Bikes Of 2024: Black Mountain Cycles MCD

It's another December here on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2024. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up. 

The Black Mountain Cycles MCD has been a staple of my bike stable for years going back to 2018 when I got it. That happened to be the year it came out and this pink color was a very limited run. Now Mike Varley no longer offers this model, instead morphing what this bike does into what is called the "Mod Zero". 

So, the ol' MCD is kind of a rare bird, and in pink, even rarer. Not that this matters to me, it just is. I only knew that when Mike had a run of Monstercross frames made in pink probably ten years or more ago that I was kicking myself for not getting one when I had the chance. So, when Mike reached out to me to say that the initial run of MCD's would have a pink option, I was all-in. 

This bike gets used for testing a lot, so it has had various wheel sets, saddles, seat posts, and handlebars. I actually almost never can tell you what the bike is running at any given moment unless I go down to the Lab and look at it!

It's a great bike. I've no doubt that the Mod Zero does everything the MCD does and more, but I am fine with this bike as it is. It is very comfortable and it easily handles 700 X 47mm tires on wide-ish rims. 

As far as changes go, I think things are going to normalize there for various reasons. Right now? I probably would only change some more of the drive train to GRX. 

The quirk concerning this bike that I often find amusing has to do with its color. I seem to cause a stir in the country when I show up out there on this bright pink rig. I have actually witnessed cars slow-rolling a mile away when they spot me on the MCD. Other bikes? Usually the rural folk take little notice of me. 

I haven't had any negative feedback on my riding a pink bike yet. But I probably will at some point. I'm good with that.....