked, and it has held up since.
- Major beef: the eccentric bottom bracket is a cheap hunk of aluminum held in place with set screws, which after a few years began to slip and let the carbon belt un-tension at awkward moments, which resulted in belt skipping (a very odd sound). I eventually had to painfully remove the cheap bottom bracket, fill in the set screw holes, and replace with an expensive Edison eccentric bracket, which has been fabulous.
- Major beef: ACO1 has no eyelets or braze-ons for racks, which is crazy for a city bike, and I hate backpacks for commuting. I mounted my rack on the rear hub with modified trailer nuts and a customized Tubus rod fastened to a replacement seat stay. This solution has worked out OK. (The ACO2 has the rack eyelets and space for conventional fenders, but is not as much fun to ride).
__________________
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Last edited by Archwhorides; 08-29-20 at 05:08 PM.
#36
Junior Member
Thread Starter
The 8 speed IGH AC01 is a joy to ride, and it has held up well, considering I have commuted with it daily during all seasons for four years, including the local corrosion-inducing winters (with studded tires, which barely fit). It's not super hilly where I live, but I have ridden it recreationally in hilly areas and the gear range is comparable to my road bike. I think there is one odd gear gap in the 8 speed compared to the premium 11 speed IGH, but I'm not sure this is worth the extra $400+. At 30 mph+ the ride is super fun and stable, which is surprising considering the heavy IGH in the rear, the extremely short chainstay and wheelbase, and the super stiff hydro-formed frame.
Things that I have busted/replaced/repaired/modified, and some beefs:
Things that I have busted/replaced/repaired/modified, and some beefs:
- Busted hydro brake handle (accident, not the bike's fault)
- The shifter cable housing corroded and frayed where it enters the frame, had to fish a replacement. I think my winter commuting was the cause for this one.
- Minor beef: typical crappy OEM factory wheel, I should have set the spokes and re-tensioned after the first few rides, but I always forget, then the spokes started popping . I rebuilt by hand with DTS Alpine III spokes and haven't looked back.
- Medium beef: the custom-fit Curano fenders are sexy, but very flimsy, they are not really removable as advertised, they only allow 30mm+/- tires, and these fenders are the only ones that will fit. I patched up the tail of the rear fender when it cracked, and it has held up since.
- Major beef: the eccentric bottom bracket is a cheap hunk of aluminum held in place with set screws, which after a few years began to slip and let the carbon belt un-tension at awkward moments, which resulted in belt skipping (a very odd sound). I eventually had to painfully remove the cheap bottom bracket, fill in the set screw holes, and replace with an expensive Edison eccentric bracket, which has been fabulous.
- Major beef: ACO1 has no eyelets or braze-ons for racks, which is crazy for a city bike, and I hate backpacks for commuting. I mounted my rack on the rear hub with modified trailer nuts and a customized Tubus rod fastened to a replacement seat stay. This solution has worked out OK. (The ACO2 has the rack eyelets and space for conventional fenders, but is not as much fun to ride).
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 927
Bikes: Death machines all
Liked 87 Times
in
63 Posts
My experience was that the 01 fenders were very difficult to snap on, and they are therefore not really convenient to remove and reinstall on the fly. In addition, my fenders rattled. I eventually sealed between the fender and the frame with black silicone, essentially bonding the fenders to the frame, which has worked well for me (I don't ever need to remove them anyway).
__________________
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
#38
Senior Member
My experience was that the 01 fenders were very difficult to snap on, and they are therefore not really convenient to remove and reinstall on the fly. In addition, my fenders rattled. I eventually sealed between the fender and the frame with black silicone, essentially bonding the fenders to the frame, which has worked well for me (I don't ever need to remove them anyway).
#39
Junior Member
Thread Starter
This is probably what ill have to have done before they assemble, Ill have to make a note of that.
#40
Newbie
School me: Can than the Alfine 8/Gates drive be upgraded if new tech comes along?
I would love the beautiful Alpenchallenge frame and fork and the ability to build it out. A 1x11 GRX setup would be sweet.
I would love the beautiful Alpenchallenge frame and fork and the ability to build it out. A 1x11 GRX setup would be sweet.
#41
Senior Member
the Gates drives are on the top-of-the-line models....you can choose a cheaper model that has a regular groupset and switch it out.....the GRX on that would be slick.....
#42
Senior Member
I went and checked out the new 2021 Alpenchallenge One (not the 01 One, it appears to be a new 2021 model with the gates drive that is essentially what the 02 One used to be and at that same price point of $1299). Very nice, cool red color. Makes me want my 01 One even more!
#43
Senior Member
Also, I just noticed that BMC finally updated their website with the new models! From the site it looks like the one that is called the Alpenchallenge One is actually the 02 model. All of the materials just said Alpenchallenge One and had no reference to the 02 part of the name.
#44
Senior Member
Also, I just noticed that BMC finally updated their website with the new models! From the site it looks like the one that is called the Alpenchallenge One is actually the 02 model. All of the materials just said Alpenchallenge One and had no reference to the 02 part of the name.
Last edited by Beavis5220; 09-04-20 at 05:50 AM.
#45
Senior Member
Looks like the 2021 01 Two has the GRX groupset......that bike looks great
#46
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Went to the LBS yesterday and instructed them to leave off my fenders and kick stand, maybe in a couple weeks or less hopefully ill be riding again! The colors look great on the updated site. Did not know about the integrated lights in the bars and seatpost for the 01 One, I already planned to switch the post and bars to some nice carbon ones but now ill have to see how well the lights perform. I have front and rear lights as well.
#47
Senior Member
Went to the LBS yesterday and instructed them to leave off my fenders and kick stand, maybe in a couple weeks or less hopefully ill be riding again! The colors look great on the updated site. Did not know about the integrated lights in the bars and seatpost for the 01 One, I already planned to switch the post and bars to some nice carbon ones but now ill have to see how well the lights perform. I have front and rear lights as well.
Also, didn't the prior years AC01s have D-shaped seat posts? From the pictures it looks like the 2021 LightSkin ones are round but it's hard to tell.
#48
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I've heard the LightSkin lights are pretty nice, I had planned on swapping the bars too but am also going to wait and see. Going with some iSSi Flip pedals and Ergon GP4 grips though (I have fairly big hands and like the feel of the GP4s over the smaller ones).
Also, didn't the prior years AC01s have D-shaped seat posts? From the pictures it looks like the 2021 LightSkin ones are round but it's hard to tell.
Also, didn't the prior years AC01s have D-shaped seat posts? From the pictures it looks like the 2021 LightSkin ones are round but it's hard to tell.
#49
Senior Member
[QUOTE=RandomDesign;21677965]I've heard the LightSkin lights are pretty nice, I had planned on swapping the bars too but am also going to wait and see. Going with some iSSi Flip pedals and Ergon GP4 grips though (I have fairly big hands and like the feel of the GP4s over the smaller ones).
What carbon bars were you guys looking at??
What carbon bars were you guys looking at??
#50
Senior Member
Probably mistaken then. I know some of the BMC models have a D shaped seatpost and for some reason I thought the AC was one of them.