Author: John Dodgin

It’s Fast Bike Friday! This week we’re casting an eye over a super-slippery aero road bike that’s already proved itself in winning moves at races including the prestigious Giro d’Italia. The aero-efficient Cube Litening C:68X SL was piloted to victory on Stage 3 of this year’s Giro by Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider Taco van der Hoorn after he took an extremely close win, holding off the bunch sprint behind him to take the win after an audacious all-day breakaway. So if we wanted proof that this top-of-the-range carbon aero road bike from Cube can hold its speed over long distances and is able to cut through the air efficiently then we’ve already got it; now let’s take a closer look at what makes this bike so fast…

The super-slippery Litening C:68X SL has been designed to be as aerodynamic as possible.

 

In the pursuit of pure and sustained speed the engineering team at Cube wrote themselves a very simple brief – make the Litening’s frame, fork, seatpost, integrated bar and stem as slippery as possible through the air. To do this Cube spent endless hours number crunching and using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) backed up by extensive wind tunnel testing each and every component-part of this road bike’s chassis. This painstaking process paid off with the Cube engineers reporting a 30% improvement in drag reduction compared to the Litening’s predecessor. As our Giro d’Italia stage winner has already proved, in a world of marginal gains that’s enough to make the Litening C:68X SL a genuine breakaway machine.

The iridescent finish on the Litening C:68X SL is something to behold.

 

The iridescent finish on the Litening C:68X SL is something to behold; as you move around the bike the colour appears to move over the bike. With a slightly translucent finish you’re able to see the carbon fibre weave throughout the frame and can’t help noticing the beauty and sophistication of how the frame has been crafted. C:68X is Cube’s premium carbon fibre which magically blends strength and low weight in one brilliant material. C:68X sees a dramatic reduction in the amount of resin used in production, bringing down the level to just 32%. The texture of the resin was improved too, adding nanoparticles to help make it stronger and then the Cube engineers cleverly specified a range of different fibre choices and orientations allowing them to add controlled amounts of stiffness or compliance to separate areas of the frame and fork as required.

Cube used up to six different fibre types in the carbon layup process to help save weight while increasing aerodynamic efficiency, with fibres on each section of the frame being utilised according to load – more materials for weight bearing portions, less materials for portions that don’t carry so much load. The end result of this sophisticated manufacturing process is a frame with more rigidity and compliance exactly where it’s needed for a more comfortable but safer frame.

The Litening is built from Cube’s premium C:68X carbon fibre material.

 

Every tube profile and junction between each portion of the frame has been carefully shaped to cut through the air efficiently. 

 

The Litening C:68X SL features a fully integrated cockpit with hydraulic brake hoses being routed internally through the frame and fork.

 

CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and wind tunnel testing have informed every surface of the Litening.

 

The Litening’s forks are equally aero and are seamlessly integrated into the frame’s headtube.

 

As is the trend now in contemporary road bike design the Cube Litening C:68X SL is fully integrated; this basically means that the bike’s frame, fork, handlebar, stem and seatpost have all been designed and constructed to work as one complete unit. This design approach creates a truly aerodynamic chassis that cuts through the air more efficiently than a traditional road bike fitted with separate components. Cube don’t just stop at forward-facing wind-tunnel testing, they’ve developed the Litening to be efficient in crosswinds too making sure the Litening performs in the real world.

The Cube Litening C:68X SL includes a neat carbon fibre Integrated bar and stem which comes proportionally sized to each frame size.

 

No detail has been overlooked with even the integrated headset featuring an aero top cap; areas of the head tube and fork crown have also been slimmed down significantly to cut through the air more effectively. Overall the Litening C:68X SL’s frameset could be described as brilliantly contemporary, boasting all of the features you want to see on a modern aero road bike; with full componentry integration, internal cable routing for Shimano electronic gears (not required in this instance with the SRAM wireless configuration), a removeable front derailleur mount if you prefer to run a single chainring upfront, multiple bottle mounts and significantly there’s clearance for road tyres up to 28mm wide to fit the current trend of running wider tyres.

Even the integrated stem’s top cap is sensitively shaped to be more aero efficient.

 

The flattened-out profile of the integrated handlebar cuts through the air, helping you to hold your speed.

 

Cube have spec’d this premium aero road bike with SRAM’s fantastically efficient Red eTap AXS wireless 12-speed groupset. The clean, uncluttered looking Cube Litening C:68X SL has been designed to cut through the air, saving you a significant amount of watts over longer distances, so what better groupset to fit than one with a completely wireless setup; this clutter-free configuration enhances the Litening’s aero-efficiency even more! Those neat gear shifters contain simple button batteries which power a unique shifting signal to both the front and rear derailleur. Moving down to the drivetrain you’ll find that both the front and rear derailleurs feature small rechargeable batteries which clip onto the mechs securely and last for up to 60 hours of use before needing a recharge.

Cube’s top of the range Litening C:68X SL features SRAM’s premium Red eTap AXS wireless groupset.

 

If you’ve never ridden a road bike with an electronic drivetrain before it’s worth pointing out just how different it feels; instead of using the force from your fingers to select each and every gear the simple press of a button does all the work for you, with a wireless signal initiating the shift and the derailleur’s small motor doing all the work for you. This might sound fairly insignificant but the difference should not be underestimated; this system benefits smaller hands and comes into its own when you’re riding in cold weather in gloved hands too. With a fully powered, wireless gear shift each change is light and positive. That precise gear shift is really confidence inspiring – with its digital consistency encouraging you to change gear more often than you perhaps would with a conventional cable-activated groupset, leading to a more sophisticated use of the gears available, keeping you feeling fresher for longer during epic all-day rides.

Operation of the SRAM Red eTap AXS wireless groupset couldn’t be more easy, simply press the right lever to shift down the block and the left lever to move up the block. Press both right and left levers together and the front mech will shift, either from the big ring to the small ring or the small ring to the big ring depending on where your chain is currently sitting. If you want to change how your bike shifts you can customise the settings via the SRAM App to enable you to shift up the block with the right lever and down the block with the left lever.

An instantaneous wireless signal from the shifter activates the front and rear derailleurs as required.

 

SRAM’s unique Red D1 chain features a flat-top profile that adds strength to the thin 12-speed chain.

 

With 12 cogs squeezed into the rear cassette there’s a really good spread of gears with minimal jumps between ratios.

 

Every component in the SRAM Red groupset is ultra-light and performs flawlessly.

 

When it comes to braking on the SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod you can rely on powerful SRAM Centreline XR hydraulic disc brakes which are easy to modulate for confidence-inspiring control even in unpredictable, wet weather and on poor road surfaces. With flat mounts on the Litening C:68X SL frame and fork the brake calipers look neat and uncluttered; specially profiled 160mm disc rotors help to prevent the brakes from overheating under continuous braking while thru-axles keep everything secure and in place further adding to the stiffness and positive handling of the bike.

Neat flat mount SRAM Red hydraulic brake caliper provide plenty of easy-to-modulate braking power.

 

Small but powerful; there’s no aero compromises caused by this neat brake calipers.

 

A super-fast aero road bike like the Litening deserves a pair of race-ready wheels to really help it perform. Adding to the Litening’s already impressive aerodynamic efficiency the Mavic SLR 45 Disc wheelset with its deep carbon rims helps you slice through the air with minimal drag; when roads point skyward their overall light weight means you won’t be held back on the climbs with these super-light wheels ready to accelerate immediately when you get off the saddle and put the power down.

The Cube Litening C:668X SL comes spec’d with a fast-rolling Mavic wheelset.

 

The SLR 45 Disc’s rim is tubeless-ready using Mavic’s own UST system; a clever interface between the spokes, spoke nipples and carbon rim means that the spokes attach to the rim without any need to drill the upper rim bed so that no rim tape is required saving 30g in overall weight. This makes setting up your wheels tubeless much easier too with the newly shaped rim bed making it easier to mount and remove tubeless road tyres. What are the benefits of running a tubeless setup on a road bike? Well, there’s no tube so less weight, there’s less overall friction and more air volume from the 28mm wide Schwalbe Pro One tyres means a smoother, more comfortable ride.

45mm deep carbon Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 wheels shod with 28mm Schwalbe Pro One tyres help to keep things aero.

 

Cube have hit the mark yet again with the Litening C:68X SL. Race-proven at the highest level of competition already, with every aerodynamic aspect that the designers and engineers have worked on being successfully showcased in some of the most demanding road races in the world. With a fully-integrated aerodynamic chassis and all of the contemporary elements we’ve all quickly come to expect from a modern road bike, namely hydraulic disc brakes, no exposed cables, a cutting-edge electronic groupset, lightweight aero carbon wheels and super-comfortable 28mm tyres the Litening is both a capable racing machine and a real-world mile-muncher that you’ll be able to pedal all-day-long.

The Cube C:68X SL is a premium aero road bike with no compromises when it comes to component specification.

 

Cube Litening C:68X SL 2022 RRP £8,099.00

Full specification:

• Frame: C:68X Monocoque Advanced Twin Mold Technology, Aero Headtube, Full Internal Cable Routing, Flat Mount Disc
• Fork: Litening C:68X Aero, Integrated Cable Routing, Flat Mount Disc
• Headset: ACROS, Top Integrated 1 1/8″, Bottom Integrated 1 1/4″
• Shifters: Sram Red eTap AXS 12-Speed
• Rear Derailleur: Sram Red eTap AXS 12-Speed
• Front Derailleur: Sram Red eTap AXS
• Cassette : Sram Red XG-1290, 10-33T 12-Speed
• Chainset: Sram Red Carbon, 48x35T
• Chain: Sram Red D1
• Brakes: Sram Centreline XR (160F / 160R Rotors)
• Wheels: Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 Carbon
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One, Tubeless Easy, 28mm
• Integrated Bar / Stem: ICR Aero Cockpit System, Integrated Cable Routing, Aero Spacer System, Garmin/Wahoo Mount Interface

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 50cm, 52cm : 400mm wide handlebar / 90mm stem

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 54cm, 56cm: 420mm wide handlebar / 100mm stem

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 58cm: 440mm wide handlebar / 110mm stem

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 60cm: 440mm wide handlebar /120mm stem

• Bar Tape: Bartape RD
• Seat Post: Litening C:68X Aero, Comfort Flex
• Saddle: Natural Fit Nuance SLT Road Carbon

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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For our Fast Bike Friday feature this week we’re looking at a super-light cross-country racing machine from Trek. The Procaliber 9.8 is a fast carbon fibre hardtail MTB that has been designed and produced in the pure pursuit of off-road speed and boasts a myriad of special features and shrewd componentry specifications to meet that goal. The Procaliber has been an established model in Trek’s MTB model range for a number of years but it has seen some significant changes for this new-gen Procaliber; this MTB is very much the lightest and fastest mountain bike uphill in Trek’s large range of cross-country-focused race bikes.

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 carbon fibre hardtail is a thorough-bred cross-country race bike.

 

A few seasons ago the Trek Cross Country Factory Racing team had a choice between two models – the full suspension Top Fuel for more technically demanding race courses or the Procaliber hardtail which was better suited to less technical race courses with considerably more climbing. Then in late 2019 along came the Trek Supercaliber which featured a very clever IsoStrut integrated shock providing 60mm of travel; this bike was a sort of ‘best of both worlds’ race bike that sat between the Top Fuel full suspension bike and the Procaliber hardtail. Initially it looked like the Procaliber’s day were numbered, however, since then Trek have phased out the Top Fuel as an option for Elite competition and we have seen Trek’s pro riders choosing between the Supercaliber for technical, rocky race courses and the all-new Procaliber hardtail for race tracks that feature more climbing or flat out sprints where every ounce of power needs to transfer through the bike.

Current Cross Country MTB World Champion Evie Richards chooses between the Procaliber and Supercaliber depending on race conditions.

 

An example of this equipment choice could be seen by watching the UK’s very own World Champion cross-country mountain biker Evie Richards this season. She spent 2021 swapping between the Trek Supercaliber and the Trek Procaliber hardtail depending on how she felt the demands of the World Cup Cross-Country courses were best tackled. A great example of this was during the week of the World Championships which saw Evie ride her lighter, stiffer Procaliber to win the Silver medal in the Short Track race before swapping to her more forgiving Supercaliber for the more rocky & technical cross-country race a couple of days later where she duly WON the World Championships!

Evie Richard’s race-ready Trek Procaliber helped her win a Silver medal in the 2021 Short-Track MTB World Championships.

 

Evie Richards (centre) piloted her Trek Procaliber to Silver in the short-track race and her Trek Supercaliber to Gold in the cross-country race.

 

So far in this feature we’ve sort of fallen into the trap of describing the Procaliber 9.8 as a ‘hardtail’ because, well it sort of is compared to Trek’s ‘soft-tail’ Supercaliber bike which could be regarded as having a ‘suspension-lite’ configuration. The Procal isn’t a true hardtail though, thanks to clever engineering in the carbon frame there is actually a fair bit of compliance when you’re in the saddle. The Procaliber features Trek’s highly regarded Isospeed decoupler as seen on a multitude of their bikes but which originated on the first-gen Procaliber.

The Procaliber hardtail boasts extra levels of comfort thanks to their clever IsoSpeed Decoupler.

 

The IsoSpeed decoupler maintains the traditional diamond-shaped frame geometry but ‘decouples’ the seat tube from the top tube, allowing the seat tube to flex with the forces of the terrain while the rider is seated. This genius approach utilises the engineered flex of the carbon fibre making it easier to pedal through choppy terrain helping to save your energy for the climbs and sprints. With no loss of pedaling power the Procaliber remains really efficient while you stay fresher and less fatigued particularly over longer distances making this a perfect bike for cross country races and mountain bike marathons.

Despite this being a super-stiff carbon hardtail the IsoSpeed Decoupler isolates you from rough trails when you’re in the saddle.

 

This all-new Procaliber gave Trek the opportunity to update its geometry and make it more ‘trail-ready’ without sacrificing any of its cross country race speed which the original was so well-liked for. Cross country riding and racing has definitely got more rowdy in recent years and Trek are keeping up with this evolution; the Procaliber’s geometry changes include a slightly slacker headtube angle and a longer reach for a more progressive geometry which is more comfortable and confidence inspiring at speed, particularly on descents. At 432mm the Procal’s chainstays have got shorter to help make the bike feel more agile and there’s also a steeper seat tube which helps to put you in a more efficient climbing position. Tyre clearance has increased too with the option to run tyres up to 2.40” wide, this is another welcome addition if you’re looking for a cross country bike that can be ridden a little harder.

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 features a very special iridescent sparkle paintjob.  

 

The Procaliber 9.8 is constructed from Trek’s own OCLV Mountain Carbon; this carbon fibre is tougher than standard carbon fibre, while it retains its lightweight, stiff properties it is significantly more durable than carbon fibre from other mountain bike brands. With clever material composition and sophisticated lay-up procedures OCLV Mountain Carbon has been proven during Trek’s stringent testing and easily matches the demands of today’s more aggressive riding styles.

Calling on decades of experience the Trek Procaliber 9.8 boasts sophisticated construction techniques that make the frame stiff, light and responsive.

 

Further changes to this new-gen Procaliber include the addition of Trek’s ‘Straight Shot’ downtube, a design that has been successful on other models in their mountain bike range. The previous Procaliber included a bend at the junction with the head tube which was mainly there to avoid any potential problems with fork crown clearance on tight turns and the potential for frame damage when the bars turn suddenly during crashes. For the new generation Procaliber Trek have used the Straight Shot principle to add extra frame stiffness and make steering more precise without adding extra weight. Gear cables and brake hoses are neatly routed through the frame using internal channels making home maintenance easier.

The rear hydraulic brake hose is neatly routed internally through the Procaliber carbon frame.

 

So if Trek have used their Straight Shot downtube surely there’s a potential for frame damage from the fork crown as we just highlighted above? Thankfully no; in unison with their Straight Shot downtube Trek have developed the ‘Knock Block’ a feature that’s seen on many of their mountain bikes, from full-on gravity-focused bikes to their lightweight cross country mountain bikes. The Knock Block is basically a steerer stop which prevents your handlebar controls from hitting the frame’s top tube in the event of a crash and also stops the bikes’ fork crown from hitting the Straight Shot downtube. The newest version of the Knock Block (as seen here on the Procaliber 9.8) features an increased turning radius so even the tightest, slow speed turns aren’t an issue.

The Procaliber 9.8 includes Trek’s Knock Block headset which prevents the bars turning too far in the event of a crash and helps stop damage to the frame.

 

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 sits at the top of the Procaliber range of bikes and so obviously boasts a very lust-worthy component specification. With low-weight at the front of their minds the Trek product managers have spec’d suitably feather-weight components throughout. First-up there’s an integrated handlebar and stem from in-house brand Bontrager. This bar is an all-carbon construction made from the same OCLV material as the Procaliber frame; at 750mm wide there’s plenty of leverage and control to be had on technical descents with these bars. A -13° rise on the integrated stem further hints at how Trek see this bike being ridden – with an aggressive heads-down position for racers who are squeezing every ounce of energy into their race.

Reflecting its race-bike credentials the Procaliber 9.8 comes spec’d with an ultralight OCLV carbon fibre integrated handlebar and stem.

 

The Bontrager RSL integrated handlebar/stem combo boasts a negative-13-degree stem rise for an aggressive race-ready position.

 

Keeping overall weight down and helping to increase comfort thanks to their carbon construction the Bontrager RSL bars are a nice 750mm wide.

 

This uber-light, fast cross country mountain bike needs a capable suspension fork to help you negotiate fast-paced, technical sections of the race course; Trek have spec’d a pair of 100mm travel Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast, Float EVOL air spring suspension forks featuring a GRIP 2-position damper. That unique cut-out section of the lower fork legs is what Fox call ‘Step Cast’, it enables a narrow stance and significantly saves weight as well as providing clearance for spokes and rotor. This race-ready suspension fork features a remote lockout too so when you’re taking on long fire road climbs and are out of the saddle putting the power down there’ll be no unwanted suspension bob or loss of energy.

Trek have spec’d the Procaliber 9.8 with a pair of race-proven Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast Float EVOL air spring suspension forks.

 

These capable Fox forks feature 100mm of plush travel to help take the sting off any xc race course.

 

Fox’s unique ‘Step-Cast’ construction helps strip away any unwanted weight while still retaining overall stiffness.

 

Fox’s GRIP 2-position lockout means you can firm up your fork for long out-of-the-saddle uphill efforts.

 

The 2-position lockout lever is conveniently located for on-the-fly adjustments to your Fox fork.

 

Trek have spec’d the Procaliber 9.8 with a super-efficient Shimano 12-speed groupset.

 

The Shimano XT 12-speed rear derailleur provides consistent, crisp gear selection every time you shift.

 

Ready for the very-steepest mid-race climbs, the Shimano 10-51T 12-speed cassette gives you every gear ratio you’ll need.

 

The Shimano XT 12-speed cassette is cleverly constructed to keep weight to a minimum.

 

In a further effort to keep overall weight down Trek have included a lightweight & stiff carbon chainset from e*Thirteen.

 

A simple Shimano XT 12-speed trigger shifter provides light & precise gear shifts from your handlebar.

 

Shimano XT disc brakes are famed for their power, modulation and user-friendly serviceability.

 

Compact Shimano XT hydraulic brake levers only require one-finger-braking to keep you in control.

 

OK, we say this a lot, but it bears repeating – the specification of wheels on a bike can make or break its performance; put a heavy, inefficient set of wheels on a super-light bike and the ride quality and performance will be heavily compromised. Thankfully there’s no such concerns with the Procaliber 9.8 which is spec’d with a super-light, fast rolling pair of Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 29” wheels constructed from Trek’s own OCLV carbon. These lightweight but durable wheels feature a wide 29mm internal rim width to provide enhanced tyre support and allow you to run the sort of super-low tyre pressures you’ll need to remain in control on tight, loose turns and wet roots. Needless to say the wheels are tubeless-ready which will help you to further reduce overall weight, decrease rolling-resistance and of course enable you to run those incredibly low tyre pressures.

This race-ready, ultralight cross-country MTB comes spec’d with an equally light and efficient Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon wheelset.

 

The Bontrager sealed-bearing hubs are durable and smooth.

 

Trek have spec’d the Kovee Elite 30 Carbon wheels with fast 2.20 wide Bontrager XR2 Team Issue cross-country tyres.

 

A carbon fibre Bontrager Pro OCLV seat post helps cut weight even more, although you can fit a dropper-post if you prefer.

 

A Bontrager P3 Verse Elite saddle comes in a 145mm width, features a cut-out and should suit most riders.

 

Lightweight foam grips are popular on the World Cup cross-country circuit thanks to their comfort and low weight.

 

It’s very clear from the get go that the all-new Trek Procaliber 9.8 is a nailed-on race machine designed to excel within the world of fast, frenetic cross country mountain bike racing. The fact that it’s been proven at the highest level of competition on the World Cup circuit should give us mere mortals all the confidence we need to believe that this bike will enhance our performance and enjoyment of riding and racing. If you’re the kind of rider who likes to take on long, hilly and physically demanding rides or is preparing to launch into a full-on competitive season of mountain bike marathons and cross country races then the Procaliber 9.8 is most definitely up to the job. With a super-light, stiff efficient AND comfortable chassis at its heart the Procal boasts the kind of specification you would find on any elite rider’s race bike, with no compromises on carbon components and lightweight parts.

The Procaliber boasts a rich racing heritage and multiple medal-winning performances; it’s guaranteed to enhance your racing performance too.

 

Trek Procaliber 9.8 2022 RRP £3,775.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, IsoSpeed, tapered head tube, Knock Block, internal control routing, balanced post-mount brake, Boost148
• Fork: Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP 2-position damper, remote lockout, tapered steerer, 44 mm offset, Boost110, 15 mm Kabolt axle, 100 mm travel
• Suspension Lever: Fox 2-position lockout lever
• Crank: e*thirteen TRS Race Carbon, 30 mm spindle, 34T alloy ring, Boost, 170 mm length – SML, 175mm length – M, ML, L, XL, XXL
• Rear Cassette: Shimano XT M8100, 10-51, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100, long cage, 51T max cog
• Shifters: Shimano XT M8100, 12-speed
• Integrated Handlebar & Stem: Bontrager RSL Integrated handlebar/stem, OCLV Carbon, 0 mm handlebar rise, 750 mm width, -13-degree stem rise, 70mm length – SML, M, 80mm length – ML, L, 90mm length – XL, XXL
• Grips: ESI Chunky
• Headset: Trek Knock Block
• Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M8100 hydraulic disc
• Brake Rotors: Shimano RT76, 6-bolt, 180mm front, 160mm rear
• Rear Wheel: Rim – Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon, Tubeless Ready, Hub – Bontrager Alloy, Sealed Bearing, 6-Bolt, Boost 110, 15mm Thru Axle
• Front Wheel: Rim – Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon, Tubeless Ready, Hub – Rapid Drive 54, Microspline, 6-Bole, Boost 148, 12mm Thru Axle
• Rim Strip: Bontrager Tubeless Ready
• Tyres: Bontrager XR2 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewall, aramid bead, 120 TPI, 29×2.20″
• Saddle: Bontrager P3 Verse Elite, Stainless Steel Rails, 145mm Width
• Seatpost: Bontrager Pro OCLV Carbon 31.6mm, 0mm Offset, 330mm length – SML, 400mm length – M, ML, L, XL, XXL

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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The weekend of the 11^th and 12^th of December saw the 5^th and penultimate round of the National Trophy Cyclocross take place at the Cyclopark cycling centre in Crawley, Kent. With a final chance in 2021 to consolidate his high placing overall before the short Christmas break our star racer Rory McGuire came into Round 5 confident following his recent win at Round 4 in Sunderland.

 

Rory’s typical fast start saw him racing ahead of overall Trophy series leader Corran Carrick-Anderson.

 

This was actually a ‘double-header’ weekend with Rory racing on the Saturday at the Clanfield Cross race which carried valuable UCI points; this race, with a field packed-full of racing talent provided Rory with the perfect final tune-up before the National Trophy on Sunday. Fellow Scot Cameron Mason took the win with Rory finishing strongly in 2^nd place on a course that was tightly packed with lots of slippery corners which suited him well. Rory raced clean and smart finishing ahead of his nearest rival for the overall National Trophy series Corran Carrick-Anderson which was a bit of a morale boost going into the big race on Sunday.

Despite a few mid-race mishaps Rory stayed focused on staying high up in the top ten.

 

Jumping to the National Trophy on the Sunday and the technical Crawley course did not disappoint, giving the racers a chance to show their fantastic bike-handling skills as well as their amazing fitness. The main event soon came around with the Elite race fielding two of our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team riders – Rory who was riding in the green U23 category overall leader’s jersey and Adam Bent who has shown a rapid rate of progress in his first year of racing with the seniors.

Adam took a brilliant top 10 placing, finishing 8th.

 

Rory McGuire treated us to his usual fast start, getting away from the main bunch and placing ahead of overall series leader Corran Carrick-Anderson; unfortunately things did not go smoothly for too long with an untimely puncture impacting Rory’s place at the front of the race. Showing a cool head and a steely focus he fought his way back through the pack until another mishap and a damaged shoe also influenced his position in the race. As we’ve seen before this season Rory has the maturity to stay calm and redouble his efforts mid-race and a final push in the latter half of the race saw him eventually finish in a brilliant 7^th place, helping him to remain in 2^nd position overall going into the final round in the New Year.

Elsewhere in the main Elite race our first year senior racer Adam Bent raced intelligently; making the technical race conditions look easy Adam surfed the mud with his foot out when he needed to onboard the all-new Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX cyclocross bike which launched recently, finishing in a fantastic 8^th place just behind Rory and giving Wheelbase and team sponsors Cannondale some great representation at the sharp end of the race.

Adam was racing onboard the all-new Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX.

 

 

Elsewhere, over the two days of National-level cross racing the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team had representation in other fast and frenetic races. Dave Haygarth our Vet 50 racer took a brilliant top ten placing finishing in 9^th while our U14 Girls category racer Elsie Haygarth continued her good  run of form placing 18^th in her race. Unfortunately our very own Masters World Champion Lewis Craven was struggling with a small injury and couldn’t race, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to see him racing in his new World Champion’s jersey.

Rory McGuire now heads back to Belgium for some more racing over the festive period; with the highest level of competition over on the continent Rory’s experiences of racing over there will stand him in good stead for his return to the UK and the final National Trophy race at Broughton Hall, Yorkshire on the 16th of January.

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

All photos by Man Down Media

 

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There’s a certain point in the year here in the Lake District where despite your best intentions you can’t be out all day in the mountains; even on the very first turn of the cranks you find yourself soaked to the skin, it’s synonymous with riding in the Lakes at this time of year. To be honest we seem to have nine months of winter and three months of bad weather! Personally I don’t mind this as there’s nowhere else in England I’d rather live.

 

Rather than bemoaning the fact that the dusty trails were a distant memory we headed out from the small village of Staveley, in the South Lakes; for those that don’t know it’s the home of our Wheelbase flagship store. The village got its name from the woodworking industry which thrived in the area a long time ago, benefitting from an endless source of wood thanks to the forests that originally covered the surrounding hills and the close proximity of two rivers for processing the wood. Staveley means literally the “field of staffs”.

 

The ride heads out on the road for a short section, around 8km in total with terrain being divided by road and gravel up to the start of the infamous Garburn pass, a double black diamond descent that leads back down into the Kentmere valley, however were not heading that way on this occasion. We head down an awesome descent to Limefitt Holiday Park, this is around 3km of mixed single track and bridleway; it’s also a route that’s popular with walkers so always checking the coast is clear before opening the taps on this terrific bridleway descent is advisable.

 

From here on, just after reaching the outskirts of Troutbeck the climb begins again from Low Fold onto Robin Lane, a well-trodden bridleway which leads you down to Jenkins Crag, another well-used route along the fell-side into Ambleside. Jenkins Crag is an entertaining yet somewhat technical descent, meandering through ancient woodland on one side with views of Windermere on the other, you can’t take your eyes off the ball for too long though as there’s some really techy rock gardens and slabs to negotiate.

 

Once you’ve emerged from the woodland it’s a very fast paced road descent to the foot of Ambleside. Arguably you have the pick of some of the best cafes Cumbria has to offer. Personally I have a great relationship with the ‘The Copper Pot” on Church Street, well-liked by locals and tourists alike. This is my place to refuel, relax and enjoy a well-earned coffee and a piece of cake.

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

Introducing the all-new Focus Jam2 7-Series, designed specifically to make you happy!

 

Launched today! The Jam2 7-Series e-MTB from top German bike brand Focus is made for FUN; with the belief that E-MTBs have the ‘power’ (excuse the pun) to make people happier the designers at Focus are clear in their intent – ‘we don’t make E-MTBs to win races and be faster than everyone else, we make them because they make people smile’. On fast downhill runs, off big jumps and up the most demanding climbs the all-new Jam2 7-Series is ready to make you a happier rider!

The Jam2 7-Series E-MTB features a powerful Shimano EP8 motor, 150mm of suspension travel and is built to shred the trails.

 

The Focus Jam2 7-Series has been specifically for the pursuit of fun.

 

The all-new Focus Jam2 7-Series E-MTB features the excellent Shimano Steps EP8 motor on all 3 bikes in the series. Matched up with the efficient 720Wh battery you’ll be able to ride further for longer with that extra pedal assistance giving you a greater ability to conquer that loose, rocky climb and get to the top of your favourite trail ready to let the bike fly downhill. We’ve previously taken a really detailed look at the EP8 motor; click the link below to read more…

The Shimano Steps EP8 motor gives you all the pedal assistance you’ll need.

 

So what do we need to take notice of on the Focus Jam2 7-Series? Here’s the headliners…

INTEGRATION

SUSPENSION

STRENGTH & DURABILITY

GEOMETRY

INTEGRATION

Focus wanted to spec the most efficient E-MTB battery possible to help prevent any potential for ‘range-anxiety’ out on the trail; the 720WH internal battery is neatly integrated into the Jam2’s down tube and is easy to remove giving you the option of charging it either on or off the bike. With storage solutions being a hot topic in mountain biking right now Focus have created a handy way of carrying a tube, mini pump and CO2 inflator with their small tool bag which is securely located via bolt-on-bosses between the top tube and down tube.

Focus have squeezed a super-efficient 720WH internal battery into the Jam2 7-Series and have included a handy tool bag fitted securely to the frame.

 

With an eye on integration for tech, Focus have included a USB-C charging port located on the bike’s main power switch allowing you to charge up your smart phone or GPS unit while you’re on the go. Another nice detail includes a neat little kickstand adapter; we’re increasingly finding that an E-MTB like this is difficult to park up securely at the trail centre café without the potential for it to topple over and although a kickstand can be seen as a little ‘Euro’ in its spec this will be a popular addition with a fair portion of our customers.

A USB-C port gives you the flexibility to charge your smart phone or GPS unit on the go.

 

Focus’ C.I.S. configuration has already been seen on a number of their mountain bikes and it was a no-brainer including it on the Jam2 7-Series too. All of the cables from the handlebar controls (disc brake hoses, gear cable, dropper post cable and E-MTB controller cable) are housed neatly through the stem and into the headset and frame above the battery department in the downtube. This setup looks great but offers some performance advantages too when it comes to preventing any potential for cables to get snagged in the inevitable tumbles you’ll be taking off-road. With the addition of the neat tool bag there’s less need to carry a bulky Camelbak-style pack; factor in a bottle cage too and there’s really no reason to be carrying extra bulk. With space at a premium within the frame Focus have created a specific bottle cage adapter that allows you to squeeze in a water bottle without any interference with the bike’s piggyback air shock.

We’re seeing Focus’ C.I.S. configuration on more and more of their bikes and it’s a nice addition to the Sam2 7-Series.

 

SUSPENSION

At the heart of the Jam2 7-Series suspension configuration is Focus’ F.O.L.D. design principle; Their propriety F.O.L.D. (Focus Optimised Linkage Design) suspension kinematic is already seen on their other Enduro, All-Mountain, Trail and Cross Country full-suspension mountain bikes and is setup so that the suspension effectively has 2 phases of travel. In the first phase of its travel the Jam2’s suspension responds sensitively to even the smallest obstacles. In the second phase of its travel the suspension curve is more progressive to cope with stronger impacts. The air shocks spec’d on the Jam2 7-Series have been specifically tuned to get the best out of the F.O.L.D. suspension kinematic. This suspension configuration suits all skill-levels, with more experienced riders enjoying the active feel of the bike while less experienced riders will benefit from the feeling of greater control.

The F.O.L.D. suspension kinematic is already well-proven on other full-suspension bikes in the Focus range.

 

STRENGTH & DURABILITY

Strength and durability are key considerations when designing and constructing E-MTBs, it’s a constant battle between balancing overall weight with the capacity to withstand the extra forces incurred from both the bike’s motor and the type of riding that this sort of E-MTB encourages you to do. All Jam2 7-Series bikes have been approved for a system weight of 150kg without any compromises to strength and durability. When it comes to component choices and factoring the extra demands of E-MTBing Focus don’t shy away from undertaking rigorous testing before the final spec is agreed; wheelsets, forks and seatposts undergo extreme stress test to meet that 150kg approval. Improvements over previous incarnations of their E-MTBs include suspension forks with bigger stanchions and reinforces spokes, nipples and cassette bodies on their wheelsets. With strength and durability at the core of their design brief Focus have paid special attention to the bearings used in the suspension linkage; with the high loads that they have to withstand and the unpredictable elements that the Jam2 will encounter they’ve spec’d double-sealed bearings that can stand up to mud, dirt and water ingress with no problems.

Focus recognise the extra demands put onto an E-MTB and its components and ensure they spec suitably durable parts.

 

GEOMETRY

The Focus Jam2 7-Series E-MTB boasts the kind of trail-focused geometry that we have all quickly grown to expect on aggressive 150mm-travel bikes like this. We’re also seeing an increasing trend in bikes like this featuring more adjustability allowing you to fine tune the bike’s geometry to suit you, your style of riding and the type of terrain you commonly ride. The Jam2 features a ‘FLIP CHIP’ which is quick and easy to adjust and provides you with two geometry options; in ‘HIGH’ your Jam2 will feel more nimble and playful making it ideal for tight singletrack trails, in ‘LOW’ position your Jam2 will feel more stable and will handle fast, rough trails better.

Geometry Options:

Nimble Ride (HIGH Flip Chip setting)
65,5° Head Tube Angle
76,5° Seat Tube Angle
446,5mm Chainstay
19,5mm BB Drop

Stable Ride (LOW Flip Chip setting)
65° Head Tube Angle
76° Seat Tube Angle
448mm Chainstay
20mm BB Drop

The Jam2’s FLIP CHIP is quick and easy to adjust and allows you to fine-tune how the bike rides.

 

Geometry changes place the rider in a more centred position for improved downhill and uphill performance.

 

Living up to the cliché of German brands always striving for engineering excellence the Jam2 features a number of nice little design details worth noting…

• Water Bottle Up To 750ML: From size medium upwards all Jam2 7-Series E-MTBS can accommodate a large 750ml water bottle
• Frame Protection Kit: All Focus bikes come with a frame protection kit to help prevent damage from flying rocks
• UDH Rear Derailleur Hanger: The Jam2 features a universal derailleur hanger (UDH) which means that you’ll be able to get a replacement one quickly and easily should you snap one
• Fork Bumper: Focus have spec’d a fork bumper on the downtube of the Jam2 to prevent any potential damage from the handlebars of the bike making contact with the top tube in the event of a crash
• Silent Chainstay Protector: A specially designed chainstay protector has been engineered to help minimise any noise caused by the chain hitting the chainstay on rough terrain (a rarity with clutch-mech derailleurs these days anyway)

 

JAM2 7-SERIES MODELS

Focus Jam2 7.0 RRP £7,499.00

 

Focus Jam2 7.9 RRP £5,999.00

 

Focus Jam2 7.8 RRP £5,099.00

 

Wheelbase is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the all-new Focus Jam2 7-Series E-MTB bikes and expect to receive stock too; watch this space!…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? You can see bikes like the Pinarello dogma and more every Friday. Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

For Fast Bike Friday this week we’ve got something a little different, which initially needs a little explaining; the BMC Roadmachine X One is part-road-bike (the clue’s in the title after-all) and part-gravel-bike. During the unboxing and bike-build process it got our workshop technicians talking; is this a versatile road bike with some off-road capability? Or a super-fast gravel bike which doesn’t hold you back when you hit the smoother roads? There was some consternation at the bike’s minimal tyre clearance and ability to only run up to 32mm wide tyres, but to judge this bike against other gravel bikes is unfair, this is not a dyed-in-the-wool gravel bike and BMC have never billed it as such. This an extremely versatile road bike that is designed to excel on tarmac, rougher road surfaces and the occasional deviation onto more adventurous gravel-focused rides.

Before we go any further it’s important to clarify that BMC have a ‘proper’ gravel bike model in their extensive bike range. The BMC URS (Unrestricted) is the Swiss brand’s full-on gravel machine with enhanced tyre clearance, a playful geometry and clever MTT (Micro Travel Technology) to help take the sting out of rough gravel roads. We recently took a detailed look at the BMC URS One Apex 1 in another Fast Bike Friday feature and it’s worth revisiting to get a clear understanding between their gravel bike and the Roadmachine X model we’re looking at today.

Way back in January 2021 we wrote a feature on the BMC Roadmachine 01 Three; this model of Roadmachine was spec’d as a super-fast but brilliantly comfortable road bike designed to excel on long all-day epics. It’s worth revisiting the feature to understand what this bike in its purest form is all about, but in summary the BMC Roadmachine is described as a road bike that’s designed to reduce body fatigue with a certain amount of compliance cleverly engineered into the frame without compromising on performance and flat out speed.

Versatile road bike with off-road capability? Or super-fast gravel bike that doesn’t hold you back on smoother roads? Well, it’s both actually!

 

It’s thanks to that sensitive carbon engineering and layup in the construction process that helps to make this road bike so versatile; it’s not going to leave you feeling too beat up when you encounter rougher roads or venture onto moderate gravel roads. Factor in the disc brake configuration with more clearance between the frame, fork and wheels and suddenly a bike like this becomes even more versatile with the option to run a wider tyre capable of tackling terrain which would have been considered unrideable just a few short seasons ago.

BMC have taken their popular Roadmachine model and given it a gravel-focused make over; with those 32mm WTB Expanse tyres and SRAM’s FORCE XPLR eTap AXS wireless gravel-specific groupset they’ve almost created their very own sub-genre of cycling discipline. This ‘Gravel-lite’ configuration will certainly suit you if you’re the type of rider who spends most of your time riding on the road but want a little more versatility and the freedom to bunny hop off the super-smooth tarmac and onto more challenging terrain when you see it.

The BMC Roadmachine X One features SRAM’s new gravel-specific Force XPLR eTap AXS wireless groupset.

 

RMX means you’re onboard a beefed-up road bike (or is a slimmed-down gravel bike?!)

 

The Roadmachine X One includes bolt-on-bosses on the top tube for your gravel-friendly bento box.

 

The dropped seatstays along with a sophisticated carbon layup in the construction process means the Roadmachine X One is super-comfortable in the saddle.

 

While the Roadmachine is officially a ‘road machine’ (the clue’s in the title) with 32mm gravel tyres fitted it becomes a very fast gravel bike.

 

There’s a healthy amount of clearance between the 32mm tyre and the X Premium carbon fork.

 

This versatile all-rounder includes an integrated cockpit for a clean, uncluttered look and some aerodynamic benefits too.

 

BMC’s ICS1 propriety stem and RAB 02 feature on the Roadmachine X One.

 

The BMC bar and stem combo is easily adjustable allowing you to fine-tune your position.

 

There’s some unique tube profiling on the Roadmachine X which adds strength where it’s needed.

 

Building the Roadmachine X was a chance for BMC to spec the brilliant new gravel-specific groupset from SRAM; the XPLR collection includes components designed to enhance your gravel riding experience and are compatible with other SRAM groupset componentry. The SRAM engineers re-focused their efforts on the drivetrain and engineered a whole new gravel-specific Force XPLR eTap rear derailleur designed to work with a single ring upfront for a simple but efficient 1X drivetrain. Sram have increased the length of the rear derailleur’s upper knuckle, dropping the cage and pulley portion of the rear mech lower and further back than their standard road going version. This enables the derailleur to accommodate the wide ratio of gears on the rear cassette without having to run a long-cage rear mech and also helps to keep gear changes more crisp and chain lines more efficient.

BMC have spec’d the Roadmachine X One with SRAM’s new gravel-specific Force XPLR eTap AXS groupset.

 

Just like it’s road-going equivalent, the SRAM Force XPLR rear derailleur is activated via a wireless signal from the Force eTap AXS HRD wireless shifters at the handlebar. The rear derailleur picks up that wireless signal and shifts instantaneously, with every gear change being precise and consistent regardless of the road OR off-road conditions that you’re riding in. Again, just like the road-going version the Force XPLR rear derailleur includes a fluid clutch which helps to increase chain tension, preventing it from unshipping when the terrain gets particularly rough.

The all-new SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS rear derailleur facilitates a gearing sweet spot that’s perfectly suited to gravel riding.

 

SRAM wireless eTap AXS drivetrain is simple, efficient and dependable in all conditions.

 

During the development of the new XPLR groupset SRAM took the opportunity to tweak the gear ratios to better suit the demands of gravel riding. At the heart of the XPLR configuration is the simple 1X drivetrain (a single chainring up front combined with a wide-ratio cassette); for this to work efficiently and be as versatile and user-friendly as possible SRAM have produced a cassette that includes gear ratios suited to fast tarmac stretches as well as long, lose off-road gravel climbs. To achieve this the cassette features a large 44T low gear and a tiny 10T high gear with the great spread in between; at the smaller end of the cassette the jumps between each gear ratio are small to help you hold your speed and pedal efficiently. The gaps between each gear are larger higher up the block when speeds are lower and the jumps are less noticeable, allowing SRAM to go up to that big 44T cog within the 12-speed cassette.

The SRAM Force XPLR AXS 10-44T cassette includes a wide range of ratios for gravel climbs and tighter jumps for fast riding on the road.

 

SRAM’s instantly recognisable and unique 12-speed Flattop chain helps increase strength and durability.

 

The 12-speed Flattop chain combined with the Force AXS 1 narrow-wide chainring means your drivetrain is efficient and secure with no risk of dropping your chain.

 

The simple 1x drivetrain is completed with a beautifully crafted SRAM Force 1 carbon chainset; there’s a single 44 tooth chainring attached to this super-stiff crank arm giving you a really low 44x44T climbing gear that should enable you to conquer even the steepest, most-loose gravel climbs you’ll encounter on those mixed-surface epic rides that the Roadmachine X One will no doubt encourage you to do. SRAM were pioneers of the narrow-wide chainring configuration which helps to keep the chain securely located on the chainring, however, BMC have gone the extra mile and have included a small chain catcher on the frame for even more security.

A super-light, stiff Force AXS 1 carbon crank with a 44T chainring keeps things simple and user-friendly.

 

The integrated chain keeper is aa nice extra touch from BMC, you shouldn’t need it though.

 

SRAM’s 12-speed Force eTap AXS wireless shifters provide consistent, lightening-fast gear changes thanks to their digital configuration.

 

Gear changes using the Force eTap AXS shifters are easy, intuitive and can be customised to suit you.

 

The SRAM Force XPLR groupset is finished off with a pair of powerful flat-mount Force HRD hydraulic brake calipers that perform brilliantly both on and off-road. Matched up with 160mm Centerline X Rotors the brakes deal well with any potential for heat build up on long road descents as well as giving plenty of bite when you’re riding the Roadmachine X to its limits on more unpredictable terrain. There’s just the right amount of lever pull before the brakes engage making braking modulation easy and predictable, encouraging you to scrub off speed quickly and effectively when you get yourself into a fix.

Powerful hydraulic Force HRD brakes help you scrub off speed quickly and effectively.

 

Let’s be clear, this is a superfast road bike which is able to carry that speed over to any small off-road excursions that you’re tempted to make. With a stiff, light carbon frame you’ll be dancing up the climbs on this bike and will feel encouraged to ride further for longer thanks to that efficient chassis. We all know, however that a lightweight carbon frame and fork is only as good as the wheels they’re attached too; fit a heavy pair of wheels and the ride-quality of your bike can be really compromised. Thankfully BMC have spec’d the Roadmachine X One with a pair of lightweight carbon wheels that roll fast and efficiently on-road but are ready for the rough and tumble of riding off-road. With a nice wide profile those 32mm WTB Expanse tyres sit nicely on the rim to give a fairly wide (for 32mm tyres) footprint, giving you more traction and control on the loose stuff.

The Roadmachine’s BMC CRD wheels boast light but tough carbon fibre tubeless-ready rims.

 

You’ll notice the tread pattern is pretty minimal on the WTB Expanse tyres but this just hints at how BMC see the Roadmachine X being used. There’s actually a slick portion down the centre of the tyre followed by a slightly grooved portion before ending with a more raised, blocky tread pattern on the very outer edges of the tyre to help give more control off-road. That slick section down the middle just means that when you ARE riding on the road you’ll be able to get the best out of the bike without feeling like your speed is being compromised.

The WTB Expanse tyres are 32mm wide and feature just enough tyre tread to provide grip off-road without compromising their ability to roll fast.

 

The Fizik Terra Argo X3 is a gravel-specific model.

 

So, is ‘Gravel-Lite’ your thing? If you’re the type of rider who spends most of their time riding on the road and is focused mainly on speed, efficiency and getting some serious milage under your belt while remaining as comfortable as possible the Roadmachine is a great option. If you’re that type of rider AND you’re gravel-curious, with those tracks and trails you see on the road-side inspiring you more and more to begin exploring beyond the tarmac this Roadmachine X with its slightly more off-road-capable configuration will help to make that transition with little or no compromise on speed and performance.

The BMC Roadmachine X One is a seriously versatile road bike that’s capable of moderate gravel-biking duties.

 

BMC Roadmachine X One £5,700.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: Roadmachine X Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance, Internal Cable Routing, PF86 Bottom Bracket, Flat Mount Disc, 12x142mm Thru-Axle
• Fork: Roadmachine X Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance, Internal Cable Routing, Flat Mount Disc, 12x100mm Thru-Axle, 50mm Offset (Size 47-51), 45mm Offset (Size 54-61)
• Shifters: SRAM FORCE eTap AXS HRD
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM FORCE XPLR eTap AXS
• Cassette : SRAM FORCE XPLR AXS 10-44T
• Chainset: SRAM FORCE AXS 1 44T
• Chain: SRAM FORCE 12-Speed
• Brakes: SRAM FORCE eTap AXS HRD
• Brake Levers: SRAM FORCE eTap AXS HRD
• Rotors: Centerline X Rotors (160F/160R)
• Wheels: CRD-321 Hubs, CRD-321 Carbon Tubeless Ready 35mm Rims
• Tyres: WTB Expanse, 32mm
• Stem: BMC ICS1 Integrated Cockpit Design
• Handlebar: BMC RAB 02, Ergo Top Shape, Compact Bend
• Seat Post: Roadmachine X Premium Carbon D-Shaped Seatpost
• Saddle: Fizik Terra Argo X3

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

Wheelbase Lake District Sales Assistant Andrew Barlow has been out riding with his camera again, capturing the classic winter colours of our surrounding countryside; with another change of scenery Andy came of of the Lake District National Park and headed out east. Situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Wild Boar Fell is situated on the eastern edge of Cumbria and is the fourth highest fell in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With cold winds and the odd patch of post-storm-Arwin snow, conditions were challenging but the views were stunning. We’ll let Andrew take up the story…

 

Aesthetically this part of Cumbria is far different to what we associate the county with, steep, slate covered scree and rough crags are traded for bleak moorland and gritstone.

 

According to Wainwright the fell gets its name from the animal the wild boar which inhabited the area over 500 years ago. But it would be unusual in an area of Viking settlement for its old Norse name to have disappeared, when the names of many of its features, such as the Nab, Dolphinsty, etc. retain their Norse origin. Wild Boar fell was named in a late-17th century boundary description as both Wilbright and Wilbert fell so it’s doubtful that Wild Boar is the original name. We should instead look to the Old Norse tongue for an original name. Another interesting part of history to say the least.

 

I would describe the day as the most perfect winters morning, frost blanketing the lowlands, sheep hugging along the dry stone walls to shelter from the biting wind. The climb up the fell was quite straight forward however it’s fairly drawn out. Ascending to 708 meters over nearly 11km of bridleway it gives you plenty of time to take in the views of the Pennines to the north, Howgills to the west and the Mountains of the Lake District National Park to the far west, the east is obscured by the fell as you climb.

 

Once at the plateau you can almost head back on yourself down towards Little Fell at 668 meters which looks over Kirkby Stephen., however we headed onwards and upwards to start the final approach up to Wild Boar’s summit. Having reached the summit in what I could only describe as a timely manner due to the bitterly cold wind, myself and the rest of the crew were almost grateful for the 20% incline with ourselves being so, so cold. We huddled around the summit cairn as we often do, sharing out sweets to reward our inner child and to induce us with a sugar rush to make it down the descent which leads on to an eventful end to this short story.

 

We come to a crossroads after the first part of the descent; faced with two options, with the first to head a very long way down or, arguably much more fun, to take a shortcut off the fell and keep us in good time with the remaining daylight hours and most importantly the pubs opening hours. The plan was agreed; we would take the short cut. I think had it not been for the wind chill of around below 2 degrees we would’ve happily taken the long way round.

 

The descent was a mixed bag of ice, snow and bog. Heading over the ice really kept you on your toes, not that I could really feel mine and required copious amounts of concentration, something that I would say that isn’t in our abundance within the group that I ride in. After two fallings off a piece we finally reached a section of fell where we could really open the taps and let gravity do all of the work, the snow capped Howgills forever in view. What a time to be out and about on two wheels.

 

After one snapped chain and a few road miles under our belts we were greeted by the smell of smoke of the open fire at the Fat Lamb Country Inn at Ravenstonedale for toasted sandwiches, chips and a well welcomed hot drink where we defrosted and laughed about our slight mishaps on the days ride. Another day in paradise, right?

 

Photos by Andrew Barlow

Launched today! It’s the new Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022 featuring a powerful Shimano STEPS EP8 motor with 630Wh battery and 150mm of front and rear travel making it more than capable of taking on some of the gnarliest, most technically demanding downhill trails out there before assisting you back to the top with ease so you’re fresh for ‘one more run’.

E-MTB technology has moved so fast over the past few years, with motors and batteries becoming more powerful and efficient, as well as being lighter and quieter too. Stood at the trail-head with your mates, waiting to hit your favourite run it’s getting harder to spot the E-MTB’s from the ‘acoustic’ bikes such are their sleek looks and almost-silent drive systems. The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is just such a bike, with that compact Shimano EP8 motor and neatly integrated battery it’s a case of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’.

With Shimano’s compact EP8 motor and a removable battery stowed in the downtube this is one sleek-looking E-Mountain Bike.

Cannondale have designed the Moterra Neo 4 to be a complete trail bike that’s capable of taking on fast, rolling descents and tight, technical singletrack and is packed full of all the sort of features and component specifications you’d expect from its acoustic equivalent; it’s just that this happens to be an E-MTB too. Constructed from Cannondale’s SmartForm C2 Alloy the Moterra Neo 4 features 150mm of travel front and rear with RockShox 35 Silver R, Solo Air forks upfront and a Deluxe Select R, DebonAir rear shock that has been tuned to handle the extra demands of an aggressive gravity-focused E-MTB.

When it comes to wheel size and geometry, the Moterra Neo 4 ticks all of the boxes we’ve all quickly come to expect from a modern trail bike – large 29er wheels shod with wide 2.6” Maxxis Reckon tyres, plush suspension platform and that all-important ‘trail geometry’, namely a nice slack 65.0° head angle, a long top tube and short stem, short chainstays and a low bottom bracket to keep you nice and stable at speed.

 

150mm travel, Shimano EP8 motor, 630Wh battery, 29″ wheels – the technical spec of the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 ticks all the boxes.

It’s great to see the new Moterra Neo 4 spec’d with the Shimano EP8 motor; you almost have to do a double take to notice this compact motor and Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery stowed neatly into the frame’s downtube and bottom bracket. The Shimano EP8 motor is considerably lighter and quieter than Shimano’s previous E8000 motor, which was previously top of the Shimano range. With a magnesium drive unit casing the EP8 motor is 300g lighter than the E8000 and includes a higher power too (with a maximum torque output of 85Nm); power-delivery being noticeably smoother for a more natural ride feeling.

Click the link above and read our detailed review of the Shimano EP8 motor… 

Toggling through the motor’s three modes – Eco, Trail and Boost couldn’t be easier with each mode selected via the Shimano SW-EM8000-L remote switch on the left of the handle bar; there’s a Bluetooth enabled Shimano SC-EM800 display to provide you with all the on-board information you’ll need and the EP8’s software is customisable via Shimano’s own app, allowing you to fine-tune just exactly how the motor assists your pedaling.

Shimano’s drive system on the Moterra Neo 4 is clean, uncluttered and easy to operate even during the heat of the most technical trails.

With the removable Shimano BT-E8036 630WH battery you don’t need to have ‘range anxiety’ when riding out into the wild; with clever use of the motor and its three modes you’ll be able to take on some epic rides, assisted by the very natural-feeling EP8 motor. Despite its power capacity the battery remains relatively compact and fits neatly in the down tube; it’s quick-charging too with a 50% charge in 2.5 hours and full charge in 6 hours. The battery is quick and easy to remove, giving you the choice to charge it either on or off the bike depending on your preference and storage circumstances; if you’re travelling with your bike this versatility is useful too.

A removable Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery means the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 has an excellent range.

 

The Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery can be charged while fitted to the bike or removed and charged separately.

 

Smart engineering sees the compact Shimano EP8 motor, bike’s drivetrain and rear suspension all cleverly positioned for a low centre of gravity and maximum efficiency. 

 

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4’s suspension configuration is laterally stiff to cope with the extra forces of the drive system.  

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is finished off with a simple, dependable and precise-shifting SRAM SX Eagle 12-Speed groupset with a massive spread of gear ratios from the 10-50T cassette; upfront an FSA E-Bike-specific chainset features a 34T chainring. A fast bike like this needs a good pair of anchors to help slow you down when your riding inevitably gets a little rowdy. TRP Slate G4 4 piston hydraulic brakes provide plenty of braking power in all conditions and are matched up with large 200mm rotors to guarantee you keep the Moterra Neo 4 in control at all times.

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is finished of with a brilliantly functional 12-Speed SRAM SX Eagle 12-Speed groupset.

 

150mm of rear wheel travel makes the Moterra Neo 4 is a very capable trail bike built for aggressive riding.

 

The Shimano EP8 motor is quieter and more compact than its predecessor. 

 

The plush RockShox Deluxe Select R DebonAir rear shock has been specifically tuned for E-MTB duties.

 

CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO 4 RRP £5,000.00

The 2022 Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 will be available in-store and online soon, watch this space!…

 

Full Specification:

• Frame: Moterra Neo, SmartForm C1 Alloy, 150mm travel, SmartForm C2 Alloy, Cannondale Tuned Suspension, removable downtube battery, internal cable routing, 148x12mm thru-axle, post mount brake, tapered headtube
• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver R, Solo Air, 15x110mm stealth thru-axle, tapered steerer, 51mm offset
• Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R, DebonAir
• Fork Travel: 150mm
• Frame Travel: 150mm
• E-Bike Drive Unit: Shimano EP8
• E-Bike Display: Shimano SC-EM800, Bluetooth enabled
• E-Bike Battery: Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh
• E-Bike Charger: Shimano Battery Charger 2A
• Headset: Integrated Sealed Bearing, Tapered
• Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-Speed
• Rear Cassette: SRAM PG-1210, SX Eagle, 11-50, 12-speed
• Crank: FSA E-Bike, 165mm, SRAM Eagle, 34T Steel
• Chain: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
• Brake Levers: TRP hydraulic disc
• Brakes: TRP Slate G4 4 Piston hydraulic disc, 200/200mm rotors
• Wheel Size: 29”
• Rims: WTB STX i25 TCS, 32h, tubeless ready
• Hubs: (F) Shimano MT400, 15x110mm thru-axle / (R) Shimano MT400, 12x148mm thru-axle
• Spokes: Stainless steel, 14g
• Tyres: Maxxis Rekon, 29 x 2.6″, 60TPI Exo
• Handlebar: Cannondale 3 Riser, 6061 Alloy, 15mm rise, 8° sweep, 4° rise, 780mm
• Grips: Fabric Funguy
• Stem: Cannondale 3, 3D Forged 6061 Alloy, 1-1/8″, 31.8, 7°
• Saddle: Cannondale Ergo XC
• Seatpost: TranzX dropper, internal routing, 31.6, 100mm (S), 120mm (M), 130mm (L-XL)
• Sizes Available: SM, MD, LG, XL

 

Written By Johnny Dodgin

 

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Wheelbase are super-proud to be able to say that our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Cyclo-Cross team now has its very own World Champion!

A HUGE congratulations to team rider Lewis Craven who took the win at the UCI 2021 Masters Cyclo-Cross World Championships which was hosted at Trinity Park in East Suffolk, UK this weekend. Lewis has raced for Wheelbase for 20 years now and has been a faithful team member, representing us with some fantastic results throughout that time; even more importantly he has always raced with a friendly and relaxed outlook to competition and is well-loved in the National Cyclo-Cross scene here in the UK so it was fantastic to see him take the big one!

Photo credit: Basil Thornton

 

Lewis was already racing for us in the colours of National Vet 40 Champion after winning that title back in January 2020 shortly before the Coronavirus pandemic took hold; this was is first opportunity to race for the ultimate jersey of World Champion, the fact that the World Championships were taking place on home turf were an added bonus, although the five hour journey to the race venue from his home in the North was not to be underestimated. In race conditions that were not necessarily suited to Lewis (he prefers really muddy races) the course was mainly dry and encouraged fast, frenetic racing with attacks going on the very first lap.

Photo credit: Basil Thornton

 

Lewis knew he had to join the move and a quick check of his fellow escapees gave him the confidence that this early attack and gap on the main bunch would likely hold for the duration of the race. There was soon a three-way battle for the win between Lewis, Tony Fawcett and David Earth and as the race progressed Lewis knew that he had to make a move to see if he could break the group before a sprint, as he didn’t rate his chances if it came down to a 3-up race for the line.

Photo credit: Basil Thornton

 

Lewis went off quite early and gained a significant gap, but before he could settle into a rhythm riding solo he made a small mistake on one of the damper, more slick sections of the course and went down hard, with a twisted saddle Lewis struggled on to the pits to swap his bike, being ably assisted by friend, teammate and top pitman Stu Reid who handed up his 2nd bike. That time delay cost Lewis the lead and Dave Earth re-made contact with Lewis while Tony Fawcett raced on a short distance behind but within view of the action at the front of the race.

While he recomposed himself and Dave sat on is wheel to conserve energy for the possible sprint finish Lewis knew that if he was to guarantee himself the win he had to try to make another move before the finish line. Going into the technical wooded section of the course on the last lap Lewis pounced; relying on his renowned bike handling skills he got the small gap he needed and drove on powerfully to the line, not giving up an ounce of pedalling power until his front wheel had crossed the line.

Photo credit: Basil Thornton

 

A quick check over his shoulder on the final straight had reassured Lewis he’d got enough of a gap over 2nd and 3rd place and he had time to put his arms up to the sky and celebrate the biggest win of his career; Lewis Craven – World Masters Champion! Needless to say Lewis was a popular winner with the whole Cyclo-Cross racing community celebrating his win and his fellow podium finishers being quick to congratulate him. All that was left to do was receive the iconic World Champions jersey which Lewis will now wear every time he races cyclocross until it’s time to defend the jersey next season.

Photo credit: Basil Thornton

 

Massive congratulations to you Lewis and thanks again for being such a great spokesman for Wheelbase! Thank you all of our sponsors for your continued support, making the running of this team possible – Wheelbase, Cannondale, Castelli, Cabtech and Saddleback. Now we need to get some new World Champs kit made!…

Post-race interview with World Champion Lewis Craven, credits to VELOUK.NET

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by Basil Thornton

For this week’s Fast Bike Friday feature we’re casting our eyes over the truly drool-worthy Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX cyclocross bike (which also happens to be a super-fast gravel bike, but more on that later) with its stunning ‘Purple Haze’ paintjob and no-nonsense cyclocross-specific components. As ridden by our very own Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli cyclocross team at races all over the UK including the National Trophy Cyclocross series, the all-new SuperSix EVO CX launched in August this year and marked a significant change in Cannondale’s cyclocross line-up, with the older Supercross being succeeded by this more versatile ‘cross bike.

Before we get into the specifics of the SuperSix EVO CX let me share a nerdy observation from back in late 2019 of something that may just have contributed to the final incarnation of this super-fast cyclocross bike. In November 2019 Lachlan Morton was a guest at the annual Kendal Mountain Festival in the South Lakes, Cumbria; in a year that Lachlan had completed a number of gruelling endurance events including GBDURO he was attending the Mountain Festival as a guest speaker on behalf of Rapha. Seeing an opportunity for another epic ride (this time done in a ‘oner’) Lachlan decided to ride his bike from Manchester Airport up to Kendal, taking in as many off-road gravel sectors as was possible. This ride included a long stretch of gravel track which also just happens to be one of my local haunts – Salter Fell an elevated gravel track which stretches a fair distance over a remote region of Lancashire.

Did Lachlan Morton’s ride in November 2019 influence the development of the all-new SuperSix EVO CX? It’s highly likely.

Thank you to Dan Monaghan for the Lachlan Morton photos)

 

Given the fairly technical terrain, when pictures came to light of Lachlan’s ride I was surprised to see that he had opted to ride his road-specific Cannondale SuperSix EVO rather than the Topstone Carbon gravel bike he’d used in the GBDURO. With the advent of disc brakes on road bikes and more generous tyre clearances between frame and tyre there’s more scope to fit wider tyres and Lachlan had decided to fit 32mm tyres that could handle the rigours of this gravel route but still roll fast and economically on the tarmac stretches between gravel sectors.

Could it be that the tech bods back at Cannondale HQ saw Lachlan’s setup and this is what gave birth to the development of the new SuperSix EVO CX? Perhaps? If not then it’s a hell of a coincidence because as the Cannondale team point out in their own marketing blurb – ‘We’ve unleashed the legendary performance of our SuperSix Evo to dominate the ‘cross course and fly over gravel tracks. Smoother, sleeker, and more capable than ever – dirt just got faster’. Yes, the starting point for this aero cycloross bike was born out of their existing SuperSix EVO road bike. The Cannondale marketeers continue – ‘It’s the fastest road bike to ever leave the pavement. SuperSix EVO CX takes the lead as our cyclocross weapon of choice and is built for chasing podiums. It’s our fastest ever mixed-surface bike with proven aerodynamic tube profiles to give you the edge on course – from the Flint Hills to Belgian mud.’

Taking the road-going SuperSix EVO as the starting point for the SuperSix EVO CX ‘cross bike was a stroke of genius.

 

OK, before we get into the specifics of this particular model, there’s one more factor that’s important to point out; we covered this in our original product launch feature but it’s worth repeating. In August Cannondale launched the SuperSix EVO CX and SuperSix EVO SE at the same time, principally because it was the same bike, just spec’d differently, with the EVO CX billed as their cyclocross bike and the SE billed as their super-fast gravel bike. Both models are aimed squarely at off-road performance and competition with the SuperSix EVO SE designed to excel in fast, long-distance gravel events where speed and aerodynamic efficiency play an important role while the SuperSix EVO CX has been designed to perform brilliantly in the rough and tumble of regional, national and international ‘cross racing.

What this means in practice is that the SuperSix EVO CX is a super-versatile cyclocross bike which includes greater amounts of tyre clearance than a traditional ‘cross bike so there’s better mud-shedding capacity mid-race, while the bike is ready to cater to wider gravel-specific tyres when the cyclocross season ends and the mud dries out. With a UCI-legal 33mm cyclocross tyre there’s tons of mud clearance and there’s enough room for a nice wide 45mm gravel tyre when the spring arrives.

The other big consideration is the bike’s geometry; for the past five or so years we’ve seen bike brands make the distinction between gravel-specific geometry and cyclocross-specific geometry, gravel bikes generally featuring more relaxed head angles, lower bottom brackets and longer top tubes for a less skittish, more stable ride feel and cyclocross bikes featuring a steeper head angle for sharper steering and a slightly higher bottom bracket to help prevent catching pedals on tight turns or when launching over the barriers. The SuperSix EVO CX (and it’s EVO SE equivalent) strikes a balance between the two preferences (see the geometry chart at the bottom of the feature) giving you a bike that will excel on modern cyclocross courses as well as fast, flat-out gravel races. Cannondale summarise this bikes versatility as having ‘agility, stability and traction, with an explosive kick and unreal grip from short chainstays. A blend of high-speed stability and low-speed agility’.

We wanted to know more, so with the benefit of having our Wheelbase Cyclocross team race on the previous Cannondale Supercross model for a number of seasons before swapping to the all-new SuperSix EVO CX we were able to ask our experienced racer Giles Drake (who has already won onboard his SuperSix EVO CX) for his impressions…

For the past 4 seasons, I’ve been aboard a Cannondale SuperX, and I’ve tackled everything from National Trophy cyclocross, The 3 Peaks, The 200km Dirty Reiver and just good old fashioned “adventure” riding. So when I heard the whispers of a new Cannondale cyclocross bike, I was genuinely curious what they could/would change to improve on the Super X. Enter the SuperSix Evo CX…

The first and most obvious thing is the looks. It looks like a modern fast, aero road bike, and even side by side, you’d struggle to tell the difference between it’s road going equivalent. Sticking with aesthetics, the paint job on this bike is incredible, plenty of little details, sparkle filled decals and the two tone paint is simply not done justice by the cannondale.com website photos.

First ride impressions? Instantly, I felt comfortable, even on the road where sometimes a CX bike can feel “High”, this felt like I was riding my road bike. This feeling transfers off road, the acceleration was the biggest positive I noticed during the pre ride of my first race on the new bike. Mud clearance is huge, especially on the fork which, combined with the more robust Sram Force 1 rear derailleur makes one bike racing much more viable.

Comparing the Super X with the SuperSix Evo CX, the differences are small. Which is far from a bad thing, the Super X was a superb bike & to improve on that at all is a tall order but Cannondale have definitely managed it. I feel so at home on these new bikes and that is the biggest compliment I can pay them.

The all-new SuperSix EVO CX is being ridden by the race-winning Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli cyclocross team this season.

 

So, as we’ve highlighted, the Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX’s carbon frame takes a lot of its cues from its road-going brethren and features the same dropped seatstays for added compliance and comfort over rough ground. It also features the same truncated tube profiles which have been developed in the wind tunnel as well as by using computational fluid dynamics CFD to create a frame that is more aerodynamic and efficient at cutting through the air. This has been proven to make a difference even at slower speeds so it’s good to see these features migrating over from Cannondale’s road bike equivalent. All cables run internally through the frame & fork and as you’d expect the SuperSix EVO CX features thru-axles and flat-mount disc brakes as has quickly become the established norm on all road, gravel and cyclocross bikes in recent years.

Those dropped seatstays add comfort and compliance on rough terrain.

 

When it comes to a special paintjob which catches the eye Cannondale have knocked it out of the park!

 

An integrated, full-carbon fork featuring thru-axles and a flat-mount for disc brakes helps keep steering sharp and responsive.

 

Neat internal cable routing keeps everything running smoothly and looks great too.

 

There’s plenty of clearance to cope with muddy cyclocross races AND in the summer months you can swap your tyres out for something wider and more suited to gravel riding.

 

The SuperSix EVO CX features a rather slack (for cyclocross) 70° head angle which helps make this versatile bike an equally capable gravel bike.

 

Cannondale have married up the SuperSix EVO CX frame and fork to SRAM’s excellent gravel / cyclocross specific SRAM Force 1 groupset. When SRAM first launched their purpose-built 1X drivetrain groupsets they were well ahead of the curve. Things in the cycling industry move on quickly but it’s important to remember that they were the first component manufacturers to produce cyclocross and gravel-specific groupsets that featured the simplicity of a 1X setup – one chainring at the front combined with a wide ratio cassette at the rear; this simple solution provides a lightweight, easy to maintain, functional drivetrain with no need for a front derailleur that still provides all the gear ratios you’ll need to negotiate a mix of gradients both on and off-road.

The SuperSix EVO CX comes spec’d with a no-nonsense, super-efficient SRAM Force 1 mechanical groupset.

 

The SRAM Force rear derailleur features a clutch – technology that was first seen on their mountain bike groupsets – this clutch keeps the chain in tension regardless of what gear ratio you have selected; when you’re riding over rough terrain this tension helps keep the chain secure preventing it from unshipping from the cassette or chainring.

The SRAM Force1 11-Speed rear derailleur features a clutch mech to help keep your chain located even when racing conditions get really muddy.

 

When it comes to gear ratios Cannondale have spec’d a cyclocross-focused SRAM cassette with a 11-36T range of gears giving you everything you’ll need to negotiate short, sharp climbs, fast sprint finishes and everything in between.

The SRAM Force1 11-Speed cassette provides all the gearing you’ll need for ‘cross racing, with an 11-36T spread of gears.

 

SRAM Force 1 shifters are simple and effective; with a left mechanical gear shifter combined with a hydraulic brake lever and a right hydraulic brake lever only with no gear shifter (because there’s no front derailleur) the brake / shifter setup is simple and intuitive to use. Gear shifting is taken care of by one small shift-lever tucked behind the brake lever; when pressed lightly the chain shifts down the block, when pressed more firmly (further inward) the chain moves up the block. If you’re used to Shimano or Campagnolo shifters it will take a moment to get your head around this, but it’s amazing how quickly you adapt to this system which feels a bit more ‘definite’ in its shift when compared to Shimano which can feel a bit light; this is a good thing when you’re making multiple gear changes while you’re negotiating technical ‘cross courses and everything is happening at once. Another positive aspect with these shifters is the large hoods which are made that way to accommodate the brake’s hydraulic fluid reservoir but also provide a more secure feel when riding on the hoods, negating the risk of slipping and losing grip particularly when you’re riding in wet off-road conditions.

The SRAM Force 1 hydraulic brake and mechanical shifter units have been popular with cyclocross racers thanks to their extra-secure tall hoods. 

 

Cannondale have spec’d their own ‘Cannondale One’ crankset on the SuperSix EVO CX featuring a stiff 30mm spindle and fitted with a 40 tooth OPI SpideRing which is a suitably-sized chainring when paired with the 11-36T cassette on the rear. Combined with a BB86a bottom bracket the whole crankset up is stiff and light, helping you to transfer all your pedaling power through to the rear wheel in those explosive efforts required to dominate your local ‘cross race.

A Superlight Cannondale 1 chainset featuring a 40T sing chainring with narrow/wide tooth profile keeps the SuperSix EVO CX’s drivetrain simple and effective.

 

Light and stiff the Cannondale 1 chainset helps to transfer pedaling power through to the rear wheel.

 

Braking is taken care of with SRAM Force 1 hydraulic disc brakes matched with a compact and lightweight 140mm rotor at the rear of the bike and a slightly larger 160mm rotor at the front to provide plenty of braking power when you need it regardless of the conditions you’re racing in. Likewise, when ‘cross season ends and you find yourself heading out further-afield on some gravel epics this braking setup is more than capable of controlling your speed.

Outback there’s a compact 140mm CentreLine rotor matched up with a powerful Force 1 hydraulic caliper.

 

Upfront the fork’s flat-mount accommodates a SRAM Force hydraulic caliper matched with a larger 160mm rotor for extra braking power.

 

The versatile Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX comes spec’d with a pair of DT Swiss R470 DB wheels featuring tubeless-ready rims and smooth-rolling centrelock Formula hubs with a 12x100mm thru-axle up front and a 12x142mm thru-axle out back. The DT Swiss R470 rims feature a 20mm internal width which helps to give the tubeless-ready Vittoria Terreno Mix TNT tyre a nice wide profile when fitted. This means the tyre’s sidewalls have a squarer shape, being less pinched-in and consequently placing more of the tyre’s tread in contact with the ground – all advantages that apply to ‘cross racing on slick, muddy courses.

The SuperSix EVO CX comes spec’d with DT Swiss R470 DB wheels boasting wide-profile rims and smooth-rolling hubs.

 

The Vittoria Terreno Mix TNT cyclocross tyres spec’d by Cannondale are a typical 33mm width making them UCI legal – a requirement that’s observed at National and International levels of racing but not at your local ‘cross racing league level. With those 33mm tyres fitted there’s plenty of mud clearance between them and the frame & fork so mud-shedding capability is high and makes the possibility of only running one bike per race much more of a genuine possibility. The tread pattern of the Terreno Mix TNT’s facilitate rast-rolling performance when the ground is hard with a nice, widely-spaced tread running down the middle of the tyre and more aggressive side-knobs that dig in and bite when you’re negotiating slick off-camber sections of the course. Needless to say, when ‘cross season comes to a close and you assign the SuperSix EVO CX to gravel-biking duties the frame and fork is ready to accommodate up to 45mm-wide gravel-specific tyres.

Ready for racing – the Vittoria Terreno Mix TNT 33c cyclocross tyres are UCI legal and ready for national-level competition.

 

The Terreno Mix TNT tyres are good all-rounders suited to racing in dryer conditions.

 

That central tread-pattern helps the tyres roll fast in dry conditions.

 

It’s great to see a Fabric Scoop saddle fitted to the SuperSix EVO CX bike with its versatile profile and moderate width suiting most riders. With more time spent in the saddle rather than out of it during the gravel-riding-months of the year Cannondale have spec’d the EVO CX with their own lightweight HollowGtam 27 SL Knot carbon seatpost which will add a small amount of compliance and comfort to those long hours spent traversing rough lanes and off-road terrain.

A comfortable Fizik Aliante Delta saddle will suit most people and stands up well to the rigours of ‘cross racing.

 

‘Versatile’ is one of those words that is probably a little over-used in bike marketing but in this case the Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX is arguably so. As the gravel bike market has quickly established itself as the fastest-growing cycling discipline when it comes to bikes sales it’s not surprising to see brands like Cannondale re-think their cyclocross bike offering (there’s basically a lot less ‘cross bikes being sold). It’s no secret that the SuperSix EVO CX and the SuperSix EVO SE (super-fast gravel bike) both feature exactly the same frame & fork and are simply spec’d differently to perform well in their chosen disciplines. As we’ve highlighted this means that both bikes feature a frame geometry which has to shine in both cyclocross AND gravel races and happily Cannondale have nailed it; fast and agile for ‘cross with a little bit more stability which comes into play on particularly technical ‘cross courses while being a flat-out race machine for fast, long-distance gravel events. Taking the existing road-going SuperSix EVO as a staring point for this venture was a strike of genius; by taking all of the elements from this model, including those truncated aero tube profiles and the comfortable dropped seatstays Cannondale have created a super-fast, efficient off-road bike that excels on mud, gravel and almost anywhere in between.

The all-new SuperSix EVO CX takes everything that’s good with their road-going SuperSix EVO and blends it with all of the best elements from their previous Supercross model for a super-fast, versatile ‘cross bike that’s also ready to take on gravel racing duties when the mud dries up.

 

Geometry:

 

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX 2022 RRP £3,800.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: SuperSix EVO CX Carbon, internal cable routing w/ Switchplate, 12x142mm Speed Release thru-axle, SAVE, PF30-83 Ai, flat mount disc, integrated seatpost binder
• Fork: SuperSix EVO CX Carbon, SAVE, integrated crown race, 12x100mm Speed Release thru-axle, flat mount disc, internal routing, 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″, 55mm offset
• Headset: Integrated, 1-1/8″ – 1-1/2″
• Shifters: SRAM Force 1, 11-speed
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM Force 1, Long cage
• Cassette : SRAM PG-1170, 11-36, 11-speed
• Chainset: Cannondale 1, BB86a, OPI SpideRing, 40T
• Chain: SRAM CN-1130
• Brakes: SRAM Force 1 Hydraulic Disc
• Brake Levers: SRAM Force 1
• Rotors: 160 Front / 140mm Rear CenterLine
• Wheels: DT Swiss R470 DB 28h, Formula CL-712, 12x100mm centerlock (Front) / Formula RXC-400, 12x142mm centerlock (Rear)
• Tyres: Vittoria Terreno Mix TNT, 700 x 33c, Tubeless Ready
• Stem: Cannondale 3, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 7°
• Handlebar: Cannondale 2, 6061 Alloy, Compact
• Bar Tape: Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm
• Seat Post: HollowGram 27 SL KNØT, Carbon, 2 bolt clamp, 330mm, 0mm offset all sizes
• Saddle: Fabric Scoop

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Written by James Vincent

 

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