#Otso-Cycles

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The Otso Cycles Fenrir Touring Bike is a Drop Bar 29er Stainless Steel Monster!

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The Otso Cycles Fenrir Touring Bike is a Drop Bar 29er Stainless Steel Monster!

Is it a gravel bike? A drop bar 29er? Or something else entirely? When it comes to the nomenclature surrounding these modern touring bikes, I often scratch my head, pondering an answer to this question. My usual inclination is to envelop these bikes under the umbrella of “adventure bikes” but then this bike landed in my lap. The Otso Cycles Fenrir is aligned with bikes like the Kona Sutra ULTD and the Moots Baxter but Otso did something different – i.e. better – than its competitors. The Fenrir took it up a notch and has utilized boost spacing wheels, which in my mind, put this in the drop bar 29er category.

I’ve had the Fenrir for a while now, have taken it on an overnighter, and have ridden some of my favorite mixed terrain routes here in Santa Fe with it. On washboarded sandy roads to singletrack, doubletrack, and gravel, the Fenrir is a hell of a bike and one that I really resonated with, so let’s check it out in detail below…

Introducing the Flat or Drop Bar Otso Fenrir Stainless Touring Bike

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Introducing the Flat or Drop Bar Otso Fenrir Stainless Touring Bike

Otso’s latest bike model is named after a monstrous wolf in Norse Mythology (or perhaps you saw him in Thor Ragnorak?) and begs the question: drops or flat bars? When run with flat bars, an 80-90mm stem is recommended for ideal reach but with drops, you can run a shorter stem and wider bars. This new touring bike has mounts a go-go, a geometry tuned for touring, and is made from stainless steel. The tire clearance is plentiful, offering 29×2.6″ or 27.5×2.8″ tires, and thanks to the unique, proprietary sliding dropout design, Fenrir can be converted to singlespeed with ease. Check out the whole 411 on this beautiful stainless chassis or build up your next complete at Otso Cycles.

Look for our in-depth review shortly!

More Than Just a Fat Bike: John Reviews the Otso Voytek

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More Than Just a Fat Bike: John Reviews the Otso Voytek

Fat bikes. They’re the cycling industry’s lost children. The forgotten ones. Remember when every brand under the sun had a fat bike in their catalog? Now there are only a few brands still putting in the PR&D required to make these bikes less cumbersome, less heavy, and more like a true-to-form mountain bike. One of those brands is Otso, whose Voytek is all of the above and more. I’ve held onto this bike for probably longer than they anticipated, cycling through the winter months, into the spring, and well into the summer. I’ve ridden it in its thicc 26″+ setup and now in its chonk 29+ form and have pulled together a comprehensive argument for why I hope that bikes like the Voytek will stay around for a while…

Otso Cycles is Seeking a Bike Builder

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Otso Cycles is Seeking a Bike Builder

Our friends at Otso Cycles are looking to hire a full-time employee with benefits. You can head to Otso to read all about it:

Otso Cycles is seeking an experienced bicycle builder to join the team in our Burnsville, MN facility.

Duties:
-Assembly of complete bicycles
-Packaging and shipping bicycles
-Packaging and shipping spare parts and accessories
-Kitting parts for bicycle sales and assembly
-Servicing demo bikes
-Aid marketing and sales staff at bike demos
-Flex to Wolf Tooth assembly and machine shop as time permits

Contact brendan@otsocycles.com for more details or to apply for the position.

Otso Cycles Has Waheela C Completes In Stock

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Otso Cycles Has Waheela C Completes In Stock

Otso Cycles received a shipment with drivetrain components, so they’ve been able to assemble a handful of Waheela C complete bikes with Shimano GRX 600, GRX 800, and Campagnolo Ekar. In the current bicycle part and frame shortage, this is big news for the brand and its followers who have been patiently waiting for bikes to be in stock all year. Once Otso sells through their current inventory, the next chance to get a new Waheela C complete bike is likely in November. Start building your Waheela C at Otso Cycles!

The Otso Waheela C Gets New Paint and Frameset Updates

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The Otso Waheela C Gets New Paint and Frameset Updates

Last week, Otso Cycles announced updates to their most popular gravel bike, the Waheela C. For 2021 it has a new frameset update and four new colorways. This bike was first released in 2019 as the ultimate all-road machine with its massive tire clearance, adjustable geometry, and now Otso has added to its versatility by adding three bottle bosses to each side of the fork for extra storage capacity so cyclists can use the same bike for gravel racing as they do for longer rides like tours and bikepacking.

There are also four new colorways to share: Forest & Coral, Black & White, Burgundy & Red, and Matte Desert & Black (pictured).

Beyond the new fork and colorways, everything we know and love about the Waheela C remains:

-Adjustable geometry: Otso’s patented Tuning Chip rear dropout system allows the wheelbase to be lengthened or shortened by up to 20mm and the bottom bracket height to be raised or lowered by 4mm. This allows the Waheela C to transform from a confident, stable gravel bike (in the rear Tuning Chip position) to a nimble, agile option for CX races or local trails with tight corners.
-Giant tire clearance: this bike can fit 700c x 54mm, 650b x 54mm, 27.5” x 2.2” or 29” x 2.1” tires.
-EPS-molded carbon frame.
-Unrivaled ride quality: the rider is centered over the wheels for extra confidence and stability, while the longer top tube adds an aggressive, racy feel. Meanwhile, bowed seat stays make for a compliant rear triangle that’ll absorb bumps in the road and give you comfort while you’re spending all day on the saddle.

See more at Otso!

Got an Otso Frame That You Want to Run Singlespeed? Check This Out

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Got an Otso Frame That You Want to Run Singlespeed? Check This Out

If you have an Otso frame that is begging to be run as a singlespeed, then look no further. Wolf Tooth and Otso are within the same umbrella company, so it was easy for the two brands to work together on tricked out hardware kits to convert their popular frames. These kits are available in post and flat mounts, with instructions on Otso’s blog. Both the flat-mount and post-mount kits are $94.95 and shipping now from Otso.

Otso’s Waheela C Gets New Paint and Spec Upgrades for 2020

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Otso’s Waheela C Gets New Paint and Spec Upgrades for 2020

While we all dream about gravel races, bikepacking trips, and riding our favorite trails during road trips, the bike releases keep rolling out for all of us to enjoy these days. At least from the comfort of our home and personal devices. Otso’s lineup is impressive and their flagship gravel bike, the Waheela C, received a new look with new paint colors and graphics, as well as upgraded build spec options for 2020.

The Waheela C is available as a frame, fork, and headset for $2,550, or as a complete bike with Shimano GRX for $3,600. Find it on OtsoCycles.com.

The Waheela C’s details:
-Adjustable wheelbase: our patented Tuning Chip rear dropout system allows the wheelbase to be lengthened or shortened by up to 20mm and the bottom bracket height to be raised or lowered by 4mm. This allows the Waheela C to transform from a confident, stabile gravel bike (in the rear Tuning Chip position) to a nimble, agile option for CX races or local trails with tight corners.
-Giant tire clearance: this bike can fit 700c x 53mm, 650b x 53mm, or 29” x 2.1” tires. It’s a quick bike for racing gravel with a 700c x 35mm setup, and it’s been SO much fun riding snowy townie trails with 27.5” x 2.2” tires over the winter.
-EPS-molded carbon frame: it’s a lightweight bike that’s ready for a quick climb up the next punchy hill or sprinting away from the lead group.
-Inspired geometry: the rider is centered over the wheels for extra confidence and stability, while the longer top tube adds an aggressive, racy feel. Meanwhile, bowed seat stays make for a compliant rear triangle that’ll absorb bumps in the road and give you comfort while you’re spending all day on the saddle.

Otso’s Voytek Gets a New Look

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Otso’s Voytek Gets a New Look

Is Otso’s Voytek a plus MTB that can handle a 4.6″ fat tire? Or is it a fatbike that can roll on 27.5+ or 29+ wheels? The q-factor on the Voytek leads me to believe it’s a MTB frame with ample clearance for a 4.6″ fat tire. With the narrowest q-factor out of any other “fatbike” on the market because of its PF107BB spec, paired with a RaceFace Cinch crank and RF149 spindle, bringing the width to 183mm, the Voytek is designed to handle like a modern mountain bike. That’s because, with its unique Tuning Chip™ dropout system and 177×12 rear hub spacing, you can convert it to a hardtail with a dropper easily or run it as a fat bike. The options are endless.

New for 2020, the Voytek comes in a variety of color options and you can build one up at Otso to fit your fancy. Head on over to Otso to see more specs.

Otso Cycles’ Versatile Voytek Carbon Hardtail is In Stock Now!

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Otso Cycles’ Versatile Voytek Carbon Hardtail is In Stock Now!

Whether you’re a 26″ fat, 27.5″ plus or 29″ chunky rider, the Otso Cycles Voytek hardtail has the geometry for you. These wheel and tire options are made possible by the patent pending Tuning Chip™ system, designed by the team at Wolf Tooth Components, it allows you to modify the chainstay length. The Voytek’s chainstays are adjustable from between 430mm for responsiveness or 450mm for stability in loose ground. All built with many options, starting at $3,899 and in stock now at Otso Cycles.

Otso Cycles Rises from Wolf Tooth Components

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Otso Cycles Rises from Wolf Tooth Components

If there is one company that has made our lives easier in terms of gearing options, it’s Wolf Tooth Components. Everything they’ve introduced to the market has been smart, innovative and has opened the door to new, affordable drivetrain systems. It should come as no surprise that the guys behind Wolf Tooth have a few opinions as to how bicycles should be designed, which was the motivation for launching Otso Cycles.

Their introductory framesets are the Voytek, a carbon hardtail and the Warakin, a stainless steel all-road. See more details below and be sure to check out Otso Cycles!