25: FBM Man Eater

 

Bicycle Type: BMX

Owner: Jason Carpenter

Primary use for this bike: Park, street, some dirt

 

Frame: FBM Man Eater 20.75

Fork: S & M pitchfork

Crankset: Profile

Gearing: 30t/10t

 

Rims: Odyssey Hazzard

Spoke Style/Lacing Style: 36h 3x

Hubs: Gsport Ratchet (sealed)

Stem: Animal Jump Off

Bars: S & M Slam XLT

Grips: ODI

Saddle: Animal

 

Extras: USA made as much as possible.

Did you put together this bike piece by piece? And if so, how long did the build take? Yes, a couple hours to build it up, but years to get the setup down…I am still figuring it out.

 

Tell about your shop, Royal Cycles: Started back in October 2006 as a service-oriented, off the beaten path small shop…still is, and that’s how we like it. 

 

Is the shop open year round? Yup, we sharpen and wax skis/boards, service commuters, and indoor bmxers in the winter.

 

We heard you’re building together your own frames, give us the lowdown: Yeah, wish I could spend more time on them, but a couple a year for the last four years or so. The quality is finally looking pretty nice, and maybe I will be a great frame builder in about ten years or so at this pace. But keep your eyes out for some custom builds.

 

Shout Outs: Jon, Alden, JP, Chris, and all the local riders that have been there from the start to help out, ride, and make Royal Cycles what it is today. Matt Penney for everything, especially the frame building expertise.  A big thanks to our customers and friends for their return business and continued support. Also, Sean S&M bikes, Mike at Animal, and FBM guys keeping us riding all the way up in VT. And my loves: little man Jackson and Liza who has always been there.

 

All photos shot by Dean Blotto Gray at Royal Cycles during October of 2009

Original publish date September 20th, 2009