Prototype Steel Chromag Freeride/DH Bike from Whistler

Related:
sspomer
Posts
6505
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID, USA
Fantasy

The drool level is off the charts with this one. Rick Schubert snagged some pics of this proto Chromag steel-front-triangle freeride beauty during the World Cup in Whistler. Simple, clean and quite the juxtaposition with the pairing of the garage-made welding vibe and high-tech wireless SRAM XX DH drivetrain. 

20260924 UCI DH WC-Whistler SR37463
32
|
earleb
Posts
374
Joined
3/23/2023
Location
North Vancouver, BC, CA
Fantasy
1 day ago

As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless welds. The pro that welded this really shouldn't be lumped in with garage level work. You hide "garage-made welding vibe " under paint designed to distract from looking at the welding, you put pro work like this on display in pure raw form. 

16
1 day ago

That Chromag … all the way up! 

sspomer
Posts
6505
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID, USA
Fantasy
1 day ago
earleb wrote:
As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless...

As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless welds. The pro that welded this really shouldn't be lumped in with garage level work. You hide "garage-made welding vibe " under paint designed to distract from looking at the welding, you put pro work like this on display in pure raw form. 

more than fair and in no way do i think this is a hack job! maybe "industrial" or "fabrication" aesthetic would better describe it compared to XX DH. the bike looks incredible.

2
earleb
Posts
374
Joined
3/23/2023
Location
North Vancouver, BC, CA
Fantasy
1 day ago
earleb wrote:
As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless...

As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless welds. The pro that welded this really shouldn't be lumped in with garage level work. You hide "garage-made welding vibe " under paint designed to distract from looking at the welding, you put pro work like this on display in pure raw form. 

sspomer wrote:
more than fair and in no way do i think this is a hack job! maybe "industrial" or "fabrication" aesthetic would better describe it compared to...

more than fair and in no way do i think this is a hack job! maybe "industrial" or "fabrication" aesthetic would better describe it compared to XX DH. the bike looks incredible.

I'd call it "flawless raw industrial fabrication vibes". 

1
ShapeThings
Posts
138
Joined
8/19/2018
Location
Oakland, CA, USA
1 day ago

I 100% would’ve bought one of their full-suspension bikes because they look so good (plus steel is underrated for full squish), but they prefer the low stack and longer reach to rear ratio. 

 

2
1
1 day ago

Awesome looking frame and interesting dropouts! Anyone know the travel?

1
Itsme
Posts
307
Joined
6/25/2010
Location
Villars, CH
1 day ago

I would

1
D(C)
Posts
54
Joined
5/15/2013
Location
CA
Fantasy
1 day ago

Aluminum rear end, I think? Nice looking bike, for sure.

1 day ago

Ooooooh boy, that is one SICK bicycle. If I'd have to ride only this for gravity forever I'd be thankful every day.

2
GumptionZA
Posts
1
Joined
7/24/2026
Location
Caerphilly, GB
19 hours ago
earleb wrote:
As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless...

As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless welds. The pro that welded this really shouldn't be lumped in with garage level work. You hide "garage-made welding vibe " under paint designed to distract from looking at the welding, you put pro work like this on display in pure raw form. 

The garage game has changed big time. Getting parts 3d printed or cnc'd is far easier than fully fabricating all the complex parts of your frame nowadays 

1
pau668
Posts
10
Joined
12/13/2010
Location
USA
17 hours ago

I love this bike

Big Bird
Posts
2352
Joined
2/1/2011
Location
Oceano, CA, USA
17 hours ago

It's got a larger diameter down tube than most steel bikes. Finally. But mine's bigger.

1
13 hours ago
earleb wrote:
As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless...

As an actual garage bike building hack I don't see any "garage-made welding vibe" here. I see pro level work, 3d printed bb/pivot housing, and spotless welds. The pro that welded this really shouldn't be lumped in with garage level work. You hide "garage-made welding vibe " under paint designed to distract from looking at the welding, you put pro work like this on display in pure raw form. 

Wait I thought that's why Cannondale used to grind down their welds (like a braized frame)

Post a reply to: Prototype Steel Chromag Freeride/DH Bike from Whistler

The Latest