John and Cari were in Australia earlier this month, and since they were on the same continent as Matt and Cheech from Crust Bikes, they had to visit them at their home in New South Wales. While there, John documented a selection of bikes from their shed, including some prototypes and soon-to-be-released future cult classics. Let’s check it all out!
Crust Bikes and The Radavist have grown up together over the past several years. I owe my buddy Hanson Little from Dark Realm a thank you for introducing me to Matt Whitehead way back in 2015. We met up one day on the east side of Austin to document the first Crust Bikes Evasion and have been friends ever since. Most of my relationships with brands have begun as friendships with the founder or owner of the company, so my work is often intrinsically linked to those people.
When Cari and I found ourselves in Australia earlier this month – I’ve been a number of times, but it was her first visit Down Under – Matt and Cheech from Crust Bikes invited us to stay with them in their beautiful coastal town. We got to chatting about what’s coming down the pipe from Crust and I offered to document some of the new bikes…
Stupid Tourist Break-Away Travel Bike
Matt and I were joking a lot about us “Seppos” visiting him in his home state of New South Wales – a Seppo is slang for Americans, a shortened version of septic tank, which rhymes with Yank. Even through the jokes, he admitted that we’re all stupid tourists at some point, and it’s something to embrace. This conversation was just days after reading an article on the BBC about tourism. Cari and I were in the middle of a three-week-long trip through Southeastern Australia, and being a Yank always causes a bit of self-conscious insecurities.
This is a lengthy intro say that that this bike is meant to be a tourist bike. The name is a spin on the Super Tourist RM11 moto model Raleigh put out in the 1960s. Matt loves motos and often buys them when he travels abroad, rides them, and then sells them when he leaves, so this all tracks with what makes Crust Bikes so special: the bikes are an extension of his and Cheech’s personalities and the people they surround themselves with.
The Stupid Tourist (lol that’s funny to type) comes in two models and two sizes per model. There’s a rim brake version that does not include a seat stay split or rocker dropouts and a disc brake version with rocker dropouts that is belt compatible with a seat stay break.
In each model, there’s a size small and a size large. To dial in fit, you’ll have to play with handlebar design, stem length, and seatpost. I’m 6’2″ and with a longer post and less backsweep on the handlebars, I could pedal this bike around just fine.
It features the Ritchey Break-Away system, allowing it to fit under the oversized baggage requirements, and rolls on 20″ wheels. It features the same brass guides on the down tube that other Crust models utilize and has playful artwork all over the frame, drawn by Indonesian cartoonist Bimantara. It’s dropper post compatible and has cargo mounts on the fork for all your haulin’ needs.
The front fork is internal-dynamo light wiring friendly. I love how long the headtube is! Speaking of which, the Park Tool headset press will not work on the Stupid Tourist. Break out the hammer and 2×4!
These will hit the Crust Bikes Webshop in a few months.
Lugged Lightning Bolt
Now that the big release is out of the way, I’m bummed to showcase two prototype frames that will most likely not be produced: the Lugged Lightning Bolt. Here are Matt and Cheech’s frames, built up with some choice components. They’re beautifully lugged frames with a Ritchey bi-plane-inspired fork crown and an elegant rake on the fork.
The Lugged Lightning Bolt is a rim brake bike that fits a 650b wheelset and comes equipped with an integrated rear light mount (bare in each of these builds). Matt’s build features Honjo fenders, Campy derailleurs, SunXCD double crankset, a lightweight randonneuring rack and bag, Suntour barcons, a fillet Gran Bois stem, Berthoud Randonneuring bag, Mafac cantis, Crust headset, and a dynamo setup.
His grip of seatpost “French Fit” showcases Matt’s love for classic randonneuring bikes and the crackle paint matches the Berthoud saddle perfectly. Crust homie Ryan Flynn requested this paint finish and it pops!
Cheech owns a special prototype XXS model that runs on 26″ wheels, a SON front hub, White Industries rear, with Paul Mini Moto brakes, and has 145 mm Appleman cranks. I love how proportionate this build looks with the 26″ wheels and frame size. This bike was in Italy with Cheech during the Team Dream Popup and has seen some stunning scenery.
Lugged Malocchio Road
Featuring a new lugged frameset and brand new carbon fork, the Malocchio will be offered in a disc and rim brake version with 700c wheels. This bike is super light and has a new offering from Crust: splattered paint. You’ll see two splatter designs in this post, one in pastel and one in primary colors.
There will also be a Jonny Pucci-designed graphic package on the production model, just like the original Malocchio. I couldn’t get over how well-balanced this bike photographed with the new fork, and I really love seeing the oversized tubing with lugs. It’s a modern road bike with classic style and sensibilities. Plus, how good is the splatter paint?
Well done here, team! Expect these to land in a few months.
Evasion Lite Sample
Matt’s Evasion Lite sample really bowled me over. The 26″ x 2.3″ wheels, splatter paint, colored Appleman cranks, and Dark Realm framebag brought all the warm and fuzzy feels on this particularly cloudy and rainy afternoon. The Evasion Lite will be offered with the Bombora carbon fork in the next run.
Cheech’s Custom Dreamer Randonneur
Before moving to Australia, Cheech was doing randonneuring events in the Eastern and Western United States on this Darren Larkin-built Crust Dreamer. She ran 26″ x 1.25″ wheels on it, a carbon Ritchey fork, and her signature RUDE BITCH Dark Realm bag. I LOVE this bike as it shows heavy beauty through usage and feels like it’s been thoroughly used for its use case.
2021 Honda Postie Bike
It felt appropriate to showcase one of Matt’s motos in this set. As stated before, motos have inspired Crust Bikes a few times over the years. The Honda Postie Bike is used by the Australian Post. The CT125 model made its way over to the US for a few years, and the CT110 has been a tried-and-true Aussie staple. Matt zip-tied a milk crate to it and uses it for errands around town. There’s even a Postie Bike Race each year, the Postie Bike Challenge!
Of course, the light shined beautifully in these photos!
Around Crust Bikes Australia HQ
After finishing our work in Melbourne, Cari and I hired a car and drove up the coast to a small beach town in New South Wales to see Matt and Cheech for a few days. It’s a long haul and it was nice to have familiar faces and a comfy bed after our travels. The first morning after I finished up work, Matt offered up a surfboard to me and the two of us walked out to the beach. I paddled out for the first time in seven years, and my love for surfing was instantly re-ignited. Growing up in coastal North Carolina, surfing and skateboarding were a huge part of my life, but bikes and my other hobbies have taken their place. Sharing a reconnection with surfing with Matt in Australia was really special for me.
Another highlight of the experience was seeing my friend Jorja and going out for an afternoon pedal with her and Matt, who zoomed around, shooting video with his cellphone, allowing Jorja and I to spend the ride catching up on our lives. Her Kelpie Jane is a real cutey!
In our downtime, Cari and I spent the afternoons birding in Matt and Cheech’s neighborhood. During these photo walks, we spotted countless Rainbow Lorikeets, Little Wattlebirds, and the almighty boss of the bush, the kooky Kookaburra. The mornings were full of raucous calls from the native parrots and Kookas.
Staying with Matt and Cheech solidified my belief that when bikes are your life, it’s the outside hobbies that bring the most inspiration. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing how their travels have inspired and influenced the brand over the years. Connecting with friends all the way across the globe is something really special, and sharing some vignettes in their lives is not something I take for granted.
Crust is run by good people (I wish you were here, Garrett and Latané!), and supporting them all these years has been a real honor.
Thanks for checking this post out!
Check out the latest and greatest at Crust Bikes.
So, out of this bunch, which are you most excited about?
I’d like to send Cheech and Matt the warmest thank you for letting Cari, and I crash with them for a few days, Matt for the loaner bike, surfboard (sorry for dropping it – oooof), and wet suit. You guys are real gems, and we miss you so much. Hugs and kisses from Cari and I. We hope to see you soon. xo