Tumbleweed Sunliner Dream Bike Giveaway

As most readers know, we’re a member-supported, independent platform. In fact, we’re the longest-running membership-funded independent cycling media website on the internet. To make our work possible, we host fundraising drives twice a year, each aligned with the spring and fall deadlines for our biannual publication, The Bikepacking Journal. During each drive, we show our appreciation for your support by giving away around 50 prize packages to randomly selected members of the Bikepacking Collective. Our platform wouldn’t exist without them. One of the standout prizes in each drive is a bike frame, but this fall, we’ve taken it a few pedal rotations further. Thanks to Tumbleweed Bikes, PAUL Components, Rockgeist, Shimano, Wolf Tooth Components, and WTB, we’ve built a dream bikepacking machine that we’ll be giving away to one lucky member! Learn more about the bike, its premium components, and how you can win it by supporting our in-depth reviews, guides, videos, and unparalleled bikepacking route network totaling well over 100,000 miles across nearly 60 countries.

The Sunliner Dream Build

It didn’t take too long for me to become smitten with the new Tumbleweed Sunliner. It’s one of those bikes that ticks all the boxes, and in some measure, it embodies the spirit of bikepacking as a whole—it’s refined and pared down to exactly what’s needed and nothing more. It’s a simple all-terrain bike and is designed with a deep understanding of what makes a great ATB. It has well-executed frame design and geometry that offer a lively yet comfortable ride, and with clearance for oversized plus tires, loads of gear-mounting options, and a flawless selection of features and specs, it’s capable of about any mixed-terrain bikepacking route you could dream up.

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As I mentioned in my review, the Sunliner serves a broad purpose, and it’s probably what 90% of people should be riding instead of various niche bikes that are marketed through more mainstream channels. This is especially true for folks who are getting into alt-cycling or bikepacking, since it can comfortably dabble in all kinds of riding conditions and doesn’t fall too far short in any of them. For these reasons, we’re especially excited to be giving one away, as it could make a prized addition to someone’s stable or become the perfect first rig for a beginner.

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We decided to make durability and timelessness the focus of the Sunliner Dream Bike build. To accomplish this, we paired reliable and proven components, such as the WTB CZR i30 wheels, a Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain, and PAUL Klamper brakes, with a classic aesthetic using silver and hand-patinaed brass accents, tan wall tires, and a neutral cotton duck frame bag. We hope you like it, and if you do, please spread the word to help attract more member support and ensure the future of this website. Find the full build below, and read on for details about the build and the rules. Note that the Sunliner frame we built and photographed here is the size large that I reviewed. The winner will receive a new frame (small, medium, large, or XL) with these components.

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• Frame Tumbleweed Sunliner (SM, MD, LG, or XL)
• Fork Tumbleweed Sunliner
• Wheels WTB CZR i30 Carbon wheelset
• Tires WTB Macro, 29 x 2.4″, Light and Fast, Tan
• Crankset Shimano XT, 32T chainring
• Derailleur Shimano XT 12-speed
• Shifter Shimano XT 12-speed
• Cassette Shimano XT 12-speed, 10-51T
• Bottom Bracket Shimano XT
• Handlebar Tumbleweed Persuader 20
• Stem PAUL Boxcar 80mm, Silver
• Grips WTB CZ Control, Tan
• Headset Wolf Tooth, Raw Silver
• Brakes PAUL Klamper, Short Pull, Silver
• Levers PAUL Love Levers, Short Pull, Silver
• Saddle WTB Volt
• Seatpost Wolf Tooth Resolve 170mm
• Dropper Lever Wolf Tooth Pro

WTB CZR i30 Wheels and Macro Tires

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you might be aware of my love for carbon rims. They’re tough and stiff, they stay true, and the rolling weight savings offer a welcome ride quality. Over the last couple of years, one of our favorite carbon wheelsets has been the WTB CZR i30, which we’ve put well over 2,000 miles on and are nothing short of impressed. I’ll get a long-term review together at some point, but here’s a brief summary. The wheelset is built around WTB’s own Frequency hubs, featuring an innovative six-pawl design that divides the pawls into two offset groups of three, allowing a fast, five degrees of freehub engagement. We’ve run two pairs to the ground on two wheelsets with no issues. The hubs are laced with a three-cross pattern and brass nipples to the carbon CZR i30 rims, offering a versatile 30mm inner width and thick, bombproof beads.

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There’s a lot to like about the new WTB Macro tires, too, making them an ideal match for the CZR i30 wheelset. These 29 x 2.4″ tires feature a quick-rolling center tread and medium-profile side knobs, providing a balance of speed and grip. Available with both tan and black sidewalls, we picked tan tires for this build, which weigh around 709 grams each. Not only do they perform well, but they also add a minimal and stylish aesthetic that complements this build.

PAUL Cockpit and Klampers

No dream bike build would be complete without some beautiful made-in-California parts from PAUL Components. To echo the classic silver and brass theme on this build, we chose silver PAUL parts to give it a timeless look. The Sunliner is equipped with an 80mm Boxcar stem, the ever-reliable PAUL short-pull Love Levers, and a pair of precision-made and durable Klampers, the centerpiece of our decision to feature PAUL parts on this rig. Note that we decided to use short pull levers and calipers, just in case our winner is interested in swapping to drop bars at some point.

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Rockgeist Wedge Frame Bag

One of my favorite bags of all time is the custom Rockgeist frame bag on my trusty Nordest dirt-touring hardtail. Made from X11 cotton duck X-Pac, it only gets better with age. The Coriander Tan color gives it a classic look, and the durable zipper, materials, and construction have proven to be incredibly tough. Naturally, we wanted to carry that same aesthetic into this build. However, I’ve also grown to love purpose-built wedge bags. There’s no better spot to store a bottle than on the seat tube, centering the weight and still maximizing frame bag space. Rockgeist crafted this stunning wedge bag, and it looks fantastic. Note that the bike photographed here is a large; if the winner needs a different frame size, Rockgeist will make one of these to fit it (in a choice of colors).

Shimano XT 12-speed Drivetrain

After putting well over 3,000 miles on the Shimano XT 12-speed group, its durability and reliability have truly impressed me. The standout feature is its hand-friendly mechanical shifting—arguably the best I’ve tested. The ergonomics are excellent, with a satisfying, firm click and consistent lever action throughout the entire gear range. Unlike some drivetrains, it doesn’t require more tension in lower gears. Additionally, the multi-release function lets you shift two gears at a time, both up and down. The close-ratio low gearing on the cassette also makes it ideal for demanding off-road adventures.

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Wolf Tooth Resolve, Headset, and Parts

We were impressed with the Wolf Tooth Resolve when it debuted a couple of years ago with its self-bleeding cartridge, short insertion lengths, and minimal stack heights. This past summer, the Wolf Tooth Resolve Rev 2 dropper post came out with updated internals, focusing on improving its self-bleeding feature, a key differentiator from other droppers. It also got a new spool valve to reduce the lever force required to open and make it smoother and more responsive. These upgrades aim to provide more efficient performance and ease of use. We specced a 160mm version for the Sunliner Dream Bike build, and with the Remote Pro lever, it feels super smooth and fast. Wolf Tooth also sent a headset and seat clamp in Raw Silver to compliment the silver PAUL parts.

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WTB CZ Control Grips and Volt Saddle

To round off the list, WTB also sent their classic Volt saddle (not shown) and the new WTB CZ Control grips. I’ve been using them for several months and like the semi-ergonomic minimal wing design. They’ve proven to be comfortable, minimizing numbness and hand fatigue during long rides. Unlike some ergonomic grips, they accommodate a range of body positions, offering better control on technical terrain. They’re fairly grippy, too.

Rules

• This giveaway is only open to Bikepacking Collective members registered on or before October 17th, 2024. We will randomly select a member after October 18th.
• This is valid for all members anywhere in the world. However, note that since we are shipping it from the USA, if the recipient lives in any country other than the United States, they will be responsible for any duties, shipping costs, and/or corresponding fees that may be incurred based on delivery location.
• The selected recipient will be responsible for paying taxes based on their local regulations and will have the right to waive this Collective Reward or any particular parts, should they wish.
• The frame color of the Tumbleweed Sunliner will be based on availability and the size the winner needs. Note that the Sunliner frame we built and photographed here is the size large that I reviewed. The winner will receive the components as specified with a new frame in size small, medium, large, or XL, depending on their size preference.

We’ve been at the forefront of building the bikepacking community for over a decade, sharing up-to-the-minute reportage, in-depth reviews and guides, events, and growing a first-of-its-kind bikepacking route network that spans 100,000+ miles. We’re fully independent, and member support makes all this possible. If you enjoy reading the site, please consider joining our Bikepacking Collective. Membership is open to anyone, anywhere in the world, and members are automatically entered to be eligible for Collective Rewards (including this incredible bike), receive two issues of The Bikepacking Journal in the mail each year, have access to exclusive industry discounts, and lots more.

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More Collective Rewards

Learn about some of the other Collective Rewards we'll be giving away to members during this round, culminating on October 17th. Plus, stay tuned for more to be announced over the next month and a half...