Bike Check: The Beard

Nov 25, 2011

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 9433 times

-Frame: Failure DGAF Dan Norvell signature The Beaver 20.5
-Forks: Snafu Pickle Fork
-Headset: Snafu Fontanel
-Stem: Snafu VST
-Bars: Failure Behind Bars
-Grips: Snafu Simple
-Bar ends: Snafu Alloy Stubby
-Brake lever: Snafu C-Lever

-Brake cable: Snafu AstroGlide
-Brake caliper: Superstar
-Brake pads: Superstar
-Rotor: None
-Chain: 43 Hardware
-Sprocket: Failure Crop Circle 25T
-Cranks: Snafu Mayweather 175
-Bottom Bracket set: Snafu
-Pedals: Snafu Anorexic
-Seatpost clamp: Integrated
-Seatpost: Snafu Solo
-Seat: Snafu Solo
-Front tire: Snafu Malcolm
-Front rim: Snafu Kashiwa
-Front hub: Snafu Zenith
-Rear rim: Snafu Inglewood
-Rear tire: Snafu Malcolm
-Rear hub: Snafu Quasar
-Hub Guards: None
-Pegs: Snafu

Modifications: I cut the steerer tube of my forks, so I don't have to run a lot of spacers. Other than that, I have no other mods on this bike.

Weight: 25 pounds or so. I really don't care or pay much attention to how much my bike weighs. I was bunnyhopping onto rails with 40 pound bikes so my bike feels light to me.

How long did it take you to put this bike together?
About an hour or so. I take my time greasing everything so it's done correctly.

Have you ever gotten your beard stuck when you were working on the bike?
Actually yes, hahah. I usually tuck it into my shirt. It gets caught everywhere. Lately I keep closing my laptop screen on it.

Who are some of the people who hook you up with parts when you need them?
Well since I own Failure, I give myself whatever Failure stuff I need. Snafu makes most everything for a bike, so I run everything Snafu that I can. The parts that Failure and Snafu don't make, I just get whatever I need from my friends at Sidewall Distribution. They distribute a lot of brands, so on this current bike I got Superstar Brakes and a 43 Hardware chain.

Do you care about the looks of your bike?
Yes, to a degree. I'm not super anal about it, but I gotta like what I'm riding.

Why this colour combo?
I wanted to go back to black. I have had some colorful bikes in recent years that I have built. I have had a Red White and Blue one, a Batman bike and I built a Buzz Lightyear inspired bike that I kept mint as a keepsake. It is badass and sitting in my bedroom. I want to keep that bike mint forever!

I'm not really into Pastel colors, I'm wanting to keep it black and metal this time. I really like the orange parts Snafu has out, so I just decided to go with Black and Orange. It's my high school colors. Haha.

Do you run any prototypes? If so, give us all the scoop that you're not supposed to tell.
The only thing on this bike that is a prototype is the Failure Crop Circle Sprocket. It is the Taiwan one that will be coming out in December. It rules!!

Knobby tires are slicks?
Right now Im running Snafu Malcolm tires. I had a bunch or those tires at my house, so I'm running them on front and rear. I ride everything. I always like to have something on the front that is good for trails.

Thanks to:
Mcgoo, Snafu, Biltwell Inc., Mark Owen, Jeremie Infelise and everyone else at Sidewall. Bart De Schlong, FATBMX, Big Beards, Tecate Beer, Beard Team Ohio, Bald Beavers, girlsinyogapants.com round juicy asses, Darryl Nau, Nate Wessel, Dirt Bros, Tessa, Ryder and Kanon, Trails, Street, The Failure and Snafu team and my legions of Fans Worldwide!