This Pinion-equipped REEB hardtail was built for a customer in Roseville, CA, who was looking for a no-fuss build that would shine on the smoother trails surrounding his home. With a Zerode Taniwha enduro bike already in the quiver, the customer was familiar with the wide gear range and minimal maintenance that are the hallmarks of Pinion’s gearbox. Wanting to further increase the easy-factor with this hardtail rig, we paired the gearbox with a Gates Carbon Drive belt system for a no-worries drivetrain that would allow him to spend his precious free time exploring the local trails, not fussing with derailleur adjustments or obsessing over readings from his chain-checker.
In line with this preference for durable, simple components that simply work, the customer requested a steel frame with versatile geometry that could handle techier outings, but was highly efficient on the smoother rides that would be its daily bread-and-butter. The final ask? Something made in the US of A.
REEB was the obvious answer. As one of the few American-made steel frame builders offering Pinion-compatible options, it was a natural fit. With slogans like “Made in Colorado by people you can talk to” and “No unfun bikes”, the good-times-only brand ethos perfectly encapsulated the personality characteristics we wanted to see out of a bike that was built, to quote, “just because”.
The most discerning readers will recognize that “REEB” is “BEER” spelled backwards, and this is no coincidence. The brand was founded by a crew from Oskar Blues Brewery, a place well-known in local circles as much for its support of the cycling community as for its scrumptious food and bevvies. No doubt, the folks at REEB know how to have a good time, and carry this mentality into the bikes they build.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t have an incredible penchant for detail and intelligent design, with their entire manufacturing process contained to a single room in their Longmont, CO, headquarters. If you’re ever in town, be sure to swing by the CYCLHOPS Bike CANtina just down the street for a round of tacos and margs.
Frames are built-to-order, with a wide range of color and decal options, with everything from the classic silver-and-black of this bike to schemes far louder. The shortish chainstays on this Dikyelous model retain playfulness, while 29” wheels provide a bit of extra capability and efficiency for this rigid frame.
The choice of a REEB frame also allowed for the use of both Pinion’s C1.12 gearbox and the Gates Carbon Drive CDX Center Track belt system. The Pinion gearbox provides a 600% gear range, which exceeds that of SRAM’s Eagle system. Because it’s an entirely sealed unit, it requires virtually no maintenance beyond a recommended annual oil change that can be performed at home. The C1.12 contains 12 evenly-indexed gears, but a lighter 9-speed version is also available. The gearbox integrates cleanly into the bottom bracket of the REEB frame, centering the weight for a more balanced ride-feel. The lack of external parts also has major advantages for trail riding, opening up narrow lines between rocks or other obstacles that would typically risk bending or ripping off a derailleur and incurring an expensive repair.
Belts from Gates Carbon Drive are a natural fit for the Pinion Gearbox (which is also chain-compatible). Unlike chains, belts do not rust or require lubrication, offering year-round reliability in all weather conditions with minimal mess or upkeep. When they get muddy out on the trails, you can simply wipe ‘em down and ride again—no chain cleaner or removal necessary. Plus, Gates Carbon Drive belts last 5-10x longer than most chains and don’t stretch—meaning they don’t cause excessive wear on sprockets, further increasing the longevity of all your drivetrain components. For a daily rider that you don’t want to clean after every outing, it’s hard to beat an internally-geared drivetrain and belt system.
This bike was never intended to be a calorie-counting XC racer, and you won’t find a cycling computer mounted to its wide ENVE handlebars. The rest of the build kit was rounded out accordingly, selecting parts that provide confidence on technical trails, without being overly cumbersome on the fast single track that dominates the landscape of the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Suspension up front comes in the form of a Cane Creek Helm 140mm fork, in silver and black, of course. Paired with the larger wheels and a 150mm Fox Transfer dropper post, the result is a highly-capable setup that’s not afraid to pick the tech line. The Transfer post also introduced a splash of gold into the color scheme, which we carried over to the Cane Creek headset topcap and used to highlight bolts and adjusters on the fork and brake/dropper levers as well.
Carbon hoops come in the form of Derby’s durable AM all-mountain layup, laced to Onyx hubs. Minion DHF and DHR II 2.4” tires round out the trail-friendly footing with aggressive treads that excel in both dusty and wet conditions. REEB also offers frames that can accept mid-fat 27.5 x 3.0” for those riders looking for an even more confidence-inspiring trail hardtail.
At Cycle Monkey, we love to put together builds that aim to provide a hassle-free good time with capable components and low-maintenance drivetrains. This REEB was a perfect example, and we’re stoked to hear how it performs on the trail. If you have a custom build from REEB or any other brand in mind, don’t hesitate to contact us to see what we can build together!
Build Details
- Frame: REEB Dikleyous
- Fork: Cane Creek Helm 140mm Travel
- Headset: Cane Creek 110
- Handlebar: ENVE
- Shifter: Pinion Twist Shifter
- Grips: Ergon
- Seatpost/Dropper: Fox Transfer 150mm Drop
- Saddle: WTB
- Front Hub: Onyx ISO Boost
- Rear hub: Onyx ISO Single Speed Boost
- Spokes: Sapim Race
- Nipples: Sapim Brass
- Rims: Derby AM 29”
- Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF & DHR II
- Cranks: Pinion
- Pedals: Shimano XT Trail
- Gearbox: Pinion C1.12
- Chain ring: Gates Carbon Drive Belt Sprocket
- Rear Sprocket: Gates Carbon Drive Belt Sprocket
- Belt: Gates Carbon Drive Belt
- Brakes & Levers: Hope
- Rotors: Hope
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