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Bird Cycleworks, the UK company well known for its responsive and approachable customer service (as well as some very popular mountain bikes), is now ...
By stwhannah
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackmag.com/gritcx/2024/11/bird-cycleworks-now-with-custom-paint-and-gravel-options/
Looks brilliant. Really keen until I saw the electric builds only .... You have to be kidding me
Looks brilliant. Really keen until I saw the electric builds only …. You have to be kidding me
Current generation SRAM AXS road gearing is fantastic, I had cable Ultegra 8000 before and whilst decent is not a patch on the Force AXS I have now.
Electric transmission makes a lot of sense though...less cabling to deal with - external or internal. Recharging a battery every 4-6 weeks really isn't a hassle. The only real drawback is the cost - I've nothing to argue against that as it is a ridiculous amount of money. However, it works consistently every single time no matter what conditions you are riding in.
Looks brilliant. Really keen until I saw the electric builds only …. You have to be kidding me
Sorry, thats what we've decided to go with for a few reasons:
- While Im a Shimano fanboy on the MTB side, the Gravel options really don't do it for me. Ergonomically and mechanically SRAM is better.
- Im not actually a massive fan of electronic shifting on the MTB side, as I find it sometimes fickle and more prone to failure than the wired equivalents. Its also wildly expensive when it does fail. On the flip side we all ride SRAM wireless on our gravel/road bikes and its been nothing but reliable. While SRAM does do wired groups, they're really nothing like as good as the wired ones.
- SRAM's direct mount drivetrain (Red, and hence Force/Rival/Apex will follow) is brilliant. It takes the weaker aspects of transmission and fixes them, with fast shifting, really sleek integration and compact mechs.
- SRAM's power meters actually work. I appreciate a lot of people won't care for one, but alot do.
- People riding road or gravel tend to have fairly expensive GPS computers. The integration between the shifters/mech/power meter to the computer adds alot to the experience and usability.
- We've decided to go internal routing through the headset, there's a long post on the other thread as to why, I stand by it being 100% the right choice. It probably only is the top choice with wireless though. If you add in mechanical cabling the really seamless and beneficial aspects of the integration starts to loose their shine a little.
Looks lovely. Decisions to go wireless make sense, I have SRAM wireless on my gravel bike and love it.
When did Bird move to Consett? Why leave Eversley?
@benpinnick ... That colour scheme, is that a custom job? What will be the standard / no-cost colours?
Imagine, a new modern bike using new modern parts…
Current generation SRAM AXS road gearing is fantastic, I had cable Ultegra 8000 before and whilst decent is not a patch on the Force AXS I have now.
Mmm, probably. But the wireless version has a battery. And that's a showstopper for me and many other people. I'm sure someone will be along to claim that electric on bikes is just an incremental change, like droppers, cartwheels etc. but for me, it's not.
Apart from my lights, I don't want electric on my bike. Simples.
I appreciate that a huge number on STW are just gear freaks who love the bling more than the ride.... all good. But not everyone is like that.
When did Bird move to Consett? Why leave Eversley?
We didn't leave Eversley per-se, its still there, we just don't run it anymore. Without a design function there it was just a shop/showroom. It caused a big rates bill for us as it killed our discount at the factory too, so it was better off run as a seperate business. It still sells, services and demos birds, just the people don't work for me.
@benpinnick … That colour scheme, is that a custom job? What will be the standard / no-cost colours?
Theres a cream/sand graphics, a blood red/silver, and a gulf blue.
Apart from my lights, I don’t want electric on my bike. Simples.
Thats fair enough, I feel the same about my mountain bike.
I can't see the bike on the site - when will the bike builder be up? Will you offer a di2 version as well?
That middle spec one would be perfect. I already have 2 gravel bikes, so my Diverge Carbon Expert may get replaced…