Ignite Components designs, tests, and manufacturers its cranks in-house here in the USA. Allamuchy, New Jersey to be exact. At this year’s Philly Bike Expo Ignite unveiled its two crank models: Catalyst MTB cranks (pictured) and Inferno Road cranks. These cranks are CNC’d in house and come in 155-175mm lengths, a plethora of custom anodizing or cerakote color options, and have a lifetime warranty. The Catalyst mountain cranks are shipping now and the Inferno road cranks are currently available as a pre-order. Head to Ignite Components for more!
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Reportage
A Look at the New VYNL Bikes: /rd rim – Rim Brake Road Bike and /gr Disc Gravel Bike
Last year marked a sea change for the cycling industry. On one hand, cycling saw a boom with many companies shifting to a work from home model, and employees looking for a new outdoor hobby to spend their free time. On the other, supply chain shortages ran rampant throughout the industry and suddenly the supply couldn’t meet the demand. Depending on who you talk to, parts shortages happened for a number of reasons but the bottom line is if you have the ability to sell bikes, or even frames in 2021, consider yourself lucky.
Before the pandemic, Sabrina and Max Clauson wanted a change of pace from their normal day-to-day lives so they purchased VYNL Bikes. Now they’re running it as a passion project from their home in Boulder, Colorado. While I was in town earlier this year, I swung by their house to take a look at the new VYNL brand and to shoot Max’s /rd Rim brake bike along with Sabrina’s /gr Disc Gravel bike. These no-nonsense machines come in stock geometry, have the option for custom paint, are made in the USA, and are perfect for a rider looking for a straight-up utilitarian bike for pavement or gravel.
Let’s take a look at these two builds below…
Radar
All-City’s New Nature Cross Single Speed
Built from All-City’s proprietary A.C.E. steel tubing, the Nature Cross Single Speed is an option for a light, fast, and to be honest, good lookin’ SSCX bike for this season. These complete bikes ($2,299) and framesets ($1,499) come with an eccentric bottom bracket for easy gear swaps and for 2022 the Nature Cross comes in an ombré fade “Pink Lemonade” paint scheme. Check out all the details at All-City.
Radar
Ben Frederick’s Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc and Love Your Brain
I was introduced to Ben Frederick by my predecessor at Ritchey, Sean Coffey, in the summer of 2015. “Get a load of this kid,” he said while showing me what appeared to be someone not only racing the pro/UCI cross field on a cantilevered steel bike but easily on the podium of these races as well. The iconic red of the Ritchey Swiss Cross sticking out amongst the sea of carbon contenders dressed in every color but that made it easy to spot him moving up through the field. “We’re sponsoring him now,” Sean said, and possibly the easiest introduction to a soon-to-be friend as I’ve ever had.
Radar
Speedvagen Ready Made CX Team Edition Framesets
After a year off from racing, everyone is more stoked than ever to say #crossiscoming. Over at Speedvagen, they’re so excited that for the first time they are offering Ready Made Cyclocross Team Editions as Frame-sets only. This is in part due to the supply shortages plaguing the industry.
Cyclocross was the beginning of Speedvagen and cross bikes are still among their favorite bikes. Light and nimble, ready to get rowdy. Not over-built like most “gravel” bikes today. A pure cross bike is something magical. Sacha has always said if he had to pick a bike for the apocalypse it would be a single-speed cyclocross bike.
THE RMCXTED Frameset Specs:
-Two Super Sparkly Paint Schemes, New for 2021 Team Blue or our traditional Team White
-Stock sizing 50-58cm
-Enve CX Fork
-Enve Post Head
-Enve Stem
-PF30 or T47 shell (single speed or geared)
-Turn around time 5-6 mo
-Deposit $1000 (deducted from the total price)
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Quinn’s Wraith Fabrications Paycheck
Wraith Fabrication made some really slick bikes in the years they were building frames. It’s not too often we see them, so when Quinn sent his over for a Readers’ Rides feature, we dropped everything. Check out a short write up by Quinn below, along with many more photos…
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Theo’s Custom Polished ’95 Track Cannondale CAADX
This week’s Readers’ Rides comes from Theo and his custom finished Cannondale CAADX ‘cross bike. Read on below for Theo’s words and photos…
Radar
All-City Renames Two ‘Cross Staples: Nature Cross Geared and Singlespeed
In an effort to make their lineup feel more inclusive, All-City has made the move to rename their “Nature Boy” racing frames to “Nature Cross”. These two models will replace the Macho King A.C.E. and Nature Boy bikes. Both of these “new” models feature All-City’s proprietary air-hardened, custom-extruded A.C.E. steel tubing that we developed specifically for riding and racing.
With new paint designs, these stylish machines are rolling on one of the lightest steel production frames in the world and can be used for more than just racing laps. The Nature Cross Singlespeed comes in a blue fade, while the Nature Cross Geared comes in a red, white, and blue splatter fade.
Radar
Sarah Sturm Journal
One of our favorite personalities in the cycling industry has a space on one of our favorite brand’s blogs! Sarah Sturm has a great little read up about the pandemic and what riding means to her. Be sure to check this one out and if you missed it, our Highway 50 Nevada MTB trip features some excellent shots of Sarah ripping that Nevada dust as well!
“We have in front of us a chunk of time. We have a global pause. There are no races, there are no events, there are no parties or gatherings or high fives. We have busy minds and bored bodies and there isn’t an exact day that we can mark on our planners when “this will all be over”. Nope. The only thing that is certain is uncertainty. And we’re getting sick of seeing that phrase plastered all over the media. Yes, we know, things are uncertain right now and saying it over and over doesn’t seem to help.”
Continue reading this piece at Tenspeed Hero!
Radar
Wahoo Disciplines Episode 1: Cross is Boss
Can you beat the excitement of a muddy and fast ‘cross race? In this episode of Wahoo Disciplines, we follow Tom Pidcock and the Trinity Racing Team at the British National Cyclocross Championships. This will be a three-episode series with a final long-form film at the end…
Reportage
Flowers for Rita: The Positive Power of Persistence
Dearest Readers,
If you’ve followed the reporting for the last three years on this Cyclocross Pilgrimage to the Motherland, you will have read plenty of tales of struggling, suffering, and the general beat downs of European race life. I’m not here to make excuses or polish turds. I’m here to tell it to you like it is. To keep it real. Thus I’ve written more than 30 articles bringing you along for my weekly whoopings in all their self-deprecating glory because that’s the truth. That’s the reality. That’s the story.
And now, dearest readers, I finally have a happy tale to tell. Though it feels an odd one to write, and I cringe at potentially walking the fine line of self-aggrandizing douche. But I try to consider the context. This is the first time in over 30 deadlines that I’ve managed a meaningful achievement. This too is just part of the ride. The reality. The story. And it’s the kind I might not get to write again for another three years, or for that matter, ever again…
Radar
All-City Announces the Super Professional City Bike
The newest bike from All-City is dubbed the Super Professional. It’s a flat bar, zippy bike, inspired by All-City’s ‘cross bikes but updated for urban laps. This new platform features the Master Dropout, their first-ever combination geared or single-speed sliding dropout system, the Super Professional can be converted from single-speed to geared at the turn of a few bolts. It’s available as a geared ($1599) or singlespeed ($1299) option and even a frameset ($850). Other details include a fancy fork crown, internal dropper routing, and loud paint options. The Super Professional comes geared or singlespeed. Check out detailed photos below and more information at All-City!
Reportage
Rhys’ Pioneer Valley Cowgirl Spaceship ‘Cross Bike
As it goes in the pleasant winter months in Los Angeles, we get a lot of cycling tourists, rolling through town like a tumblin’ tumbleweed. Last week, my friends Brad and Rhys were in town, soaking up the sun and riding all the dirt roads LA county has to offer. Rhys was riding on this Pioneer Valley ‘cross bike and I had to document this noble steed.
Radar
A CX Nats Video
Here’s a fun recap video from USA Cycling’s Cyclocross National Championships at Fort Steilacoom Park…
Reportage
Start Where You Are: Fundraising Through Fun Racing with Leave It On The Road
My friend Rebecca Gates once told me, “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” She quickly admitted that this piece of wisdom came from tennis legend Arthur Ashe. Since then it has been at the top of my mind. There is power in this expression “Start where you are” eliminates steps to action. “Use what you have” wrests back agency– doing this engages oneself in action while giving oneself to taking action, or “do what you can.”
Action, especially towards a greater good, is the most salient way to combat the various tentacles of existential dread, whether they are cancer, capitalism, or climate change. No matter where we turn, dread appears. Unavoidable but not unconquerable, we succumb only through inaction. Taking the first step towards action can be difficult, especially in our culture, which seems to perpetually discovering new heights of apathy. The world and our culture can feel like an incredibly heavyweight.
Radar
GCN Looks at Sammi Runnels’ UCI Squid ‘Cross Bike
Fans of Squid Bikes‘ Sammi Runnels will rejoice at the latest GCN video showcasing her professional ‘cross bike. This is one of the most unique bikes in the pro circuit, since it’s US-made and features a Spray.bike paint job. Like what you see? Follow Sammi on Instagram!
Reportage
SSCXWC 2019 St. George: Ain’t No Party Like a SSCXWC Party Because a SSCXWC Party Don’t Stop
November 23rd, 2019 brought the absurd to Santa Clara, Utah with the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships. Less about racing, and more about chaos on a bicycle, the SSCXWC travels to a different destination every year to showcase a variety of terrain and whatever shenanigans the host city decides to throw at racers.
Radar
The 2020 Nukeproof Digger is More Dialed Than Ever!
When mountain bike brands design cyclocross or gravel bikes, you never know what you’re going to get. Some brands make controversial models, others play it safe, and while it’s not an easy task to expand into new markets, we are lucky to have such diversity within the gravel bike offerings. Nukeproof’s Digger gained a lot of attention last year and for 2020, they updated the spec on it. Now kitted with Shimano GRX, these 700c or 650b bikes look better than ever. Head to Nukeproof to see the full break-down and below for more specs and photos.