Bad Guys Watch Out. There's a New Sheriff In Town... Outspoken was recently approached by California State Parks and the Police Department to procure new patrol bikes. Not content with run-of-the-mill, low-end products that are typically given to the folks that keep our streets safe, we set out to make the ultimate urban assault machine. Something that would be equally at home on the front line with a SWAT team, as it is patrolling the singletrack of Crystal Cove Park. Unfortunately, law enforcement has typically been handed entry-level bikes that are cumbersome, cheap, and focus more on economy than performance. Most avid cyclists would not even consider these bikes for sport use, never mind put them on the front line with the police. So we decided to shake things up a little and challenge the establishment. A new generation of patrol bikes was thought out and designed from the ground up to provide the men and women of law enforcement a tool that performs as hard as they do - And stands up to the most grueling of situations. The foundation of the build started with the frame. We chose the Broadaxe, from Foundry Cycles for its light weight and durability. It is a frame we know and have used on many an epic ride. And we can vouch for its incredibly nimble handling and ruggedness. High-modulus carbon construction, directionally laid and tuned, give the Broadaxe a balanced feel of comfort and rigidity. The 12x142mm through-axle in the rear adds to the frame's strength and power-transfer when stomping on the pedals. But despite it's robust demeanor, the Broadaxe still comes in at a welter-weight 1010 grams. The cross-country-oriented hardtail, with a 71.5 degree head tube angle and a 74 degree seat tube angle make it an agile and stable platform - Especially at high speed. The matte finish that Foundry uses across it's range of bikes highlights the beautiful raw carbon construction, and gives the bike a head-turning tactical look. This is the first time that law enforcement will be utilizing a 29er. We think they'll agree that the increased speed and stability will be a step in the right direction. The drivetrain on our urban assault bike consists of a SRAM X7 2x10 groupset. These are the same parts that Foundry Cycles spec on their factory "B4" build. We chose the components because of SRAM's exceptional performance and range. But also because they provide such great performance at a great value. Parts can be abused, destroyed, and replaced with moderate expense. Front end dampening is handled by a Rock Shox Reba fork. Chosen for its high performance to value ratio, the Reba is tuned to the Broadaxe 29er geometry and is a low-maintenance, lightweight fork. The Reba's 15mm through-axle increase strength and handling prowess. Rolling stock consists Stan's NoTubes Crest wheels, mated to SRAM hubs. Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO tires wrap the Stans wheels and are set up tubeless to provide optimal handling while ensuring punctures do not stop officers from doing their jobs. Cockpit components were chosen from TruVativ, WTB and SRAM. We wanted parts that were strong enough to withstand repeated abuse and were comfortable for the rider. A Surefire tactical flashlight replaces the standard bicycle light fare. It fires 1000 lumens in either steady, or a disorienting tactical strobe, via a pressure plate located at the shifter - Ensuring officers can operate it without removing their hands from the controls. A quick-detach system allows the light to be easily removed and re-mounted to a weapons platform. A custom quick-mount system along the top tube allows an officer to mount any standard carbine rifle, or tactical shotgun, then remove it and be weapons-ready within seconds. Standard military-spec picatinny rails mounted to the down tube allow optional weapons optics and accessories to be stored for quick access directly on the bike. We opted to fore-go the conventional rack and saddle bag setup found on most law enforcement bikes, as they are cumbersome, overbuilt, and unnecessary. Instead, we opted to use a Delta seatpost rack with custom trunk bag to keep the bike fast moving and light on it's feet. Capable of carrying just the essentials such as citation books, first aid, and ammunition. The end result is a bike that marries high-performance and utility - With looks that will make any bad guy think twice about breaking the law. We hope that the department enjoys their new bikes. We know they will put them to good use. - The Outspoken crew