REEB Dikyelous2 Single Speed

Intro

Craft beer and mountain biking go hand in hand. Even if you fall on the nonalcoholic drinker side of the equation, the correlation between the two is evident. It’s the post-ride happy hour, mid-ride vista paired with a trail “soda” or hell, I’ve even witnessed cold ones stored in racers’ aid station bags. Beer is embedded in our culture. When Dale Katechis of Oskar Blues Brewery decided on the vessel of his craft beer, he chose aluminum cans for a more environmentally friendly option and, of course, easier portability on mountain bike rides. 

When Dale’s bike was stolen, the talented crew at Oskar Blues decided to further append the craft brew and mountain bike culture by forming Reeb Cycles in 2011. All of Reeb Cycle’s steel and titanium bikes are designed, cut, welded and powder-coated in Colorado. Essentially, you could arrive at the shop, enjoy an Oskar Blues beer with the builders and watch your new bike come to life. It’s this close-knit, down-to-earth atmosphere that appeals to many mountain bike enthusiasts.

The Bike

Frame builder Chris Sulfrian continues the Reeb Dikyelous legacy by taking what worked in the original Dikyelous and modernizing the frame for version 2.  The signature ABT tubing consisting of butted ThermlX, the same alloy used in the former OX Platinum, is beefed up a bit to add a touch of stiffness for longer travel forks and help make some additional room for a dropper post. To accompany the short rear end, a curved seat tube and custom CNC machined yoke are employed to ensure fit for the Reeb Cycles standard-fit-test, a 29×2.5 Maxxis Minion DHR.

The 5.75-pound steel chassis is available as the frame only in an assortment of colors and decals for $1,800, or a titanium option is available for $3,400. For an additional $400, Chris will custom build to your desired specifications. Reeb Cycles also offers two complete steel and titanium packages in both SRAM 12-speed and Gates Carbon Drive singlespeed build kits starting at $3,600. All models are decked out in impressive components that you typically don’t find on production run bikes. 

Our steel SFP SS was decked out with a 140 mm MRP Ribbon Air fork, Cane Creek 110 headset, Shimano XT brakes, Industry Nine Hydra hubs on EN305 rims and, of course, the Gates Carbon Drive. The only thing I’d change is swapping out the RaceFace grips for my preferred Ergons and cutting down those stock 800 mm bars. 

The Ride

The typical hardtail mountain bike is not quite what it was five years ago. It’s evolved from its cross bike-esqueness, skinny steel tubing and stems longer than the bike’s travel. Now, bikes like the Dikyelous2 have more of an all-mountain design. Longer forks, short stays paired with longer front triangles, stubby stems and, of course, droppers. Everything about the Dikyelous2 screams fun, and that is exactly what I felt riding this bike. You know that satisfying feeling when your ice cream scooper cuts through your favorite dessert and makes that perfect scoop with ease: That’s what riding the Dikyelous2 reminded me of. 

This was the first experience for me on the Gates Carbon Drive, and I enjoyed how smooth and quiet it was. Even with a pleasant experience and having zero issues, I admittedly missed the familiarity of having a chain and being able to quickly and easily fix a problem if it were to arise. The Gates Drive combined with the MRP Ribbon fork and custom steel tubes created an incredibly smooth and stable ride even when the ground became littered with square edged rubbish or roots. And, the Ribbon fork, damn that thing is smooth. If there was ever a perfect match for fork and frame, this would be it. When paired together, the amount of small bump chatter that was absorbed was unbelievable and has me second-guessing my personal bike choices. 

Conclusion

The Dikyelous has risen to the modern era, and it’s impressive. If you’re looking for a steel-framed all-mountain hardtail born in the U.S., the newly designed Reeb Dikyelous2 is sure to please.

Reeb Dikyelous2 – SFP Singlespeed
Price: $4,900

Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL
Online: reebcycles.com

Reach: 18”
Stack: 25.6”
Top Tube: 24.8”
Head Tube: 67°
Seat Tube: 75°
BB Drop: 2″
Chainstays: 16.1
Weight: 27.1 lbs without pedals, specs based on size tested