Rudy’s Wilde Rambler

In his initial communication with us, Rudy mentioned he was after a bike that could “take some load up hills and over roots, while not feeling out of place around town for a weekend galavant”. The Wilde Rambler was the perfect choice. Wilde describes the Rambler as their “drop-bar all-rounder” — built to tackle everything from light gravel tours and rough backroads to everyday rides around town. Don’t let its classic aesthetic fool you; the Rambler is fully modern under the hood, with disc brakes, thru-axles, and clearance for biiiiiig tires. Its high stack provides a comfortable riding position for long days in the saddle, while a full suite of mounting points lets you bring along whatever the journey calls for.

Rolling fast and smooth on Fulcrum Rapid Red wheels, Matt matched the look from Rudy’s inspiration photo with a set of Ultradynamico Mars Race 650b x 2.3” tires (we love you uncle Ronnie!) — tubeless, of course. The Rambler’s steel fork features a longer axle-to-crown measurement, which raises both the bottom bracket and the trail — a combo that adds stability and pedal clearance, especially when running smaller wheels. It makes Rudy’s choice to go 650b not just stylish, but full of sense.

Rudy’s Rambler runs a SRAM Apex Eagle 1x12 mechanical drivetrain — a smart hybrid setup boasting a wide-range GX Eagle XG-1275 10–52t cassette. Down by the SimWorks Bubbly pedals, a 40T White Industries ENO TSR chainring sits on a set of classic ENO cranks. We love these cranks — they’re another perfect nod to the dual nature of Rudy’s build: timeless looks for modern performance. The Apex Eagle D1 Rear Derailleur handles the wide range of the 10-52t cassette and is built tough to endure rugged adventure. It might not be as light as others, but it’s reliable and cost-effective. Opting for mechanical shifting on the Rambler future-proofed Rudy against potential backcountry breakdowns, offering a drivetrain that’s simple, reliable, and serviceable— even in the middle of nowhere.

Up front Rudy went with the Salsa’s Cowchipper Deluxe bars — Built for adventure, the Cowchipper blends the familiar feel of a traditional road bar with a bold 24° flare in the drops, pushing it firmly into ATB territory. That extra flare adds big comfort and stability points when the route gets rowdy. The Deluxe version is crafted from 7050-T6 aluminum, offering a lightweight, durable build with a responsive feel. Other fit components featured on the build are a Brooks C15 saddle, Thomson Elite 330mm Straight Seatpost and a Thomson Elite X4 70mm stem. A Chris King NoThreadSet headset ties the front end together, and we love how the midnight colour choice complements the Rambler’s Ocean Sparkle paint.

Rudy’s build wouldn’t be complete without the SimWorks Obento Rack. A diversion from the original photo, but a welcome one at that. The Obento Rack is handcrafted from stainless steel tubing by SimWorks’ and their manufacturing partner, Nitto — a name synonymous with precision and craftsmanship, ensuring top-tier quality and attention to detail. The rack makes an ideal platform for Rudy’s well-loved Swift Industries Zeitgeist (and has just enough room left over for a few autumn sunflowers, gifted by the gardeners at the community plot where we shot these photos :) ) The Obento’s clean, polished finish looks beautiful on any bike with classic or custom styling, and Rudy’s Rambler is certainly no exception.

We couldn’t be more excited for Rudy and his new ride — and we’re proud of Matt, who continues to knock it out of the park with the custom build program here at Crows. If you’re feeling inspired by a picture and are curious about what it would take to bring it to life, reach out. Matt’s got you.

Happy Trails to you and your new Rambler, Rudy :)