Sea Otter is almost here, so that means it’s time for a new Sierra bike. For the last six years, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co has collaborated with brands to create a one-off, custom bike to show and give-away to raise money for a non-profit at Sea Otter. This year, HotSalad Bicycles helped to create the Sierra Roamer to benefit The Roam Collective, with the aim to bring further diversity into mountain biking. Check out the links below to past Sierra bikes, and read on about the Roamer.
- 2023 – The Sierra Recycler
- 2022 – The Sierra Oddity
- 2021 – The Sierra Straggler(s)
The bike itself is something pretty unique. HotSalad is known for their unique designs, and didn’t hold back on this one. The titanium frame pays homage to Jacquin Phelan, one mountain biking’s original women’s champions, and founder of the WOMBATS (Women’s Mountain Bike & Tea Society). Her bike, designed by Charlie Cunningham, founder of Wildernes Trail Bikes, was one of the first aluminum, lightweight mountain bikes, lasting over nine seasons of competitive racing. “Otto” as it was called, had a fairly straight forward design for what we see in bikes today, save for the stem. The unique design allowed Phelan to tackle climbs and descents in a comfortable position while still holding onto the flared drops of her re-bent Cinelli bars.
Philippino-American builder, B from HotSalad, came up with the idea of the Otto tribute. At the heart of the bike, she blends old school with new cutting-edge technology and parts. Instead of Cunningham’s aluminum, HotSalad used titanium to create the swooping lines, honoring the original frame while adding her own twist. B even recreated the unique stem from Otto, with Jen Green creating a handmade headtube badge, using copper, brass, bronze, and nickel. Classic touches include a vintage Hite-Rite saddle dropper, cloth handlebar tape, The modern side includes fully internally routed cables, SRAM electronic drivetrain, and components from White Industries, PAUL Components, Velocity USA, Simworks, Ultradynamico, King Cage, Forager Cycles, and (in a full circle moment) WTB.
Along with raffling off the bike, The Roam Collective will be taking over the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden to host inclusivity panels, Shredtalks, and meetups. Check the Roam Collective Instagram for the schedule to sit in on the panels or check out the Sierra Roamer. If you can’t make it, and want to get in on the chance to win this wild rig, head to the Roam website. Every $5 donated gets you a shot to win the Roamer, while supporting a more diverse, inclusive, and fun culture of mountain biking for everyone.
Collaborators:
- Titanium Frame and Stem by HotSalad Bicycles
- Brakes, Seatpost. and Seatcollar by PAUL Component
- Cranks, Chainring, Bottom Bracket, Headset, and Hubs by White Industries
- Rims by Velocity USA
- Headtube Badge by Jen Green
- Titanium Bottle Cages by King Cage
- Handlebar, Cablehousing, and Pedals by Simworks
- Tires by Ultradynamico
- Gravelier Saddle and Tire Sealant by WTB
- R7 Pro Fork by Manitou
- 12 Speed AXS Shifters, Derailleur, Chain, and Cassette by SRAM
- CNC Cable tips by Forager Cycles
- “Dropper” by Hite-Rite
Link to Donate and Win:
https://www.theroamcollective.org
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.
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