My New Winter Project

[fourflys]

So I received my new winter project in the mail today... This the Black Mountain Cycles MonsterCross...
The build will be the following:
Dura Ace Barend shifters mated to an 9sp XT RD/Tiagra triple FD
Salsa Cowbell bars in a Ritchey or Salsa stem and CaneCreek levers
CK DreadSet
Sugino Triple Crankset
Fizik Kurve Bull with Cyrano post
A23/105 wheelset shod with Bruce Gordan Rock N Road tires (45mm wide)
Paul Mini-Moto brakes

This is being built up as a monstercross/light trail bike thus the triple in the from and will have a 32 tooth big in the back. The Rock N Road tires are supposed be a great combo of road/gravel/wet trail traction...

Can't wait to get this built up and post a ride report! Thanks to Mike Varley at Black Mountain Cycles (http://www.blackmtncycles.com/), I've decided to name this bike "A&W" due to the beautiful rootbeer color...

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-cgx7jSn/0/L/P1000119-L.jpg
http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-gGC64r7/0/L/P1000120-L.jpg
http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-k7FRGCZ/0/L/P1000121-L.jpg

[4Rings6Stars]

Nice! I'm excited to see how it turns out. I've considered one of those frames as well for my next build.

[Dustin]

I visited that shop on a recent bike tour from Crescent City down to San Fran.

Really cool shop and owner! Mike's pretty much the king of mixed-suface riding, so I'd expect those bikes to be pretty dialed. I'd be tempted to get one myself, but I think I'm drunk on the disk brake kool-aid (or at least the no cantis Kool-aid).

I've been thinking about the BG tires for my monstercrosser, but am not sure if they can be set up tubeless or not. Wish someone would give that experiment a try so I can save the money!

[Steve in SLO]

Cool build idea, Chris. Love to hear your impressions CX v MCX

[fourflys]

I visited that shop on a recent bike tour from Crescent City down to San Fran.

Really cool shop and owner! Mike's pretty much the king of mixed-suface riding, so I'd expect those bikes to be pretty dialed. I'd be tempted to get one myself, but I think I'm drunk on the disk brake kool-aid (or at least the no cantis Kool-aid).

I've been thinking about the BG tires for my monstercrosser, but am not sure if they can be set up tubeless or not. Wish someone would give that experiment a try so I can save the money!

Hey Dustin! Wish I was back in SD... Not sure on the tires, you should shoot Mike an email...

Check out Mike's blog on the site today, he talks about an eventual disc model...

Thanks Steve!

[MattTuck]

and when you say 'winter', you mean that it's just your new project to work on throughout the year ;)


btw, I met a guy at the bar the other night, ex coast guard. He had been stationed up in Kodiak for a while, I told him about you, he asked what you did, and all I could seem to remember was that you're medical related...

Hope you're doing well up there.

[fourflys]

and when you say 'winter', you mean that it's just your new project to work on throughout the year ;)


btw, I met a guy at the bar the other night, ex coast guard. He had been stationed up in Kodiak for a while, I told him about you, he asked what you did, and all I could seem to remember was that you're medical related...

Hope you're doing well up there.

yeah, any season other than winter up here is a relative term... ;) those pics look really nice and sunny, but it was around 40 degrees and that was a NICE day...

I'm a Corpsman BTW...

[maxdog]

Very cool. Nice looking frame, makes me thirsty. Enjoy.

[Rada]

Sweet frame. Should make for a fun build and ride.

[fourflys]

I got A&W mocked up with wheels, seat and bars... sorry for the bad lighting...

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-CNFjJBq/0/XL/P1000129-XL.jpg

[jambee]

For a winter rig, wouldn't disk brakes be more appropriate?
It's a really nice rig btw. Never heard of these guys and am now very intrigued.

[fourflys]

For a winter rig, wouldn't disk brakes be more appropriate?
It's a really nice rig btw. Never heard of these guys and am now very intrigued.

Not building it as just a winter bike, just building it during the winter... :)

I'm building it up with Paul MiniMotos... Discs are fine, just not a must-have for me...

[jambee]

Thanks for the explanation. It's a fine machine! Please post build progress pictures.

[rice rocket]

For a winter rig, wouldn't disk brakes be more appropriate?
It's a really nice rig btw. Never heard of these guys and am now very intrigued.

Avid BB7s have piston seizing issues in winter weather, especially once salt is added to the mix. I haven't heard much feedback on Shimano's mechanic disc brakes, but until good road hydro levers are introduced, you're probably better served by rim brakes.

[GRAVELBIKE]

Looks great!

I continued to be impressed by Black Mountain's attention to detail.

[Kirk007]

Avid BB7s have piston seizing issues in winter weather, especially once salt is added to the mix. I haven't heard much feedback on Shimano's mechanic disc brakes, but until good road hydro levers are introduced, you're probably better served by rim brakes.

Well I guess I'm glad Seattle doesn't use salt on its roads! What's to seize? Do they freeze up in low temps?

Nice build Fourflys! Will look forward to reports on those tires; as some point I might go a bit smaller than what I'm currently running on my Gryphon. I also here Continental makes some nice 42s to consider.

[GRAVELBIKE]

Regarding the lack of disc mounts...

For that type of bike/riding, I'd take mini-v-brakes over discs. I've owned/ridden similar bikes for many years, and unless the bike is going to see a lot of wet weather, discs aren't needed (IME).

[cp43]

Well I guess I'm glad Seattle doesn't use salt on its roads! What's to seize? Do they freeze up in low temps?

Nice build Fourflys! Will look forward to reports on those tires; as some point I might go a bit smaller than what I'm currently running on my Gryphon. I also here Continental makes some nice 42s to consider.

The issue I have had with BB7's is that the caliper will start to corrode due to the salt. The corrosion causes the pads to not retract properly. I got a couple years of winter commuting out of mine though, so it's not really a huge problem, but it is a real problem.

I haven't had any icing problems.

Chris

[fourflys]

Looks great!

I continued to be impressed by Black Mountain's attention to detail.

Yep I took your advice about the amount of research Mike did on these bikes... Look forward to getting one of his road bikes as well...

[fourflys]

so I finally got her finished! of course there are a still a few tweaks here and there...
Sorry the pics have a boring background...

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-Px6DJWN/0/L/P1000232-L.jpg

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-cMthHvk/0/L/P1000233-L.jpg

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-26QQFjn/0/L/P1000234-L.jpg

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-Vmjc3SN/0/L/P1000236-L.jpg

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cycling/Riding-in-Kodiak/i-TpTd78p/0/L/P1000237-L.jpg

[tuscanyswe]

Avid BB7s have piston seizing issues in winter weather, especially once salt is added to the mix. I haven't heard much feedback on Shimano's mechanic disc brakes, but until good road hydro levers are introduced, you're probably better served by rim brakes.

Ive had 2 sets of avid bb7s that ive ridden 8 hours per day in sub zero conditions, never experienced any seizing. That said i still think disc vs cantis is a toss up. If i only ride the bike as a winter id prolly go with disc but if its more of a cross or do it all bike for all seasons id go with cantis. Atleast till hydros come as you say.

[gdw]

Very nice. Where are you planning to mount the bear spray or carbine?