Crust Bikes was started by Matt, the key figure at CRUST, with a philosophy of creating products that stay with you for a long time, drawing on his extensive touring experience. While that might sound like a standard introduction, what makes Crust stand out is its wildly imaginative aesthetic. They captivate the world by reimagining bike culture through their own unique lens—fusing classic elements like randonneur designs and quill stems with modern specs like disc brakes and thru-axles, and incorporating meticulous frame details that make you go, "Whoa, they actually did that!"
We’ve just received a batch of frames from CRUST, and we’d like to start by introducing the Wombat, a bike with an eccentric presence that immediately grabs your attention.
MTB? BMX? Tourer? Fixed gear?
Depending on how you assemble the parts, the Wombat could lean toward being an MTB or a BMX. With its beefy gussets, mounting points for fenders and cages, and track ends, it’s clear from a glance that this isn't your average bike. Trying to force it into an existing genre would be nonsensical.
As for the geometry, the high BB height and short rear end give it a light, nimble feel when you start pedaling. You can imagine it has the perfect balance to move quickly while maintaining stability with its high-volume tires.
The key is the variety of rack mounts provided. How about a single-speed trip loaded with gear? I’ve personally gone on a 1,200km tour on a single-speed bike before. There’s something about single-speed touring that lets you focus entirely on the act of pedaling—it feels almost like stepping into another world.
If you look at the fork column from below, you’ll find a threaded mount designed for easy, clean fender installation. Achieving a beautiful fender setup is a perpetual challenge, but being able to minimize the gap between the fork and the fender is a gimmick that gets even us mechanics excited.
The red color is inspired by Honda
The color name includes "HRC," which is actually a nod to Honda Racing Corporation. It’s identical to the vibrant red used by Honda Racing. Personally, it only reminds me of the famous "Death Sauce" hot sauce. Definitely worth a quick search!
It has the potential to be the ultimate fun bike, depending on how you build it
It’s a great choice for a companion to zip around the city—build it up with minimal gear and a BMX-like setup. Pairing it with a short boxy stem, like a BMX or MTB stem, and some riser bars would make for a seriously cool build.
...Even as I write this, ideas for different builds and uses are popping into my head. Let’s figure out how to build yours together! Circles is here to help with all sorts of ideas!