How is everyone doing after the long weekend? For today's bike check, we're looking at something from our 2F Tailored section: the long-awaited return of HUNTER CYCLES.
There must be quite a few of you who have been captivated by this sexy monostay. This particular bike, which we had been hanging in 2F as a stock frame, has now found a new home.
Dubbed the Wood Rat Dirt Tourer, this wild machine is packed with the experience Rick Hunter has gained riding through the California wilderness. It’s a 29″ & 27.5″+ convertible that’s just as perfect for hitting trails as it is for bike touring here in Japan. For this build, we’ve added a large rear rack to highlight its identity as a rugged dirt tourer.
We’ve decked it out with parts from NorCal brands closely linked to Rick, including the 30th-anniversary PAUL COMPONENT, WHITE INDUSTRIES, and WTB. It’s an assembly that truly embodies the term "heavy-duty," ready to tackle any road you point it at.
Time and again, I’m reminded that his bikes express the form and function of cycling through a truly free-spirited approach.
| Frame | HUNTER CYCLES | Wood Rat Dirt Tourer |
| HeadSet | WHITE INDUSTRIES | EC 34 HeadSet |
| Hub | WHITE INDUSTRIES | XMR 32H |
| Crank | WHITE INDUSTRIES | M30 Crank |
| Handle | SIMWORKS BY NITTO | Smog Cutter Bar |
| Stem | PAUL COMPONENT | Box Car Stem |
| Brake | PAUL COMPONENT | Klamper SP |
| Brake Lever | TRP | RRL SR Brake Lever |
| Seatpost | PAUL COMPONENT | Tall And Handsome Seatpost |
| Shifter Mount | PAUL COMPONENT | Sram Shifter Adapter |
| Tire | WTB | Ranger 29×2.25″ |
| Frame Pump | SILCA | Impero Ultimate Frame Pump |
| Rear Rack | BLACKBURN | Outpost Rear World Touring Rack |
Rick has moved from Santa Cruz, where he lived for many years, to Three Rivers, and it seems he has started crafting in a new environment. Unfortunately, we are not currently accepting custom orders and can only offer stock frames. While we hope for a day when we can offer his work in a different way, we also have some good news that new stock frames will be arriving soon, so please stay tuned.
We are also constantly updating our archive of Built By Circles bikes, "Like My Own Child," so please be sure to check that out as well.
