A few years back Civilian offered its first production mountain bike, the Luddite, a simple, steel, single speed 29er that quickly gained cult-like status. This was immediately followed by the almost-famous Young Turk, built on the same platform, but offering gears and a some squish up front. But, never being satisfied, the moment the bikes were released we wanted to do more. Crowdfunding will allow us to make the ultimate purpose-built steel 29er.

To do this we started where we left off, but added some tech, to not only the parts spec, but more importantly the frame platform on which said parts hang. We began by sourcing Founder Land 4130 double-butted cr-mo, adding a little extra snap to the already snappy feel of steel. This also had the benefit of reducing frame weight by up to a pound. Then we stiffened up the bottom bracket with a PF30 shell compatible with multiple BB standards. We also machined the head tube, because its over-sized to allow just about any fork available and there was simply some material that didn’t need to be there. Finally, above all, we designed the new Civilian Two-Stroke Dropouts, which just like the frames are geared, single speed and belt ready. All continuing to bolster two of our most meaningful brand ethos – versatility and unique features.

Who is Civilian?

Civilian Bicycle Company is a Portland-based, small-batch bike brand with a simple mission – to offer riders custom-inspired, versatile bikes with smart design and unique features all at a reasonable price.

Founded in 2005, the first Civilian bicycles were forged by hand in a small garage. Made by Tyson Hart, a lifelong cyclist with a passion for crafting bikes as unique as the riders who rode them. From his days turning wrenches in the back of poorly lit bike shops to dodging taxis as a bicycle messenger to perfecting his craft as a frame builder, Tyson has always been inspired by the beauty, efficiency, and simplicity of a well-designed bicycle. Now, with the same fervor, he brings this experience to the people, offering cyclists the kind of rides they yearn for – bikes with clean lines, smart styling, and unique features…a rider’s ride.

Every Civilian is designed by Tyson Hart with an unmatched attention to detail. For this reason every Civilian bears the Hart Designed mark so you know that it was designed to be more than the sum of its parts. Incorporating only those features that benefit the ride quality or rider experience. That’s Hart design.

Premiums & Pledge Levels

Besides the non-ridable schwag, Civilian will offer five premium configurations of its new Captain Ludd 29er mountain bike. Starting with a Frame-Only option for the perfectionist wanting to spec all the parts they please. There’s also a frameset option (includes the Hart Design 2nine all-carbon fork) for those rigid types who still want the freedom of spec.

If you’d rather we did all the work, there are three well-equipped complete bikes available. The simple, rigid single speed edition, the Captain Ludd is a perfect mix of old-school riding with new-school tech, most notably a Gates Centertrack belt-drive and all-carbon 2nine fork. The Capt. Ludd S, which comes standard with all the same parts and performance as the rigid version, but with a little squish up front in the form of a Rockshox Reba SL. And finally the geared Capt. Ludd GS, spec’d with a Rockshox Reba SL and Shimano Deore XT 1x10 drive-train, because let’s be honest, how many gears do you really need…

Only 75 units (15 in each configuration) will be available during this crowd funding campaign, so don’t doddle!

A Civilian Thank You ($10)

Already have a Civilian 29er? No problem, you can still show your support for just $10 and we’ll express our personal gratitude to you through a personalized postcard and sweet sticker.

Civilian Growlette ($20)

Nothing goes much better after a long ride (or a short one, for that matter) like a cold IPA (or a cold American Lager, for that matter). That said, we’re offering, for the first time, the Civilian 32 oz. Growlette. That’s a pint for you and your favorite riding partner…or just two for you.

Civilian ‘Steel is Real’ T-shirt ($30)

Steel is real, but steel is also real cold against the skin. That’s why we are offering this soft, warm, 100% cotton t-shirt instead. This limited-edition t-shirt (only available during the Crowd Supply campaign) goes with everything…because, well, it’s a t-shirt. Available in sizes small - 2x large.

Captain Ludd Frame ($600)

Just the platform please…the rest is up to you. Whether spec’ing it out with all the top-of-the-line bells and whistles or just keeping it simple, this is a great place to start. Now make it your own! This will retail for $700.

• Color: Metallica Pea (Matte Finish)

• Sizes: S/15” | M/17.5” | L/19.5” | X/22”

• Frame: Hart Design Founder Land 4130 Cr-Mo Double-Butted Tubeset

• Headtube: Machined 44mm ID

• Bottom Bracket: 73mm PF30 Shell

• Dropouts: Hart Design Two-Stroke Drops | 135mm Rear Spacing

• Cable Routing: Full routing for adding gears

• Frame Weight: 6lbs (size: 17.5”)

Captain Ludd Frameset ($800)

Here’s your chance to tell us what you think of our complete bike spec…just get this rigid frameset and go to town. You want a purple anodized handlebar? Awesome! 220mm cranks? Sweet! It’s all up to you…gears, belt, SS, whatever. This frameset will retail for $900.

Enjoy!

• Color: Metallic Pea (Matte Finish)

• Sizes: S/15” | M/17.5” | L/19.5” | X/22”

• Frame: Hart Design Founder Land 4130 Cr-Mo Double-Butted Tubeset

• Headtube: Machined 44mm ID

• Bottom Bracket: 73mm PF30 Shell

• Dropouts: Hart Design Two-Stroke Drops | 135mm Rear Spacing

• Cable Routing: Full routing for adding gears

• Fork: Hart Design All-Carbon 2nine| Disc-only | 15mm Thru-Axle

• Frameset Weight: 7lbs (size: 17.5”)

Fork Weight: 15oz

Captain Ludd ($1,900)

We took all that you loved about riding the 2012 Luddite - you know the quad-busting fun that comes with pedaling a rigid, steel, single-speed 29”er up steep trail and added even more lung-burning goodness. The Captain Ludd is still a one-gear, no-nonsense, purpose-built machine enabling proficient navigation of even the most root-filled singletrack, but with ride-enhanced upgrades you should find very tasty.

First and foremost, the Captain Ludd employs a smooth, frictionless Gates Centertrack belt-drive as its means of propulsion. (You still provide the horsepower, Chief.) The frame is also up to a pound lighter thanks to the use of Founder land double-butted 4130 Cr-Mo tubing. Other frameset upgrades, like the new Civilian Two-Stroke dropouts (belt-ready/geared or SS capable), a machined head tube and a 15mm thru-axle, full-carbon tapered Hart Design 2nine fork, means the Captain Ludd’s potential for gettin’ down is all but guaranteed. This bike will retail for $2,000.

• Color: Metallic Pea (Matte Finish)

• Sizes: S/15” | M/17.5” | L/19.5” | X/22”

• Frame: Hart Design Founder Land 4130 Cr-Mo Double-Butted Tubeset | Machined 44mm ID Head Tube | 73mm PF30 BB | Hart Design Two-Stroke Drops | 135mm Rear Spacing | Full Cable Routing

• Fork: Hart Design All-Carbon 2nine | Disc-only | 15mm Thru-Axle

• Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series Tapered

• Brakes: Shimano BR-L505/BR-M447

• Rotors: Shimano six-bolt RT56 (180mm Front | 160mm Rear)

• Crankset: FSA V-Drive (170mm - 15”/17.5” | 175mm - 19.5”/22”)

• Bottom Bracket: FSA PF30

• Chainring: Gates Centertrack 46T

• Chain: Gates Centertrack Belt 115T

• Cog: Gates Centertrack 28T

• Handlebar: FSA V-Drive flat (740mm)

• Stem: FSA OS-190 (80mm - 15” | 90 mm - 17.5” | 100mm - 19.5” | 110mm - 22"")

• Seatpost: FSA XC-255 (27.2mm x 400mm | 0mm Offset)

• Saddle: WTB Volt Comp

• Wheelset: Vuelta Nine | Handbuilt | Ezo Sealed Cartridge-Bearing Hub | 28/32H | 24mm Rim

• Tires: WTB Nano Comp (29 x 2.1”)

• Tubes: CST P/V Butyl Rubber

• Grips: Velo High-Density Foam

• Extras: Bell

• Bike Weight: 22lbs (size: 17.5”)

Capt. Ludd S ($2,200)

Same as above, with one major exception - a little squish up front to smooth out the rough spots. This bike will retail for $2,300.

• Color: Metallic Pea (Matte Finish)

• Sizes: S/15” | M/17.5” | L/19.5” | X/22”

• Frame: Hart Design Founder Land 4130 Cr-Mo Double-Butted Tubeset | Machined 44mm ID Head Tube | 73mm PF30 BB | Hart Design Two-Stroke Drops | 135mm Rear Spacing | Full Cable Routing

• Fork: ROCKSHOX REBA SL | 15mm Thru-Axle

• Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series Tapered

• Brakes: Shimano BR-L505/BR-M447

• Rotors: Shimano six-bolt RT56 (180mm Front | 160mm Rear)

• Crankset: FSA V-Drive flat (740mm)

• Bottom Bracket: FSA PF30

• Chainring: Gates Centertrack 46T

• Chain: Gates Centertrack Belt 115T

• Cog: Gates Centertrack 28T

• Handlebar: FSA V-Drive (15mm rise | 720mm)

• Stem: FSA OS-190 (80mm - 15” | 90 mm - 17.5” | 100mm - 19.5” | 110mm - 22"")

• Seatpost: FSA XC-255 (27.2mm x 400mm | 0mm Offset)

• Saddle: WTB Volt Comp

• Wheelset: Vuelta Nine | Handbuilt | Ezo Sealed Cartridge-Bearing Hub | 28/32H | 24mm Rim

• Tires: WTB Nano Comp (29 x 2.1”)

• Tubes: CST P/V Butyl Rubber

• Grips: Velo High-Density Foam

• Extras: Bell

• Bike Weight: 25lbs (size: 17.5 )

Captain Ludd GS ($2,300)

Though it share’s its chassis with the Captain Ludd, the GS is spec’d for those who want to log hour after hour, mile after mile in the saddle, because sometimes it’s more fun to keep exploring. Just to see what’s over there, around that bend, down that canyon.

The GS utilizes a clean 1x10 drivetrain (supplied by Shimano) because if you need more than 10 speeds you’re doing something wrong. We also reduced the frame weight by up to a pound by using Founder Land double-butted 4130 Cr-Mo tubing and machining the headtube. That coupled with the new Civilian Two-Stroke dropouts (belt-ready and geared or SS capable) and 100mm of RockShox Reba up front the GS is sure to make just about every ride legendary. This bike will retail for $2,400.

• Color: Metallic Pea (Matte Finish)

• Sizes: S/15” | M/17.5” | L/19.5” | X/22”

• Frame: Hart Design Founder Land 4130 Cr-Mo Double-Butted Tubeset | Machined 44mm ID Head Tube | 73mm PF30 BB | Hart Design Two-Stroke Drops | 135mm Rear Spacing | Full Cable Routing

• Fork: ROCKSHOX REBA SL | 15mm Thru-Axle

• Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series Tapered

• Shifter: Shimano Deore SL-M615

• Brakes: Shimano BR-L505/BR-M447

• Rotors: Shimano six-bolt RT56 (180mm Front | 160mm Rear)

• Crankset: FSA V-Drive (170mm - 15”/17.5” | 175mm - 19.5”/22”)

• Bottom Bracket: FSA PF30

• Chainring: FSA 32T w/Bashguard

• Chain: Shimano HG-52 10-spd

• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT Shadow RD-M781

• Cassette: Shimano HG-62 11-36T

• Handlebar: FSA Omega Lower Riser (18mm rise | 740mm)

• Stem: FSA OS-190 (80mm - 15” | 90 mm - 17.5” | 100mm - 19.5” | 110mm - 22"")

• Seatpost: FSA XC-255 (27.2mm x 400mm | 0mm Offset)

• Saddle: WTB Volt Comp

• Wheelset: Vuelta Nine | Handbuilt | Ezo Sealed Cartridge-Bearing Hub | 28/32H | 24mm Rim

• Tires: WTB Bronson Comp (29 x 2.2”)

• Tubes: CST P/V Butyl Rubber

• Grips: Velo High-Density Foam

• Extras: N-Gear Jump Stop Chain Deflector

• Bike Weight: 28lbs (size: 17.5”)

Manufacturing Plan

The manufacturing plan is three fold. First, we will order the Hart Designed frames and forks from our Taiwanese partner. We’ve been working with this manufacturer for four+ years now and they have, not only consistently delivered high-quality bikes, but have also demonstrated good working conditions for their employees. Second, we will source parts from Shimano, FSA, WTB, etc to assemble the bikes in our Portland facility. Third, we’ll assemble and ship the bikes once they arrive. Pretty simple.

Risks & Challenges

Having worked with this manufacturer for 4+ years, I’m confident in the quality of the product they deliver. That said, quality is always a concern and the manufacturing/assembly plan allows us to inspect each and every bike before you ride it.

Other challenges faced with Asian production will be staying on schedule. One way I’m avoiding this potential challenge is by ordering only the frames and forks from Asia and sourcing the rest of the parts directly from the US-based companies/distributors. This frees my manufacturer to do what they do best – build frames.