Sklar PBJ three ways
The PBJ, short for Performance Basket Jammer is the latest stock model from Sklar Bikes. I have been riding my sample frameset for the past few months and it is so fun. A bike for all the occasions and something particularly well-suited to the riding here in San Francisco, or anywhere you are riding a nice mix or roads and dirt roads and singletrack. Turns out that is a lot of places. Anyway, here are the three configurations I have tried out so far:
1. Rigid Single Speed
Single speed 29ers are what got me hooked on bikes in the first place, so it felt only right to start there with the PBJ. I built it up with the rigid fork and squeezed in some 29 x 3.0” WTB Rangers. Not only did they clear nicely, but they also made for an unbelievably fun ride. I’ve always loved the simplicity and challenge of singlespeeding, and paired with those big tires, this setup was equal parts floaty and fast. Perfect for ripping around the trails or just cruising with a grin. I am obsessed with a lot of things when it comes to designing a frameset but one of them is ride quality. I think the singlespeed was a nice way to drown out some of the noise and asses my work. I am really, really happy with how the PBJ feels. You may notice that the chainstays feature my signature asymmetrical tube pairing complimented by 5/8" seatstays which give it a really luxurious flex in all the best ways. This is complimented by an 8/5/8 front end, made possible by some gussets that I was not sure of at first, but the aesthetic has really grown on me. Finally, this fork really shines with a subtle 1.125 to 1" taper and the fun BMX style, 15mm TA droputs I designed as well as a 2-piece post mount brake mount. It is a flexy fork, it is a flexy frame. That means more traction, more comfort and more control. I am really proud of how the PBJ feels and I think it is something only a company at this scale and someone with my framebuilding experience could achieve.
2. Gears!
Of course, singlespeeding isn’t always the move—especially when you’ve got bigger adventures in mind. So, for the second build, I swapped in a 12-speed drivetrain and added a Pass and Stow rack to test its touring chops. This setup is primed for adventure, and I’ve already got a four-day bikepacking trip planned for April with a whle mix of road and gravel and a healthy dose of singletrack, so th PBJ is going to shine as an all-terrain tourer. The versatility of this bike with gears and a rack is just begging to be loaded up for some chill miles.
3. Singlespeed + 120mm Suspension
The third build was a bit of an experiment. While the PBJ is designed to pair nicely with a 100mm suspension fork, a lot of people have asked about running it with 120mm. I’ll admit I was skeptical—20mm doesn’t sound like much, but it can make a noticeable difference in how a bike handles. And it turns out, this setup feels super fun! The added squish gave the bike a playful, slightly more aggressive edge, I tend to like an "overforked" bike and I like this one too. For my personal PBJ, I’ll probably stick with a rigid fork for the classic Sklar vibe and pull out my Tall Tale when I’m craving suspension. Still, it’s great to know this option works so well and I can definitely see a setup like this for a rougher bikepacking trip where I would want front suspension. Also it turns out XC is fun!
