Startups: Proudfoot Prime Chromoly Trail Bike – Sea Otter 2017
Proudfoot Cycle founders Jon and Erin Acuff.
The 125-millimeter-travel Prime is one of two dual-suspension designs offered by Proudfoot Cycles in Golden, Colorado. Founder Jon Acuff came from the aerospace industry in Southern California. Jon decided to try his hand at frame building, which struck a chord and inspired he and his wife Erin to found Proudfoot Cycles and move to Golden Colorado. Jon says he is directly related to the Wright brothers, who also were bicycle makers, and his creations reflect the famous duo's pension for meticulous construction as well as their distaste for nonessential accouterments or ornamentation. Proudfoot's philosophy is "Rugged Precision," and their choice of material is chromoly steel.
Proudfoot Prime
The five-inch-travel Prime chassis has a single-pivot rear suspension that pivots on a sealed-bearing Cane Creek headset. The elevated chainstay design, says Jon was chosen because it allowed him to use straight tubes to construct the triangulated swingarm. Smaller diameter frame tubes optimize the strength of the material, and external guides for the cable-housing and hoses ensure that the tubes will not be compromised by drilling holes to route them internally. The bottom bracket shell is threaded, which should make traditionalists jump for joy, as will the provision for a single water bottle. Welding and construction is excellent and, in spite of its simple design, the chassis looks sharp.
The five-inch-travel Prime chassis has a single-pivot rear suspension that pivots on a sealed-bearing Cane Creek headset. The elevated chainstay design, says Jon was chosen because it allowed him to use straight tubes to construct the triangulated swingarm. Smaller diameter frame tubes optimize the strength of the material, and external guides for the cable-housing and hoses ensure that the tubes will not be compromised by drilling holes to route them internally. The bottom bracket shell is threaded, which should make traditionalists jump for joy, as will the provision for a single water bottle. Welding and construction is excellent and, in spite of its simple design, the chassis looks sharp.
Cut-away swingarm boss and a look at the Cane Creek headset pivot bearings.
External cables allow for slender, lighter frame tubes.
Threaded bottom bracket and pedal-optimized swingarm pivot.
Simple brake caliper mounts. Dropouts are sourced.
The right stay is elevated to clear the chain,and help provide tire clearance.
Jon says that the Prime is convertible from 29-inch wheels to 27.5+ and the rear axle spacing is 148 Boost. With its RockShox Monarch damper, the medium sized frame is said to weight 7.25 pounds (3.3kg), which is quite respectable for a steel suspension chassis. Frames run $2750 USD and three builds are offered, which run from $6510 for the Race model, to $5050 for the Adventure option. Sizes are small, medium and large and five colors are available, including clear-coated raw steel. Proudfoot Cycles sells direct to customers through their web store. Riders searching for a simple to maintain and rugged trail bike should check out this one.
A look at the lightweight clamp that retains the swingarm's pivot shaft.
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Not sure why pinkbike hasn't done an article on the starling murmur yet, but I have yet to see a bike on this site I want more than the murmur.
dirtmountainbike.com/bike-reviews/trail-enduro-bikes/starling-murmur-steel-bike-thats-blown-us-away.html
If a company built frames that didn't break, they'd be 1-2 pounds/500g-1 kilo heavier than they are today. While some brands DO push that limit too far (and they usually have a garbage warranty-looking at you Big Red S!) on balance, having a light frame that rides well is what we all want. If you're a strapping 200lb/90kg rider who rides big lines, yes you may want a custom frame built with burlier tubing.
I'd rather have a reasonably light bike for my 160 lb/73kg frame. The rear end on my Giant Trance cracked last year, and (bonus to Giant, they have a lifetime warranty) I had a new rear end bolted on within a few days (also a reason to shop your LBS).
Steel is a good frame material, but on full suspension bikes in particular, the cost and weight of building a reasonably strong chassis make is less than ideally suited. That said, on a nice hardtail or roadbike, it can ride nicely and be pretty durable. However, any material is only as good as how it's utilized.
Ya I saw lots of tange bike fail to
The renolds 853 cromo bikes where the best cromo ever built
factoryjackson.com/2015/09/28/swarf-cycles-an-alternative-mtb-brand
Oh yes.
Recently my not overly light 3.4kg alloy trailbike frame broke after 2 years (and I am way below 200lb) and I decided that I would only go for something with a better warranty. I mean not some ridiculous warranty like I've read at some manufacturer that is void if I change the seat of the bike. I mean something where the manufacturer trusts in their products.
As it is quite hard to find a manufacturer that seems to really trust their own products (which means a good warranty) I thought maybe at least the material (steel) would be some kind of a warrant for not breaking all the time.
I own quite a few old late 80's/early 90's steel MTB frames including a Bridgestone MB1 (Japenese made with Japenese made Tange Steel) and a Bontrager Race (American made with American made True Temper Steel). The mb1, while very compliant and lovely to ride, turns into a wet noodle when pushed while the bonty remains responsive and lively when stressed and my XXL bonty weighs in around 23lbs. I am 220lb so i am pushing these old bikes pretty hard.
The welds are a little goobery too. Love seeing small shops building cool frames, especially when they do innovative stuff like the headset bearings as pivots, the the level of craftsmanship needs help
I really like what you've done with the frame. Can you speak to the hoods above the BB and at the rear dropout? Can you still use a QR rear? What is the limit on the size of the front chainring?
"........the medium sized frame is said to weigh 7.25 pounds (3.3kg)"