Video: The Starling Cycles Tellum is a Mullet Bike that Puts the Party Up Front [April Fools]

Apr 1, 2020
by Starling Cycles  

Press Release: Starling

Starling Cycles challenges you to flip your understanding of mountain bike design with the all-new Starling Tellum.

The Tellum is a ground-breaking, industry-shaking full suspension mountain bike... with a difference. It takes the scalpel-precision of a fast and manoeuvrable 27.5” wheel and places it up front. Then, adds the blunt force of a tough, hard hitting 29” wheel on the rear. The bike is made with no geometry compromises and built around Starling’s fast, compliant and simple steel single pivot frames.

The Tellum was born out of Starling founder Joe McEwan’s constant hunt for answers to the question of how we can go faster and have more fun on our mountain bikes. Having built the Starling Twist, a traditional Mullet bike, Joe questioned whether his understanding was correct.

The Starling Cycles Tellum a ground-breaking industry-shaking full suspension mountain bike... with a difference.

“I think I was misled in the way I applied the science” says McEwan. “I started from a clean piece of paper again and thought ‘how do we properly do this?’”

“I have talked a lot about gyroscopic stability, the forces that keep a wheel in-plane, and how this is the only significant difference between 29” and smaller wheels. A bigger wheel is more likely to stay in-plane and not get deflected off line, it is also more stable when leant over in a corner. It is these factors that people translate as “better at carrying speed”. But conversely, they also make the wheel harder to be manoeuvred in and out of line choices.”

“With the Twist I took the industry standard mullet solution and applied the wheel stability science, concluding it was better to have a big front wheel for tracking, and a small rear wheel for manoeuvrability. Essentially applying science to a pre-existing solution.”

The Starling Cycles Tellum a ground-breaking industry-shaking full suspension mountain bike... with a difference.

“With the Tellum, I took a different approach, if we start with the science, what solution do we end up with? What we want is a manoeuvrable front wheel, allowing it to be moved in and out of line choices, picked-up and put where we want - after all the front wheel is where steering occurs! The rear wheel then just follows on. If the rear wheel is stable it just trucks on and keeps the speed, there is no need for a manoeuvrable rear wheel.”

“The solution, the Tellum, just works. The science is right, the bike is right!”

The Starling Cycles Tellum a ground-breaking industry-shaking full suspension mountain bike... with a difference.

“I hope that my approach inspires the bike industry to flip their established notions of bike design and look at how they can do things differently. Who knows, maybe we’ll see a World Champion on this sort of bike soon?”

The Tellum is available now for pre-order through Starling Cycles with a limited run of frames being built to order. Pricing and further information is available on request.

More details are available at https://www.starlingcycles.com

Author Info:
Starlingcycles avatar

Member since Mar 6, 2018
11 articles

75 Comments
  • 67 0
 “I think I was misled in the way I applied the science”.

This is going to become permanently engrained in my vernacular.
  • 7 0
 I think I’m going to have a t shirt printed... or better go for a tattoo right away?
  • 2 0
 @phutphutend - and done with a straight face - that must have taken a few takes.
  • 9 0
 “I think I was misled in the way I applied the science”.

New Starling shirt??? I'd buy that.
  • 1 0
 @fartymarty: I'm trained in the arts of lying!! No, in reality I'm kinda convinced it might work...
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: totally straight to the tat.
  • 1 0
 @phutphutend: what's the worst that can happen? It looks like one of those bad ass mixed wheel track bikes.
  • 19 0
 What happens if you ride it backwards? ;-)
  • 10 0
 Pedal kickback
  • 5 0
 @speed10: we got a solution for that...
  • 2 0
 @pinhead907: OOOOhhh snap(chain)!
  • 12 0
 Regardless if this is an April fool's thing or not, I would like to see the reverse mullet reviewed. What does happen with a 27.5" front and a 29" rear? It has been made, and lessons should be learned from it.
  • 1 0
 Yes! Neko tried if I remember?
  • 4 0
 Awesome hill-climb bike.
  • 1 0
 Actually did it to a friends yt, cornered like a boss on tight techy stuff
  • 6 1
 you mean a proper mullet?
  • 1 1
 makes no sense whatsoever. common sense
  • 2 8
flag SintraFreeride (Apr 1, 2020 at 4:44) (Below Threshold)
 @strandmattn: I'd watch it but it has Blake in it so no thanks...
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: Is it something personal, dude?
  • 24 0
 New 29er bike day, building it up. Wheelset came with torque endcaps. Fork is not Torque cap compatible.

"No worries bro, new endcaps are in the mail. Should be there in a few days!"

Days? I don't have days. I have a new bike and I need to ride it now.

Steal front wheel off wife's bike. It's 27.5. Also wife is upset. Whatever on both, I got a new bike and I gotta ride.

Go ride. Rides pretty okay. Mostly notice the front end being too low over any wheel size crap.

Go on a few more rides. Get used to it. Forget I'm being a total goon. Go to group ride. Get heckled mercilessly. Have a crash. Everyone blames the true mullet curse.

Endcaps show up. Use correct front wheel. Rides much better. Almost like it was designed for a big wheel on the front.

I was definately faster with the smaller wheel on the front. With both 29er my wife joins me on rides and my Strava times are way down.
  • 4 1
 @mtb-scotland: Wouldn't 29 in the front and 27.5 in the rear would be a proper mullet bike? Business (29) in the front and party (27.5) in the back.

I see this as a reverse mullet bike. Party (27.5) in the front and business (29) in the back.
  • 1 0
 @Lylat: haha this is awesome!
  • 2 2
 @mmckechnie: mullet it long in the back short on the front.
  • 2 2
 @Lylat:

The whole thing of being "faster on x setup" has no meaning if you are riding for 1 day. You need to ride a configuration for some time to get used to it before making a determination which is faster.
  • 2 0
 @strandmattn: Blake is unwatchable on youtube after he opens his mouth. You can tell he is trying to hard, not a great actor...And in real life well let's just say I hope you never meet him...
  • 7 0
 April mop is hitting
  • 5 0
 april's fools aside.. that color and suspension just match so damn well. need to check the bank account...
  • 6 0
 You always ride down hill. Perfect.
  • 2 0
 So you wont need to pedal at all?

Maybe ist an disguised E Bike?
  • 1 0
 perpetual motion machine, they did it!
  • 4 0
 The joke being that the MTB world is so daft, no one would be surprised if this turns out to be real.
  • 1 0
 Damn, this really lights a fire under my ass. I need to put other projects aside and finish up the Tellet frame I'm working on. It has 29" wheels front and rear and is going to revolutionize the industry. I just hope nobody beats me to it!
  • 6 2
 I can't tell if this is a load of bollocks or not.
  • 3 0
 My Jones Spaceframe is set up from manufacturer with a 26" front and a 29" rear.
  • 3 0
 Even April's fool jokes look cool on steel bikes - would buy
  • 3 0
 It needs a rear wing to keep the party on the ground...
  • 1 0
 My gravel is a reversed mullet: 27,5-650B front / 28-700+ back, it works genuinely, but it`s a gravel... Smile
See pictures on my profile for those interested.
  • 2 0
 Top marks for poking fun at Boris' Coronavirus response too. Excellent work!
  • 1 0
 Why is it the innovators are always overlooked. Georgena Terry did it decades ago. Hell she used steel too, Starling should have to pay her royalties.
  • 1 0
 I propose 29 rear and 26 front, excellent for frightened bikers face to the steep: downhill sensation for the price of a flat common country landscape!
  • 2 0
 That's a nice looking bike
  • 1 0
 Damn nice looking
  • 2 0
 April... I wish covid-19 restrictions were this kind of joke.
  • 2 0
 That bike looks the bollocks!
  • 1 0
 XC racers may give it go. Instead of using inverted stems, they can just go reverse mullet. Climbing abilities enhanced.
  • 2 0
 Hell no.
  • 1 0
 Much better will be 26" front 29" rear.
  • 1 0
 Party in the front, party in the back, party everywhere!
  • 9 1
 That's called a BMX.
  • 1 0
 Finally!!! April is here! Smile
  • 1 0
 it seems that today is 1st of April!
  • 1 0
 Work first, then party. Oh, and check the date.
  • 1 0
 Shall I tellum or will you?
  • 1 0
 Needs a 140F, 203R rotor, what a half assed attempt to be on trend.
  • 1 0
 Party supposed to be in front of me.....
  • 1 0
 The rear triangle looks like it’s made of pencils
  • 1 0
 Did this get the seat tube angle correct?
  • 1 0
 Tellum.... Tell um they're dreamin!
  • 1 0
 "science"
  • 1 0
 Good job Starling!
  • 1 0
 Fck! I wanna buy it
  • 1 0
 i knew it
  • 1 0
 It looks... streamlined!
  • 1 0
 Fakie descender.
  • 1 1
 Grim Donut vs Tellum shootout. Make it happen.
  • 2 1
 I can't look at it
  • 1 1
 April................
  • 4 5
 Your mother likes my party up front as well.
  • 1 1
 ...first of April???
  • 1 1
 Dull
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.041135
Mobile Version of Website