We’re closing out 2020 with a final Reader’s Rig from Nick Jensen of Manzanita Cycles, who built himself this custom steel 29er with an ENVE Mountain Fork for taking on technical singletrack routes around his home base in Nevada’s Sierra Nevada range. See more here…

Words and photos by Nick Jensen (@manzanitacycles)

Hi, I’m Nick. I live in Reno, Nevada, and run Manzanita Cycles from my basement workshop. I got into framebuilding in 2007 in order to make custom touring bikes for my wife Carrie and me, which we used in 2008 to ride the Ring Road around Iceland. We got hooked on bicycle travel and I found an excellent hobby in framebuilding. In 2019, I turned that hobby into a business. Although I’ll build almost any type of bicycle my customer desires, I most enjoy making bikes for traveling.

Manzanita Cycles

I made this bike for myself so I can explore bikepacking routes with more singletrack and technical challenges. The bike’s geometry is very similar to the hardtails I make, but a bit longer in the rear. The longer rear end provides heel clearance for running a rack and panniers. The front end is also pretty long to increase stability and confidence while descending. Combined with the 29 x 2.6” tires, this bike provides a very smooth ride over rough terrain.

  • Manzanita Cycles
  • Manzanita Cycles
Manzanita Cycles

There are so many bikepacking opportunities close to home in the Sierra Nevada mountains and in the many mountain ranges that line Nevada. I’m excited for 2021 and all of the adventures I hope to have on this new bike!

  • Manzanita Cycles
  • Manzanita Cycles
  • Manzanita Cycles
  • Frame Manzanita Cycles custom
  • Fork ENVE Mountain Fork
  • Rims Velocity Blunt 35 32h
  • Hubs White Industries XMR Boost 32h
  • Tires Maxxis Rekon EXO+ 29 x 2.6″
  • Handlebars Soma Dream Bar
  • Headset White Industries
  • Crankset White Industries M30 w/ 30t ring
  • Pedals OneUp composite
  • Cassette SRAM Eagle GX 10-50t
  • Derailleur SRAM Eagle XO1
  • Brakes Shimano SLX BR-M7100
  • Shifter(s) SRAM Eagle GX
  • Saddle WTB Koda
  • Seatpost Thomson Elite setback
  • Stem Thomson Elite X4
  • Front bags Revelate Harness and Egress
  • Frame bags Custom Rockgeist
  • Rear bags Revelate Viscacha
  • Accessory bags Rockgeist top tube bags
  • Manzanita Cycles
  • Manzanita Cycles

You can find Nick and Manzanita Cycles on Instagram @manzanitacycles.

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Use the form below to submit your bikepacking rig. We’ll choose one per week to feature in a Reader’s Rig Dispatch and on Instagram. To enter, email us your best photo of the bike (preferably at a 90° angle), your Instagram username (optional), and a short description of you and your rig. If your bike is selected, we’ll need a total of five photos and a little bit more info.

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