Through my Job at Profile, between doing sales, promo, and team trips, I travel with my bike quite a bit. Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way that traveling with my main, custom FBM build is just asking for logistic brutality; getting tossed around between connections, being thrown into the belly of of the aircraft only to have hundreds of pounds of luggage hurtled on top, and then the final dings/scratches/dents while in close vicinity to everyone else's rigs on the trip. I'm anal not only about how my bike functions, but how it looks. A beaten up frame drives me nuts.A couple months ago, I bought a Deco S/T frame from Chad Degroot...although I'm very particular about dimensions and especially weight, the S/T design was close enough to what I was looking for but with some extra strength additions in spots where travel happens to take it's most menacing toll (Chainstays, Top/Down Tube). I had the fortifications covered, but I was hesitant on the weight...that was until I took it out of the box and realized it was 5lbs.
We built her up quick, I snapped some pics, and then held off on posting until after her maiden voyage.
This recent trip was to Tulsa; two connections and 6 days rattling around in the back of a pickup with 3 other rigs, all with 4 pegs. It did get scratched, that was unavoidable, but the import thing was that it lasted through the flights, took a hit on the downtube during multiple missed handrail attempts, and the chainstays took a beating quite a bit on several missed ledge 50/50's. Scratched paint was all I got. Nothing a magic marker couldn't fix.So it's durable? Indeed. No questioning.Though more importantly, on passing that test, I've never had a rig without my exact dimensions feel this good right out of the gate; rigid, the short rear end makes manuals feel incredibly controlled, and the unique capsuled tubing Degroot chose for the chainstays not only play into it's rigidity, but make it's aesthetic finish extra dialed. And that hourglass head tube? Real stoked on all of the above.
Here's the complete built list below, mind you, most of these parts have been on my travel bike for 5 years...The frame, fork and bars are what get switched every two years.
For dimensions on the Deco S/T frame, click here:
https://decobmx.com/2009/06/19/selftitledframe/
Fork: 28mm Deco FuforkBars: Country 711Headset: DecoGrips: ODI LongneckStem: Profile "Mulville" Push, 48mm with titanium boltsDeco Deche Fat SeatDeco Short Pivotal Post
Front Wheel: Profile 28 hole Totem Hub14 Titanium spokes (in laced), 14 Wheelsmith Double Butted (outlaced)Aluminum 3/8 inner axle1 x standard chromo socket bolt1 x 3/8 Profile titanium button boltSun Envy 28 Hole RimDemolition 2.2 Momentum Tire
Rear Wheel: Profile 36 hole Totem Hub36 Wheelsmith Double Butted SpokesAluminum 3/8 inner axle1 x standard chromo socket bolt with donut adapter for 14mm1 x 3/8 to 14mm Profile titanium button bolt9t Custom Aluminum driverSun Envy 36 Hole RimDemolition 2.2 Momentum Tire
Profile 160mm Standard No Boss 19mm Cranks w/ titanium spindle w/ 7075 GDH Bolts25t 19mm Profile Spline SprocketProfile standard Mid 19mm BB KitKMC 510 Chain
Profile Gas Pedals
