Blue Bicycles launches mountain line for 2017

Blue Bicycles was once based in Georgia but is now in California. It was once struggling to survive but now has new life breathed into it. It was once only (or best) known for triathlon and cyclocross bikes but now has three different mountain bikes in its line. We took a peak at what’s coming in 2017 for Blue while at Press Camp in Park City, Utah.

Crew EX and Crew AL

The Crew is Blue’s new 11-speed, 27plus hardtail (pudgy tires not pictured because these bikes are pre-production). The EX is carbon and the AL is—you guessed it—aluminum. Blue first tried its hand at mountain bikes in 2009 but by the time it got its first 26er together, 29ers had come on the scene full-force and the company didn’t think it would be able to properly sell its small-wheeled bike. Now that new wheel sizes have (somewhat) settled (for now, at least), it was ready to jump in, again.

The carbon EX retails for $3,000 and comes with a FOX 32 SC fork, Shimano XT build, Hayes Prime Sport disc brakes and DT Swiss M wheels. The production carbon bike features internal cable routing, special seat stays designed for vibration reduction and is predicted to tip the scale at around 22 pounds.

The Crew AL still runs Shimano XT and the same Hayes brakes but steps down to a FOX 32 Performance fork and loses the special, flat seat stays to retail for $2000. An SLX build for $1,500 is also expected. Four sizes (small through extra-large) will be offered.

 

Crew AL M-140

The Crew AL M-140 is a full-on trail bike with 140 mm of suspension front and rear and 27.5 wheels. Suspension is handled by a FOX 34 Performance up front and a Float X Performance in the rear. Build kit is Shimano XT 1×11, Hayes Prime Sport brakes, a few in-house bits and a FOX dropper post. The bike will retail for $3100 and be available in only three sizes: small, medium and large. Expect to see a carbon model at Interbike in September.

Blue said it chose a 140 mm full-suspension trail bike to target the widest possible audience and complete its bike lineup.

 

Philly Fat Bike

Finally, the Blue Philly is an all-aluminum fat bike with a SRAM X5 (1×10) build kit, mechanical Tektro disc brakes, PF30 bottom bracket and four-inch tires. The bike is available in four sizes for $1,259.

Blue Bicycles also earned the Dirt Rag prize for “best USB drive of bike Press Camp.”