Cross bikes out the door

By blackmountaincycles,

Filed under: Uncategorized

A few cross bikes went out the door.  Each one different.  Each one unique and built specifically for their new owner.  Dan’s bike was the most recent to leave and head to its new home in the East Bay.  I built this one with 36h Mavic A719 rims and Shimano 105 5700 hubs because as Dan said, “I weight 220 and want wheels that aren’t going to start disintegrating after a year.”  Okay, that was semi-paraphrased, but the sentiment is that while there are a lot of off-the-shelf wheels that claim they have no weight limit, there’s only so much abuse a low-spoke count wheel can take under a big, powerful guy.  Spokes don’t weigh much, but they can either make or break a wheel.  
If you’re a big guy, a set of 36h wheels built with the proper combination of rim and spoke can make a big difference in the longevity of the wheel.  Sure a 24/28 spoked wheel might work – for a while.  And if it’s on one of many bikes that see semi-regular rotation, it could last for years.  However, if it’s your one bike and you ride it all the time, you will want something that is built to last.  Black Mountain Cycles tough.  I think many wheel builders are afraid to bring up the concept of 36 – or even 40 and 48 – hole wheels to a customer.  The fashion is low spoke count.  Dan’s wheels are bomber and they’ll serve him well for years.  
The next two bikes are both 59cm Black Cherry cross bikes with IRD Defiant 46/30 cranks and 11-36 cassettes.  John’s bike got built with 32h H Plus Sun rims, SRAM Rival/X.9 drivetrain, and Clement MSO 40 tires.
And Peter’s 59cm bike got built with Shimano 105/SLX drivetrain, Panaracer Pasela 35 tires, and 36h Velocity Dyad rims with 105 hubs.
Oh yeah, this is Peter doing what he does.  Now when he answers how he stays in tip-top shape, he can say he does so by riding his Black Mountain Cycles bike.
(What’s playing:  Peter Rowan You Were There For Me)

0 responses to “Cross bikes out the door”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Peter Rowan is a customer of yours?

  2. blackmountaincycles says:

    That's affirmative.

  3. Jake says:

    How did you solve the cable pull issue for 10spd road shifters and mountain der.?

  4. Ken says:

    riding to make sure he's not old and in the way

  5. rodney says:

    I saw this Mr Rowan do this set at the Cotati Cabaret about 1983-4. ….great fun show as i recall

  6. blackmountaincycles says:

    Jake,
    SRAM's 10s road shifters are compatible with their 10s mountain rear derailleurs. Shimano 10s road shifters are compatible with their 9s mountain derailleurs.

  7. Jake says:

    Thanks! Good to know that about Shimano.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Black cherry? I think Peter would call it Panama Red!

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