All-City Cosmic Stallion

I started calculating  build cost and by the time I factor in wheels which I already have I am at near the complete price without the Sram HRD and other incidentals. So it is so close the complete makes more cents.

My new Cosmic Stallion was delivered yesterday to the shop where I work. I built it up in stock configuration and weighed it. Not a lightweight bike,  but not bad for a steel bike at this level.

06 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

The fork came with an uncut steerer with room for up to 65mm of spacers in addition to the stem. I set it up with a 100mm 30 degree stem and 30mm of spacers and it fits me beautifully, very close to how my AWOL fit. A low rise stem would look better, but that's life with a neck that won't bend much.

12 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

I've only had time for a couple of short rides on my home dirt road route. So far I'm very pleased with the ride, the handling and the fit. The stock gearing is not as low as I want, but it should improve when I change the crank to a 46/30. I also plan to change wheels, but I'll first have to get an 11 speed freehub for the DT 240 hub on my Roval Carbon wheels. I'll give a more detailed ride report once I get some good miles on the bike. So far, so good.

dd3 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

dd2 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Nice pics, would you mind measuring the front center when you get a chance. Middle of bb to middle of ta. Thanks \n

Looks like a great steel option, also looking at a Niner RLT. Going to be in the Denver area the first week of September and hope to ride both. 

RoverAl wrote:Nice pics, would you mind measuring the front center when you get a chance. Middle of bb to middle of ta. Thanks

Rough measurement, a hair under 62cm.

I took my Cosmic Stallion out for an out and back on a dirt road with some good, long flat to downhill sections and a couple of steep down hills so I could see how it handles gravel at 20-30 mph. It handles it like a thoroughbred. Solid and secure but still responsive. I've never ridden such a confident feeling bike at speed on dirt roads. I think the geometry is absolutely spot on and the frame hits that sweet spot of lateral rigidity and vertical compliance. The shifting and braking were controlled and consistent as I've come to expect from SRAM components.

Of course, with all that downhill, there was also a lot of climbs, some long and steady and some short and steep. That is where I missed the 30/36 low gear I've had for the last 5 years on my AWOL and my Black Mountain Monster Cross. I'm essentially missing the two lowest gear ratios that I had before. I used the 30/32 combination quite often and I'll regain that when I install the 30/46 Sugino crank from my AWOL. In spite of struggling on the hills, I managed to record among my fastest times on the out and back segments.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1125998348

Thanks for the FC measurement, it is approx 1 cm less than current bike. They sold the 58 I was going to check out this week but have more coming in. Yours is a 58 cm I think, how tall are you? Any toe overlap concerns? 

RoverAl wrote:Thanks for the FC measurement, it is approx 1 cm less than current bike. They sold the 58 I was going to check out this week but have more coming in. Yours is a 58 cm I think, how tall are you? Any toe overlap concerns? 

5'11" and shrinking from my former 6". lol

I have noticed that grazing toe overlap is possible, but it hasn't actually happened and I definitely don't consider it a problem or concern.

Here's a video review from Path Less Pedaled.

As for my own impressions, I'm liking the bike more each time I ride it. I find the ride and handling to be very comfortable and neutral. Not quick and snappy like a cross bike and not as sedate as my AWOL. The bike rides down fast gravel descents with confidence, holding its line, but responds to steering inputs to avoid limbs, rocks and potholes. I'm much happier with the gearing since I swapped the 50/34 stock crankset for the 46/30 of my Sugino OX601D, still combined with the stock 11-32 cassette.

I am still running the stock wheels and tires and have been fortunate enough to have had no flats with the tubed tires. I have been delayed in using my carbon Roval wheels until I change the freehub to a 11 speed version. I'll likely first go with the 650B dynamo hub wheels I just finished building once I get a pair of WTB Byway 650Bx47mm roadplus tires.

Here is the bike after riding the Red Clay Ramble last weekend. I'm thinking of getting a frame bag to fill that huge space between the top tube and the water bottles. I'm definitely planning to do some light bikepacking on this bike.

024 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

The latest modification, I built some road plus wheels.
WTB Frequency i23 650B rims
SP dynamo front hub
Bitex rear hub
32 Sapim Race spokes 3 cross front and rear, brass nipples
WTB Byway 650Bx47mm tires

Overall tire height is about 1" less, so bike sits about 1/2" lower. Only one ride so far, but so far very impressed with ride quality and cornering traction. Not making too much of a single ride's performance, but I did log my 2nd fastest times on a couple of Strava segments that I've ridden about 70 times over 5 years. So I'd say they don't slow me down.

P1030675 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1030679 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1030680 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1030681 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1030682 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1030683 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

BluesDawg,

So, how's the bike been treating you?

I test rode one yesterday and wasn't blown away but still like it.  To be fair, it was all pavement, I think I would appreciate the slower steering a bit more had I been riding on gravel.  fit was very similar to my Nature Boy. I'm looking at a size 52. same as the NB.   

I'm also interested in hearing more about how you like the bike, especially in 650b mode.  I'm currently on a Nature Boy 853 and am looking for a couple more gears for some rides.  Thanks

z1r wrote:BluesDawg,

So, how's the bike been treating you?

I test rode one yesterday and wasn't blown away but still like it.  To be fair, it was all pavement, I think I would appreciate the slower steering a bit more had I been riding on gravel.  fit was very similar to my Nature Boy. I'm looking at a size 52. same as the NB.   

fyi, there is a 52cm on CL right now in evergreen CO. $1500.

Thank you, that is the one I am interested in.  Test rode it but it was hard to get a feel for its abilities on pavement.  Size wise it is pretty similar to my Nature Boy which is also a 52 cm.  I'd love to be able to ride a 55.

I think that after riding a CX bike for 20+ years, the CS seems a bit slow.  I'm told I'll appreciate that fact on gravel but my current CX bike has done more than its share of gravel and twitchiness never was a real issue.

I like the Carbon fork and disc brakes as well as the Tubeless tires, all of which will be an upgrade from my current ride.

BluesDawg wrote:

5'11" and shrinking from my former 6". lol

I have noticed that grazing toe overlap is possible, but it hasn't actually happened and I definitely don't consider it a problem or concern.

So this sizing thing has got me in a spin.  One of the issues I have with my current bike is toe overlap.  I'm running 172.5 cranks and wear a 44 shoe.  I'm close to your size, 5'-10", 31 inseam, 34 sleeve length, and was told that a 52 would be the size for a CS.  You are on a 57, and you mentioned a possible toe rub, so I'm not sure where to go on the sizing.  What are your thoughts on sizing now that you've had some time on the steed?

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