I'm embarking on a project to try and refresh the clapped-out components on my mountain bike with parts from local, independent companies. I‘ll settle for components from corporate owned brands that employ people locally if parts aren’t available from the indies. I'm not willing to accept any compromises in performance, so we'll see how close I can get.
A quick plug: Check out our Slim Fit and Athletic Fit enduro mountain bike shorts.
Based in the PNW | Independently Owned | No Compromises
Here's a map and list of Cascadia based mountain bike and components companies, or those employing people here. Help me out! Know of a company that I'm missing? Drop a comment below, or tag @abitgear on Instagram.
B.C. MTB companies
- Banshee Bikes
- Chromag Bikes
- Evolve Bikes
- Forbidden Bike Co
- Knolly
- Norco
- North Shore Billet
- Race Face (owned by Fox Factory Holding corp, Braselton, GA)
- Rocky Mountain Bicycles (owned by Industried RAD inc, Quebec, CA)
- Spawn Cycles
- OneUp
- Vorsprung
- We Are One Composites
Washington MTB companies
- Canfield Brothers Bikes
- Cascade Components
- Cascade Racing Designs
- Evil Bikes
- FSA - Full Speed Ahead (USA offices, headquarters in Italy)
- Kona
- PNW Components
- Raleigh & Diamond Back (owned by international equity funds and barely hanging on)
- Tenet Components
- Transition Bikes/ANVL Components
Oregon "the beaver wheel state" MTB companies
Idaho MTB companies
Cascadia Patrol
I love the XL 2017 Transition Patrol. While not the latest and greatest, it fits me perfectly, and is a playful, fun bike that has proven to be durable. Here's my progress on going full Cascadia.
Cranks: I destroyed the old set of XT's I was running when I clipped a stump and ripped out the threads. Canfield Brothers is the only indie local company making cranks, so I'm running Canfield 170mm aluminum cranks. They're made with quality 7000 series aluminum (I've killed a few carbons), and SRAM compatible direct mount chainring with a really nice quality GXP-style bottom bracket. Using standard SRAM wear parts made pulling the trigger on these Canfield cranks an easy decision.
Canfield AM/DH cranks that use SRAM's DM chainring pattern and GXP-style BB.
Dropper: PNW Components Bachelor with Loam Lever. Super smooth, the lever is a massive upgrade over the Reverb plunger, and you can get up to 200mm drop that fits easily in my XL frame with room to spare. They're killing the dropper game, super nice stuff at a great price. Install was easy, too.
Stem: Also from PNW, the Range Stem. A stem is a stem is a stem, but this has a GoPro mount for my light, which is clean and holds my light more securely than the stock rubber band bar mount. The mount will come off in summer when night riding isn't on the menu.
PNW Components Bachelor Dropper, Loam Lever and Range Stem set up for night riding.
Current Build
| Fork DVO Onyx SC set to 160mm. Great fork, and no creaky crowns! Based in California, rider-owned. | Shock 2017 Rockshox Super Deluxe with custom Avalanche internals. |
| Drivetrain SRAM 11 speed with e.thirteen (Based in Cali, rider-owned) TRS+ 9-46 cassette. |
Brakes Code RSC, with 200mm front and 180mm rear rotors. |
| Cranks Canfield AM/DH cranks, 170mm. Strong 7075 T6 aluminum, just my ticket! I've killed a few carbon and Shimano XT cranks, so no weight weenie levers for me. | Pedals DMR Vaults. |
| Bash/Guide MRP XCg. | Grips Ergon GA2. |
| Handlebar Deity Black Label 38mm rise, cut to 790mm wide. | Stem PNW Components Range 45mm with removable GoPro mount for night light. |
| Pump Lezyne mini-pump mounted to water bottle cage. This + EDC = packless! | Tools OneUp EDC Tool in the steer tube with chain pliers and tire plug add-ons. Best. Tool. Ever! |
| Dropper Post PNW Components Bachelor dropper, with their awesome Loam Lever. Smooth! | Saddle WTB something or other. |
| Rims Light Bicycle carbon, 31.6mm internal width. Strong-ish but harsh. | Hubs Hope Pro2 Evo hubs. |
| Rear Tire e.thirteen Gen3 LG1 Enduro Race 2.4. Heavy tire, but killer for "shorter" winter rides on wet roots. Great tire so far. | Front Tire e.thirteen Gen3 TRS MoPo Trail 2.4. Super sticky, so far it's as good as the best Minions. Cali company, rider-owned. |
| DH Wheelset I have a few burlier parts for DH days. WTB i29 rims laced to old Hadley hubs, and Double Down casing Minions with Cush Core inserts. | DH Shock DVO Jade coil. Meh, this bike needs a climb switch for what I ride. |
Parts from Cascadia companies are in blue. Let's see how dank, mossy and pure PNW I can make this bike!
Thanks John. This article is just hardgoods – frames and components. I’ll do another one for softgoods and apparel at some point. High Above and NWT3K are two awesome small companies with owners that build trails with Evergreen and WMBC. Solid brands invested in the local scene!
High Above comes to mind. Pack Northwest is also in Bellingham, along with Spacecraft clothing. Revelate is in AK, Loam frame bags also in Bellingham.
Canfield Brothers added to the list. Talked to them and they’re still operating out of Bellingham, with an office in Utah. Who else am I missing?