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Review: Foundry’s Do-All Chilkoot Road Bike

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FoundryChilkootReview2015-1

Foundry’s Chilkoot road bike marks the second machine I’ve ridden and reviewed from their line-up, the first being the company’s stellar Overland gravel bike. While the frame material of choice for cyclists these days seems to be carbon, bicycle frames constructed from metals such as titanium, steel and aluminum are making a solid re-entry back into the market.

The brand Foundry Cycles may not be a household name but its parent company, Quality Bicycle Products will ring familiar to anyone associated with the bicycle industry. Simply put, QBP is the largest distributor of cycling products in the United States. To quote Foundry, the Chilkoot epitomizes “The Spirit of Competition.” Built for versatility, the bike excels in most areas. Road racing? No worries. Criteriums? Sure thing. 150 mile endurance ride? Bring it on. Crushing some hard pack dirt and gravel roads? Yep, bring out the 28mm tires and let’s roll…

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Our first impressions article about the Chilkoot hinted that I’d ridden plenty of pavement-only miles aboard the bike. As a wannabe full-time Gravel Cyclist, I really wanted to run the Chilkoot through a full gamut of testing. Naturally, this would involve good and bad roads, many of which are off the beaten track and unpaved. I was hoping to make the Chilkoot, but more likely me, feel a bit uncomfortable.

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Spec’d as a complete bike with Shimano’s excellent Ultegra 6800 mechanical groupset, Zipp cockpit parts and DT Swiss R23 Spline Wheelset fitted with Clement Strada LCG 700c x 25mm tires, the Chilkoot is a solid package. Did I mention how good the bike looks?

FoundryChilkootReview2015-13

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While I enjoyed my paved road miles rolling the stock DT wheelset, I wanted something a little more forgiving for my dirt and gravel road testing. I substituted the DT wheelset for a personal set of American Classic Sprint 350 Tubeless ready wheels, fitted with prototype 28mm tubeless road tires, inflated to 75psi front and 80psi rear.

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Incidentally, the tires fitted measured 29.5mm – 30mm on the American Classic wheels with plenty of room to spare on the rear of the bike. The front was a little tighter with about 3mm to spare beneath the fork.

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Ride quality of the Chilkoot is excellent. Aided by wider tires, lower tire pressure and compliant chainstays, the Chilkoot sailed across every hard packed dirt and gravel road I threw at it, offering a smooth, forgiving and predictable ride.

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Foundry did a nice job pairing the Chilkoot’s 3Al/2.5V titanium frame with Enve’s 2.0 fork. It tracks stably and helps nullify some of the road buzz that would ordinarily bother and fatigue a rider.

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While not a powerhouse cyclist, I could not detect flex in the bottom bracket area of the size small (54.5cm top tube) Chilkoot during out of the saddle efforts. Like any other road bike fitted with 25 – 28mm tires, the bike will become unruly in loose soil conditions; relaxing to allow the Chilkoot do its thing while I pedaled on though kept me upright and out of trouble.

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As pictured in these photos with American Classic Sprint 350 Tubeless wheels, tubeless 28mm tires and sealant, Ultegra 6800 groupset, Zipp cockpit parts, King Cage titanium bottle cages, Speedplay Zero stainless steel pedals, Fizik Arione saddle and computer mount, this Chilkoot tips the scales at approximately 18.2lbs / 8.2kgs. It isn’t the lightest bike going, nor is it made from carbon or constructed from aero-shaped tubes. But its ride quality and rock solid frame far overshadow these trivialities.

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Other nice touches to the Chilkoot complete bike include the 52/36 chainrings and 11-28 11-speed cassette; a nice spread of gears without too many big jumps through the cassette. Foundry added additional versatility to the Chilkoot when they spec’d the GS variant (longer cage) of the Ultegra 6800 rear derailleur. This derailleur will easily accommodate a 32 tooth big cog.

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Whether you use mechanical or wired electronic drivetrains such as Shimano Di2, Foundry has you covered. The frame is fully Di2 compatible thanks to hidden ports, and a removable cable stop on the downtube. This cable stop serves a dual-purpose. When installed, mechanical cables are routed through it. Removed, electronic wiring is routed through the port vacated by the cable stop.

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Priced at $US 4,695.00 for a complete bike or you can build your own Chilkoot beginning with the frame and fork for $US 2,495.00. Foundry’s Chilkoot would be a superb choice for a rider who wants one road bike to do it all. The Chilkoot is a bike I am sad to see go.

Thank you to Annie Nimity of Desolation Florida for help with some of the photography in this article.

FoundryCycles.com

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elvis
elvis
8 years ago

There doesn’t seem to be a ton of room out back with your rubber. did you experience any rubbing on the chainstays or seatstays?

M.C. Slammer
M.C. Slammer
8 years ago

So how about some details on the frame. Who is the titanium builder for QBP? What type of titanium alloy did they use. Strait gauge or butted?

ObligatedToSay
ObligatedToSay
8 years ago

“Do It All”… with rim brakes?!

Badbikemechanicx
Badbikemechanicx
8 years ago

Finally a review with a weight! pretty ti. Pretty bike. Glad qbp is finally making bikes worth buying

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

Did the cable stops move at all? It looks from that last picture like the cable stops have one mounting bolt and are not quite on perpendicular to the downtime. Could mess with the shifting over time.

M.C. Slammer
M.C. Slammer
8 years ago

@ Jason, frame details?

Axel
8 years ago

@ObligatedToSay

Yes, “do it all” with rim brakes. It may come as a surprise to you but bicycles have been ridden on all types of terrain for over 100 years with rim brakes, or variations thereof.

mudrock
mudrock
8 years ago

Jayson, that’s bike too small for you – you need to stretch out more.

MB
MB
8 years ago

@MC Slammer – I think I read in another comments section here on BR that they are made overseas. Cannot recall where but likely China.

Peter
Peter
8 years ago

Huh. Looks great, but really quite heavy for titanium with Ultegra, and $1000 more than a comparably equipped Lynskey 240.

Dinger
Dinger
8 years ago

@MC Slammer – most of the details you’re asking about are covered on the bike’s web page. Most makes will not divulge the vendors who build their frames.

http://foundrycycles.com/bikes/chilkoot

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

Loving the tire clearance WITH rim brakes. For a “do it all” bike, I’d really like to see rac and/or fender mounts.

Holmslice
Holmslice
8 years ago

Legit.

Go packers

Lynskee

And qbp. And FOUNDREEE

Holmslice
Holmslice
8 years ago

Most things called armory or foundry are legit

Come to PRESCOTT and see.the skatepark next to the ruger armory and high gear bikes (for example)

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