Chumba Back in the UK

Chumba VFL.

Press Release…

“We are pleased to announce that we at Progressive Bikes have teamed up with Chumba Racing to bring the complete Chumba product range back to the UK.

“The return of Chumba to the UK will bring Chumba classics like the XCL, EVO and F5 back to the UK trails. Their latest offering, the VF2 is Chumba’s answer to a stiff light weight all day trail bike with 5” of travel via a horst link carbon rear swing arm and custom made hydrofromed, butted top tube and flared manipulated down tube. Chumba now also offer the HX2 a 29’er specific hard tail frame and an AM hard tail, the HX1, both with eccentric bottom brackets to be able to run single speed.

“When Chumba design and build a bike they design them to be the stiffest bikes on the market. The frames still have unique design features, like the extra wide and inverted bottom bracket shell, super wide linkage pieces with stiffening braces, E-type derailleur insert to allow use of wider diameter tubing for a stronger and stiffer front triangle and Race and trail proven geometry refined over a decade, all these features and more back up Chumba’s claims that their bikes are some of the most laterally stiff frames on sale today.

“Building on the solid start at WC round 1 in South Africa (Duncan placed 12th) US riders Duncan Riffle and Brad Benedict of team GiantNerd/Duncan Riffle Racing (DRR) will be riding the Chumba F5 in the 2009 UCI World Cup as the newest factory team on the WC circuit.”

Chumba XCL.

www.progressive-bikes.co.uk

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

Comments (11)

freeandsinglefreeandsingle April 29, 2009 at 11:52 am

It’s rare I get excited by full suss frames but that VFL looks awesome to me! I need prices! 😀

freeandsinglefreeandsingle April 29, 2009 at 11:53 am

Ah, VF2, right?

doof_doofdoof_doof April 29, 2009 at 12:11 pm

Inverted BB shell??

sq225917sq225917 April 29, 2009 at 12:32 pm

Yeh, it’s upside down, can’t you see that… ;0

thepodgethepodge April 29, 2009 at 3:27 pm

that inverted BB shell info is very misleading. what it means is the main frame pivot is on the outside and the swingarm pivot is on the inside. look how it goes blue, white blue on the pic above. most would go white blue white. its got nowt really to do with inverting or BB shells.

horahora April 29, 2009 at 3:59 pm

I like it but the blue/white build really doesnt do it for me (scratches eyes out with twigs)

si_brodiebikessi_brodiebikes April 29, 2009 at 8:30 pm

freeandsingle, check out the prices at http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk, we even have an introductory offer on the VF2 and XCL 😉

ridethelakesridethelakes April 30, 2009 at 1:15 am

Why has the 5 inch XCL got a slacker head angle than the 6 inch VF2 (68 + 69)? Misprint?

Look very nice though. Weight seems a little too good to be true if the claimed stiffness is there?

ridethelakesridethelakes April 30, 2009 at 1:17 am

Doh! Got them the wrong way round.

horahora April 30, 2009 at 8:15 am

I’ve got a medium XCL, still getting my head round the shock (but thats setting up a RP23). Its spot on for my height- all of it. Ive ridden it on the Hope Tour (twice), Lakes/Gaburn (twice) and North Downs. Its still more burler than I will ever be (so no flex etc) and its 2lb lighter than a meta5 frame (why are they soo heavy?!)

SpeshpaulSpeshpaul April 30, 2009 at 10:56 am

ohh dear, i’m looking at the VF2 and touching myself…………Nurse!