Meriwether Cycles has a new bike called the Ponderosa. This particular bike is a collaboration between John Watson of The Radavist and Whit Johnson of Meriwether. When John told me the two were working together, I thought this is going to be a sweet bike.
Whit already makes stellar machines. But mix in Whit’s clever frame building with John’s aesthetics, creative touches, and geometry insight, and it’s a collaboration worth mentioning.
Take, for instance, the last bike I reviewed that John collaborated on. It was the stellar Sklar Super Something. That was a great-looking bike – and this new Meriwether Ponderosa looks to be just as nice.
Details on The Ponderosa
This new Meriwether Cycles Ponderosa is a US-made steel “gravel+” bike. The Ponderosa is going to come in stock sizes, so it will get a decent turn-around time of 2 months, and be cheaper than full-custom.
The frame has the clearance to run a wide-range gravel group and has been optimized to clear a 700×50 to 58mm tire. It’s mentioned that you can run the Ponderosa with smaller tires, but you’ll risk possible pedal strikes, as the bottom bracket will be lower.
The Poderosa is not just a big-clearance gravel bike. It’s been designed for bigger tires by increasing the bottom bracket drop, ensuring the bottom bracket isn’t too high.
This usually means that the rider will feel more stable with the feeling that they are “in the bike as opposed to on the bike”. This “feeling” really comes into play when you are fully laden with gear.
The Ponderosa has all of the mounts you can need, including seatstay water bottle bosses. these come in handy when employing a full-frame bag. Speaking of full-frame bags, the Ponderosa is not void of the Meriwether Cycles signature “portage” handle that is built into the frame. This will make it easier to lift the bike while using a full-frame bag.
Choices for the Win
The Meriwether Ponderosa will be available as a frameset or with a complete build. You’ll have a choice of a Columbus steel unicrown fork with your choice of attachment points (1000g w/ uncut steerer). Or, save some weight by choosing a Wilde Wayfinder carbon fork (520g w/ uncut steerer).
The Ponderosa can also come with your choice of Shimano 1 x12 mechanical GRX 820 or 610 groups. See prices below.
Ponderosa Frameset Retail and Geometry
Frameset retail:
$2400 with Wilde Wayfinder carbon fork
$2600 with steel unicrown fork.
Stock Colors: Flatter black, Orangsicle, Sagebrush, Olive green, and Playboy Blue
Add $50 for custom decals and $50 for your custom powder coat color.
Geometry
Ponderosa Build Kits and Prices
GRX 610 Build Kit: $2400. Ritchey Comp bars, Shimano BB, Woodman EC37 headset, seatpost, and seat tube collar, WTB Saddle, Whisky no.7 alloy stem, Shimano GRX RX880 carbon wheelset w/your choice of tires. (Note: Bar, saddle, and tire models are your choice in both build kits. Choice of 10-45 or 10-51 cassette)
GRX 820 Build Kit: $3800. ENVE or Ritchey WCS bars, White Industries BB & headset, WTB saddle, ENVE seatpost or dropper, Phil Wood seat tube collar, ENVE or Paul stem, ENVE G23 wheelset w/your choice of tires.
Orders open on November 1st, so hit the link below to get your own Ponderosa and get yourself lost.
