We recently added this new frame color for our steel lineup: Lvl 4 Metal Universe Holographic w/ clearcoat. This metallic flake color is charcoal black until the light hits it when a vibrant burst of color reveals itself. The effect is incredible to see and so dynamic as you change the angle of the light. The video below has no effects added. We can add this to existing orders or new ones.
Rider Rigs: Henley's Utilitarian Expeditioner
Few things can compare to the thrill of exploring new places on a bike. Wether it’s bikepacking through rugged backcountry, or diving through crowded city streets, the possibilities for finding new terrain is endless. We talked with team rider Henley Phillips to break down what motivates him to explore by bicycle, and how his Chumba Yaupon Steel helps him do so.
How did you get started bikepacking?
I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America right outta college and have a vivid memory seeing a bike tourer for the first time while I was in the provincial capital one day. Both the bike and the person looked ragged and road worn, and I immediately knew that was something I wanted. In 2013, I flew to Guatemala on my first bike trip, intending to be gone for two years, and was robbed in the middle of the night just two weeks into the trip. Not the most positive initial experience, but I tasted enough to know it was for me.
Where are you riding? What type of terrain and trips do you have planned?
I'm a commuter first and foremost, so I bike everywhere for everything. Outside of utilitarian use, I pedal the trails and dirt roads in and around Tucson which are pretty rocky and loose. We have a great cycling community here with all kinds of rides and trips happening throughout the year, and I take advantage of it all. I was just awarded Attaquer's Out of Office Grant, so this Fall I'll be back out on the Arizona Trail to attempt a multi-sport yo-yo that didn't go to plan earlier this Spring.
Having ridden the Yaupon in both a flat bar and drop bar setup, what are some benefits of each setup?
Given my mountain biking skills, I much prefer the flat bar setup for the type of technical riding we have down here. With a set of wide flat bars and front suspension, I feel like I'm able to extend my comfort level quite a bit and ride sections I was otherwise tiptoeing through with drop bars. On the other hand, the Ritchey Beacon bars are great for when I want to run drops and stick a little closer to rough dirt roading instead. Swapping between these two setups is straightforward, so I feel like I've got two distinct bikes to choose from at any given point. I can envision swapping out the front suspension with a carbon fork and really pushing the drop bar setup into something fast and fun.
What are some key components you’ve for this type of riding?
The SQ Labs 30X bar paired with Cane Creek bar ends have been excellent for climbing and provide just enough variation in hand positions to keep things fresh. This is my first experience with hydraulic brakes, and holy crap the Shimano XT 4-Pistons are incredible! I mainly ride in flat pedals and sandals and really like the Wolftooth Waveform pedals; plus, that espresso brown color looks top notch with the root beer frame color. To top it off, the Dispersed top tube bag in leopard print gives a little flare and is wonderfully cavernous.
What's your go-to bikepacking snack?
Bean and rice burritos all day. Flamin' Hot Cheetos at the gas station.
Henley’s Yaupon Build Kit
Fork - Rockshox SID Ultimate, 120mm
Drivetrain - SRAM GX Eagle AXS 1x12 w/ 10-52 Cassette
Brakes - Shimano XT 4 Piston Hydraulic
Crankset - SRAM GX Alloy, 170mm
Bottom Bracket - Cane Creek Hellbender 70
Headset - Chris King Inset i7
Stem - Thomson X4 70mm
Handlebar - SQ Labs 30X, 30mm rise, 16° sweep
Grips - Wolf Tooth Fatpaw w/ Ergon Bar Ends
Wheelset - Astral Serpentine to Industry Nine Hydra Hubs
Tires - Maxxis Rekon EXO, 29 x 2.4″
Seatpost - PNW Loam w/ Wolftooth Light Action Remote
Bags - Dispersed Bikepacking Frame, Top Tube, and Seat Wedge Bags, Sea to Summit eVent Drybag, Rockgeist Gondola, 5L
Saddle - Selle Anatomica X2
Pedals - Wolf Tooth Waveform, Espresso
See what you can create by building your own custom Yaupon!
Alexandera Houchin's Yaupon Titanium Build for 2023 Tour Divide
Alexandera is in Fernie resting up before starting Tour Divide tomorrow! Last week she checked in with us from Montana to share how her bike tour to Banff is going. In Missoula her new Yaupon Titanium was waiting for her so she could ride it into Fernie and onwards to Antelope Wells, NM!
Let’s take a look at some of the component choices we planned with Alexandera for this years Tour Divide bike.
First up is this limited edition Cane Creek Helm Work Series suspension fork. These shed some weight from the standard Helm chassis and feature a lockout. Having completed the Tour with a rigid fork prior, Alexandera really wanted reliable suspension fork with a lockout for this years ride. The Helm’s are some of the best made and best riding forks out there and we were excited to see Cane Creek come through and sponsor her this year.
Cane Creek also supplied a 110 headset and a 110 bottom bracket to pair with their eeWing Titanium cranks.
Next is some one of a kind wheels from her wheel and stem sponsor Industry Nine. Industry Nine has been supporting Alexandera for a while and we love their hubs and rims for their reliability and excellent ride characteristics. The rear is a Trail 280c Carbon Hydra wheel, 32h, with a custom medicine wheel color pattern.
The front is a Trail 280c Carbon rim laced up to a SON Dynamo 110x15 hub to power Alexandera’s new K-Lite Gravel and MTB systems. For TD she’ll be running the K Lite Gravel beam and USB.
Waveform pedals, singlespeed cog and chainring are from Wolf Tooth Components.
Most importantly, don’t forget this incredible Leopard print bikepacking bagset from fellow team riders Andrew and Katie Strempke of Dispersed Bikepacking Gear.
For device management and a different riding position we connected with Baryak to get this sweet cockpit setup dialed in! This sorts out her light, phone and Garmin all while providing a support for the handlebar bag and an aero bar.
Other components in the final bike include:
SRAM AXS dropper post
Bedrock Dragonfly rear saddle bag
Maxxis Crossmark II EXO 29x2.25 tires
Shimano XT 4 piston brakes
Terry Saddle
Cane Creek Ergo bar ends
Thomson Titanium Riser Bars (not shown, she had these enroute)