Here at te Bike lab we have outfitted a Soul Cycles Dillinger frame with some BBB Components. Now that we have ridden them a fair amount, here is our short term take on what we think of them so far.

We felt that the BBB Components we recieved all looked really understated and business-like. Captain Bob says, “I like the simple logos that BBB uses. Nothing too loud with colors that might clash with other parts.”

Here is a component by component take so far……….

UltraForce Stem: The stem seems to be just right in the stiffness dept. It has a nice finish. We love the silver logo on the faceplate. It even came with a piece of clear protective wrap over that little logo. It looks nice and shiney when removed. The stem holds the bar as it should with no slippage.

SkyBar riser handle bar: The bars may be on the heavy side for a XC rig but if stiffness is what you need, look no further. The SkyBar is super stiff and not a hint of flex that we can see. It works nicly when running some squish up front. We really love bars with backsweep and upsweep. This one seems to have more back sweep than most and it fit Captain Bob perfectly. It makes him want it for all his mountain bikes! The finish seems durable and matches the stem as well.

AluScraper 400mm seatpost: Seatposts either work or they don’t. This one works well. We have had issues with two-bolt posts in the past and our biggest complaint was having to completely remove one of the bolts before being able to install the saddle. Well, with the BBB we did not have to remove any bolts. Just loosen them both well and remove the bottom brace that the rails sit on. Put the top through the saddle rails and then slide the bottom back under the rails. Tightening was a breeze. Once adjusted there was no unwanted movement or creaking. It’s also super stiff. No flex that we were able to feel. We really like the stealth looks of this post. Not the loud decals that some have.

TurnAround head set: The headset works just like a headset should. The bike was built up and the headset was tightened and it has not come loose at all. Not a bit. It rolls smooth and quietly just as it should. We love bling so don’t get us wrong…but the hard anodized finish of the headset is what we think sets it apart from other brands. The finish and color perfectly match the other BBB control parts. Captain Bob likes the perfect matching parts, me? I like them just fine, but I can go with a total mutt look if it performs well. to each their own. The TurnAround head set has a slightly lower stack height that some other mfg’s. That’s good to know if getting the bars lower, especially on a 29″er, is a concern.

Selle San Marco Caymano saddle: ( Editors Note: The following is Captain Bob’s take on the saddle. It didn’t agree at all with my posterior! Keep in mind that saddles are a personal fit item, so your mileage may vary!) The San Marco saddle has me totalling rethinking my saddle stock. I have a handful of older San Marco M and C saddles. The old Bontrager ones. Man, I love them too. But! And this is a big but: until I started testing the San Marco Caymano I never really knew that I what I was missing in the comfort department. I immediately noticed the difference. I felt the saddle connect with my sit bones instead of sinking into my “other” spot. At first I thought it was hard and wierd but within minutes I was comfortable. For me, the saddle fits just right. Not too flat on top that it makes you feel like you’re sitting on a 2×4, but not too rounded that it still violates your privates. I don’t like a really grippy material on my saddles. I like to move around easily. With the Caymano I was able to do so with ease. It’s not slippery though. I am not able to detect any padding under the cover. The saddle is not plush. however; if it fits you as well as it fits me, you won’t need the padding. You can really feel what’s going on underneath you better with the saddle. The frame characteristics and the trail your riding on get translated to your body very well. I also like the rear of the saddle in how it keeps me from slipping back when climbing but at the same time doesn’t force me forward. My only nit pick is the lack of nose padding. When single speeding up a hill out of the saddle I notice how pointed the nose of the saddle is. It poked me a couple times and I could feel it the next day. So far though I have not noticed any numbness in the soft tissue department. My longest gravel ride was about 25 miles and I was felt much less fatigued and I think it’s partly due to having less pain from this saddle.

RoundAbout chain ring: The RoundAbout chainring has been doing it’s job. Craftmenship is superb. Nicely and accurately machined. It seems durable too for its size. We have banged over a few logs and hit one of them so hard that Captain Bob thought for sure he broke a chain or bent the ring. Neither of them took on any damage. We like the fact that the shift ramps are somewhat hidden from the eye so when mounted as a single speed or a 1x it is somthing folks won’t recognize that it serves both. Not much wear is showing so far into this test either.

Look for a longer term write up in the coming weeks.