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It Takes Two: John’s 1985 Steve Potts Signature

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It Takes Two: John’s 1985 Steve Potts Signature

Marin County was a bustling time for the early mountain bike scene from the late 70s and well into the 80s. Names like Tom Ritchey/Gary Fisher/Charlie Kelly at the MountainBikes store, and Joe Breeze, Charlie Cunningham, and Steve Potts psychically and physically shaping the future of the then-fledgling sport with their fire-road ripping designs, torches and tig welders.

We’ve reported on Cunningham and Potts’ involvement in Wilderness Trail Bikes (known widely as WTB) over the past few years along with Mark Slate. In 1983, Cunningham, Potts, and Mark Slate founded WTB, and the trio began developing components in Marin, leaning on both builder’s fondness for innovation and exquisitely unique craft. While Steve loved to shape tubes with brass fillets, focusing on the form regardless of weight, Charlie would tig aluminum and shave grams anywhere he could. The two made for a dynamic duo of constructeurs.

By the time 1985 rolled around, mountain bikes were a legitimate tour de force within the bike industry. Even though they gravitated towards completely different frame materials and processes, Cunningham and Potts were credited with crafting some of the most iconic bikes of the era and still found the time to collaborate and share ideas.

As with many of the influential characters and pivotal moments in the early days of the almighty mountain bike, collaboration was key, and sometimes, it took two talented individuals to make a single bike…

Then and Now: Suntour XCii Vs. MKS XCiii Pedals

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Then and Now: Suntour XCii Vs. MKS XCiii Pedals

With the pandemic driving up prices of vintage mountain and road components, many people are turning to modern recreations of these staple parts to finish out their build projects. Whether it’s a Salsa Pro Moto stem or in this case, Suntour’s legendary XC “bear trap” pedals, there are modern components inspired by these classic components but how close are they to the original? In this post, John looks at what makes the XCii so unique and how close the XCiii comes to the original…

SR Suntour’s Collaboration with Artist Natalia Pulido Supports Diversity in Cycling

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SR Suntour’s Collaboration with Artist Natalia Pulido Supports Diversity in Cycling

We all want the opportunity to be heard. Unfortunately, not everyone receives that opportunity. SR Suntour’s primary goal is to get more people on bikes regardless of their race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, ability, language, body type, or nationality. One of the ways we hope to do this is by creating affordable products of high value and performance to reduce the cost of entry and to work on making cycling a safe and welcoming place for all those that choose to enjoy their time on two wheels. Simple as that.

The Norco Search XR A Suspension Uses the 50mm SR Suntour GVX Gravel Fork

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The Norco Search XR A Suspension Uses the 50mm SR Suntour GVX Gravel Fork

The Norco Search got some updates for 2021, including an optional build that features the 50mm SR Suntour GVX gravel fork which offers 50mm of travel. This X6 butted aluminum frame, when paired with this fork softens the ride quality while injecting a bit of fun to your normal rides. The bike comes with the standard bells and whistles of a modern gravel bike with a GRX kit, thru-axles, tubeless wheels, and best of all, the retail on the Search XR A Suspension is a mere 1,899.00. See more at Norco.

A Shed Find: Cooper’s Univega Alpina Sport MTB with Suntour

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A Shed Find: Cooper’s Univega Alpina Sport MTB with Suntour

Moving to a new town in the middle of a pandemic has been quite the taxing experience both emotionally and logistically. With relocation comes re-establishing connections and expansion of one’s social network, which is near impossible with stay at home orders. Part of the joy of moving to a new city is to get a lay of the land, meet new people, and find those little idiosyncratic niches small towns are known for. Recently I set out a ping to social media, hoping to track down a fabricator to help build a bike rack swingout for our truck. A friend of a friend connected me with Greg, one of the co-fabricators at a small metal shop on Third Street here in Santa Fe. His shop mate Cooper found out I was into bikes and had to share with me his shed found Univega…

More Suspension on Gravel Bikes: Suntour GVX Fork Offers 40, 50, 60mm Travel

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More Suspension on Gravel Bikes: Suntour GVX Fork Offers 40, 50, 60mm Travel

I hope you’re not experiencing shock fade after yesterday’s post but we’re back today with more gravel bike suspension offerings, this time from Suntour. The GVX fork is their gravel travel fork, offering 40, 50, or 60mm travel options, remote lockout, 700x45c or 650x50c wheel options, magnesium construction, and 32mm stanchions.

GVX Specs:
-Magnesium lowers with a unique aesthetic specifically designed for the gravel market.
-Vertically aligned and tapered dropouts.
-100x15mm or 100x12mm dropouts with a lightweight, hollow-caped, and tool-type axle.
-32mm stanchions from A7000 series alloy, anodized black.
-A6000 forged crown.
-Crown mounted lockout, and rebound adjust. Remote lockout in development.
-Flat Mount brake to match with road and gravel type brake calipers.
-Air spring with 40mm, 50mm, or 60mm travel.
-Corresponding axle to crown by travel 436mm, 446mm, 456mm
-Corresponding offset by travel 45mm, 46mm, 47mm
-Fork offset is built into the crown.
-Max tire 700x45c or 650x50c.
-Mini fender included, stanchion mounts built in for larger fenders.
-Rated for Class 1 / E25 e-Bikes to match the growing e-Gravel trends
-Weight: 1725g
-MSRP: $499 USD
-Availability: August 2020

See more at Suntour.

Ronnie Romance’s Madrean Ultradynamico Country Fixed

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Ronnie Romance’s Madrean Ultradynamico Country Fixed

That suntanned, SUNTOURist, king of the grandiose, the beausage factory himself, Mr. Ronnie Romance, aka Ultra Romance, really knows how to put a bicycle together, even a simple one such as a fixed gear. Yet we’re not talking a Kierin bike, those NJS-stamped sparkle machines, or even a British Path Racer. This is a bike designed specifically for a plump, rough and tumble tire, with a relaxed fit, eons past the aggressive saddle-to-bar drop bikes of yesteryear, yet somewhere in-between the monster-truck abilities of a tracklocross bike. This Madrean Fabrications ‘country fixed’ is unlike anything I’ve seen in recent memory… or maybe it’s just my old age.

Ultra Romance’s Crust Lightning Bolt is Lighter than a Soft Whisper

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Ultra Romance’s Crust Lightning Bolt is Lighter than a Soft Whisper

18 lbs? 17 lbs? 16 lbs? What is weight anyway? Weight doesn’t matter but it doesn’t hurt either. Especially when your golden locks and bronze tan lines float effortlessly across white gravel roads, coating the roadside flora in a light layer of sedimentary seasoning. Dust, baby. It’s good for you. Yes, Ronnie Romance knows how to build a bike from a fine assortment of vintage components, exotic, supple rubber, and a bit of suntan oil. Case in point, his Crust Bikes Lightning Bolt is lighter than a soft whisper.

Brian Baylis Painted this Insane Splatter Two-Tone Holland Track Bike

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Brian Baylis Painted this Insane Splatter Two-Tone Holland Track Bike

Our buddy Cicli Pucci rolled into the shop the other day on this Holland Track Bike, and all of our jaws just dropped. Which is actually quite normal when Pucci rolls through. He’s been painting with Joe Bell for many years now and always has the most fly of bikes, always hand-painted by himself. You all probably remember his Azuki Pro that was featured here about a year ago.

Dayne’s Llewellyn 531 Road with Suntour Superbe Pro

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Dayne’s Llewellyn 531 Road with Suntour Superbe Pro

Llewellyn is one of Australia’s best kept, not-so secrets. Those who know, know, leaving the rest of the world coveting frames from Eisentraut (1959), Moulton (1957), Weigle (1977), Sachs (1975), etc.

Granted, Llewellyn has only been building since 1979, and the others, as stated above, have been around only slightly longer. Darrell Llewellyn makes steel bikes and steel bikes alone. He’s built for numerous Australian national athletes, was an Olympic mechanic and had a hand in the early days of NAHBS.