| Make: | WTB |
| Model: | Phoenix SE |
| Year: | 1993 |
| Size: | 15 in. |
| Color: | midnight blue |
| Serial Number: | 93188 |
| Frame: | tig welded steel |
| Fork: | 1996 Rock Shox Judy XC |
| Headset: | Suntour |
| Front Derailler: | Shimano XT (bottom pull) |
| Rear Derailler: | Shimano LX |
| Rear Cogs: | Sachs freewheel 12-32 8-speed |
| Hubs: | WTB Grease Guard |
| Rims: | Specialized ? (front) / WTB Power Beam (rear) |
| Brakes: | WTB Speedmaster cantis (front) / WTB Roller Cam (rear) |
| Levers: | Shimano Ultegra brake/shifter combo |
| Cranks: | Bullseye 2-peice 24/36/46 |
| Bottom Bracket: | Bullseye |
| Pedals: | Shimano m525 |
| Bar: | WTB Dirt Drop |
| Stem: | Salsa 100mm - 1 in. quill-style |
| Seat Post: | WTB 31.8mm |
| Saddle: | Serfas Lola |
Wilderness Trail Bikes Phoenix
WTB (Wilderness Trail Bikes) was the combination of Charlie Cunningham, Steve Potts, and Mark Slate who displayed their names on the Phoenix frames. The TIG-welded Phoenix was introduced in 1993 as a collaberation among the WTB-guys as was intended to be an all out, no fluff, steel trail bike. They frame has more of a "Cunningham-style" geometry than that of a Potts (i.e. the Cross Country Racer).
The Phoenix looks very different from most frame. The most noticeable features are the radically sloping top tube, and oversized steel tubes. I'm 6'0" and a 15" frame fits me well - how often does that happen?
The bike performs well off road. It's one of the best downhill cross-country bikes I've ridden. In my opinion, it's weakness is climbing; it's not bad, just not great. However the Phoenix makes up for any uphill weakness is it's downhill performance. This maybe due to my out-of-saddle climbing style.
Phoenixs came in two versions: the SE, which came with roller-cam brakes in the rear, and the standard which came with cantilever mounts. My frame is the "SE."
Note: since the picture was taken, the bike has been converted to drop bars. New pictures coming soon (10/9/05). Hmmm... maybe not. I sold the frame in late 2005.
- el