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Anyone else own a Black Mountain Cycles bike?

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Anyone else own a Black Mountain Cycles bike?

Old 12-29-16, 01:59 PM
  #1  
Jarrett2
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Anyone else own a Black Mountain Cycles bike?

I don't see them talked about too much around here. @dr_lha turned me on to the company/Mike Varley when he did his MonsterCross build.

That led me to do a road bike build of my own which has turned into my favorite bike I've ever owned.
bmc-fossil.jpg

I like it so much that I've decided to sell off my gravel bike and my touring bike to fund building up a single gravel/touring bike next using his forthcoming MonsterCross frames.
BMCRed1.jpg

Anyone else out there own one of Mike's cool bikes?
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Old 12-29-16, 07:03 PM
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Me! Tho its nowhere finished yet..
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Old 12-29-16, 07:07 PM
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I heard the new batch should be arriving soon...What colour were you thinking of getting? The last batch version of pink is awesome! Right now I'm gathering my parts for the build..I'm looking to be finished next spring..John
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Old 12-29-16, 07:39 PM
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Yup. I've had a Black Mountain Cycles monstercross as my main bike for the last two years. I've put about 7,000 miles on it so far - it's a great all-rounder bike. I bought the frameset (a grey one, 62 cm) and built it up myself. Mike Varley is great to work with.




Last edited by ajp; 01-03-17 at 10:29 PM. Reason: Adding photo
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Old 01-03-17, 06:00 PM
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I am planning a new steel bike purchase sometime soon. I am considering the road or monstercross. Not sure which one I would use more. I have most of the parts laying around except brakes for either model. All of the BMC owners rave about the frames.
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Old 01-03-17, 10:37 PM
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Ack... Was editing my post to add photos and accidentally deleted it. Retyping from memory...

I have had a Black Mountain Cycles monstercross (62 cm, grey) as my main bike for the last two years. I've put over 7,000 miles on it so far. I bought the frame and built it up myself with a mix of old and new parts. It's a great all-rounder, and Mike Varley is great to work with.

Originally I was going to get the road frame, but since my old Dura-Ace brakes were short-reach and I needed to get new brakes anyway, I decided to get the monstercross frame so I could run bigger tires. I run Compass Barlow Pass extralights (38mm). Talk about a comfortable ride! :-)

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Old 01-04-17, 07:22 PM
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I am planning this year too :-)
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Old 01-05-17, 01:15 PM
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Here's some pictures of mine (as alluded to in the post). Lovely bike, just makes me wish that I had more time to ride it and more gravel paths to ride it on! Right now it's got slick tires on it and is my winter road bike.





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Old 01-08-17, 07:41 PM
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Nice pics in here. I'm hoping to have my new red one by February.
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Old 01-08-17, 08:30 PM
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i like the idea and the look, looking to replace my alloy gravel/monstercrossy thing soon. right now, the TwinSix Standard Rando leads, hopefully the BMC will be offered with disc brake mounts before i make a move. the pink is definitely my favorite (for both, actually).
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Old 01-08-17, 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by ajp
I have had a Black Mountain Cycles monstercross (62 cm, grey) as my main bike for the last two years.
ajp... pray tell, what is the light mount???
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Old 01-08-17, 11:10 PM
  #12  
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light mount

Originally Posted by kevrider
ajp... pray tell, what is the light mount???
It's a Topeak Bar Extender, with a pair of Ixon Core lights from Busch and Muller.

The Topeak is pretty adjustable for placement, but it's only for lightweight accessories. I wouldn't mount even a small handlebar bag to it, but it holds the lights solidly even on rough roads.
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Old 01-16-17, 10:54 PM
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I ended up ordering an orange road frame.
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Old 01-18-17, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by blitzo
I ended up ordering an orange road frame.
You're going to love it. I sold off some nice bikes after putting some miles on that frameset. I've talked to another guy who did the same.
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Old 01-18-17, 07:37 PM
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My next bike is somewhere in this room today

15994621_10155553019130021_3408772107472819227_o.jpg
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Old 01-19-17, 12:43 PM
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Woo, I like this red

16178764_10155555385400021_466327397802174343_o.jpg
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Old 01-19-17, 01:14 PM
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I don't. Just looked at their site, it appears they only make steel frames, so I won't ever own a Black Mountain bike.
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Old 01-24-17, 06:07 PM
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The build is on

16113140_10155565822620021_5844825730339425343_o.jpg
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Old 01-24-17, 08:14 PM
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Where are those frames made? I suspect Maxway.
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Old 01-25-17, 07:55 PM
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Got me. Finished product:

16179361_10155580143860021_5403169065854742272_o.jpg
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Old 01-26-17, 12:04 AM
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Got a leftover 65cm frame last fall and built it up over a month's time.
H plus son archetype rims to 105 hubs with butted spokes, 105 derailleurs, gevenalle 11sp shifters, c17 saddle, origin8 gary os sweep bars, shimano cx50 crank with a 34 inner ring, and a wolftooth roadlink to allow for an 11-36 cassette.

I loved building it up and it rides as well as hoped. The frames have an excellent finish to them with tight welds, great paint, and all mounting points were chased/faced cleanly.

At the closeout price, it was a steal.

I do wish i got the pacenti pbp fork crown on the new frame run, but i really love the black cherry color i ended up with.

Mike Varley was great to talk to on the phone and email too. Very accomodating and helpful.

There were a handful of adventure/mixed terrain/gravel bikes i considered, but building one from his frameset was exactly what i wanted.
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Old 01-26-17, 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by trailangel
Where are those frames made? I suspect Maxway.
Perhaps. Its Taiwan for sure since its labeled as such. Whatever place he picked does solid consistent work for sure.
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Old 01-26-17, 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr



Got a leftover 65cm frame last fall and built it up over a month's time.
H plus son archetype rims to 105 hubs with butted spokes, 105 derailleurs, gevenalle 11sp shifters, c17 saddle, origin8 gary os sweep bars, shimano cx50 crank with a 34 inner ring, and a wolftooth roadlink to allow for an 11-36 cassette.

I loved building it up and it rides as well as hoped. The frames have an excellent finish to them with tight welds, great paint, and all mounting points were chased/faced cleanly.

At the closeout price, it was a steal.

I do wish i got the pacenti pbp fork crown on the new frame run, but i really love the black cherry color i ended up with.

Mike Varley was great to talk to on the phone and email too. Very accomodating and helpful.

There were a handful of adventure/mixed terrain/gravel bikes i considered, but building one from his frameset was exactly what i wanted.





Wow, that black cherry is an awesome color! Sweet looking bike. I see you built it yourself. That is like icing on the cake!

Last edited by ClydeTim; 01-26-17 at 01:02 PM.
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Old 01-26-17, 09:02 AM
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Those are nice looking bikes/frames. I will be in Point Reyes end of May and will have a look.
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Old 01-26-17, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by trailangel
Those are nice looking bikes/frames. I will be in Point Reyes end of May and will have a look.
Mike, the owner, genuinely seems to walk the walk. He helped design bikes for Haro and Masi before opening up his bike shop. He gets out and rides, and is active in the local cycling community.
I'd for sure make the trek to his shop if i were anywhere in the bay area for a couple days.
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