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Not Your Mama's LBS Bronson Carbon

18K views 106 replies 46 participants last post by  Meatsmasher 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi MTBR,

Location Bay Area, CA.
Philosophy Whoever has the most fun is the best rider
Dilemma Friends kicking my butt with light, big wheel bikes. Not as fun as riding in a pack... : )
ME 5'10.5", 155lbs. I have been through some bikes in my day but hardly saw dirt meet tire from 2000 to 2012 when I began riding trail again. I sold a 2003 Kona Stinky and picked up slightly used 2012 Nomad Aluminum. I found the Nomad helped me get over the hump from Dual Crown with its robus Lyric fork, and it did most of what I wanted other than keeping up on the bigger climbs and fast XC trails. My friends were riding lighter, more dedicated XC bikes. Then my primary riding partner built up an Intense Carbine in August 23 2012/last year, with 650b wheels; here is the link posted by El Sobrante Cylery: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...78839781.30832.145116242217578&type=3&theater

He kept on about the 650b and the holistic approach, riding a single bike in any situation, which got me thinking it might be worth a look given our similar height and riding styles. About 5-6 months ago my local bike shop received one of the first Bronsons in the bay area. I test rode it and decided I would like to have. Yet, I wasn't ready to fork over the dough; so I went about it the slow way figuring I will find a frame and build it up. While waiting for the Bronson I spent time trying a few other bikes including a 2012 Intense Carbine, then a 2013 TallboyC, and a 2012 Blur TRc (which I truly loved of the bunch). I sure couldn't tell the TRc had 23mm less travel than the Carbine; in my experience at least. I finally snagged a BronsonC frame a few weeks ago on August 24, 2013... exactly 1yr to the day after my friend finished his Carbine build, and I went to work.

The Bike I knew I didn't want the every day vanilla Bronson, but there were some standard items I found I couldn't imagine going without having ridden them on the prior rigs. At a minimum it had to have XT/XTR brakes and shifters, I was ready to try some lighter tires but have some heavier duty ones ready to save the day if I don't like them, and I wanted to build something I really could imagine doing it all. Hence the name, AllMoutaineer. I was pretty torn on wheels between the Crest and Arch, or going with another Chris King set, but decided the Crest were worth a try as I haven't really damaged any rims too badly. Do note, the stem does flip half way through the build ;)

There are a few parts I had lying around and/or repurposed to speed up the build process that are being upgraded/swapped from this BOM, specifically the Bars and possibly going for another Reverb Dropper. As you will see, I chose a lot of parts that aren't the common flavor and it was based on my personal experiences... I will say the one curve ball is the RockShox RCT3 Revelation Dual Air, I have mostly ridden Fox the past few years other than the Lyric which was on the Nomad. They haven't been bad but on the same note I haven't been all that impressed and am slightly under the impression that Kashima might be the greatest marketing scheme of all time. Looks great but are there quantifiable advantages? I haven't noticed, and that is reflected here in this build. Having read the reviews I was going to grab a Pike but found this Rev at the right price; I checked and found similar rave reviews and figured it was worth a try. Maybe not the choice for a 200lb downhiller but for my riding style I have a feeling the Rev might be a winner.

Impressions from the first urban/tuning ride around town tonight: Very crisp, light, rigid, and fast. Can't wait to take it to the dirt. More to come.

Build as it sits tonight, approx 25.6 - 25.8bs with pedals according to weighing in with/without the bike in hand:

  • 2013 Bronson Carbon Frame with Fox Evolution CTD Rear Shock
  • 2013 RockShox Revelation RCT3 Dual Air 150/120mm 27.5" Fork
  • XT Build Kit with 180mm F / 160mm R IceTech Rotors
  • Stan's Crest/Stan's 3.30 27.5" (650b) Wheelset
  • Nobby Nic 2.25 Evo TL Front / Rocket Ron 2.25 Evo TL Rear (might put the NN 2.25 in the back and stick a NN 2.35 up front)
  • Exotic 750mm Carbon 20mm riser bar (was Deity Dirty30 760mm Bar)
  • FSA OS190 80mm Stem (considering Thomson Elite X4 70/80mm stem)
  • Thomson Masterpiece Seatpost
  • WTB Silverado Thinline Saddle
  • Cane Creek 110 Headset
  • SRAM PC 1091R Hollow Pin 10spd chain (was from XT Build Kit)
  • Crank Brothers Candy 3 Pedals

*EDIT 9/13: Swapped to Exotic Carbon Bars and SRAM Chain, new weight approx 25.2lbs*

*EDIT 10/31: Swapped to Reverb Seatpost, Hans Dampf 2.35 Snakeskin Front, Dampf 2.25 Snakeskin Rear, Havoc Carbon 750mm bars, and Thomson 70mm stem. New net weight approx 26.8lbs.*

Photos of build beginning with the frame purchased 8.24.2013 finishing and going on its maiden voyage yesterday Friday 9.6.2013:

Setup as of 10.31.13:
Bicycle tire Tire Bicycle frame Wheel Bicycle wheel
Bicycle frame Bicycle tire Tire Wheel Bicycle fork
Bicycle tire Bicycle frame Wheel Bicycle wheel rim Bicycle wheel
Bicycle tire Bicycle frame Tire Wheel Bicycle wheel rim
Bicycle part Bicycle accessory Bicycle frame Bicycle handlebar Bicycle


Setup as of 9.13.13:

Tire Bicycle tire Wheel Bicycle frame Bicycle wheel
Bicycle tire Bicycle frame Tire Bicycle wheel Wheel


From Beginning to End:







<IMG e3d8bda9-c5a6-4bae-90e9-ed18ff2f2735-2498-00000112631734c9_zps6cb6098b.jpg?="" 2013%20santa%20cruz%20bronson="" stillclaimndp="" w88="" albums="" i174.photobucket.com="" src??http:="">






<IMG 2013%20santa%20cruz%20bronson="" stillclaimndp="" w88="" albums="" i174.photobucket.com="" c58ddf2c-f35f-41ae-a7b5-dca90df4423d-2498-000001121de23fe2_zpsd0e4012e.jpg?="" src?http:="">






Update 9/13, new Exotic Carbon Bars:






 
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#104 ·
what you suggested for the TRc doesn't make a bit of sense to me. if you're going to ride it sometimes, it would probably be a much better idea for it be sufficiently different from your bronson, and an XC build with the lefty is a pretty good way to accomplish that.

it's a very expensive way to accomplish it. are you needing to sell the lefty or something?
 
#105 · (Edited)
Oh trust me... I agree, though, I would still prefer the TRc be 650B if I am making it more XC oriented.

In a perfect world I would rather keep the TRc with the Lefty on it, but it's more important that the girlfriend finds it cosmetically appealing, and wants to spend the maximum time around it. ;) Apparently we do not see eye to eye on the cosmetic appeal of the current set up =P I am hoping to at least get it built before I swap the fork to see how it rides and what it weighs. Totally curious never having had a Lefty before...

*Edit 10/31/13: Good news! She fell in love with the Lefty :) That bike is sick!*

Here is how we ended up:

  • 2013 Bronson 150mm
  • 2013 Blur TRc Lefty 130mm (her dream bike and my secondary rig)

Wheel Tire Bicycle tire Bicycle wheel Bicycle frame
Bicycle tire Bicycle frame Wheel Bicycle wheel rim Bicycle wheel
Tire Wheel Bicycle wheel rim Bicycle part Spoke
Bicycle tire Bicycle wheel Tire Bicycle frame Wheel
 

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