The Gear Junkie Ubercycle :: Gear Review :: May, 2005

It was to be an art project, a labor of love, an aesthetic expression on two wheels. Exorbitant expenses and common sense be darned. This was to be a svelte, solid, ultra-light, from-the-ground-up, custom-made Gear Junkie ubercycle.

Handpicking each and every component to create a custom bike is a dream shared universally in the fanatical fringes of the cycling demographic. Over the past four months, I chose to partake in such a project for the first and likely last time in my life, cherrypicking about two dozen components from several manufacturers to build a custom single-speed mountain bike beautiful enough to display in my living room as sculpture art.

Working with a mechanic at One on One Bicycle Studio (www.oneononebike.com), a shop in Minneapolis that specializes in such artful build-ups, I studied manufacturers’ parts catalogs and postings on esoteric Web message boards to start piecing together the puzzle. The whole project was based around a steel mountain-bike frame removed from one of my old and long-trusted iron horses. All other components—from the chainring to the saddle to the handlebar grips—were chosen individually by me and my gearhead bike mechanic.

At first glance, the bike appears to be a WTB/Race Face hybrid, as those two companies make the pieces I chose for the drivetrain, saddle, wheels and cockpit areas. A closer look reveals a Kona Project Two fork ($70), Avid Speed Dial SL brake levers ($68) and Speed Dial SL caliper brakes ($126), a Surly Singulator chain tensioner ($50) and graceful titanium Twin Ti Egg Beater clipless pedals ($300) that weigh a mere 109 grams apiece.

From WTB, I used the Pure V Stealth saddle ($130), a pair of Nano Raptor 2.1 Race tires ($90), Weirwolf Grips ($10), Dual Duty XC front wheel ($220), Dual Duty XC rear wheel ($300) and a Momentum Cartridge bearing headset ($50). From Race Face, the bike took the Evolve XC X-Type crankset ($199), DH Chainring ($42), Evolve XC handlebar ($49) and Evolve XC stem ($49).

Add all these together, sprinkle in some brake cables and gear spacers, pencil in the mechanic’s hourly fee, and the Gear Junkie ubercycle is running upwards of $1,700.

Is the bike worth that pretty penny? Well, it rides smooth and solid. It weighs right around a feathery 20 pounds. Its high-end components will take years and years of abuse. And it sure is pretty to look at.

But for the average Joe Singletrack, this kind of project is a bit over-the-top. The $1,700 spent on this custom bike could be applied toward a very spiffy new model from any one of a dozen top-tier bike companies. You’d get the same type of high-performance components at a much lower price, as manufacturers get parts at bulk wholesale pricing, passing the savings down to the customer who buys a complete bike.

But economics aside, a full custom job is something unique and special. It’s a one-of-a-kind model made by you, for you. And for people like me, this kind of bike truly can be a work of art.