In advance of Sea Otter, Santa Cruz and Chris King hosted an event for builders to show off their wares. Our American correspondent Fahzure Freeride (who is also my soon to be husband – eep and whoop!) went along to warm up his bicycle nerd antennae in advance of Sea Otter. Here are some of the bikes he snapped in between servings of free macaroni cheese and churros. I’m warning you now: they’re mostly not mountain bikes.
Words by Hannah, pics by Fahzure
Retrotec
It pains me to say it but… I’m not a fan. I’m just not into the whole swooping top tube/seat stay thing. Sorry. Fahzure on the other hand, likes it, and says he especially likes the proportions. I shall perhaps not ask him advice on whether my outfits look OK – though it bodes well for him continuing to be under the impression that I look good well into my old age.
Sycip
This gravel bike from northern Californian framebuilders Sycip is all very nice, but…
Latest Singletrack Merch
Buying and wearing our sustainable merch is another great way to support Singletrack
…a quick look on their website has me wanting this. Look at those mudguards! It would be right at home in Calderfornia, I’m sure:
Wedding lists are a thing, right? Consider that added.
Singular
A Brit among the Californians. Is that fork gorgeous and unusual, or a bit weird? I can’t decide. Sometimes I wonder the same thing about Fahzure.
Nice blue bits…
…very nice bars. And I know Fahzure likes Oury grips. I would be prepared to share this bike with him. Except I don’t think I can afford to let him ride Ingrid gears, he’s a bit destructive.
Ingrid
Ooh, I’ve come over all Tom Howard. Those green/turquoise cranks are a bit lush. I think they might match my wedding dress (there are currently two Vinted purchases of approximately this colour hanging in my room, and neither fits. It is a lot easier to buy bike parts than dresses. If you thought compatibility was tricky to get right with bike bits, try getting a frock that fits your boobs, bum, legs and shoulders).
Cielo
A rare frame by Chris King. Appears to have been ridden to the show – so it’s not just a show pony.
Black Cat
This show marked the first time that this bike had been revealed to the world. So you’re getting a fairly exclusive peek at this.
Truss work chainstays. It all looks cool, but is perhaps best suited to California.
Look at all those tricky holes and little corners… There are bike shops in the Western USA where they have air hoses for blowing dust off bikes, not hosepipes for washing off mud. I think this bike is best kept for the air hose climes of this world. I say this like I wash bikes all the time. The truth is, Fahzure has a much lower tolerance for bike filth and usually ends up cleaning my bike before I reach a tipping point of feeling the need to clean it myself.
Jayhawks
The person that makes this also makes aeroplanes. This is constructed using all sorts of metal fabrication techniques. It’s extruded, it’s folded, it’s welded, it’s riveted…
Forget everything I said about cleaning nooks and crannies. I want this fork. Just look at it!
Caletti
This bike is like the meeting of our colour personalities. My favourite colour is grey. Fahzure’s favourite colour is all of them. We have yet to discuss home decor.
Vintage Mongoose Cruiser Klunker
Fahzure says this bike features the greatest derailleur Shimano ever made. But thanks to his photography skills and scratched phone case, we can’t actually see it. This is a very cool looking bike, but that saddle gives me little desire to ride it.
Not an ebike.
All finger braking.
Ok, that’s it for the pre-Sea Otter bike nerding. I should probably go and make it look like I have cleaned my bike since the last time Fahzure was in the UK…
