Niner One 9 – Atomic Blue | Alan's Mountain Biking Adventures

Updated 7/15/2016

This bike has been retired. Disassembled, sold off many of the parts but kept the frame to put up on the wall.

Update – 4/11/2015

I purchased this bike in March, 2010 – just before the 2010 Sea Otter Classic. It was my first “race bike” and has pretty much been my “everything bike” since then. It’s a far cry from my previous ss – a Specialized P2 dirt jump bike. The P2 got me hooked on singlespeeds, and I used it at my first race ever – the 2009 Sea Otter Classic. It took me a year to save up for the Niner. But once I threw my leg over it, it proved to be the best investment I’d ever made. I’ve put thousands of miles and gained endless elevation on this machine. Four years later, it’s still running strong. For the most part, it’s exactly the same now as it was when I first built it. In race mode, it weighs just under 18 lbs rigid and around 21 lbs with the squish fork. Below are the specs from the original build, with changes I’ve made over the years noted in parentheses. There are also some photos of the bike in different “forms” over the years. In an effort to “spread the wealth”, I purchased the exact same One 9 frame in Kermit Green (got a sweet deal on eBay) so I can keep one built with the rigid fork and one built with the squishy fork. I now also have a Licorice Black Niner Air 9 Carbon that is my super duper race bike and recently got a Niner EMD built as a 1×9 (for certain types of training, towing my daughter in the trailer, etc). This comes in handy for for fun. So now, I don’t have to put as much wear and tear on the blue bike. As of now, this bike is reserved for bikepacking only. I raced the Stagecoach 400 with it, and it stays built for adventure.

Frame: Niner One 9 – Atomic Blue, Size Small, Scandium
Fork (Suspension): Rockshox Reba 29er XX w/ XLoc (still kicks ass)
Fork (Rigid): Niner Carbon- Nude (I’ve beaten the crap out of this, and keeps on ticking)
Crank: Truvativ Stylo OCT 1.1 – (bullet-proof, light, and CHEAP – the best ss crank bang for the buck hands down – they stopped making them, but you can find on eBay for under $100 – I got a super clean set for my Kermit Green bike for $55
Headset: Chris King
Stem: Easton- EA90 90mm, 0 degree
Bars: Niner Alloy Flat Bar- 9 degree sweep, 710mm (I switched to an Enve Carbon Sweep Bar and absolutely love it – 700mm, 9 degree sweep)
Brakes: Avid Juicy 5 (now matter how much I beat these up, they never fail)
Wheels: Stan’s Crest 29er- White (I’ve gone through those hoops, and now have black Crests – super light and super durable)
Front Hub: Chris King (bullet proof)
Rear Hub: Chris King SS (bullet proof)
Chainring: RaceFace Single (I have 32, 34, 36, and 38T to maximize my gearing options- I’ll change from 32:18 to 34:16, etc so I don’t have to adjust my EBB too much if I don’t have to – I’m lazy)
Cogs: 12-20t Chris King, 21-22t Niner
Chain: KMC- 610HX (I now use KMC X1)
Tires: I tried everything, and I now use only Maxxis – For almost everything, I use Maxxis Ignitor 2.1 front, Maxxis Ikon 2.2 rear – the Ikon 2.2 is really more like a 2.0 or 2.1. I always run tubeless with Stans Sealant
Grips: ESI Race Grips (I now use Ergon GS2’s on every bike I own. Best grips ever!)
Saddle: WTB Shadow V w/ Ti Rails (I love this saddle, it’s ripped and torn but it still works. I will be switching it to a WTB Valcon when it finally dies)
Seatpost: Thompson Elite- 410mm
Seatpost Collar: Salsa Lip Lock
Skewer (Front): Salsa
Skewer (Rear): N/A – Chris King Fun Bolts
Pedals: Crank Brothers Candy Ti – (I now use Eggbeater 3 or 11)
Water Bottle Cage: Lezyne
Computer: Garmin Edge 500
Lights: Exposure MaxxD (bars), Joystick (helmet)
In it’s current bikepacking mode for the Stagecoach 400.

2011 Sagebrush Safari - Dirty Teeth. Kenda US Cup West Coast Series

Photo at my first race with this bike – US Cup West – Sagebrush Safari in February, 2011. Lucy was just over 2 years old.

2010 High Sierra Fall Century - Finish Line

The finish of the 2010 High Sierra Fall Century

My Niner One 9 as it was originally built - with white Stans NoTubes Crest wheels (I've since gone black) and ESI grips (I now have Ergon GS-2 grips that I can't live without).

My Niner One 9 as it was originally built – with white Stans NoTubes Crest wheels, Crank Bros. Candy Pedals and ESI grips (I now have Ergon GS-2 grips that I can’t live without).