Black Mountain Cycles frames? 

Yes, our own frames designed by proprietor, Mike Varley.  Prior to establishing Black Mountain Cycles in the summer of 2007, Mike designed and developed bicycles for 14 years.  In addition to his Black Mountain Cycles frames, he also has clients in the US and Europe who enlist his skills to develop frames and bikes. 

The frames he is designing for Black Mountain Cycles are born of a desire for simplicity and elegance.  The frames are crafted from custom drawn and butted chrome-moly steel tubing.  Each frame is the result of knowledge learned designing frames for 14 years and riding performance bikes for the past 25 years.

Limited Production

The first production run is limited to 50 frames of each style and is split somewhat evenly between colors.  Framesets are $595 for either frame style.    Don’t waffle.  Call or e-mail now to reserve your frame in the color you want with a 50% deposit.  That’s $297.50.  Heck, after riding one, you’ll want the other.  Complete the collection and get both frames!

Why steel frames?

Every time someone jumps on a steel bike after spending years on an aluminum beast or waif-like carbon bike, the rider comment of “wow, that rides really nice” is heard.  Steel has been around forever as a frame material.  Its properties are incredibly well documented.  The life-span of steel is well known.  It’s a frame that doesn’t necessarily have to be handled with kid gloves.  So, while every big bike manufacturer is spending countless dollars developing the next big thing, steel quietly rolls under the many bicycle aficionados as the material of choice that never went out of style.  A steel bike is elegant in its simplicity, ride quality, and appearance.  The proportions of a well-crafted steel bike are perfect.

How much? 

Either the road frame or the cross frame will be $595 including fork and all the little bits that bolt to the frame - like water bottle bolts, seat clamps, barrel adjusters, cable guides. 

How do you get one? 

Well, you can come into the shop and pick one up.  You can call me with your payment info.  I can take checks, credit cards, paypal, and cash with proper identification. 

Frameset or complete bike?

You can buy either a frameset or have me build one up for you.  I’ll be creating three different parts packages soon.  Keep yer eyes peeled for info on that. 

Road

Superb handling, quick, capable of riding on dirt paths (why limit where you can ride).  Key features of the frame design include clearance for 33.3mm tires (or 28mm with mud guards), stretched chain stay length for all-day comfort, slightly lower bottom bracket height (compared to contemporary road frames) to accommodate larger tires and lower the center of gravity for better descending manners.  Included with the frame is a threadless fork with sloping design crown. 

Colors

The road frame is available in one of two colors, orange or a champagne.  Champagne because it best describes a light, goldish color. 

Info you’ll need to outfit your frame

Seat post:  27.2mm

Front derailleur clamp size:  28.6mm

Rear hub spacing:  130mm

Bottom bracket threading:  68mm wide, British threads

Standard reach brakes (49-59mm reach)

Triple or double compatible

Monster Cross

A cyclocross bike on steroids?.  Well, actually, just the wheels.  It could be called a 28”er.  Designed to accept 700cx45 tires, the Monster Cross bike is the “if-you-can-only-have-one-to-do-it-all” bike.  Fit it with 37mm touring tires and head out for a week on the road.  Throw on some 45mm knobbies and hit the trails.  This is the bike I like to pedal to cover Marin’s multitude of paved roads and fire roads.  I can leave my house, cover 10 road miles and then roll through the hills on dirt before catching another paved road home.  The perfect mixed-terrain friend.  Old school horizontal dropouts will let you easily run it as a single-speed too.

Colors

You can get your Monster Cross frame in either brown or orange.  The brown color has a subtle hint of pearl or metallic sparkle to it.  Too subtle to properly highlight in a photo.

Info you’ll need to outfit your frame

Seat post:  27.2mm

Front derailleur clamp size:  28.6mm

Rear hub spacing:  132.5mm (run 130 or 135 hubs)

Bottom bracket threading:  68mm wide, British threads

Cantilever brakes only

Chainline:   Shoot for about 47.5mm when running a triple with a 135 spaced hub.  Shoot for about 45mm when running a double or 130 spaced hubs.  

If you got this far, thanks for reading.  These frames are something I’ve spent a lot of time developing and I’m pretty darn proud of them.  My goal is to make a frame that is fun to ride.  I’ve always felt the best riding bike is the one you don’t notice.  It simply disappears beneath you and you’re left with enjoying the ride.  That was and is my ultimate goal with Black Mountain Cycles’ frames.

Thanks and keep riding,

Mike Varley 

Proprietor, Black Mountain Cycles