For a two-man operation, Nick Neuhaus and Daniel Yang have their systems dialed. Or, maybe the manpower limitations of being a small team have been the motivating force behind the duo’s streamlined Marin-based, framebuilding operation, Neuhaus Metalworks. Hailey Moore and John Watson spent some time talking shop with Nick and Daniel on their innovative 3D printed components and how these parts lead to higher efficiency in their US-made frames. Read on for a closer look at Neuhaus’ exciting approach to making steel and titanium mountain bikes.
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Lightweight and Fast and Niche: Ibis DV9 Hardtail 29er Review
This year, Ibis Cycles reintroduced their DV9 hardtail and just as I was thinking “Oh it’s just another hardtail,” I found that the updated DV9 has actually carved itself out a unique niche in this moment among a seemingly crowded field. With a value-focused build package prioritizing speed and weight savings, riders can find a capable down-country hardtail at a great price.
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The Dirt is Your Oyster: A Longterm Review of the Otso Fenrir Ti
Over the past few months of riding Otso’s titanium version of their previously-released stainless steel Fenrir, I’ve strayed further into the morass of bike categorization than I ever thought I would, along the way asking myself such snake-eating-its-tail questions as: What is a gravel bike, what is a mountain bike, do modern ATBs even exist?
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Readers’ Rides: Michael’s Bender Hardtail 29er
While many of the Readers’ Rides we feature here are well-loved machines that exude character from miles of usage and years of iterations, we also receive reader submissions featuring fresh builds. Today, we’re taking a look at one of these from Michael in southern California who recently commissioned a hardtail from Bender Bicycle Co and had it built up by the team at Velo Hangar in Carlsbad. They even had the build process and completed bike documented by talented local photographer/director Embry Rucker. Let’s check it out below!
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Brian’s Crystal FX Self-Made Fillet Hardtail 29er: His Horse With no Name
It’s cold and blustery in Santa Fe these days so, much like Hailey, I’m riding more pavement than I’d normally like and have put riding the mountainous trails on the shelf for the moment. Winters are great for water levels in the west, especially ones like the winter we’re having this year. Not much gets me out of the house on windy days, and battling headwinds in a 20º “real feel” is not this desert rat’s cup of tea.
Yet, living in a tourist hub, I often get hit up to meet with travelers passing through town. Sometimes, they want to catch up over a cup of coffee, other times; they have a bike they want me to see. The other morning, I got a message from Brian, who was returning from the Baja Divide with a unique bike in tow…
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Beautiful Builds: Necronomicog Battles the Moots Womble – Titanium is Immortal
Deep in the mountains of Norway, Titania Assault from the black metal band Necronomicog perfected the art of forging titanium under the watchful eyes of the Monks of True Metal. For decades he learned to craft the world’s finest titanium, eventually earning the title of “Master of Metal.”
As the ancient scriptures prophesied, an adversary would rise in the Rocky Mountains of the United States who would usurp this title, forcing Titania Assault to meet his mantle in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. That day came when the Steamboat Springs-based framebuilders, Moots, dubbed themselves the “Masters of Metal” and released the Womble 29er hardtail to the world. Balance needed to be restored, and the stage was set…
Watch as Titania Assault goes head to head with the Moots Womble in a battle for the title of “Master of Metal.”
Video by Justin Balog, Music by Gauntlet Ring – “Upon the Wings of the Black Eagle”
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Thread Lightly: Seven Things I Learned While Making My Own Bicycle Framebags
After the apocalypse, I’m pretty sure society could learn to rebuild if we just get the Youtube servers back online. When I needed to install a new starter in my Tacoma, Youtube was there. When I needed to safely remove some stitches after knee surgery, Youtube was there. And when I couldn’t wait the six weeks or spend the $200 to have a custom frame bag made, Youtube was there.
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Chris Corona’s MASH SF Rockbanger Hardtail MTB
Following the review of his MASH SF Steel All-Road from earlier this year, Chris Corona is back with yet another MASH bike review. This time, he’s built himself a steel “Rockbanger” 27.5 hardtail mountain bike and documents it in his stunning photographic style. Let’s check it out in detail below!
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Readers’ Rides: Mads’ Self-Made Plummet Hardtail 29er
From time to time, we receive Readers’ Rides submissions from people who build their bikes. Whether they’re framebuilders just starting out or people who build for fun in their workshop, it’s always a pleasure to receive such submissions. Today’s entry comes from Mads, who built his new 29er called the Plummet. Let’s check it out below!
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Bikes From The 2022 Chris King Open House
It’s that time of year again! The Chris King Open House returned to Portland this past weekend and, with it, a showcase of seventeen custom bikes. Let’s check them out in detail below!
Radar
Radar Roundup: Flock Light, Thórsmörk, MGV Adventure Fork, Meriwether Ti Dye, and Silk Road Fairlight
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
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John’s Moots Womble 29er Hardtail Updates: Chris King Fusion Fiber MTN30 Wheels and the New Rock Shox Pike Ultimate
I’ve been privileged to throw my leg around many fine bicycles, and two years ago, when I got to review a Moots Womble, I fell in love. It’s incredibly light and capable, but, most importantly, it pedals pleasantly whether you’re climbing or descending. It’s the bike I ride the most here in Santa Fe, and while it often gets in over its head, so to speak, I find it capable enough for a proper all-mountain experience. I’ve climbed with it from town to our towers (12,500′) and took it right back down the guts of the Rocky Mountains on a long, 15-mile singletrack descent. It’s taken me across the Uncompahgre Plateau and all over Northern New Mexico. While it only has a 140mm travel fork, it’s honed my riding skills to where I feel like I’ve mastered this titanium chassis. Yet, I’m not opposed to upgrades or using this trusty bike as a lab rat for product tests.
Over the past few months, I’ve been giving two new products a proper thrashin’ from New Mexico to Montana, so let’s see what I think about the Chris King FusionFiber Wheels and the new RockShox Pike Ultimate below.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Bryce’s Unicorn Cycles Hardtail
We love a good hardtail over here and Bryce, aka The Dadavist on Instagram, sent over his Unicorn Cycles titanium hardtail for us to ogle and feature in a Readers’ Rides. Let’s check out this shreddy daddy sled in detail below!
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Josh Reviews His Mash-Up Sklar Sweet Spot: The Sweet Jammer
The Sweet Spot from Bozeman, MT-based Sklar Bikes is a steel hardtail mountain bike designed to be a venerable quiver-killer. Built around 150mm of front suspension, with clearance for up to 29 x 2.8 tires, its geometry embraces builder Adam Sklar’s mantra of “fast is fun, but fun is fun-er.” Sweet Spots were Adam’s first foray into offering a small batch frame design and sizing, which he hopes will make his bikes more accessible and faster to produce.
I picked up a Sweet Spot of my own earlier this spring after many years of searching for the perfect hardtail. Due to a few requests I had to make it even sweeter, it turned into a custom project that retained the established Sweet Spot geometry and material selection. Below, let’s take a closer look at my build in addition to a brief interview with Adam about these bikes and his design/build process!
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Radar Roundup: Brooks C17 Special Lab, SAS Lightweight, Half Moon Rack, Nordest Bardino Ti 3, and Better Late
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
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Introducing the Fairlight Holt: A Modern and Well-Equipped XC Bike
This morning, we have Dom from Fairlight offering up an explanation of their new MTB, the Holt. While it’s labeled as an XC MTB, bikes like this can be so much more, so continue reading for Dom’s explanation of this new platform…
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Trail Time with Breadwinner’s Bad Otis: A 160mm Travel 27.5 Shred Sled
Earlier this year, Locke Hassett had the pleasure of spending a few months riding Breadwinner Cycle’s Bad Otis. This modern 27.5-inch wheel hardtail – with snappy short 415mm chainstays, 66° headtube angle, and 160mm of front suspension – presented him with some interesting considerations about mountain bikes, the sport as a whole, and what it means to him. Continue reading below for Locke’s in-depth review of the Bad Otis, along with some other relevant revelations…
Radar
Radar Roundup: eeSilk Stem, Laufey Hardtail, Silver Cranks, Elephant Cargo Fork, and Art of the Grind
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…