Did this guy just do a few day long framebuilding course and is trying to sell his first ever frames as a kickstarter? i.e he’s only ever built one frame and is calling himself a framebuilder?

‘ang on, that geometry chart seems to measure the reach from the BB, to the bottom of the headset…?

Its also now got a 71 degree seat angle which is a little different from the original marketing as far as I can recall. Seems a bit of a shambles.

Says in the comments that the original version is still available.

Agree it’s a bit of a mess though, there’s no geometry on the Kickstarter page for the “original” version, not any mention of theire being two versions. Just lots of pics of one bike and the geo and specs for another.

It’s also not drilled for a stealth dropper, as they reckon that weakens the frame. Speccing a Magura Vyron instead….no thanks.

Makes a bit more sense now, there’s a piece in “updates” about the changes they’ve made to the frame, including improving aesthetics by straightening out the line of seatstay/top tube, and then messing them up again by bracing the seat tube.

Makes no mantion of taking 3.5 degrees off the seat angle, though, which is a major negative in my eyes – steep seat angle and long reach were the main good things about the original layout.

No tah.

It’s black looks poo (really poo), the brand and model names are both awful. The lack of information re geo is odd. Mixed in with lack of communication about another model etc it all seems like a really bad joke.

As previously mentioned by others, looks like a GCSE project. It’s amazing what people will stump up for on these Kickstarter style sites.

I could almost make some stereotypical assumptions on the owners of said bike brand/school project, based on that alone. A quick scoot to Instagram pretty much confirms the stereotype.

Who buys this sh1t?

Original geometry:

View this post on Instagram

We wanted to give you a preview of our next project as a thank you for supporting us so strongly. Take a look at the #gnarcissist – After much discussion, we felt we would like a hardtail in the range for riders like us, 99% gravity orientated. Super short chainstays and scooped out #slaximum geometry. Black with neon splatter paint as a throwback to our favourite 80s and 90s bikes. A few tweaks here and there and a bit of argument over the graphics and we'll be there. Redefining the hardcore hardtail. **Obviously mock component choices for scale**

A post shared by Sick! Bicycle Co. (@sickbicycles) on Apr 6, 2017 at 1:09pm PDT

New/large geometry:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVX_9LLBoDy/

I am so confused!

On both diagrams the seat tube angle appears to include the seatpost layback.

I don’t know why the geometry has been changed so much? If the first one rides well then give it a longer seat tube, maybe add a longer reach version too, and leave it be. I’m not sure why the head angle has been steepened so much, seat angle slackened even more, chainstay lengthened and bottom bracket raised…

I was interested in this. I know their prototype works as I have seen Strava times (so it must be true 🙂 ) of someone who had a go and they certainly got my attention. When I saw the original I thought all I wanted was a longer seat tube (no numbers available but I’ve made a guesstimate theirs is well under 400mm) and a hole for a stealth dropper and I’d be very tempted to take a chance on it. But everything is a little too vague for me, a slacker seat tube isn’t what I want and I’m a bit skint so I keep checking on the Kickstarter but haven’t put my hand in my pocket

£2990. Is that right ?

Having read/deciphered some more of the Kickstarter page, jus prior to getting an aneurysm from all the bro talk, it also implies the frames are, after the initial runs, the frames at £900 are discounted?

Sounds like +/- £1000 for a frame then?

Yep. Good luck with that.

Can’t really see what this brings that my NS doesn’t for cheaper? Ok not quite as slack HA but 65º is enough surely!
The brand name actually puts me off and as above the toptube/seatstay arrangement is so close, yet so far!
Sick = ill = unwell. It looks it! I’m not MCA!

I wish the guys well but no way would I commit money to this in a kickstarter.
Needs some clarity on geometry. As above, the ‘reach’ measured to the bottom of the HT is a tad unusual. The ST angle slacking back to 71 is going to wreck the climbing ability as well as making horribly stretched out.
They could really do with finding a way to stealth route the dropper too.

Apparently they’ve done both physical testing and ‘FMEA’. Well I’m sold.

where do you hide the 3ft seatpost needed to ride uphill?

You clearly didn’t pay attention. They push it uphill (well actually on the flat by the look of it). How on Earth can someone say “wow” on the basis of a shitty video with some dreadful “music”? What exactly is special about that thing?

Not a big fan of the bike but wish them well. And re: marketing needing pass their GCSEs – feels like a weird and unfair comment. Again, personally I hate the brand name etc but I think the writing is on point for what I assume to be their target market. I’d say well done to the marketing guy 🙂

For all the marketing, they’re still only half way to being funded with five days left

So they didn’t make it.. £8414 pledged out of a target of £16000.. just 5 frames in that total.

Wonder what happens with them now. Bit of a shame really, think the prototype was a tweak or two away from being very nice.

Aha… not dead it seems:

What happens next?

We will be honoring the Kickstarter prices for orders on the frames. We will attempt to contact you, or you can message us here, although chances are we have already been talking!

On July 1st, we will be launching our online store. If you have pledged on Kickstarter for anything, you will receive a discount code that mirrors the prices offered in the crowdfunding campaign.

If you loved the tees and hoodies don’t worry; they will be for sale on the store too!

There will be a choice of 4 different frames, 2 hardtail and 2 full suspension.

As well as the above, there will be 2 build kits available. So yes, full bikes will be available, ready to ride, with a few customisation options too.

They’re suspension designers too now?

They were talking from the start about a full suss bike.

Good luck to them. I like the look of the v2 frame.

The full sus might be good they got Mike McD involved making some bits for it and he knows his onions.

Good luck to them, I’m sure they’ve learned a huge amount and having done something similar I know what it’s like to do all this stuff in the public domain while trying to hold down a full time job doing something completely different (I’m assuming). Not everyone can be on social media or updating the website full time so the gaps are understandable.

They are watching you . . . . .

About time somebody named a bike The Gnarpoon 😆

Theyre still talking a good game anyhow. Hopefully they produce the interesting bikes they’re promising and not the watered down ones they offered on Kickstarter.

I stopped at “here at Dirt we’ve already consigned hardtails to the antiques bin” can’t be anything else worth reading after that load of bollocks.

Jeebus! What happened to Dirt? They used to be alright.

my aspiration is to be something like Specialized, or Trek, or Brooklyn Machine Works

Quite a bit of difference between BMW and Spesh/Trek I’d have thought.