By blackmountaincycles,
Filed under: Uncategorized
The last Cunningham frames that rolled out of Charlie Cunningham’s shop were the ‘D’ Series in about 1993. It’s 2013 and after getting some time in on a bigwheel bike of his design and Mike DeSalvo’s making, Charlie fired up the welder and went to work. The result is fantastic. Three new Cunningham 29″ers ready for the trails.
Charlie’s bikes are very polarizing. Some folks who are used to the look of “stack of dimes” welding are put off by the welding that looks like puddles. To some bike people, components should be smooth and flawless in their appearance. If that’s you, stop right here. Don’t subject yourself to welding that looks smudged. Parts that have visible file marks. Parts that you won’t find on any other bikes.
If you do proceed, you will find a bike(s) that excels at one thing. Trail riding. Plant your butt on the seat. Clip in to the pedals. Grab on to the bars and start pedaling. The entire geometry is designed for each rider. There are modifications to just about every part except maybe the shifters. The bikes are built to ride. The size of the riders are at opposite ends of the spectrum, yet the quality of the ride will be the same for each rider. Nimble, stable, very pedal-able, if that word makes sense.
Well, Charlie, you have certainly outdone yourself. I’d just like to say, if the big one every comes up for sale, I want to be first in line.
The littler one. Stem is adjustable to determine sizing for a custom stem. The owner preferred the lighter, skinnier Bruce Gordon Rock ‘n Road tires.
The big one.
Personalized serial number
Lever-link brake
This seals the rear derailleur housing.
Sculpted dropouts. These are from the last production in the early ’90s.
Front derailleur cable routing.
Steering limiter so the bars don’t swing around during a crash and cause damage to the brake as it makes contact with the down tube.
Rear brake
PF17
Keeps the muck off the rear brake
Another angle
Seatpost QR
Rear derailleur cable routing
Extra-wide front hub
Front brake
(What’s playing: KWMR “Silver Dollar Jukebox” and Johnny Cash Wreck Of The Old 97)
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All the ragged edged chamfers make me smile. That is a HANDbuilt matchine.
Hell, I'd be happy if the just headsets were back on the market. Someone should license some of these patents. (Cough Chris King … cough.)
Now we're cooking with gas. 🙂
Thanks Mike. I haven't felt bike lust in twenty years. Yeah, thanks alot.
Wow!
Add a dirt drop on that beauty, and it would be perfect.
We decided to have the hand crafting prominent and asked that excess finishing work be kept to a minimum.
I have always had a lusting for Charlie's bikes. These without a doubt could make me ride Alumn again. Not to be the poop in the punch bowl, but here in South Louisiana the bottom bracket brake set up never worked out so well. Too much mud and clay build up made them more like big spoons that brakes. Every other bit (of detail) is impressive. Beautiful execution!
The steering limiter is small bit of genius. Was this his idea, or some old school french constructeur type thing? Definitely going to mimic it on my tandem; handling a bike that large on one's own occasionally results in the handlebar/top tube whacking, which always makes me wince.
Wow! Two beautiful machines… and two lucky new owners.
Thanks for posting! What about the fifth frame?
Are we ever going to see pictures?
There were three 29" wheel bikes and two road bikes. Here's one of the road bikes. The other is Charlie's. http://whatsinthestand.tumblr.com/image/56285455410
My God. It's full of stars.
always liked the look of the frame build
tried to buy one in the early middle 80's, they were about $1600 frame. . could not get that much together
I meant the "other" road bike 🙂
#E4CC in the Falconer Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/WaV1oYKmto/
Sweeet! Why not go disc brakes though? There is no arguing they are superior on the trail. These bikes are truly stunning just as the Hams 20+ yrs ago are.
Those are fantastic… Thanks for sharing, Mike!
What a radical bike!
I would argue that these brakes are superior to discs in modulation and power. And these bikes are what they are as a sum of their parts. Set it up with disc brakes and it might as well be any aluminum 29er.
Adding/Subtracting disc brakes can't be the only significant differentiator, because if it was true..then the other stuff becomes gimmickry or quirkiness-for-quirkiness' sake. I was always interested in what CC designed, but perhaps these bikes now exist as a competent curiosity – like a Morgan car – and are not really moving any balls forward…which is not a Bad Thing…but there are lots of nice, competent bikes and technologies out there.
Best,
Rick M.
What a stunning machine.
There is a lot going with that steering limiter. It looks like it's designed to bend (rather than break) during an off.
Have Charlie's U-brake mounts always been riveted on? I thought they were welded on back in the day.
Thanks for sharing Mike.
Ren
Some of you might have these brakes and should be careful!
http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/12/bikes-and-tech/sram-recalls-all-hydraulic-road-disc-and-rim-brakes_311170
Probably some low temp o-ring problem, it brought down the spaceshuttle too.