Custom Chromag Rootdown
Chromag Dream Build
If you know us then you know that we have a soft spot for long travel hardtail bikes. The Rootdown has long been a staple in the Chromag Bikes lineup for its progressive, do anything geometry and classic styling. Carefully selecting parts for these bikes is a ton of fun and this bike was no exception. The "clay" colorway paired with a few little chrome bits gives it an awesome vintage vibe. See below for full specs"
- Frame: M/L Chromag Rootdown
- Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z1 160mm
- Wheels: Industry Nine Enduro S
- Derailleur: Sram X01 Eagle
- Shifter: Sram X01 Eagle
- Cassette: Sram GX Eagle
- Cranks: Sram GX Eagle
- Dropper: One Up V2 180mm
- Dropper Lever: Paul Components
- Stem: Chromag HiFi 35mm
- Bars: Deity Speedway Carbon
- Grips: Chromag Squarewave XL
- Saddle: Chromag Juniper
- Tires: Maxxis Aggressor and Minion DHF
- Brakes: Sram G2 R
New Custom Build: Tumbleweed Bikes Stargazer
Mountain bike? Gravel bike? You decide...
The Tumbleweed Stargazer is very similar to the Otso Fenrir we posted recently. It is a gravel bike that leans heavily in the mountain bike direction. Boost spacing, 29" wheels, wide bars, a dropper post, and more make this an impressively capable bikepacking and gravel ride.
Full Specs:
- Wheels: Custom Industry Nine Hydra hubs and WTB KOM Light i30 rims
- Tires: Maxxis Ikon 29x2.3" (tubeless)
- Derailleur: Sram GX Eagle 12sp
- Cassette: Sram GX Eagle 12sp
- Chain: Sram GX Eagle 12sp
- Shifters: Sram Force (modified to operate dropper post and 12 speed derailleur using Ratio Components kit. Works flawlessly.)
- Brakes: Paul Component Klampers
- Rotors: Sram Centerline 160/180mm
- Headset: Wolf Tooth Performance
- Bottom Bracket: Race Face
- Cranks: Race Face Aeffect Cinch 175mm with Easton 40t ring
- Bars: PNW Coast w/ MSW tape
- Stem: Industry Nine A31.6 50mm
- Seatpost: 125mm PNW Rainier (operated by left shift lever!)
- Saddle: Selle Anatomica
Interested in your own custom build? We specialize in working closely with our customers to make sure they get exactly what they are looking for. We also offer deep discounts on in-stock parts when building bikes from the frame up.
New Bike Day: Otso Fenrir Custom Build
The ultimate go anywhere gravel bike
The all new Otso Fenrir (named after a wolf in Norse mythology) is designed to be highly versatile. They offer this bike in both flat bar and drop bar configurations. It is also available with the option of a 120mm travel fork. I bought a bare frame and chose to build it up as a gravel bike built for single track and rugged backroad rides. Thanks to the suspension corrected fork, 31.6mm seat tube, boost spacing, and other mountain bike standards, I always have the option of converting this to a singlespeed or XC mountain bike in the future.
Full Specs:
- Frame: Size large Otso Fenrir
- Fork: Enve Carbon Mountain
- Shifters/derailleur: Sram Apex 11sp
- Brakes: Paul Components Klampers
- Wheels: Custom Industry Nine 1/1 hubs and Stan's Arch MK4 rims
- Bars: Spank Vibrocore
- Crankset: Race Face Aeffect with Easton ring
- Tires: WTB Ranger 29x2.3"
- Stem: Chromag Ranger
- Seatpost: Chromag Dolomite
- Saddle: Chromag Trailmaster LTD
Interested in your own custom build? We specialize in working closely with our customers to make sure they get exactly what they are looking for. We also offer deep discounts on in-stock parts when building bikes from the frame up.
Want to learn more...?
Click the link below to read more about the Fenrir on the Otso Cycles website.
Otso Voytek Fat Bike Review
The best fat bike on the market...
I have personally owned my Otso Voytek fat bike for over a year now, so I figured it might be time to share my thoughts on it and talk about what sets it apart from other fat bikes. Otso Cycles is a small fat bike and gravel bike brand based out of Minnesota. They specialize in the more niche corners of the cycling world and make very thoughtfully designed bikes. The Voytek is no exception.
If you have ever ridden a fatbike, your first impression may not have been great. Lots of the other bikes on the market are heavy, have outdated geometry, or come poorly outfitted with subpar components. Poor snow conditions can make or break your fat bike ride as well. My first fat bike that I got in 2014 had an aluminum frame, a 2x10 drivetrain, mechanical brakes, and unimpressive tires. It was a great place to start, but that bike is nothing compared to the Voytek.
So what sets the Voytek apart? For starters, it features the narrowest Q-factor out of all the fat bikes on the market. This means that it has a narrower bottom bracket that allows for a shorter crank spindle to be used. This brings your hips and knees inward so that you don’t feel clumsy and bowlegged the way you would on many other fat bikes. This helps the bike fit more comfortably, pedal more efficiently, and handle much more like a regular bike. Despite the narrow Q-factor, the Voytek still has room for tires up to 4.6.” The frame also features geometry that is slack by fat bike standards and a suspension corrected fork so you can toss on a Rockshox Bluto or Manitou Mastodon.
Another great thing about the Voytek is the number of wheel options available. Otso actually bills the bike as a mountain bike rather than a fat bike because of this. The stock wheel options are 26” fat, 27.5” fat, or 29” and there is even a flip chip on the chainstays to shorten or lengthen the chainstay length depending on tire size and personal preference.
While on the trail, this bike feels impressively close to a regular mountain bike. The narrow Q-factor, stiff carbon frame, and progressive geometry all work together to make for a great ride quality. The component spec on the base model is awesome too. All base bikes come with a Shimano SLX 12 speed drivetrain and Magura MT4 brakes. I swapped my brakes from Sram Guide G2s and added a dropper post, but otherwise my bike is pretty close to stock.
If you are in the market for a fat bike we highly recommend the Voytek, but if you are looking to test the waters with something a little less expensive the Rocky Mountain Blizzard is worth checking out.
