In '89 John Cherry started tinkering with bikes in Indiana. He's still tinkering. "I had a bike shop for 12 years," John says. "It is something I always wanted to do as a kid, because my grandfather was a tool and die maker all his life -- so out of high school, I had to decide to be a machinist or go to college. I didn't want to work in a factory, so I went to college. To make some extra money, I opened up a bike shop, where I worked part time. After a couple of years, I had to choose between the two, and I chose the bike shop. It is kind of hard to run a business part-time. Soon after, I started building frames out of the shop.
"MBA: As a shop owner, you probably understand more about what the customer wants from a framebuilder. John: To be a good framebuilder, you have to be well-rounded. That's what helps me -- having owned a retail store and having been able to ride hundreds of bikes.
MBA: Do you like the custom-frame business? John: I might like to study engineering now, but I am pretty happy with my career. I wish it was more financially rewarding. It seems that I am always struggling, but I make it. I work from 9 to 6, eat dinner, then go back to the shop. I work 60 - 80 hours a week. I get most of my bike building done in the evening. This year we built 70 - 75 frames.
MBA: Do you sponsor a team? John: We sponsor an Expert team and one Pro. They finished third in '94 in the Expert class at the 24 Hours of Canaan. They feel that my bikes are stable and the most agile bikes around, and that my frames work really well at low and high speeds.
MBA: Any famous last words? John: I want you to keep my bike around (MBA) for a while and jump it, hammer it, have fun on it -- that's what it is built for.
Frame/finish: The Cherry Bomb uses a Ritchey Logic top tube and down tube, blended with a Tange Prestige seat tube. At the rear, a monostay setup enhances braking power. Workmanship is excellent, yet this bike has the look of a large manufacturer's top-of-the line production bike. In truth, everyone thought the bike had lost its custom look because its plain graphics and straightforward profile masked its quality. Every Cherry features a "Chain Suck Puck" and tricklooking, stainless steel, plug-in dropouts. Custom paint is available.
Brakes: Whoa, nelly! Shimano's LX cantilever brakes matched with John's stiff, monostay rear end can stop hard enough to remove a facelift.
Climbing: Well laid-out bikes like the Cherry Bomb always make good handlers. Few alternative materials can match the feel of a good chromoly bike under power. If you are the type of rider who alternates between sitting and standing on long fire road ascents, you will definitely like the Cherry Bomb.
Downhill: First and foremost, the Cherry Bomb is made for tight, wooded descents where handling is everything. The bike is responsive to rider input yet steers comfortably on twisty descents. Cherry also went the extra mile and uses an aftermarket Bontrager fork crown with less offset than the stock Rock Shox item. This assures the Bomb will remain stable on high-speed fire roads. Geometry on the bike is the now-classic 71-degree head and 73-degree seat, very likable.
Turning: The Cherry Bomb's front wheel is tucked closer to the rider, placing the rider's weight slightly over the front. Carving high-speed, foot-dangling turns is exhilarating on this baby, while low-speed turns are also no problem. It's not spectacular; it's just a bike that goes about its business and gets the job done.
Singletrack: The tighter the trail, the better the Cherry Bomb likes it. When the speeds get slow, the superb woods characteristics of the bike come out. Although the Bomb lacks flash in the steering department, it is precise.
Fit: Cockpit layout is comfortable, and all of the bike's controls fall naturally into place. "Well-executed" would be the best way to describe the Cherry Bomb's control room.
Strongest point: Comfort in the saddle and solid all-around performance are the Cherry Bomb's claims to fame.
Weakest point: This is one Cherry Bomb that doesn't explode in glorious lights. With its simple, utilitarian looks and well-rounded ride quality, this bike is easy to take for granted. Flash-seekers will find the Bomb hard to get excited about.
Ideal rider: Riders who don't want to stick out in a crowd, those who want a simple, good-handling bike or anyone who loves it in the woods.
| Cherry Bicycles - Cherry Bomb Vital Stats |
|
Frame type: TlG-welded, Ritchey Logic and Prestige oversized chromoly tubeset, H2O mounts down tube and seat tube. Frame geometry: Size tested—17" (lg) (center to top); top tube—23.125"; wheelbase—42"; chainstays—17.750"; bottom bracket height—12"; head angle—71•; seat angle—73". Fork: Rock Shox XC (long travel); elastomer spring/oil damped. Fork travel: 2.5". Weight: 24.5 lb. Sizes available: 14", 16", 17" (std), 17" (19),18" (std), 18" (lg),19", 21". Components (as tested): Front derailleur—Shimano LX (top pull); rear derailleur—Shimano LX; shift controls—Shimano LX RapidFire Plus shift/brake combo; crankset—Shimano LX (22/32/42); hubs—Shimano LX (front and rear) (32-hole), cogs—Shimano LX (11-28, eight-speed); Wheels—Mavic 221; tires—lRC Piranha Pro 2.1 (front and rear); stem— Control Tech (135mm x 0° rise); handlebar—Answer Taper lite 2; brakes— Shimano LX (front and rear); saddle—Selle San Marco Strada Ti rail; seatpost—Control Tech; goodies—Oury grips, Dia-Compe Aheadset, Craig Metalcraft bar ends. Price: $1000 (frame only), $1625 (complete bike as tested). Contact: Cherry Bicycles, 676 Main St., Lafayette, IN 47901-1451; (765) 423-4488. |
Last Updated: JSeptember 11, 2004