Ready to Rock!
Here it is fresh off the bike stand and ready for it's first ride.
Groovy T and I went our to Shadow Cliffs and the BMX park for our first practices and to try the new ride. T got some Cross upgrades for her mountain bike. We found a very nice rigid carbon fork and canned the suspension seat post. Add in my old SPOX wheel set and her ride is super light.
We had such a blast, and this bike is so fun that it's probably illegal.
I always love the look on the kids faces at the BMX park when you show up and ride the whoopty doos on a rig like this.
I can't wait to race this thing, and I can actually even shoulder it...but not for very long. I must have bony shoulders because even with the flat top tube, it still hurts.
Maybe Gianni will have some tips at his cross clinic in a few weeks, until then there are some trails up at Pleasanton Ridge that need some tearing up, and this is the go anywhere bike to do it.
Again, so much fun, it's probably illegal!
posted by Ron Castia at
8:06 PM
10 Comments:
i love mine
yours needs a little flair is all
A little flair goes a long way.
And mine isn't creaking anymore.
Hey Ron, good talking to you at Uni RR today. I like the CX rig. Mines black.
See you around
Steve
You mean the World Champ and Belgium Champ stripes are not enough flair?
Or the snazzy carbon wheels?
Jeez you guys are hard to please.
Steve, always enjoy a good chat, even if it's just b essing. Good times.
Nice Ridley!
I'm planning on building up a Crossbow too. I like the clean look of the single front chainring. What gearing are you using?
42 on the front with an 12 x 25 cassette.
Gianni thinks it might be too small but I was OK on a single speed with a 42/18. It helps to have leg speed.
you boys need some flair lessons
and maybe some gearing lessons too
Did you see those silver shoes they were racing in? They donts needs more flair.
I am counting on the Xbunny Super Glitter (XSG).
It's all the additional flair I need.
niiiice.
couple things i'd throw at ya:
1. front derailleur - i'd put one on, even though you're single chainringin' it. in cross, that chain jumps off too often when running w/o derailleur (personal experience ... grrr). Also, i'd seriously consider tossing on a 3rd-eye cheapy-light plastic part on the downtube. best invention ever for cross bikes. Related, looks like you might want to take a link out of that chain - if there is any slack at all in the chain, it will flop off. which sux, trust me.
2. front brake housing - check out this pic of Ryan Bontrager's work and how he loops the front brake cable up and over the stem. it may not need to be done with your rig, since you're using the cx brake levers, but i still think it's an excellent way to align that front brake line for more efficient braking. you might need to move the cx lever out towards the shifter a cm, or 2, if you try this. again, not necessary, but i think it really improves performance on braking and all the top cx mechanics look to be doing it nowadays. something to think on.
3. gearing - 42x12 is usually big enough and 42x25 is usually small enough - but, i think i'd go for the 44/12x27t getup.
personally, i've decided i won't use a single-ring anymore. there are so many situations i've come across that i need the small ring, i've just resigned to using it. And, there have been a lot of races where it was just too fast not to have the bigger gears. But, i'm racing pretty much only Elites this year and would like to make it to a few of the bigger UCI events ... so, that's why i'll need the bigger range in gears.
If you're doing most of your racing in the Livemore course - there is that one flast fast section where you'll be at a disadvantage with the 42t, but otherwise you'll be fine with that gearing.
But, if you do the Pilarcitos series - as we all know, the Candlestick pavement section can be very, very fast and a 42x12 will see you doing everything just to keep wheels, let alone attacking in a section that, otherwise, would suit your strengths. I'd say consider putting a double on there for ocassions like that - because, even though we do it for shits and giggles, those super-high speed sections of the courses are what suit guys like us best and where we need to put the screws to the traditional crossers.
-
man, it's a very good looking bike and i'm already jealous. i've got my RockLobster ordered and Paul is finishing up a batch that mine is probably in. Best check i'll ever write!
i can't wait to get out and feel the dirt again. refreshing.
see you out there,
m
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