Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL & Ventana El Gordo Belt Drive Fat Bike Packages - Fall 2014

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.

Ventana El Gordo Build Kit Options

The new SPEEDHUB XL (left), and the original SPEEDHUB 500/14 (right)

Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL features

• 14 gears with a 526% overall change in gear ratio offers the same range as most three by nine mountain bike derailleur systems.
• Same proven hub internals as the SPEEDHUB 500/14 provides 100,000+ miles of reliable service.
• Shifting mechanism is completely protected within the hubshell and sealed from the elements.
• Shift reliably in sand, snow, mud, and other riding conditions that are harsh on traditional drivetrains.
• Shift between gears at any time, even when coasting or while stopped.
• Hub needs no maintenance other than an annual oil change.
• Large diameter, symmetrical hub flanges build into strong wheels.

Ventana El Gordo frame features

• Ventana tapered head tube (1-1/8" to 1.5")
• Ventana proprietary three bolt swinging adjustable dropouts
• Belt drive compatible - drive side dropout separates from seat stay to insert belt into rear triangle
• Cycle Monkey edition has dedicated cable routing for Rohloff SPEEDHUB shift cables and stealth dropper seatposts
• 170mm rear axle spacing
• Symmetric frame can be built with any fat bike rim size, including 29+
• Chainstay yoke provides ample clearance for large volume tires (4.8" tires on 100mm rims)
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (see geometry chart here)
• Custom geometry available upon request for additional charge.
• Carbon Black or Mango Tango
• Additional colors available for additional charge

Ventana El Comandante Bike Packing bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB and BeltDrive

Riding the Divide is one of the most awe-inspiring and grueling cycling challenges in the world. The 2,700 mile, 200,000 foot elevation gain ride goes from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, traversing the whole length of the United States along the Continental Divide. The Divide is also the route of the annual Tour Divide, a famous unsupported endurance race. The record for the race is 15 days, but the ride is also done at a more leisurely pace by non-competitive riders who want to enjoy the beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery along the way. We built this Rohloff SPEEDHUB-equipped Ventana El Comandante for a customer who is planning to ride and train around his home near Columbus, OH with the goal of eventually gearing up for a Divide ride of his own.

Co-Motion Americano Touring Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB, Schmidt SON28 Dynamo, and Gates Belt Drive

Taking a four month tour through the Balkan Peninsula in Europe requires a commitment to adventure. As with most self-supported bike trips, you must be prepared for different road conditions, varying weather, and unexpected mishaps. The embrace of the unknown was exactly what inspired this build: the customer, from Santa Cruz, CA wanted a fully-equipped touring bike to set out to see new parts of the world. Based on his criteria, we set him up with a Co-Motion Americano equipped with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, belt drive, generator hub, and an array of other reliable touring components to keep him comfortable during his travels.

Ventana El Gordo Fatbike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL and Gates CarbonDrive belt

We were very excited when Rohloff called at the start of the summer to tell us they were sending us a pre-production sample of their new fat bike-specific SPEEDHUB XL. We had learned they were considering producing this 170mm wide hub only a few months prior, and now prototypes had already been built and tested and they were on to a pre-production run. Our sample hub showed up a week later and we marveled at how it dwarfed the standard SPEEDHUB 500/14.

The only problem on our end was finding a frame to use to build the new hub into a bike. Since we don't get snow in the San Francisco Bay Area, we planned to set the bike up for trail riding, which has become an increasingly popular use for fat bikes. This meant that the bike would be getting a suspension fork and dropper seatpost. It also needed to be belt drive compatible since we prefer the maintenance-free aspect of belts.

Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL Fat Bike Wheel Build Specials Through August 31

Now through August 31, when we anticipate our first delivery of Rohloff's new fat bike-specific SPEEDHUB XL internal gear hubs, Cycle Monkey is offering specials on bikes and wheels built around these hubs. Details on wheelset specials can be found below. Details for complete bike packages can be found here.

Rims are available in carbon fiber or aluminum in widths from 50-100mm for trail or sand/snow use. Wheels can be set up with tubes or tubeless using tires from Vee Rubber, Surly, and 45NRTH. All wheels are built to Cycle Monkey's exacting in-house standards and come with our standard two-year guarantee on craftsmanship.

During our pre-sale, receive 10% off bike and wheel packages. In addition to this special pricing, existing SPEEDHUB owners can trade in their Rohloff hubs for $700 in credit towards a complete bike or new wheelset. With the anticipated late August delivery date for the new SPEEDHUB, we expect to start shipping wheels by the middle of September.

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

Wheelsets starting at $2,141

Signature Wheelset: $2,416

Rear Hub: Rohloff SPEEDHUB XL
Front Hub: Hope Fatsno
Rims: Surly Clown Shoe
Spokes: Sapim Race
Nipples: Sapim Race
QR Skewers: Hope
Tires: Vee Rubber Snowshoe XL or H-Billie
Tubes: Surly fat bike tubes or tubeless