Click on question below. If you do not find the answer to a specific question, just ask, CONTACT DREAMRIDE.

What is the deal with Rohloff internal geared hubs and HammerSchmidt cranksets?

These systems are set up to eliminate external moving parts. The Rohloff rear hub gives you 14 useable gears enclosed within the hub body to insulate the system from mud, snow, rain and a certain amount of maintenance. It is a well-engineered example of the kind of system that made 3-speed English bikes so popular. The high end Rohloff system has been a popular subject in emails over the years at Dreamride due to the attention paid to it by bike magazines, and now that we are starting to hear more about HammerSchmidt (HS) cranksets, here is the jest of what we communicate to those who are thinking of the non-derailleur systems: If you are riding in mud constantly, commuting in rainy conditions for distances less than 20 miles a day, or snow is your favorite surface to ride a bike on, then the Rohloff should be a consideration. What the marketing of this product does not say is that it LITERALLY adds 3 pounds to a bike, requires a frame designed to accommodate the system, has substantial friction and drag within its cluster of gears, and costs $1000 more than an equivalent high-end derailleur drivetrain. The HS is in pretty much the same boat. We don't recommend Rohloff or HS to anyone who does not live in Alaska. The extra weight should be enough of a warning, but the sapping of watts of energy that happens within complex and overwhelmingly mechanical systems of internal cog wheels and spiral gears is the most troubling aspect of the performance of a Rohloff hub and the HS crankset. Frankly, these things slow you down, unless you are riding in mud or ice! In mud and snow these drivetrains operate smoothly, overcoming the detriment of mechanical drag. The $1000 extra for the Rohloff slows most folks down enough to say no, even if they are riding mud, but we still get the calls and the long email exchanges. Bottom line: Don't fall for the newest widget, the magazines' lies and paid-for reviews of products that you see advertised within the pages of the same magazine! Rohloff is a nice trick, but for 95% of those who show interest, it is a novelty item, same with HS. If you are desperate to be different, get some ink done on your face and leave the Rohloff for the muddies. MUD will make you pay more and carry more weight. Frozen mud sucks. The Rohloff overcomes mud and rain and frozen dog poo, always. The HS crankset is a good idea, but an XTR crankset and derailleur is going to make you happier. Rohloff shifts at a stand-still, which means you choose a gear anytime you like without the grinding or necessary skills to operate a derailleur system efficiently. Both these systems are cool, but their use is more specific than the marketing implies.

How do I decide between the Dreamride Fully26 and the Fully69?

The two models come in at approximately the same weight (27 to 31 pounds, depending on YOUR height and weight), so that should not be much of a consideration. If you are over 5'7" tall, under 225 pounds, then the FULLY69 deserves serious consideration. It is the best mountain bike we offer, hands down. If you are smaller or very heavy, the Fully26 is the bike to get. The front wheel of the 26 is far stronger and an HD Mutant version of the Fully is the best All Mountain or heavy duty cross country rig we offer. The F-69 is simply the best of both worlds. It rolls over stuff and accelerates far better than a full 29 inch wheeler. The 26 is more laterally rigid up front, a little bit snappier on acceleration and in tight trail situations. The F-69 offers more stability and is a bit more forgiving at slow to moderate speeds over rough stuff. The 29 inch front wheel will roll curbs, rocks, ledges and roots that would stop rotation of the 26 inch wheel. The performance differences between the forks chosen for the Fully 26 and 69 models are fairly substantial. The Fox F29 RLC on the Fully69 is very light and fairly straight forward in its tuning. The Fox's adjustable lockout feature is extremely well balanced with the lockout on the Fox RP23 rear shock. It's travel does not feel bottomless, but the big wheel more than makes up for it. The 26er's Magura Thor or Marzocchi ATA55 are far more tuneable, much more laterally rigid (really huge stantions and a 20mm axle), and offer a wide range of travel settings to give you everything from tight singletrack handling to the ability to take on the lighter side of North Shore style riding. Both feel bottomless, offering the kind of forgiveness you get from big time squish-- sucking up drops of all kinds. The 69er likes to take impacts straight on, offering the ability to roll over nasty trail debris without worry. Due to the rolling inertia of the front wheel, the 69 will FEEL more stable at high speeds, especially on fast fire roads. Both versions are fast and capable of changing directions quickly and accurately. The 29 inch front tire will grab loose surfaces without worry and its long travel rear end will follow the 9er front confidently. A 26 inch front wheel is much more rigid and strong and is the prime reason we do not recommend the 69 to folks over 225 pounds, unless they are smooth riders seeking an advantage on long distance rides. Don't get confused. Either the 26 or the 29 will make you happy as you destroy your buddies on the trail. Geometry of both models has been balanced to be very similar, though the 26 allows changes in geometry by virtue of the fork's easily adjustable travel (the Magura offers travel changes from the handlebar) and tuneability. As for air time, both models love to be off the ground. The F-69 feels at home in a jump. Its gyroscopic 29 inch wheel feels amazingly stable in the air, but you don't want to stuff that big front wheel. If you are crazy, go for the 26 incher.

Why did you go with the combination of 26 and 29 inch wheels on the Fully and not a Fully 29er with 29 front and rear?

29ers accelerate slowly unless you put really light, narrow tires on the wheelset, and it will still feel a bit funky due to gearing that is meant for 26 inch wheels. Even with the correct gearing it is still hard to get the scoot to happen. When you add long travel suspension, the feeling gets worse because the extra ability for speed puts more stress on the wheelset, especially in the rear. You need fatter tires with larger knobs as the speeds increase. That means more rotational weight. The combination of heavy tires and larger hoops pretty much put you in a situation where you feel like you need a motor to get rolling, or you just have to be patient or only ride trails that allow you to gain momentum and keep it. To overcome these downsides of the 29 inch wheel, we use a 26 inch rear wheel on our F-69 and the hardtail White Rim. The smaller wheel in back works like a charm--better than a charm. The F-69 is the best performing bike we offer, especially in Moab. It is overbuilt for dirt roads or light cross country riding, but we can alter the tubeset if you are racing to make the package lighter. The 6-9 combo is extremely effective. You still feel the larger rolling mass of the front wheel on acceleration, but you get every advantage when it comes to rolling over debris. Compared to a 29er, the 69er is much more snappy, stronger where it counts, stiffer where it counts and therefore much more trustworthy at speed over rough terrain. It allows you to attack hills that tear muscles on a 29er. We like 29ers when riding fire roads and from-town rides, but once we are in the rough, the 69er is king.

How do I get permission or hide my purchase from my spouse?

Men: Permission is out of the question, unless you have a wife born in Belgium and/or actually loves you and wants you to be happy. But, so much for your happiness, ask forgiveness not permission. You work for a living, bring all the money home and she spends it, right? The best way to proceed is deception: Hide your purchase by using the same credit card you use for internet porn, then put the bike with your tools in the garage. Ride it while she is out screwing your best friend. One client (and this is true, not a joke like the rest of this answer) hides his one dozen Moots bikes in a shed and every single bike has the same color scheme; black parts and titanium frame. His wife thinks he has one bike. What a ploy!
Women: If you ask permission, you are a pussy. Get the damn bike. Use his money!
Gays and lesbians: Get TWO bikes. Give one to your partner.

Just how high does high-end go? What about a full suspension with 2 wheel drive weighing 18lbs?

At Dreamride high end is reliable, rugged, efficient, low easy maintenance, appropriately performance oriented, a perfect fit and PROVEN. To us, high end is attainable and finite. Our current average price for a Dreamride-built bike is $7500. You can go as high as $18,000 with a Pegoretti road bike (wheels alone can go for $20K in the sport of road racing). That said, please understand that price alone is not a concern for us as builders. We just want the bike to be the best, even if it costs LESS! If you are looking for a two-wheeled fad you saw in a magazine, the weirdest-looking, heavily-marketed, Specialized piece-o-crap, pie-in-the-sky, alphabet-soup-patent-pending, lightest-thing-you-can-get, then you are going to end up with a high-end price and not much to show for it down the road. You'll get ridiculously silly lines of water-jet aluminum or tooth paste-out-of-the-tube, wrapped, bagged and moulded carbon fiber that will be obsolete and/or broken within the year. If you have disposable money, you can even get a new environmental-disaster slave-labor mucky-jewel each and every year. But, those who buy a Dreamride Fully, a truly high end state-of-the-art cross country bike, don't get "purchase remorse" and don't buy a new bike in the yearly marketing cycle. Why? Because from the start and for a very, very long time, it gives you an obvious performance advantage. It is based on a solid, well-built frame and is a classic, not weird for the sake of weird. Triangles are strong! Of course, if you don’t ride the crappy Specialized or the "Italian" bike made in China next to a chemical spill that looks like it belongs in a head shop, it will last until the seals and bearing dry out. Lots of people shop for the fad and end up with an expensive bike in the garage. Some guys get buy those funky roach clip bikes and cheap Chinese Gary Fishers on ebay for a song a couple of years down the line, ride it for a while and discover they want something else. If you do not have the experience and are not willing to trust those who do, it will be only after you buy that high end illusion masked as "high science" that you learn through experience just how thick the smoke is and how shiny the mirrors are in the realm of big company marketing. Our numbers are REAL. If a bike weighs 32 pounds, we tell you it is 32 pounds, not 28. If the best price we can offer on a bike is $8K, that is what is stated. And, our handmade bikes are really HANDMADE in American and Italy!

Which bike is best for me?

People's needs differ. Overall, the choice depends on riding experience, terrain, riding style, body type, budget and just what you want from the bike. The bike you own currently has bearing on your desires at present, so figure out what your bike is lacking and/or good at and write it down. Many choices are cut and dried: How much suspension do you need? Are you looking to ride roads, mellow carriage paths, hardcore trails, or off the edge of your garage? How much money will the wife let you spend? It is best to be clear on your needs and abilities to buy. Read reviews and tests on this website for help in finding your way. Read reviews and tests elsewhere and get confused. As of 2007, when all other manufacturers are diversifying their product line into fifteen different models, Dreamride is focusing on simplifying choice by reducing the fog to two categories: "All Mountain" and "All Road and Trail." The real value at Dreamride comes from quality construction, advanced solid engineering and PERSONAL FIT!! We build bikes for one person at a time, not the masses, so we guarantee the bike will fit you like an Italian glove. Dreamride is also well known for long travel XC bikes: If you want the perfect trail bike, the DREAMRIDE FULLY is as good as it gets. Period. After reading up on what we offer, EMAIL DREAMRIDE with specific questions remaining. Do not call with questions. Our phone line is reserved for interviews during purchase and vacation booking.

What do you recommend in each category--freeride, trail, cross country, road?

This helps: COMPONENT MATCHING FOR VARIOUS MOUNTAIN BIKES. We sell the best product we can find to offer. Wander through this website and look at the bikes we have produced and the frame manufacturers we partner with. There are different builds within each category that suit a particular riders needs when combined with a suitable frame. The builds match use. The answer to the question is complex and knowing the complex answers is we do for a living. There's always a specific answer for your needs, if you know what you are looking for. If you don't know what you are looking for, get in touch with us via email. If you know what you want, call.

How can I get the passwords to the secret section of your website?

To qualify for access to our customer files, you must be a customer. Buy one of the bikes with the jumping mountain bike coyote logo on it and you're in. The information behind the passwords is to help clients with their bikes. The rest of the material behind passwords is to entertain and educate.

What are the overall best bikes you offer by category?

The DREAMRIDE F-69, if you are over 5'7" tall, is the absolute best mountain bike we offer for anyone looking for an advantage. The MOOTO-XZ is another flavor, equally as good, but more attuned to less technical terrain as compared to the F-69. MOOTS has the very best diversified line available anywhere, so you are going to find great choices with a bike based on one of their frames. As for road, PEGORETTI frames are best for speed and handling. MOOTS ROAD FRAMES are the best for long distance comfort and longevity.

What bikes at Dreamride have become personal favorites?

The bikes we design and build are inspired by Moab terrain and road conditions, and our own Dreamride brand bikes are designed and built specifically FOR Moab terrain, so we prefer the DREAMRIDE F-69 for riding around here and on any terrain that is truly challenging. The favored cross classic country rig, the perfect all around ride for folks in a moderate size and weight range, is the MOOTO-XZ. It is the best for just about everyone's location. It takes on Moab very well, while not quite as fast or as capable as the F-69. My favorite road bike, and the best road bike I have ever owned, is the PEGORETTI MARCELO. For nasty roads of all kinds, commuting, touring and skinny tired off-roading the MOOTS VAMOOTS OR PSYCHLO-X LA SAL LOOP is a tool designed specifically for that use.

What do you think of the 29 inch wheeled mountain bike?

It is more than a great idea for those who want a mountain bike that rolls over stuff and maintains momentum on long flat or gently rolling rides. A 29er is a fine all-road and mountain bike for a limited range of sizes and weights. It is also a great format for a city commuter or fully rigid mountain bike. Read more at BIG WHEEL RANT and 29ER TESTING, and RIDE FROM TOWN to get a good overall picture of why 29 inch wheels may work for you.

I only want one bike. Of the bikes you offer, which bike does it all?

Sure, there are a number of bikes that specialize in certain chores and are perfect for specific terrains and uses, but a lot of folks are looking for one bike that will do the most for them in any situation, sort of an all-around ride that they can take anywhere and expect it to perform well enough to get the job done. We have a couple of choices in this regard. The single bike that we recommend to a mountain biker who wants JUST ONE BIKE FOR TRAIL RIDING, something to last a lifetime, that will take on all sorts of terrain, check out the MOOTO-XZ if you are over 5'7". It does everything equally well. It is light. It is rugged. It is beautiful. It is amazingly versatile and capable. A bike that will work better on more extreme terrain is the F-69. Both these bikes will increase your abilities in relationship to the terrain mentioned. For those leaning toward road biking, a LA SAL MOUNTAIN LOOP ROAD BUILD OF THE MOOTS PSYCHLO-X can take on roads AND trails very effectively, and it is made out of titanium for long life and comfort. It will take you to get groceries and get you to San Francisco from New York. It can be your commuter bike during the week and a trail bike on weekends.

Where can I get the parts list for the complete bikes?

Dreamride parts specifications match their intended use as flawlessly as possible, no compromises. These are formulas, not lists of parts. Parts change within the formula for clients' needs and as the industry progresses with new product offerings. Every year we alter the kits to include the best parts available. The description of each build listed in PARTS KITS section mentions specific parts, and displays and links to pictures, but your bike will be personal and unique. Complete lists are not printed, emailed, or faxed, and estimates of your own lists are not offered without a deposit. We are not a big company. We do not have a bank of phones with guys who may or may not know what they are talking about. We know what we are doing, but our time is limited. Our clients are generally looking for the very best bike they can get, but we also cater to anyone who has a solid idea of what they want to spend and are reasonable about what to expect.

How do I order my bike?

Find the bike you want by reading the answers to questions here, shop the site, and call 425-259-6419. Measure yourself and your current bike. We need your inseam (barefoot to the floor, do not press in on the taint), height (barefoot), armpit to end of fist, and wingspan (fingertip to fingertip) and measurements of our current ride. Have these size numbers handy, along with your credit card number. We take Visa, MasterCard and Discover, as well as cashier's checks, money orders and personal checks with time to clear. Payment by wire transfer is preferred! We charge extra for reward cards, business cards and internation cards. A 50% downpayment is generally required with the balance charged when we ship the product. We generally ship built bikes in a hardshell flight case and cover all shipping charges. No tax out of Utah!

I can get it cheaper at BIKEPOO.COM. Why buy my bike from Dreamride?

Cheap is cheap, but cheap is not always inexpensive. The value of our products is not only in the machinery, but services based on real experience and knowledge. If you are looking for "new technology," we sell proven technology. We are not interested in offering untested components, though we are forced to on occassion at the beginning of a product year (it cannot be avoided sometimes). We actually TEST our equipment on the roughest terrain imaginable. We don't pay for advertising, so you don't pay for it as part of your purchase. We do not print a catalog, because things change rapidly and we don't want to have to make you pay for dead trees and old info. Folks recognize our bikes on the trail, even without our stickers on them. Others try, but no one can copy our product testing or hidden modifications to achieve balance and perfect function. No one has our eye for cosmetics, color balance and detail. All of our bikes are built by one mechanic, Lee Bridgers, a man with a Masters in Fine Art who has been riding bicycles on and off road since 1957. Most bike purchases include a hardshell flight case, shipping in the continental United States and invitations to Moab vacations. If you are looking for the best "deal," we sell the best bikes and our prices are equal to or on a par with other companies with larger stores in more populated areas. To us, value is the best deal. Value-added services make a deal even better, and we are the only tour company that offers its own line of bikes, so if you like or want to experience Moab, you might consider inititating a relationship with Dreamride. Those who purchase Moots bikes from us can stay in our Moab guesthouse for free if they come to get fitted or pick up their bike. We understand your needs mostly because we've been riding and riding with other people for a living.

What happened to Ibis?

MOOTS. Better!

What happened to Ellsworth?

We only carry the best. Their production values went down, so we went with Ventana who made the original Ellsworth Truth and Dare that got us interested in the first place.

How can I go about having a custom bike built to my specs?

Pick a frame and a build we offer close to your preferences, call and order. Trust us. We will custom modify the build to suit as long as your wants are up to your means. Dreamride oversees fabrication of frames built by the manufacturers we carry. This is why we chose Moots, Ventana, Lynskey, Pegoretti, Land Shark and offer our own Dreamride line that includes aluminum full suspension and titanium hardtails.

What's up with the toll free tech line for purchase clients?

Yes, if you buy a bike from us, we will help you as best we can over the phone during and after your purchase, for as long as you need it. Folks can even send their bikes back to Moab for service in the flight case we include with each bike.

What's the deal with Moab vacations as part of a bike purchase, or vice versa?

Dreamride is a mountain bike fantasy vacation provider in Moab, Utah. We combine perfect bikes that stand out in a crowd and exotic rides where you get away from that crowd. The combination of a Moab vacation and custom bike allows us to tweak the bike while you break it in. It also allows us to get to know you before you get here or before you buy your bike. This certainly helps us serve you far into the future.

Copyright Dreamride LLC. No material, written, graphics, or photographs on this website, may be reproduced, broadcast, published, re-written, re-edited, or re-used in any way outside of this site without written consent of Dreamride LLC and Lee Bridgers. Use of this site signifies agreement to terms of use.

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