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Take a look at Dark Cycles
5th November 2004 - Dud
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Ever wandered what would happen if most of your workmates rode? Dark Cycles is what happens. Dark Cycles is owned and managed by Pathway Design who are a progressive fabrication and industrial design company. Most of the guys there ride bikes and decided it was a good idea to set up a bike biz. Always good news for the rest of us. Dark Cycles is based in Burnaby, British Columbia meaning the terrain these guys ride on is likely to be pretty hardcore. Enough of the soft stuff onto the goods.
The Scarab is their flagship DH and Freeride bike. The bike incorporates a high pivot location with neutral pivot driveline rollers to ensure the best combination of 'supple' suspension and good power to ground transfer. The frameset is machined of 4130 cro-moly steel and the linkage arms consist of CNC machined 6061 aluminium that house the pair of replaceable dropouts. The smooth movement is ensured by the sealed cartridge bearings at all pivots. It's also worth noting that he Scarab frame requires, and comes equipped with a proprietary chain tensioner system. It includes a high idler cog, and lower BB mounted roller arm. As you can see this makes for a slightly odd chain line but the Dark Horse guys reckon it works. For those obsessed with details heres a few to chew on: Wheelbase is 45.2", Chainstay length 17.8", BB height is 15.0".
Oddly Dark Horse cycles created the Scarab before they had attempted a hardtail, a choice not many companies go for initially because of the obvious complexities that come with designing a full susser. The hardtail they have in the pipeline is said to be "a 4130 Cro-Moly do anything trail ripper." Release due for mid 05. What they have made though are the nicest pedals I have seen in a long time, seems a shame to stand on them really. The 'Anubis' pedal body is 6061-T6 billet anodized and post machined aluminium with a 4130 solid rod spindle, spinning sorted by 3 sealed bearings per pedal.
Again the bashrings look the best ever with some very sweet flames machined out to give them that little extra style. Available in 94, 104 and 110 mm sizes to suit most bikes.
The other completed product in their line up is a simple looking stem with no rise as well as the soon to be released soft goods range. At current Dark Cycles have no dealers in the UK that we know of but look to be getting quite a bit of attention recently so it shouldn't be long before someone starts importing the kit. Keep your eyes open. Check their site for more kit!
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