Advocate Cycles, the first Benefit corporation in the cycling industry to pledge 100% of profits to making cycling better, has launched their crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.
We met with our old friend Tim Kreuger, back at the Sea Otter Classic this year, where Advocate launched the Hayduke 27.5+ model, and now they’re bringing a full 26×4” fat bike to market called the Watchman. Utilizing the Hayduke’s Portage™ swappable dropout system, the Reynolds 725 steel fatbike is designed around the Rockshox Bluto and available as a frameset or complete bike. Built with 177 rear spacing, the design keeps the crank’s Q factor narrower than the more common 197mm spaced bikes, making for a better ride experience, while still allowing up to 26×4.5” tires.
Through crowdfunding, they hope to raise $10,000 or more to start to promote the bikes to stocking brick & mortar dealers at Interbike. Frames and complete bikes of both Hayduke and Watchman models are slated to arrive in September, and Indiegogo supporters have the opportunity to be the first ones to receive the new models.
I’m going to have the privilege of being able to ride Tim’s prototype Watchman over the next few weeks and let you know what we think. I predict good things, because Tim has helped bring to market, some great fat-bikes, during his years at the Q mother ship.
“We have developed some very compelling, solid products, and have a unique brand approach that is attracting consumers” says Tim Krueger, company President. “The rider interest in purchasing our models is coming in daily, now we just need to place them on dealer’s floors to connect the dots and start working towards our mission.”
The campaign can be found at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/advocate-cycles#/story
While still in development, Advocate has also announced that both models are nearing ready in seamless, 3/2.5 double-butted titanium. Named the Hayduke Titan™ and Watchman Titan™, the models will be sold as frame-only, with a choice of decal color, and they hope to be available be the end of 2015, and have all the same features and specifications as their Reynolds 725 counterparts.
Check out the build Spec’s
Frame Spec’s
Sizes and Geo
For more information, check out www.advocatecycles.com.
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