From The Path Blog:

Ventana El Ciclon - Special Edition

August 19th, 2008

 

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"This stinks! This is total BS!" - Bob 'Bulldog' Briscoe

There's actually a minor correction to the geometry of the standard, "El Ciclon."  The BB measurement is 13.4, not 13.2.  I've ridden Tani's pretty extensively and I've gotta say, it's more stable climbing than any Moment, 5-spot, Kikapu, or virtually any other trail bike I've ridden.  I think it has to do with the 74-degree seat angle.  While the 66-degree HA is aggressive enough to take on the steeps (I rode the Chingon down some pretty technical trails with no problem, I watched Tani ride some impressive sections on it as well, setup with a Pike on the front nonetheless)...

Instead of thinking of this as a Super-D bike, think of it as an, "All-mountain Race" bike.  Sort of like taking the All-mountain category to the next level.  At 29-lbs, it'll make a sick trail bike that'll eat up high speed technical trails with aplomb!

seems ideal for rides like bell ridge, los pinos loop, coldwater, 8000 foot PS ride, etc.

So what is the price for one of these?

These Ciclon's also come with ISCG tabs (not ISCG 05, but ISCG), the quad bearing option, and DHX Coil shocks.  The quad bearings and dhx coil shocks are upgrade options from Ventana and the ISCG tabs are not available as an upgrade to the standard frame.

The retail price on these should be approximately: $1,995 (frame) + $75 (quad bearing upgrade) + $150 (dhx coil upgrade) = $2,220.  The custom geometry option is, "free" with these bikes which costs about $300 from Ventana.

 IMHO the ISCG tabs are a pretty slick add to the bike.  With the aggressive geo and light weight, running a single chainring up front (say a 32-tooth) one can climb pretty much any hill in the OC (Mathis, Willows, the Three Bitches, etc), while still running ISCG based chain tensioning system.

hey auk

the bike does some awesome indeed. but you only mention the  "small rides" in OC when talking about having one ring up front. do some coldwater, los pinos, bell ridge, joplin and double ring is HIGHLY desireable!! 

True dat...But it might make things interesting.  With the Roval Traversee wheels and 900-gram USTs (say like the Barracuda's or Fat Alberts), the bike feels pretty dang light on the climbs...might have to try some longer rides on it someday.

 P.S.  I think they're supposed to arrive at the Path in the next 1-2 weeks.

Any more info on this bike?

It looks like a killer SoCal bike.  Do you think it is too one dimensional for an all around bike. My typical trails are SJ Trail, Noble, Rocket, stairsteps, Laguna, etc.  I like low and slack.

Anyone thought of putting 6" travel rockers on this bike? 

Any other bikes out there like this one?

 Thanks,

TIM 

The Intense Slope Style is another option if you are looking for more travel.  (Still low and slack.)

Tani at The Path has time on/owns both bikes.  He could answer your questions.

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"This stinks! This is total BS!" - Bob 'Bulldog' Briscoe

Not Tani, but one who has both bikes as well.  If your trails are the ones listed, this bike rocks.  I think where you might want more travel is bigger, steeper, more aggressive trails...like say some of the trails at Northstar.

 I heard reports that of Tani cleaning San Juan on his Custom Ciclon.  Also, he recently took it up Holy Jim, over the peak, down Joplin, and out the luge...sounds like he had good times on it.

The Ciclon can handle just about anything you throw at it.  It can be set up pretty burly (Pike fork w/ DH tires), but the SS can get even burlier (Totem w/ DH tires).  The Ciclon definitely has a stiffer rear end than the SS, but I'm not sure how much that would make a difference.

The Ciclon can be set up pretty light, once the 15mm conversions come out for the Specialized Rovals, you should be able to get it to be a shade over 28-lbs w/ 800gram tires (Scwalbe Fat Alberts at 2.35-inches, or something equivalent).  The lightest I've gotten the SS w/ a six-inch fork on it was about 32.5-lbs.

Both pedal extremely well, both have ISCG tabs, both are low and slack.  Both want to be ridden aggressively.

Good luck

Auk

dft:

hey auk

the bike does some awesome indeed. but you only mention the  "small rides" in OC when talking about having one ring up front. do some coldwater, los pinos, bell ridge, joplin and double ring is HIGHLY desireable!! 

 

There is a part of me that would rather walk than go to granny.  We did up Holy Jim, over the top, and down Joplin the other day, and I did not miss the granny.  I did walk some steep loose sections of main devide.

Gair:

Any more info on this bike?

It looks like a killer SoCal bike.  Do you think it is too one dimensional for an all around bike. My typical trails are SJ Trail, Noble, Rocket, stairsteps, Laguna, etc.  I like low and slack.

Anyone thought of putting 6" travel rockers on this bike? 

Any other bikes out there like this one?

 Thanks,

TIM 

 

I have ridden it on most of the trails that you mentioned, and I think it is perfect for those trails.  To me, it is the most versatile bike that I have had.