Cycle Monkey Introduces Tout Terrain Touring, Commuting, Urban and E-Bikes; Trailers

Tout Terrain Silk Road Xplore on tour at the Golden Gate Bridge

Cycle Monkey is pleased to announce the addition of Tout Terrain bikes, trailers, and accessories to our lineup. Germany-based Tout Terrain designs and builds high-end city and expedition touring bikes, suspended trailers for children and cargo, and the Cinq components line.

Tout Terrain designs bikes for a cycling lifestyle for both daily transportation and extended tours. Each model is designed to be comfortable and durable, and Tout Terrain's innovative design features make the bikes stand out. Internal gearing from Rohloff, Pinion, and Shimano combined with Gates Carbon Drive belts create user-friendly, low-maintenance bikes.

Purpose Built. Each bike is designed from frame to fenders across four categories with the desired use in mind. Tout Terrain looks at the complete bicycle as a package, adapting the design elements to better fit each potential application.

Reliability. Low maintenance of internally geared drivetrains. Engineered and real-world tested for durability.

Innovation. From patented tensioning solutions for setting belt and chain tension, to integrated rear racks, ergonomic steering stops, integrated dynamo wiring, and built-in kickstand mount, each bike offers features to make your riding more enjoyable.

Customizable Bike Packages

Tout Terrain offers highly configurable bike packages that give customers the flexibility to get a bike that best suits their needs and to make commuting or touring a reality.

Options include:

• Choice of up to 4 frame sizes
• Choice of 10 stock powder coat colors, with custom RAL colors available for additional cost
• Choice of drivetrain: Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14; Pinion P1.18, P1.12, P1.9XR, P1.9CR; Shimano Alfine 8, Alfine 11
• Choice of Gates Carbon Drive belt or chain
• Drop bars or flat bars
• 2 build kit levels
• Dynamo hub, lights, and USB charging options
• Bags, fenders, kickstands, locks, locking skewers, and various component upgrade options.

Mule - The Expedition-Ready Trailer from Tout Terrain

Introducing the expedition worthy Mule trailer from Tout Terrain

Headed to the backcountry or on a long distance tour: hire a Mule.

Tout Terrain designs purpose-built bikes and trailers for a cycle-centric life. The Mule, a suspended single-wheeled luggage trailer, is a unique product for off-road and on-road cycling and ideal for bicycle touring.

Now through the end of 2015, get free shipping within mainland US on Tout Terrain trailer orders.
http://cyclemonkey.bigcartel.com/product/tout-terrain-mule-cargo-trailer

Tout Terrain Mule trailer hitched to 29er MTB

Singetrailer and Streamliner - Trail Worthy Child Trailers from Tout Terrain

On the go: Family ride with the Tout Terrain Streamliner trail-a-bike and Tout Terrain Singletrailer

For cycling families, Tout Terrain offers the most trail- and street-worthy bike trailers, complete with a 5-point harness system and suspension that enhances the fun, comfort, and safety for your child.

The Tout Terrain trailer product portfolio is divided into three categories URBAN, OFFROAD and TOUR to meet your needs.

Now through the end of 2015, get free shipping within mainland US on Tout Terrain trailer orders.
http://cyclemonkey.bigcartel.com/product/tout-terrain-single-child-trailers-singletrailer-streamliner-streamliner

Renovo Wood Commuting/Light Touring Bike with Rohloff Speedhub and Belt Drive

We assembled this unique bike for a local customer in San Francisco, CA. He wanted a classy bike to commute to work on and go on weekend rides throughout the Marin Headlands. Since he works in the solar energy field, he was drawn to renewable aspects of a wood frame. He commissioned the frame through Renovo and worked with us on parts spec and build up once the frame arrived. The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub, Gates Carbon Drive belt system, and Schmidt dynamo hub cater to his technical background as well as being "green" due to the fact that they are extremely long lasting components which do not require frequent replacement.

Ventana El Gordo Fat Bike Packages - 2016

Overview

For fall of 2015, we have revamped our Ventana El Gordo Fat Bike packages.  These bikes have proven to be solid performers for many types of riding over the past year.  We made updates based on new parts introduced in the past year as well as introducing suggested builds for snow/sand, trail, and touring use.  The frame, Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL gear hub, and Gates Carbon Drive belt system carry forward.  See chart below for details.

Introduction

We've worked with Ventana Mountain Bikes USA to create a special Cycle Monkey edition of their US-made El Gordo fat bike frame. The Cycle Monkey edition will feature dedicated cable routing for the Rohloff SPEEDHUB and stealth dropper seatposts. These frames are also belt drive compatible through Ventana's clever adjustable dropout system for the most maintenance-free fat bike drivetrain available. Options are available to build the bikes up with a suspension fork and dropper seatpost for trail use or with a rigid fork and post for sand/snow use.

Contact us at info@cyclemonkey.com or 510-868-1777 to place an order.

Traitor Cycles Cutlass with Schlumpf Speed Drive

This Traitor Cycles Cutlass single speed was sent to us by a customer in San Diego, California, for a face lift and more gearing. He wanted the bike to be burgundy instead of the stock tan color it came in, which was easily accomplished by our local powder coater. He also wanted the option of more than one gear ratio without getting off the bike and flipping the back wheel while still maintaining the simplistic look and feel of a single-gear bike. Installing one of Schlumpf's internally geared cranksets provides two gear choices without adding any clutter, and with a simple click of the heel gives the rider the second speed that he was looking for.

Schlumpf Speed Drive Button

Vassago Jabberwocky Mountain Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB

We built this Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14-equipped mountain bike to showcase Vassago’s Jabberwocky frame - an affordable, versatile, steel 29er hardtail. Vassago is a small bike brand based in Phoenix Arizona, who produces quality steel and titanium frames. The Jabberwocky is an ideal choice for riders who are looking for a value-oriented hardtail that climbs efficiently, handles predictably, and is durable. Paired with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB, the Jabberwocky becomes a no-nonsense adventure bike that will perform reliably for years and years.

Ventana El Gordo Fatbike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB and Gates Belt Drive

El Gordo hardtail build in Orange

This sharp looking orange Ventana El Gordo went to a happy customer in Delafield, WI. He had been running a Gates Carbon Drive belt system on a Trek Sawyer set up single speed and loved the low maintenance aspects of the belt but wanted additional gears. He had considered putting a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 on the Sawyer to get more gears, but he really wanted to run wider tires than the Sawyer would allow. He was excited when Rohloff introduced the SPEEDHUB XL - the fat bike version of their gear hub - last fall and contacted us to put together a no-fuss fat bike for year round trail riding including his snowy Midwest winters.

Ventana's rocking dropouts provide solid wheel positioning for tensioning the belt

Jones Titanium Rigid Adventure/Offroad Touring Bike with Rohloff Speedhub

We built this custom painted Jones Titanium Diamond frame with steel Unicrown fork for a customer in Silver City, NM. He already had a steel Jones bike, set up predominantly for on-road touring, so for this build he was interested in building up the Ti version into a hassle-free mixed terrain touring bike. He came to us because he was interested in using a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 for an unstoppable adventure touring drivetrain. We worked with him to select a build kit that would be comfortable, reliable, and keep the weight down as much as possible.

Fits By Paul City Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14

We assembled this striking commuter bike for a local customer named Paul, who runs a bike fitting business called Fits by Paul in Marin County. He is an accomplished road rider and works with his customers to fine tune the fit of their road bikes for comfort and to prevent injuries while riding. For the times when he’s not riding his road bike, he wanted something more casual that was also trouble-free for riding around town. As a first for us, the customer built the frame himself while attending a bicycle frame building course.  After the frame came back from the painter, he brought it to us with some of the parts, and we helped him plan out the rest of the build centered around a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub. We supplied the missing parts, built the wheels, and assembled everything into a complete bicycle.

Surly Troll with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Schmidt Dynamo

We built this eye-catching purple Surly Troll for a local customer who wanted a bike for daily commuting and long-distance touring. He asked us to build it up with versatility and ergonomics being the primary concern. With Surly's nearly indestructible steel frame, a worry-free Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, Schmidt dynamo front hub, dynamo-powered head light with USB charger, and a pair of steel Tubus racks, this bike is ready to serve as a reliable transporter for many years.

The Surly Troll frames are a trusted choice proven on many different kinds of terrain. From commuting to mountain biking to mixed terrain touring, the Troll is an easy choice for versatile builds based around 26 inch wheels. Like all of Surly’s frames, it features sturdy 4130 chromoly steel tubing to ensure longevity even under the harshest of conditions. It includes gussets on the key tube junctions where frames tend to fail - where the seat tube meets the top tube and where the top and down tubes meet the headtube. Troll frames also offers a full array of threaded mounts for racks, water bottle cages, fenders, and Surly's trailer, making them adaptable to satisfy any rider's needs, no matter how they intend to use it.

For the wheels, we used Sun Ringle’s MTX33 rims, which are rated for downhill mountain biking, making them plenty strong enough to handle just about anything thrown at them. The 33mm width also helps spread out the tire casing for better traction. We laced up the rims using Sapim Race spokes and brass nipples for an appropriate blend of weight and durability in mind. Naturally, we chose a black Rohloff SPEEDHUB in the rear and a matching black Schmidt SON28 in the front. Finally, we mounted the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tires, which have a thick, flat-resistant liner embedded in the rubber so they won't be susceptible to unexpected punctures on the road.

For the varied type of riding this customer is planning to do, a SPEEDHUB was the best choice to serve his needs. Rohloff's hubs are widely recognized as the most suitable drivetrain choice for long distance touring, which this customer plans to embark on in the future. On an unsupported tour that can lead you into remote and unknown areas, you don't want to risk being stranded far from a bike shop with drivetrain problems. The hardened steel gear wheels within the SPEEDHUBs are well protected and far more durable than any derailleur system. The Rohloff hubs are also the ideal choice for our customer’s other intended application: reliable daily commuting. To make it across town quickly at a moment’s notice, the commuter cyclist needs a drivetrain that remains in tune and performs consistently every time they get on their bike.

The Schmidt SON28 dynamo hub powers a Busch and Mueller Luxos U headlight with built-in USB charger. The highly efficient Schmidt hub provides reliable battery-free power to illuminate the road or charge electronic devices with an undetectable amount of resistance. We routed the headlight power wire through the inside of the fork leg for a clean look, a trick which also protects the wires better than wrapping the cable around the fork blade. A second wire from the headlight running to the handlebar terminates at an on/off switch that doubles are a plug for charging a phone, gps, or other USB device.

To fulfill the requirement of comfort, we used our standard choices for ergonomic cockpit and seating components. Ergon’s GP1 grips are shaped to distribute pressure evenly across the palms and feature an extended rest to support the rider’s wrists. The Selle Anatomica’s Titanico X leather saddle features an opening down the middle which allows the saddle to flex with a rider’s pedal stroke and removes pressure on the perineum. The leather breaks in over time to conform to the rider’s unique body shape but feels comfortable right out of the box.

Final touches include Shimano’s XT dual-purpose touring pedals with a platform on one side and an SPD interface on the other to allow them to be used both with clipless shoes for longer rides and flat soled shoes for around town rides. Race Face’s Turbine cranks, made from forged 7050 aluminum, make an extremely strong and hard wearing pedaling platform. Cromoly steel Tubus racks are light and strong.

If you’re looking for a durable touring or all-arounder of your own, contact us to start a conversation about what we can build for you.

Budnitz No.3 Titanium City Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB and Belt Drive

We built this Budnitz NO. 3 titanium bike for a customer in Southern California who was looking for the perfect all-purpose bike to get around town and to potentially do some long distance rides. He wanted a bike for exploring his neighborhood, riding nearby trails and bike paths, taking out on fitness rides, and eventually working his way up to a self supported transcontinental tour. Most of all, he wanted a bike that would be comfortable, lightweight, and stylish - an all-arounder that would last him a lifetime and rarely need service. His goal was to simply take off on a ride whenever he felt like it, so the build focuses around the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt system.