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MCD frame in Classic Blue

MCD frame in California Gold

The MCD is a discontinued frame. This page sits as a reference for folks who may have one and need info on it. The Mod Zero is the replacement for the MCD.

Finally, the disc brake version of the Monster Cross frame that I feel good about.  For years, yes years, I’ve told folks that I was working on a disc brake frame.  “Working on” might be a little generous.  I knew I wanted to add a disc brake version.  However, I didn’t want to simply add disc mounts to the current rim brake frame.  I’m sure it would have been fine.  But I didn’t want it to be fine.  I wanted it to be great.  Something that I would like and ride.  Since, I’m a fan of rim brakes for my riding style and where/how I ride, I wanted to make the MCD frame something that I would buy too.

The MCD frame incorporates the same geometry foundation as its rim brake brother – bb drop, head/seat angles, fork offset…  Where the geometry and shape of the MCD differs is in the shape of the frame.  We’re talking a frame with more slope to the top tube by virtue of taller head tubes and shorter seat tubes.  After fitting hundreds of riders to the Monster Cross frames, I came to the conclusion that riders like their bars higher than what might be available off-the-shelf.  Instead of fitting a rider to a frame and running a couple inches of headset spacers under the stem, the MCD sports taller head tubes so that bars can easily be run with minimal spacers.

Riders fit to the MCD frames will fit on them with more seat post exposure which means with more exposed seat post, there is a greater chance of seat post flex and that, theoretically, provides a bit of relief to small bump/road vibration.  The jury may be out on that.

The tubing of the MCD is the same as its rim brake brother, so ride quality should be the same, supple, smooth, yet precise, ride.  Since there are no brakes on the seat stay, the seat stays are now the same as found on the Road frame and the new Road + frame.  The fork on the disc brake frames is a segmented style.  Because of the load on the left fork leg from disc brakes, the left fork leg wall thickness is bumped up a notch to add some stiffness and strength – much the same that is done by increasing diameter of seat stays when attaching brake pivots.

One of the features I knew I wanted on the new disc frames was thru-axles.  Front is 12mm x 100mm and the rear is 142mm x 12mm.  Thru-axles on disc brake frames just make sense.  The wheel is keyed into the same exact position every time.  The wheel is completely captured.  The chance of the wheel shifting in the dropout, and the subsequent rotor rub, is eliminated.  This was a no-brainer for me.  One of the reasons why these frames took a bit longer time to get to market is that I wasn’t keen on existing, open mold, rear thru-axle dropouts.  So, Sean Walling of Soulcraft Cycles and I came up with a design that we both liked.  Well, mostly Sean.

I’m really happy how these frames came out and I’m sure you will be too.  

Classic Blue

California Gold

With the multitude of standards on bikes these days, the “need to know” info on any Black Mountain Cycles frame is simple, proven, and reliable.

• The frames are optimized to fit 700c x 45mm tires with an outer diameter about 710mm.
• But, really, what’s the biggest tire that will fit, you ask?  Honestly, it depends.  And I can’t answer that in absolutes.  Rim width, variance in tire width…  A tire that measures 50mm at its widest spot will fit.  I can’t measure every tire make and model, so I am unable to give you an absolute confirmation that the tire you want to run will fit.  Figure on a 700c x 50mm or 650b x 50mm.
• 650b x 50mm?  Yes, a 650b or 27.5″ tire with a 50mm width will work and can be a fun tire on this frame.
• Brakes – Disc brakes with IS standard mounting front and rear – 160mm or 140mm rotors in back, 160mm rotors up front only.  Use a post mount caliper with an IS adapter.
• Headset – Standard 1 1/8”/34mm external cup. A variety of headsets are available with frame purchase on the shop page.
• Bottom bracket – Standard British 1.37” x 24tpi threaded x 68mm wide.
• Crankset – because the chainstays are optimized for big tires, there is some limitation on the crank/chainring. For 2-piece crank designs, a chainring size of 50/34 or 46/36 are considered maximum – 53/39 is not compatible. Three-piece cranks with square taper bottom brackets are my favorite because chain-line and q-factor can be tuned easily with bottom bracket length.
• I want to run a 1x, will that be ok?  Sure, as long as the crank is based on the same chainline as a SRAM Rival/Force crank and the chainring is 42t or smaller, you’re good to go.
• Front hub spacing – 100mm x 12mm x 1.5 tpi threaded thru-axle (not included)*  Outside-outside width = 124mm.  NOTE: Dedicated 15mm thru axle hubs, such as those from Shimano, are not compatible, even if with an adapter sleeve.
• Rear hub spacing V1 frames – 142mm x 12mm x 1.0 tpi threaded thru-axle (not included)*  Outside-outside width = 168mm.
• Rear hub spacing V1.2 and V1.3 frames  – 142mm x 12mm x 1.5 tpi threaded thru-axle (not included)*  Outside-outside width = 168mm.  Note – thread pitch changed to 1.5t on V1.2 frames.
• Seat post size – 27.2mm.  Run a 350mm or 400mm length post.
• Seat clamp size is 30.0mm.
• Front derailer size – 28.6mm.
• Cable routing – full housing for rear derailer and front/rear brakes.
• Fenders – yes!  Max fender width is 50-55mm and a tire around 40-43mm will fit quite nicely beneath that fender.  The fork has a direct mount braze-on inside the bottom of the steerer tube for fender mounting as well.
• The frame is treated with black electrophoretic deposition coating, which acts as a rust-preventative layer, before paint is applied. The paint is a wet paint with a clear powder coat. The combination of this entire process costs more, but provides a super durable finish.
• Rear dropouts are investment cast from stainless steel.
• Steerer tube length is 350mm.
• Rack and fender eyelets front and rear.
• The fork has mounts for a rando-style mini rack and mid-blade mounts for low-rider racks.  There are triple braze-one cage mounts for extra cargo capacity.  There may be clearance issues if you’re running wider tires and/or larger bags on the cages.  There is also an M5 threaded boss inside the bottom of the steerer tube for fender mounting.
• Bottle mounts – three bottles on the 44cm, 47cm, 50cm frames.  Four bottles on the 53cm, 56cm, and 59cm frames.

* Suggested thru axles that are compatible
Front – all versions
DT Swiss RWS #HWQASM00S2023S or #HWQASM00S1460S
Paul Components – unfortunately, there is not a front Paul skewer that is compatible.  The 127mm model is too long and the 119mm is too short (Paul – make a 123mm axle!)
Robert Axle Project #LIG505

Rear
MCD V1 frames – 12mm x 168mm x 1.0tpi
DT Swiss RWS #HWQASM00S2961S or #HWQASM00S9909S
Paul Components 12mm x 166mm x Fine 1.0
Robert Axle Project #LIG603

MCD V1.2, V1.3 frames – 12mm x 168mm x 1.5tpi
There is not a DT Swiss axle that is ideal for the V1.2 or V1.3 frames.  Overall length needs to be between 163mm and 169mm and the DT models are either 163mm or 171mm – little bit too short or a little bit too long.  
Paul Components 12mm x 166mm Coarse 1.5 
Robert Axle Project #LIG612 165mm x 12mm x 1.5t (to be superseded by #LIG629 12mm x 168mm x 1.5t)