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Shop Visits are some of our favorite content here at the Radavist and at the same time, they are very visual experiences, which is why I really love the Cobra Framebuilding “Shut Up and Build Bikes” series. The latest features Mark from Chumba Cycles and is well worth the listen! Head to Cobra to check it out and don’t miss our Chumba Cycles Shop Visit!
My friends at Chumba Cycles have had a truly inspirational story since re-launching the brand in early 2014. While the name Chumba Cycles has been around for some time in the mountain bike world, this is an entirely different company when compared to the brand that launched in California during the early ’90s. Without going into the details too much, Vince and Mark purchased the brand a few years back and began making their tig-welded steel bikes in-house in Austin, TX. Around that same time, they moved shops, and on a recent trip to the Lonestar State, I swung through to check out their new digs and see some of the bikes they were building up for customers.
Thanks to Chumba, Industry Nine, Kogel Bearings, Wanderlust Gear and MRP, Alexandera is outfitted properly for a season of ultra-endurance racing this year. After an amazing DKXL story, she’s on her Stella Titanium in the throes of the Tour Divide. Perhaps you’ve recognized her in Spencer and Rue’s galleries? At any rate, Vince from Chumba sent over some photos of Alexandera’s bike, which you can check out below and please, if you have time, give her blog a visit and read her DKXL story. Personally, I can’t wait to read her Tour Divide tale!
Chumba, makers of true to form steel bikes in Texas, just announced their Del Amo steel road bike. The Del Amo comes in 6 sizes, a compact geometry, made from OS Columbus Spirit tubing with Paragon bits. The tubing spec allows for compliance in the seat stays and top tube, making the bike ride smoothly, while offering fast acceleration that Spirit is known for. These bikes are offered with a plethora of options and start at $1,625.00. Head to Chumba for more information and see more photos below.
We shoot a lot of bikes here on the Radavist. A lot. From my estimates, including tradeshows, and events like the Chris King Open House, or the Moots’ Employee Bikes, and even the Speedvagen Build Off, we shot 220 or so bikes in 2018. That’s a lot of bikes. A lot of details. A lot of component selection, build styles, and uses. From road, to mountain, and everything in between, noting the permutations that exist in this ever-so-special era in the cycling industry, I really feel like we’ve shown you just about everything you could see this year.
Out of those 220 bikes, I looked at the data in the form of traffic metrics, social chatter, and comments to pick the Top 10 Beautiful Bicycles of 2018. While many bikes had a lot of comments, some had higher traffic or social media shares. Compiling all the numbers, a very compelling list was formed. Not included in this lot are bike reviews, of which Morgan’s review of the Midnight Special and Kyle’s review of his Chubby Cosmic Stallion took the highest metrics from all others on this list. I guess they’re in a league of their own!
At any rate, check out the complete Top 10 Beautiful Bicycles of 2018, in no particular order, below!
With its roots in the mountain bike industry, the Terlingua Steel set the stage for Chumba’s entry into the drop bar category. Consequently, the Terlingua has quickly become one of their best selling models. We’ve seen a handful of builds over the years, including Austin’s single speed at the Land Run 100. Well, the Texas brand is excited to announce the Terlingua is now available in Titanium as well as in Steel and all Chumba frames are Made in USA.
Check out the press release below!
The Land Run 100 draws people from all over the world, including Texas. Austin drove in from Austin, with his brand new Chumba Terlingua, ready to roll 100+ miles single speed. With no rain in the forecast – #RIPmud – he packed in a big tire and got ready to ride the rolling hills, through the red dirt countryside.
While there were many exceptional builds at the event, I have to say, this was one of the most original I saw. With Onyx Racing Hubs, an Absolute Black ring, Paul Klampers, Hope Rotors, WTB Riddler tires, matching spoke nipples and a mean, race fit, this bike looked as good in motion as it does sitting here.
Austin, great to meet you, pardna’, tell the grackles I said I miss them!
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Follow LandRun 100 on Instagram
With a geometry tuned for a 140mm or 150mm fork and build kits ranging from $2995 to $3595 for a complete, the Chumba Rastro long travel 27.5+ hardtail looks to be a strong competitor for those looking at buying a new hardtail. Chumba makes all their frames outside of Austin, Texas and works with Fox and Shimano components. These complete prices reflect various modes: Trail, Enduro, and All-Trail but you can request a build spec of your own and even buy just the frame. Bottom line is; the build options are endless on a more than capable frame.
Check out more specs at Chumba and I hope to get to review one of these bikes!
Named after a West Texas ghost town, the Terlingua, gets its namesake for the ability to traverse multiple road surface in this rugged part of the American West. Home of the Chihuahuan Desert Dirt Fest, the team at Chumba have fallen in love with riding there and wanted to design a bike that would be capable enough to handle the terrain, without compromising ride quality, or functionality. The Terlingua is a road bike, with large clearances, fit for dirt road riding, bikepacking and even ‘cross races. These frames are made outside of Austin, Texas and have all the boxes checked in terms of adaptability, they’ll fit a 700x50mm or 27.5″ equivalent, come in a variety of colors and pricing begins at $1450 for a frame. Check out all the details below and see more photos at Chumba!
Nils, aka #PartyNils has been getting a lot of social media love these days and it’s easy to see why. When he’s not bringing a camp stove to LA River Camp Coffee, he’s racing ‘cross on his cargo bike or this Chumba Ursa 29+ rigid mountain bike.
The Ursa 29+ frames are a killer deal for anyone looking for a 29+ bikepacking rig or even a rigid MTB and Nils has his set up with all the creature comforts you’d expect from a guy who lives life on the bike with a smile.
A bent Brooks saddle with just the right amount of sag, solid platform pedals, comfy grips with a little extra twine on the side and a shellac’d chainstay to muffle any slap that might occur. If you see Nils partying away on this thing, give him a shout!
Want to save on a titanium, made in the USA hardtail XC racing 29’r? Chumba’s new Ti Stella might be what you’re looking for. As an introductory pre-order Chumba is pricing their new XC machine at $1,799, which is a steal for a made in the USA titanium hardtail.
Check out more information below or just head to Chumba for the details…
As you can probably tell, I’ve been really stoked on what Chumba is doing here in Austin, Texas. During MTB season earlier this year, I caught up with Vince, who was riding the first prototype Ursa 29+ MTBs. At the time, Chumba’s production was in Oregon, but in recent months, they’ve moved all production in house, using USA-made tubing…
Since moving all of their production from Oregon to Austin, Chumba‘s been cranking out their mountain bike frames in house. Today after a quick trail ride with Vince from Chumba, he took me out to their facilities so I could see their office and fabrication shop.
All I have to say is I’m stoked to see this going down in Austin, just 30 minutes from my home.
More to come!
The history of Chumba is one with a somewhat rocky past but it appears the brand has finally hit smooth trails with its recent rebranding and relaunch. When a couple of guys from Austin, Texas took over, they had one thing on their minds: steel. That and making mountain bikes in Texas, designed to thrash our local trails and still perform in the mountains of Colorado.
Earlier this year, we looked at their 29+ Ursa model and yesterday, I met the Chumba team out at Pace Bend Park, a 45 minute drive from Austin, to shred their new made in Texas Stella 29’r hard tail.
