Hot Pink: State Bicycle Co. ‘Thunderbird’ Review

[leadin]The leaves are turning, the weather’s cooling, and in the distance, cowbells are ringing. That can only mean one thing — cyclocross season is here.[/leadin]

Each autumn, a growing number of cyclists switch gears to race or ride cyclocross, a discipline of mud, hurdles, and tight turns. The bikes resemble road models but have knobby tires and are beefy enough to handle the off-road abuse.

State Bicycle Co. got its start with urban bikes, fixed-gears, and singlespeeds. The Thunderbird, reviewed here, is the brand’s one-gear go at a cyclocross rig.

I rode it over the past month on dirt, gravel roads, and pavement for a test. At about $1,000, the bike qualifies as an entry-level competition steed. Or, it’s just a hella fun all-around ride, which can switch from city to dirt, literally, without changing gears.

Budget Buy?

Sometimes the budget doesn’t include dropping loads of money on new bikes, so when the Thunderbird arrived I was eager to see what a mid-price ($1,000) bike could do.

Cross bikes, like many other performance rides, can reach well into the multiple thousands of dollars, so the Thunderbird represents an acceptable price for a ‘crosser on a budget.

Flashy & Functional

Out of the box, the Thunderbird comes equipped with SRAM levers, a Ritchey cockpit, and Avid brakes. The flashy — if not a little gaudy — electric pink color brings the bike together nicely and ensures you’ll get noticed.

It rides well, and I was impressed with the aluminum frame’s comfort. The carbon fork was forgiving, subtly absorbing the bumps, eliminating trail chatter, and keeping the front end stable through tight turns.

Although the Thunderbird comes set as a singlespeed, an eccentric bottom bracket gives the option of adding gears if you’re interested in tackling steeper terrain.

Rear End Discomfort

After an inaugural ride, I made an immediate change to the saddle. I’ve put my tush on some pretty uncomfortable seats before, but the stock State seat took the stale, moldy cake.

Admittedly, saddle comfort is pretty subjective to the rider, but every tester we tried was quick to mention the discomfort. Plan to invest in something a little more comfy unless your rear end is made of steel.