Clearly, this online direct-to-consumer concept is catching on in the cycling world. The newcomer to the web is Clear Bicycle Company, which was recently hatched by industry veteran Skip Hess (whose resume includes some big names like Giant, Schwinn and Mongoose). The company is based in Julian, CA and their first complete bike is a commuter called the One.
The One is a slick-looking city bike that bears a simple appearance, but upon closer inspection offers an impressive and thoughtful component spec. With a pretty competitive price of $699 USD, Clear Bicycle Co. is definitely attempting to lure customers with a high bang for your buck ratio.
The One’s frame is made from formed 6061 aluminum, and it’s matched up to an aluminum fork. As for construction features, the frame includes internal cable routing on the front triangle to keep the bike looking smooth, mounts for front and rear carrier racks, a water bottle mount on the down tube and a kickstand plate.
The One was built with “comfortable, fun geometry” which by the numbers means it has a 71° head tube, 73° seat tube, and stout 430mm chainstays. The BB shell is a threaded 73mm type, and the rear axle spacing is 135mm (note- the fork uses a 100m axle). Frames are available in Small (17”) Medium (19”) and Large (21”) sizes.
The One’s 29” wheels are one component that shows these bikes are built by bike-saavy people. The rims are double-walled with stainless steel eyelets, and 14g stainless spokes connect them to sealed bearing hubs. The hoops are then wrapped with 40mm wide Kenda Flintridge micro-knob tires, and fixed to the bike with locking axle nuts (an excellent finishing touch for a commuter bike).
It’s also nice to see the 1×9 drivetrain includes a CNC machined narrow-wide 40t front chainring. Shifting is handled by Sram’s X-5 derailleur and trigger shifter, and Avid’s BB5 mechanical disc brakes on 160mm front and 140mm rear rotors provide the stopping power.
The One’s headset is a sealed unit, and the bike comes with two carbon spacers for height adjustment. The cranks are a two-piece type with a chromoly spindle, and a pair of wide-body aluminum platform pedals is included. Clear supplies their own micro-fiber padded saddle with chromoly rails, and the seat post clamp wisely forgoes the quick-release in favor of security.
Clear provides most of the other bits and pieces like the handlebars, stem, and their ergo-style grips. The grips’ stubby integrated bar ends allow for three different riding positions to ensure long-haul comfort.
The One frames are available in Lightning Black, Resort Blue, Summer Yellow, Real Red or Double Grey colors. Buyers can then choose if they want their components in polished black or polished silver. For further details or to place an order, check out Clear Bicycle Company’s website.
