Die Deutschmaschine
over two years ago, i was looking for a new frame. i was tired of my balfa bb7 being such a pig, and i wanted something that would be more of an all-around rig. i didn't want anything too long or too high. i wanted a short seat tube for tons of standover. and i wanted something that would pedal up if i needed it to. i had always been a fan of Nicolai aesthetics, and i looked at the UFO and the UFO ST (Xy9ine was selling his UFO back then). however, the pricing was tough to agree with for a new Nicolai. i stumbled across the Bottlerocket as transition was getting ready to release it to the masses and i determined that was the bike i wanted.
flashing forward a couple of years, i loved the Bottlerocket and was completely happy with it. then one day while surfing the web, i stumbled back across the UFO ST again. i noticed the geometry was almost identical to the Bottlerocket. it got me thinking about it. then fate kicked me in the butt by guiding me to a guy selling his. the bike was in amazing shape and the price was right, so i put down the benjamins and never looked back.
the Bottlerocket was a good way to get off the ground, but the UFO took me through the stratosphere and right outta this world. i got this beast built up and hit a few shuttle runs with it on saturday. i was blown away.
the geometry was almost identical to the Bottlerocket, but the UFO adds 2.5" of travel, for a total of 8" of bump eating madness. the bike felt instantly comfortable and the only adjustment i needed to make was to the seat height (the extra travel means the tire can buzz the saddle).
i noticed frame stiffness for the first time. i had never noticed how different bikes had different stiffness. this thing was so stiff that it could not be ignored. it let me dig into corners like a mad man (by my standards). the extra travel in the rear let the bike settle deeper in corners, then boost out of them from the shock rebound. it felt so sick compared to anything else i had ever been on that i don't know why i didn't do this sooner.
the only current planned changes are to the pedals (my atomlab C-clip came off and the pedal body shot off the spindle - nice for a set of month-old pedals; i thought they fixed that problem?). i also just got a set of new brakes for the beast; Magura Carbon Louise BAT with 203 rotors front and rear.
over two years ago, i was looking for a new frame. i was tired of my balfa bb7 being such a pig, and i wanted something that would be more of an all-around rig. i didn't want anything too long or too high. i wanted a short seat tube for tons of standover. and i wanted something that would pedal up if i needed it to. i had always been a fan of Nicolai aesthetics, and i looked at the UFO and the UFO ST (Xy9ine was selling his UFO back then). however, the pricing was tough to agree with for a new Nicolai. i stumbled across the Bottlerocket as transition was getting ready to release it to the masses and i determined that was the bike i wanted.
flashing forward a couple of years, i loved the Bottlerocket and was completely happy with it. then one day while surfing the web, i stumbled back across the UFO ST again. i noticed the geometry was almost identical to the Bottlerocket. it got me thinking about it. then fate kicked me in the butt by guiding me to a guy selling his. the bike was in amazing shape and the price was right, so i put down the benjamins and never looked back.
the Bottlerocket was a good way to get off the ground, but the UFO took me through the stratosphere and right outta this world. i got this beast built up and hit a few shuttle runs with it on saturday. i was blown away.
the geometry was almost identical to the Bottlerocket, but the UFO adds 2.5" of travel, for a total of 8" of bump eating madness. the bike felt instantly comfortable and the only adjustment i needed to make was to the seat height (the extra travel means the tire can buzz the saddle).
i noticed frame stiffness for the first time. i had never noticed how different bikes had different stiffness. this thing was so stiff that it could not be ignored. it let me dig into corners like a mad man (by my standards). the extra travel in the rear let the bike settle deeper in corners, then boost out of them from the shock rebound. it felt so sick compared to anything else i had ever been on that i don't know why i didn't do this sooner.
the only current planned changes are to the pedals (my atomlab C-clip came off and the pedal body shot off the spindle - nice for a set of month-old pedals; i thought they fixed that problem?). i also just got a set of new brakes for the beast; Magura Carbon Louise BAT with 203 rotors front and rear.