The 9:ZERO:7, the next evolution in snow bike performance...
The Origin
The design goal for the 9:ZERO:7 titanium and aluminum frames was lofty. We were seeking the next level of snow bike perfection. We wanted a bike that was indisputably the best, period. Those are tall words - there are a lot of good snow bikes out there - but read on and judge for yourself. Better yet, come by the shop to see the 9:ZERO:7 in person.
Quality
We wanted a top-flight frame that adhered to the highest quality standards. 
To achieve this goal, we felt we needed to be able to communicate directly with the manufacturer; therefore, we decided the 9:ZERO:7 frames had to be produced in the U.S. To bring our designs to life, we decided to partner with Merlin Metal Works for the production of our titanium frame.
Our aluminum 9:ZERO:7 is produced in Portland, Oregon by the same craftsmen who have welded for Turner, Titus, Ellsworth, Santa Cruz, and others. When it comes to fabricating high-end, aluminum bikes, there are none better.
In addition to sending our CAD drawings, we supplied both manufacturers with a rear wheel built around a 100mm-wide rim and Surly Endomorph tire. In addition, we sent a set of the Surly Mr Whirly Cranks and all of the other drive train components. The end result is a system of highly integrated components resulting in a snow bike optimized for snow travel.
Out of the box, the frames are perfectly aligned and require no spacers or washers to attach the front derailleur or rear brake caliper. The rear wheel sits true between the chain stays and seat stays. The welds are beautiful, the dropouts artistic, and the finish lustrous.
Design Features
Snow biking is generally done at slow speeds and requires frequent steering corrections when riding in soft snow. The bikes are often ridden for hours on end, either in training or in winter endurance competition.
The optimal snow bike should have geometry conducive to comfort and stability. It also must accommodate a very wide rim, since, generally speaking, the wider the rim, the greater the floatation in snow. To achieve these ends, the 9:ZERO:7 titanium and aluminum frames implements the following:
Longer Head tube
The 9:ZERO:7 has a longer head tube than other competing snow bikes. The head tube for a 17" 9:ZERO:7 is 140mm, allowing the rider to position their bars higher without using of a large stack of spacers or a high-rise stem.
With higher bars, the rider is positioned in a more comfortable, upright position, allowing the cyclist to ride longer while reducing the strain to the neck and wrists.
Longer Chain stays
The 9:ZERO:7 implements longer chain stays than other snow bikes for two reasons:
Because the 9:ZERO:7 is designed to position the rider in a more comfortable and upright position, the rider's center of gravity shifts back and up. Longer chain stays accommodate for this and maintain handling and stability while riding.
Longer chain stays also allow the bike to accommodate a very wide rim/tire. The 9:ZERO:7 aluminum and titanium can accommodate a 100mm wide rim with ease, though the cassette must be spaced to avoid chain rub on the tire.
Bi-axially Ovalized Downtube
To enhance torsional and lateral frame stiffness, the 9:ZERO:7 is built with a 2" biaxially ovalized downtube.
The massive downtube allows the frame to maintain stiffness when fully loaded for multi-day winter expeditions.
Dropped Seat Tube
Winter cycling often involves frequent mounting and dismounting of the bike in soft snow, exaggerating the amount of standover height needed.
The 9:ZERO:7 frames are designed with a dropped top tube to increase the standover height, making the bike easier to mount and dismount.
135 Rear Hub Spacing
To make wide-tire bikes more affordable, the titanium and aluminum 9:ZERO:7 implements a 17.5 mm offset of the rear stays to the drive-side. This feature is used by Surly on their popular Pugsley-model snow bike. Bikes using this design have completed such epic and diverse races as the Soggy Bottom 100, the Arrowhead 135, the Susitna 100, and the Iditarod Invitational. It is a proven design and offers the following advantages:
+ It allows the builder to use a standard 135 mm rear hub
+ It works with any rim width.
+ It provides excellent chain clearance.
+ It is a durable, proven design with a long history
+ If you are an existing Pugsley owner and desire the benefits of a 9:ZERO:7 frame, all parts except the seatpost will transfer perfectly to the new frame.
100mm Bottom Bracket Shell
The 100mm bottom bracket shell is now acknowledged as standard and necessary on snow bikes, and the 9:ZERO:7 aluminum and titanium frames take advantage of this feature as well. There is now an adequate number of options for crank sets, and the 9:ZERO:7 was designed around the Surly Mr. Whirly cranks.
Other Design Details
To support the rider on epic winter rides, the 9:ZERO:7 aluminum and titanium frames include three water bottle mounts, rack mounts, and fender mounts.
While we doubt anyone will actually install fenders, winter bikers are very resourceful in how they attach their equipment to the bike. The main point in including them is to give the rider as many options as possible.
Geometry for 9:ZERO:7 Titanium
| Small | Medium | Large | |
| Seat Tube (Center - Top) | 15.00" [381mm] | 17.00" [432mm] | 19.00" [483mm] |
| Top Tube (Effective) | 22.00" [559mm] | 23.06" [586mm] | 24.00" [610mm] |
| Chain Stay Length | 18.50 [470mm] | 18.50 [470mm] | 18.50 [470mm] |
| BB Drop | 2.17" [55mm) | 2.17" [55mm) | 2.17" [55mm) |
| Stand Over Height | 29.13 [740mm] | 30.82 [783mm] | 32.48 [825mm] |
| Head Tube | 4.72" [120mm] | 5.51" [140mm] | 6.30" [160mm] |
| Head Tube Angle | 69.5° | 70.0° | 70.0° |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
If you are too big or too small to fit a stock frame, no worries! We can build you a custom titanium 9:ZERO:7 to fit you no matter what your height or body proportions are.
Geometry for the 9:ZERO:7 Aluminum
| Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | |
| Seat Tube (Center - Top) | 15.00" [381mm] | 17.00" [432mm] | 19.00" [483mm] | 21.00" [533mm] |
| Top Tube (Effective) | 22.00" [559mm] | 23.06" [586mm] | 24.00" [610mm] | 25.00" [635mm] |
| Chain Stay Length | 18.50 [470mm] | 18.50 [470mm] | 18.50 [470mm] | 18.50 [470mm] |
| BB Drop | 2.17" [55mm) | 2.17" [55mm) | 2.17" [55mm) | 2.17" [55mm) |
| Stand Over Height | 29.5" [750mm] | 30.7" [780mm] | 32.0" [813mm] | 33.5" [851mm] |
| Head Tube | 4.72" [120mm] | 5.51" [140mm] | 6.30" [160mm] | 7.06" [180mm] |
| Head Tube Angle | 69.5° | 70.0° | 70.0° | 70.0° |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
Warranty
We offer a lifetime warranty on the craftsmanship of the titanium 9:ZERO:7 to the original owner. The aluminum 9:ZERO:7 has a five year warranty against manufacturing defects for the original owner.
Price
The titanium frame is being offered for $1899.
The aluminum frame is available for $499.
