While trawling (not trolling!) the interwebs we came across this March 2009 interview of Siren Bicycles' Brendan Collier. Guitar Ted and TwentyNineInches.com did profiles of master builders and Brendan was one of their resource people.

Guitar Ted gave us permission to feature the interview here on the site. You, rock, GT!

Click here for the jump.

Almost there! Everything's coming together nicely. Our frames are scheduled to go to the powdercoater later this week, can't wait to see them in our custom colors too! Details on the John Henry frame include: Paragon Machine Works sliding dropouts AND bottom bracket, True Temper top tube and Brendan's own proprietary, size-specific mix of steel tubing for the rest of the frame. 


Thanks to Brendan@Siren for the photos and updates regarding the build process!

I’ve always loved steel and I always will.  I think this stems from my early days of biking. 20 years ago when I first started biking (yoiks!) I broke the dropout on my Fuji Tahoe. I went to Performance bike shop in Cartimar (no relation to the mail order shop it stole its name from) to get myself a new frame. I got myself a white bike with a smoke finish made out of “high-tension” which was all I could afford.  Gorgeous smoke finish- did they really put a lit cigarette beside the bike when they added the topcaot it?   I never really found out but the results were awesome.  Sadly that bike was MASSIVE.  I had a sneaking suspicion that high-tension was a code word for “pipes stolen from the plumber”. 

The dream back then was to get a Chromoly frame in a bright neon color. Preferably the brighter the better.  I dreamed of one of those elevated chainstay chromoly bikes in Tryon with the cantilever brake booster going for (gasp) 5,000PHP.  One dream even better than that was to get a custom frame from Nonet near aurora who used to do the frames for the Tour of Luzon racers. Years later that same bike frame is in an unused doghouse right outside my bedroom window I’ve had many bikes since then but the dream for Steel continues. 

Now that My Next Bike brings in Siren, maybe its time to get that custom job steel job I’ve always dreamed about. Custom colors? Sure.  Custom measurements? No problem Brendan himself can walk you through the requirements. Oh dear is this the dream come true?  Dang I’m excited.  


To be continued. 

Voodoo Wanga Reynolds 631 frame (16")
XT '09 groupset
Chris King headset
Ritchey WCS carbon handle bar
Thomson - seatpost / stem
Fizik Arione saddle
Sun Ringle disc O'flea wheeelset with DT swiss revo spokes and Dt swiss nipples
Kenda excavator 1.95 rear / front tires

What we have here, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is video evidence of a participant in last week's Dirt Weekend in Nuvali. As you can see, the said individual has jumped over the barrier and gotten a head start over the rest of the field. According to the standings he finished 4th. 


No word yet if there will be any formal protests. But that was probably the only minor skidmark in what was a successful and fun weekend. Check out the other Dirt Weekend videos on YouTube.

Yo, rider 300 of Team Santa Rosa Bike Hauz. We got our eyes on ya, buddy!

Here's what Pol had to say about his geared Wanga:

The ride was awesome. Its a perfect frame especially for XC riders like me. 
Perfect Geometry and sexy bike but its deadly...hehehehe...

Thanks and more power VOODOO cycles!!!
 
Looking for my next bike ulit....
 
Wishing for Voodoo 29er naman...
 
Lets get it ON!


Build details:
Fox Fork 2009 F100 with Remote Lockout
XT drive train and hydro brakes
FSA 2009 Carbon Handle Bar
HOPE Hubs, Grip Doctors, Seat Collar,Floating Rotors (Disc), Headset, Spacers
Thomson Stem, Seatpost
Fizik Gobi 2009 Saddle 2 tone
Schwalbe Nobby Nic Tires 2.25
Mavic 719 Rim XM
Exustar Clipless Pedals E-PM25
Topeak Saddle Bag
Cateye Cyclocomp Wireless
Jag wire cables
Velo Grips

 

is/are my/your next bike!


Work's going smoothly at Siren Bicycles and our first batch of John Henry's should be off to the powdercoater by the weekend. Then comes the fun wait as they make their way across the Pacific Ocean to our shores.


Our first batch consists of the following:


1 John Henry in ML, Granite, with red decals
1 John Henry in M, Flame Red, black decals, white border
1 John Henry in M, Royal Blue, with white decals, silver border
1 John Henry in M, Vanilla, with mango decals, black border (SOLD!)


Want to be one of the first Siren riders in the Philippines? Contact us now!


Thanks to Brendan for the build updates and the shop pic!

Digital is truly forever. Check out the old 32by18 blog. Can't believe I've been single(speeding) for four and a half years now. And been rolling on 29er wheels since April 2006. 

Stopped maintaining that blog due to other commitments but clicking through those archives was literally a trip. Highlights include:

June 2005: My photo making it to Dirt Rag 110's The Rider's Eye section. 

January/Febraury 2006: Racing at the San Mig Lite XC Series. The über-rare Boone cog arrives.

April 2006: Hong Kong day trip to pick up my Surly Karate Monkey and a slew of 29er parts. 

April 2007: The annual Tour Of The Fireflies for bicycle advocacy, clean air and overall green-niness!

Good rides, good times.

Looking forward to more of them!

Tom Bowen, a British expat who's based in Taipei City, Taiwan (aka the bike capital of the world), chimed in on our contact page and shared with us his singlespeed VooDoo Bizango. Tom uses it to tear up the Taipei tarmac.