Like many single speeders, Max Menzies is a unique character. That’s a kind way of saying that he is a slightly nuts. Think I’m being a little mean? Look no further than his choice of bike for his third Absa Cape Epic.
Max’s frame is the South African designed Contraband Rogue. A bike well-suited for rigid single speeding as the Reynolds 853 steel tubing provides some forgiveness while the eccentric bottom bracket helps maintain the correct chain tension, without a tensioner or derailleur. The eccentric bottom bracket allows the crankset to move in a circle, this can either tension or loosen the chain as the chainring moves further or nearer to the rear axle.
Max sought the services of BMC and David Mercer to modify the frame by adding internal routing along the top tube and mounts for bottle cages (something the first batch of Rogues didn’t have).
Keeping to the theme of a reliable steel single speed, Max has fitted a rigid Ritchey carbon fork. His wheels star Hope Pro 2 Evo hubs in the centre with Stan’s NoTubes Crest and Flow rims in the front and rear respectively. A Brooks saddle sits upon a Thomson layback seatpost.
The bike is named Scélérat which is French for rogue.
Specification list:
- FrameContraband Rogue
- ForkRitchey carbon
- RimsStan’s NoTube Crest (Front); Stan’s NoTube Flow (Rear)
- HubsHope Pro 2 Evo
- TyresVittoria Saguaro 2.2
- HandlebarsNiner alloy
- StemKCNC Fly Ride
- HeadsetKCNC
- BrakesShimano Deore
- CranksetShimano SLX
- ChainringRaceFace 34T
- Sprocket20T
- ChainKMC
- PedalsShimano M540
- SeatpostThomson Elite layback
- SaddleBrooks
This.