As Sea Otter opens today, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co releases their 6th collaboration bike for the event. The custom, one-off bike will be raffled off to raise money for Outdoor Alliance, a nonprofit coalition of national advocacy organizations in the U.S. that unites the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to conserve public lands, and ensure those lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience.
This year, the team is sustainability and environmental thoughtfulness in bicycle manufacturing. The team at Paul Components worked to bring together a group of small brands that share a passion for cycling and the environment. For the frame, they worked with Cjell from Monē Bikes for a Schwinn Cruiser conversion frames. Starting with a 1949 Schwinn cruiser, he cut the frame up, bent, mitred, and welded them back together, creating a modern mountain bike on 29×2.6″ tires. Throughout the way though, he added little touches to bring in Sierra Nevada branding, including a beer can shim at the seat post.
From there, Paul Components added other environmentally-minded brands, like recycled rubber grips by Björn Bikes, recycled aluminum components by Velocity and White Industries, along with their own. Through these partnerships and the conversations they started or rekindled, recycled and recyclable packaging, was a hot topic. This led to a Jen Green-made headtube badge from leftover scrap metal, an old B72 saddle chassis re-upholstered by Jerry Smith, and even an Outershell upcycled Sierra Nevada billboard that was made into custom bags designed specifically to fit into the one-of-a-kind frame. While the project didn’t solve all of the sustainability challenges of the cycling industry, it will surely get people talking.
If you are heading to Sea Otter, the Sierra Recycler will be at the Sierra Nevada beer tent. Donate $5 or more to Outdoor Alliance at Sea Otter or online by May 31st, and you’ll have a chance to bring the bike home.
Here’s a full list of components and makers in the project.
Collaborators:
- Frame, Fork, Handlebars, Headset Spacers, and Valve Caps by Monē Bikes
- Stem, Brakes, Levers, and Hubs by PAUL Component
- Cranks, Bottom Bracket, Headset, and Freewheel by White Industries
- Rims by Velocity USA
- Headtube Badge by Jen Green
- Spokes by Phil Wood
- Custom Recycled Bags by Outershell
- Tires, Valves, and Sealant by WTB
- Recycled Rubber Grips by Björn Bikes
- Custom Saddle by Jerry Smith
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
~Veggie Powered Athlete~
Location – Lancaster, PA
Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900
Dream Bike – I’ll tell you when they make it
Discipline – Cyclocross, gravel, road and duathlons (ride/run)
Favorite Rides – Quiet country roads of Amish Country, some of the best roads around.
Food of Choice – Sweet potato roll
Beer of Choice – Unibroue Grand Reserve 17, aged four years
Bourbon of Choice – Widow Jane 10 Year