What We’re Loving: Special CX Edition
While the weather is undoubtedly still at its summery apex, the calender is rapidly approaching months in which the weather cools, the beers get darker, and the bike racing gets more fun. These would be the fall months - also known
affectionately as cyclocross season to a growing segment of the cycling community. While the ‘cross community has a great beginner-friendly, ‘run what you brung’ attitude, it’s also incredibly addictive and BBW is here to help serious racers and neophites alike get outfitted for what is rapidly becoming one of bicycle racing’s most popular disciplines.
If ‘cross racing is appealing to a variety of types of cyclist, ‘cross bikes are every bit as versatile. A riot to race on, they also make great commuters, gravel grinders, and off-season road training machines.
We recently built up a Jamis Supernova frameset that is on the floor to be demoed for those looking to try out a top of the line rig. It features a lightweight, stiff Kinesis built aluminum frame with carbon fiber steatstays to shed grams and incorporate some forgiveness through the rough stuff. Keeping things current, Jamis designed the frame to accept PF30 crank and bottom bracket systems that provide a stiffer and more lightweight pedaling platform than standard threaded bottom brackets. It also features a full carbon fiber fork with a tapered steerer tube for even more weight savings and confident handling in demanding situations, as well as a CNCd cable stop to help eliminate the infamous shudder associated with cantilever brakes. The complete bike from Jamis ships with a full Ritchey kit and wheels and a SRAM Rival drivetrain, making it a fully rounded racing machine.
For those in search of a more affordable rig that is still primed for the race course, we have the Zurigo from Bianchi in stock. It has an FSA Mega-Exo crank and bottom bracket system as well as an oversized 31.6 seatpost to make for a stiff, efficient pedaling platform to squeeze every last bit out of what you put into the pedals. Its hydroformed aluminum frame makes for comfortable portage during run-ups and climbs up apartment building stairwells alike, and it features an Apex drivetrain with SRAM’s mud-friendly 1:1 cable actuation ratio at an unbeatable price.
Now that UCI has legalized the use of disc brakes in their races, disc-equipped ‘cross bikes are taking off in popularity, and for good reason - disc brakes offer incredible stopping power in rain or shine, mud or snow and eschew the complicated setup and squealing and shuddering that can be associated with cantilever bikes at the cost of a modest weight penalty. Jamis’ Nova Race delivers disc brake performance at a minimal cost with a solid, budget-friendly Shimano Tiagra drivetrain. It’s also no cut rate rig. Jamis has managed to hook it up with a hydroformed top tube and a full carbon fork while keeping the price near the $1,000 dollar mark.
With races starting up soon, the time is ripe to swing by the shop by and let BBW help you get your gear in order for the best part of the year - ‘cross season!