Hi Ronnie, thank you so much for being here with me today! It’s a real pleasure to talk with you. Over the past few years, we’ve come to know your story and adventures, which have inspired so many people in the cycling world. Before we begin, tell us a little about yourself for those who may not know you. Who are you, where are you from, and how would you describe your relationship with bicycles in general?
Hi Emanuele! happy to be here digitally with you. i would describe myself as a bicycle evangelist with tastes that most closely resemble the styles that were current at the time i first got into riding. thats the early 90s before bikes began the long tech backslide in many of our opinions. bicycles are the way i socialize and express my inner most personal emotions etc. i say that in jest, but now that i think about it, its pretty true. call it a disorder, but its how i have lived my life since 1992, and i feel quite nourished 33 years later.
“Bicycles are my way to express the deepest parts of myself.”
Can you tell us when and how your love for bicycles began?
Back to 1992 – reading a mountain bike action at our local CVS pharmacy while my mom shopped. i was shit at ball sports, and thought maybe this could be my thing. it was! still have that magazine – still have most of that stuff — still gives me thrill chills.
Tell us about your favorite bike or a build you’re particularly proud of. Is there a story behind this bike?
I go through a lot of bikes per year and can never really settle on a finished build before tearing it down and starting again. frames crack, handlebar tastes eb and flow … i am always wrenching and cannibalizing my bikes to build up whatever i am feeling at the moment, or whatever i think will motivate me to get out and ride. the one that got away would be the s-works duralcan i built up in 2020. it didint owe me anything and eventually developed a crack in the BB weld RIP. that bike oddly brought me a number of epiphanies that are reflected in the current line up of production frames Rons BIkes offers. a throughline from the duralcan was the alumalith, and currently my 29er R-WERX EVOO …thats my current favorite bike in the stable right now … along with the long time fav of my Rivendell Atlantis. my 26ers are great for trying new ideas on — but i try not to get too attached to them as most end up rusting through or cracking on me due to age and admittedly how poorly i treat them. they sure as heck get ridden though! currently that klein pinnacle chubby road build is my best performing 26”.
“I feel nourished by riding; it’s been my life since 1992.”
Recently, you’ve designed and brought to life several beautiful frames with your brand… creations with a romantic soul but enriched with modern, contemporary details. Yet I know you also have a deep passion for old MTBs and still ride them regularly. What does riding a 26er mean to you today? Why do you think these bikes still hold unique value in a world dominated by technological innovations? And is there a memorable trip or adventure you’ve had with one of your 26ers?
Its such a unanimous wheel size that you can find all over the world. maybe even more popular than 700c as far as how many bicycles are out there in the world. 26” wheels are stronger, lighter, have good modern tire options, and they just get the job done. sure bigger wheels have a lot to offer too, but those offerings are beyond what most people need bikes for. not to mention the best parts in all of parts history were made for 26” mountain bikes — and these treasures can be had at a fraction of what they are worth on ebay and other places. its just fun to work with bikes that are so plug and play in a modern bike world where plug and play means plugging them into a laptop. not much play there IMO. as far as a memorable trip goes — maybe attempting the arizona trail on my 26” surly LHT in 2011 when it was still (still mostly is) a cow path through the desert. it was a nice place to take your bike for a walk lol.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start building a 26er or rediscover the joy of riding an old-school bike?
Switch out the tires, the handlebars for drops with a high stem, or some good upright bars like the uncle ron’s orthos or nitto albatross bars, and a comfy leather saddle. once you get your position right on there you will want some good pedals too. its all about the contact areas – upgrade those on any bike and you have a winner.
Where do you see the future of 26-inch MTBs? Do you think they’ll ever experience a broader resurgence, or will they always remain a niche for enthusiasts?
They will certainly always remain niche, i am pretty sure about that. big bike is going as far away from these kinds of bikes — but there will always be an endless amount of 26” stuff out there to play with. the 90s MTB boom was the biggest bike boom ever, so we should still have some good parts to work with for eons. our tire company Ultradynamico makes two 26” treads, and we are noticing them start to outpace our 650b models … there are no new 26” bikes being mass produced … this is all from folks just discovering what is out there on the used market and feeling empowered to tinker on such an non intimidating fun machine
If you could lead an evolution of 26ers, what would you change or introduce?
I would market them more as do anything city/travel/gravel bikes. they are compact and easy to travel with – the big tires they can fit are great for riding just about any surface. again though, i don’t think there is much of an evolution with them moving forward other than creating with what has already been produced.
