Metal Part 1: Ministry Cycles

There are many trends in the mountain bike industry that are troubling and frustrating: planned obsolescence, rapidly changing standards and the presence of mega corporations and even private equity are but a few. Fortunately there are some positive trends as well and my favourite is the design and manufacturing technology that was once accessible only to large concerns.

One of my favourite examples is We Are One, who started as a very small shop and then dove in by manufacturing carbon rims that could go toe to toe with the very best, despite being made in Canada and having a more reasonable price tag.

Carbon out of a small shop is less common but small builders of steel hardtails have of course been around for as long as there have been mountain bikes. Today a solo operator can come up with a sophisticated and great looking dual suspension bike with modern geometry and complex suspension kinematics, without major corporate backers. Thankfully there were lots of positive trends like this on display at Sea Otter.

Ministry Cycles Psalm 150

If you think this bike brand in waiting sounds a little evangelical, that may not actually be the case. Chris Currie, the man behind Ministry, suggests the name came from the 80s industrial metal band of the same name, and I don't think those dudes are regular church goers.

Chris is a mild-mannered guy who loves mountain bikes. He isn't an engineer (he studied English Lit) but his 3V0 dual-link suspension design has been well-received since Jamis licensed it for their Portal and Hardline frames, which you can still buy today. Ministry's interpretation of the design is much more polished and impressive to behold, but the suspension is configured similarly.

Chris started out as an early internet adopter with the online retailer Speedgoat in 1997, after spending three years working as an English professor. Speedgoat was sold to a private investor in 2010 when Chris was hired as Stan's NoTubes creative director, a job he held until March of 2022.

The design of the Psalm 150 claims to keep anti-squat decreasing at a relatively linear rate through the suspension travel while placing the instant centre behind the seat tube and in line with the chain. The leverage ratio is said to be 3.1 before sag and it increases at a relatively linear rate to arrive at 2.1 at bottom out, making it suitable for coil shocks or higher volume air shocks.

Deniz and I rode it on the flat earth of the Sea Otter expo area and for what it's worth, it felt great.

Everybody loves the CNC machined frame but it's an expensive process that may not be practical if the goal is to sell more than bikes than you can fit in a sprinter. Chris has been talking to Adam Prosise of Reeb Cycles about building the main triangle out of more conventional welded aluminum tubes with a machined structure at the bottom bracket. These frames are likely to see production before the full CNC frame but both bikes will have something similar to the current machined rear end.

Ministry Psalm 150 Features (from Ministry)

• 7075-T6 aluminum construction bonded with aerospace adhesive
• Full perimeter lap joints
• 360° sleeve joining bonds reinforce high stress areas
• Interlocking interior shapes for added bonded reinforcement and perfect alignment
• Bonded swingarm brace
• 15mm suspension shafts and mechanical fasteners for additional strength
• Modular dropouts for future changes
• Modular, adjustable head tube with reach adjustment
• SRAM UDH derailleur hanger, standard BSA 73mm threaded bottom bracket and room for up to 210mm dropper post

Frame Details

• Rear Travel: 150mm
• Recommended Fork: 160mm
• Wheel size: 29" 
• Bottom Bracket: 73mm BSA Threaded
• Rear Hub Spacing: 12x148mm
• Headset: IS 41/52
• Seat Post Diameter: 31.6mm
• Seat Post Collar Size: 35mm
• Derailleur Hanger: SRAM UDH
• Minimum Rear Rotor Size: 180mm
  
• All Bearings: 8 x 6902 (28x15x7mm), 2 x 6900 (22x10x6mm)
• Recommended Fork Rake: 44mm
• Recommended Fork Axle to Crown: 571mm
• Shock Specifications: 205x60mm Trunnion
• Recommended Crank Arm Length: 160-170mm 

Geometry Notes

If you are a relatively tall human, but not too tall, you may be the ideal candidate for a Ministry. The first production run will be one size only. Fortunately an adjustable head tube will slice that one more time to allow for reach numbers of either 480 or 490. More sizes are "on the way," according to Chris

More adjustments are possible as well with modular dropouts for future compatibility, a mullet setup and the option to modify your rear centre measurement.

In its current dual 29 guise, the P150's head tube measures 64.5º while the seat tube (which accepts a full-length dropper) is 78º virtual and 75º actual. The chain stays measure 435mm while the front centre is 810 and the wheelbase is 1245.

What's Next for Ministry?

Chris enjoys working with other people in the bike industry so there may be future partnerships to help float this boat. With some luck, the first frames may be available for purchase this summer or perhaps in the fall. Chris is very concerned about getting this right, however, so there will be no shortage of small hurdles.

For our part, we're keen to get some time on a Ministry. Chris lives just across the river from Portland in Vancouver, Washington, so it seems obvious he will make the trek up to Whistler for Crankworx. If he does, we'll be lying in wait.

If you'd like to keep track of Ministry's progress, Chris is very active and forthcoming on Instagram and so polite he apologizes when he posts too late in the evening.

For even more info, hit up ministrycycles.com