If you haven’t watched the men’s elite US cyclocross national championship in Louisville, do yourself a favor and check it out now — we’ll wait. Full contact racing and a fight for every feature, that’s what national championship racing is all about. There were crashes, mechanicals, sharp elbows, and lots of power. Ultimately, on-lookers were treated to an inspiring ride by the Pan-American champ (now current US National champ) Eric Brunner (WTB/Pivot Endurance).

We caught up with Eric and his team before the race and discussed his Pivot Vault, tire selection, and the changing course conditions.

The Race

When the lights turned green — the riders charged the slight uphill start straight, battling to be first to the stairs. Andrew Strohmeyer (CXD Trek Bikes) took the hole shot and quickly distanced himself from the field, with Brunner’s teammate Scott Funston (WTB/Pivot Endurance) on his wheel. After the first lap, the duo was joined by defending champion Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation) and former national champion Eric Brunner.

The select group traded blows at the front while jockeying for position into features. On lap three, Brunner and Strohmeyer connect after the barriers, fighting for the lead. What looked like a small bump turned into something more. Sending Brunners Di2 derailleur into crash mode and sticking him in high gear on a muddy, challenging course. The same thing would happen a few minutes later. Causing Brunner to dismount and troubleshoot the problem far from pit two. The later crash mode incident would cause Brunner to lose touch with the lead group. Eventually drifting into 6th place behind Kerry Werner (Bikeflights p/b Kona Adventure Team).

The ensuing laps would see Funston and Strohmeyer duke it out, with Brunner a seeming afterthought. After a pit, however, Brunner rode himself back through the field, surmounting a considerable gap. Throughout the next four laps, Brunner caught and passed Strohmeyer displaying his maturity and perseverance. In the end, Brunner finished 9 seconds in front of Strohmeyer and 28 seconds in front of his teammate Funston.

Brunner pointed to the sky while crossing the line, dedicating his win to Magnus White. White was killed by a reckless driver while training in the lead-up to the UCI Road World Championships in Glasgow.

Brunner started the 2023 season early. Racing the LifeTime Grand Prix and partnering with Pivot and WTB on a new endurance-focused team. Brunner would pilot the Pivot Vault for most gravel races and the 2023 cyclocross season.

The Pivot Vault leans towards gravel, sporting dropped seat stays and a vibration-damping seat tube, but it is (clearly) capable on the cross course. Brunner’s team commented on the seatpost damper as an excellent tool for long-distance gravel racing but not a deciding factor for cyclocross.

Brunner’s Pivot Vault is decked out with a full Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed Di2. Brunner rides a traditional 46/39 double gearing in the front and 11-34 in the rear.

Bunner has run a double for many years, and the setup is similar to his custom Blue Cycles (featured here).

The FSA/Vision cockpit is aero and tight. The fit works well with Brunner’s riding style and position on the bike. Brunner rolls the Vision Metron 4D aero bars and a FSA SLK 120mm stem. Like the groupset, Brunner’s team rolls on Shimano Dura-Ace tubular wheels with whatever tire best fits the course.

Since WTB sponsors the team and does not produce a ‘cross-tubular, Brunner is free to choose the best. The saddle, however, is all WTB, and like most road-focused WTB athletes, Brunner rolls on the WTB Gravelier. The front is narrow with lots of thigh glide room, and would be easy for on/off the bike ‘cross work.

For our photos and the race, the team chose Dugast Rhino 33mm tires (one of our favorites). The Rhino has a fast-rolling center tread and side knobs that grip well in off-camber terrain. Besides the grip, the Rhino clears mud quickly. With a fair amount of pavement on the Louiseville course, the Dugast Rhino was an excellent tire choice. As for what’s next; Brunner will head back to home base in Colorado and prep for his lead-up to Worlds later in the new year.

Eric Brunner’s Nationals Winning Pivot Vault

• Frame/Fork: Pivot Vault
• Bar: Vision Metron 4D 40
• Stem: FSA SL-K 120mm
• Shifter/Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace R9200
• Rear Derailleur: Dura-Ace Di2 Rear Derailleur SHADOW RD 12-speed
• Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace 170 46/39
• Cassette: Dura-Ace 11-34T
• Rotors: Dura-Ace 140
• Pedals: Shimano XTR
• Wheels: Dura-Ace
• Tires: Dugast Rhino 33 Storm Compound
• Saddle: WTB Gravelier
• Seatpost: FSA K-Force Light 27.2

For more info on Eric and his cyclocross program, check out WTB-Pivot-Endurance

The post CX National Championship Winning Bike: Eric Brunner’s Pivot Vault appeared first on Bikerumor.

Dubbed The Ribble Edit, the UK consumer-direct bike maker put together a unique 5 bike collection for this year’s Rouleur Live show, headlined by a subtle silver all-road bike prototype crafted of 3d-printed titanium. The 4 customized bikes and 1 all-new prototype all-road bike are meant to celebrate “the brand’s heritage craftsmanship, innovation and design“.

Ribble Allroad Ti Prototype all-road & gravel bike

The most interesting of the 5 to us is this prototype Ribble Allroad Ti. Built up with a 3al/2.5v titanium tubeset, it’s the seamless headtube and seat cluster that piqued our attention to details. Using 3D-printed titanium, Ribble creates the smooth look of an aero carbon bike. But with all those lovely benefits of building with ti. Durability, a road buzz-eating smooth ride, and the beauty of a raw metal finish.

Ribble prototype carbon cockpit, too

Besides aerodynamics, additive manufacturing also let Ribble integrate fully internal cable routing and a built-in hidden integrated seat clamp.

“Furthermore, it provides the freedom to create shapes with a high strength to weight ratio coping with more multi directional loads as well as allowing you to put material exactly where you want it to deal with specific stresses as opposed to taking material away in a more traditional format like CNC milling where you cannot always access the small areas like a 3D printer can.“

Finishing off the ti all-road bike and its full carbon fork are a couple more Ribble prototypes in the cockpit. Ribble created a dramatically-shaped RS-2 Prototype stem & UB-2 Prototype carbon aero handlebar that mix aerodynamics with ergonomic comfort. And retain full cockpit adjustability.

The ti frame gets an etched-in headtube logo, and a brushed finish. While all the carbon parts get painted in speckled Ice Marble.

The Allroad Ti Prototype all-road bike build features a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset paired to 4-piston Hope RX4+ calipers & floating rotors for extra stopping power. Purple ano Hope RD40 Carbon wheels on Pro5 hubs hang a set of 35mm fast gravel Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H tires with classic tanwalls.

As for the other 4 bikes in The Edit, check out the:

Ribble x Vic Lee – The Vic Lee E

This is probably the most visually impressive of the bunch. A collaboration project with graphic artist or “inkist” Vic Lee, this hand-painted city bike is actually a stealthy commuter ebike. The Vic Lee E itself is everything but stealthy overall.

But with all the dazzling hand drawing over the muted pink frameset… It is easy to overlook the Mahle X35 hub motor out back.

The graphics take their inspiration from “a bike ride from the brand’s original store in Preston on Watery Lane on the banks of the River Ribble to the Rouleur Live venue at the Truman Brewery in London. The journey visually expresses the joy and freedom of cycling and interweaves the narrative with the cities, iconic locations, tow paths and twisting roads down to Shoreditch.”

This alloy ebike gets a full carbon fork. And it tops off an FSA KFX SiC integrated carbon flat bar cockpit with a Mahle ebike controls computer. A SRAM Red AXS XPLR groupset combines with a Hope RX crankset, MTB shifter & Hope Tech 4/X2 brakes.

To battle city streets, it gets Mavic Cosmic SL45 carbon wheels with that hub motor laced in. And then topped off with fat 42mm Pirelli Angel GT Urban slick tires.

Ribble Endurance SL R Superlight Edition

A more subtle build is this carbon Endurance SL R road bike built to break the UCI’s weight limit. Coming in at just 6.6kg complete, the Endurance Superlight pares back to the carbon for its frame. But it lets color pop with a “Purple Haze” metallic paintjob for the fork, cockpit, seatpost, and the frame logos.

A premium build kit gets the complete bike weight down. A wireless Shimano Dura Ace Di2 group, THM Clavicula crankset, unpadded Selle Italia SLR Boost SuperFlow Tekno saddle. And then Mavic Cosmic Ultimate Disc wheels with 26mm Pirelli P Zero Race SL TLR tires.

Ribble Ultra SL R Forces Edition

Back with some flash, it this WWII Spitfire-inspired Forces Edition build of Ribble’s Ultra SL R aero road bike. An RAF roundel over the green fuselage is complimented with Allied fork stripes. All created to “coincide with the launch of the Royal British legion’s London Poppy Day on the 2nd Nov” when these bikes debuted last night.

“The Forces Edition features an authorised one-off Royal British Legion logo adorned Kapz Titanium Top Cap to seal the brands union.”

Ribble finished off the monocoque carbon aero road frameset with a SRAM Red AXS Aero 1x groupset and CeramicSpeed OSPW Aero System derailleur upgrade. Then, Zipp 454 NSW carbon wheels, and 30mm Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tires for fast everyday riding.

Ribble Gravel SL Hero Stone Collection World’s Edition

Lastly, Ribble actually created this Hero Stone Collection Edition gravel bike as 1 of 4 for Ribble riders to compete at this year’s Gravel World Championships in Veneto, Italy. Ribble rider Metheven Bond raced this aero carbon Gravel SL. It comes straight from Gravel Worlds. There’s still plenty of Italian gravel dust left on it – topping off what was already a hand-painted faux marble finish.

Interesting standout kit on this gravel pro race bike includes wide for Gravel Worlds 43mm Panaracer GravelKing SK+ tires on Zipp 303s wheels. Plus, a dirty Shimano GRX Di2 1x 11-speed group with an elliptical 46T Rotor Qrings chainring.

RibbleCycles.co.uk

The post 3D Printed Ribble Titanium All-Road Prototype Leads Out 5 Bikes for Rouleur Live appeared first on Bikerumor.

With a name like Cyber Cycles, the strong retro theme is a little surprising from this new made-in-Germany component maker. But while Cyber Cranks and Cross Blade forks undeniably harken back to the early days of mountain bikes, both combine modern modular tech and performance in that good old retro styling. Build up a rigid dropbar mountain bike (or a gravel bike as we tend to call them these days) and Cyber will have your cranks, forks, and even stems covered…

Cyber Cranks modern modular tubular steel bicycle cranksets

It’s been a while since I rode a mountain bike with tubular steel cranks – maybe 20 years or so? But we got a sneak peek last summer that Cyber was bringing sexy back. On a steel Sour Bad Granny belt-drive MTB singlespeed.

Now this year, Cyber Cycles has since rolled out 4 versions of their tubular steel Cyber Cranks. Each is welded in Germany from tubular steel. A classic no-nonsense crankset to finish off you custom commuter, gravel, trail, all-mountain, or enduro mountain bike.

Tech details

The Cyber Cranks are designed and fabricated in the middle of Germany, welded by life-long Italian framebuilder Stefano Agresti. Made of custom cold-drawn US-made air-hardened steel, Cyber cranks feature a standard SRAM 3-bolt direct mount interface for 1x chainrings. Or there’s optional machined alloy 110BCD spiders for 1x or 2x setups. The standard cranks use an integrated 24mm (Shimano Hollowtech 2 BB compatible) spindle. But this summer, Cyber also added a ST square taper version that you can use with old style bottom brackets.

Cyber Cranks are independently lab tested for strength and durability. But the cranks are NOT rated for DH or BMX, and have a rider weight limit of 110kg for their specific discipline.

Cyber Cranks – Pricing, Options & Availability

Cyber Cranks retain for 469€, without a chainring or bottom bracket. Lengths are available in 5mm steps from 160-180mm (and maybe outside of that range if you ask nicely.) Cyber also offers them in several standard finishes. Raw to see the underlying steel as it changes color when welded, but will continue to oxidize with time. Extra Raw which is more like a matte gun metal black look stat still reveals a bit of warm steel hues below. Matte nickel plated for a warm durable almost titanium-like look. Matte chrome-plated for a bit more shiny silver style. And gloss white or gloss black for 90s MTB bling.

Then, you can from 4 options depending on your bike and how you ride:

The Cyber Cranks GR are the lightest and narrowest for gravel (or road) with 156mm Q-factor, 46-52mm chainline, and a claimed weight of 475g. Cyber Cranks OR are the same weight and chainline, but wider at 173mm Q for off-road use. If you go big, pick the Cyber Cranks EN which use thicker, stronger arms with a 174mm Q-factor and 52-58mm chainline and a 520g claimed weight. Lastly are Cyber Cranks ST a good ‘ol square taper crankset that you can use with a conventional bottom bracket on or off road – claimed 460g and 145mm Q & 38-44mm chainline with a 108mm BB.

Cyber Cross Blade forks

Besides, those tubular steel cranks, Cyber Cycles also has a new Cross Blade fork, too. Developed as a modern interpretation of 90s rigid MTB forks, the Cross Blade features a burly CNC-machined alloy crown that clamps either replaceable chromoly steel or titanium legs.

Meant to be a modern alternative to carbon forks for gravel of rigid XC mountain biking, the forks can be built with up to 430mm axle-to-crown lengths depending on what you need. Up top, the machined 7075-T6 aluminum crown clamps to a straight 1 1/8″ Columbus Lite steerer, with replaceable stainless hardware.

Then, you can pick from lighter and more forgiving 1.2mm thick 3/2.5 titanium or heavy-duty 0.9mm thick Columbus CrMo legs. Down below, Cyber bonds machined 7075 dropouts onto each leg and connect with a 12or 15mm x100mm DT Swiss thru-axle and flat mount 160mm disc brake tabs.

Internal able routing is possible through the fork leg with 3D-printed guides. And there’s even the possibility to store a mini-pump inside the right fork leg. Officially the new Cyber Cross Blade forks are not yet for sale – still in a development and testing phase. But we saw an early supporter head away from the Bespoked show last week with a duplicate Agresti bike to this one below, ready to ride. Official availability is slated for next month.

MTB & Gravel Bike Stems, too

Finishing out the modern retro kit, Cyber also has a few custom steel stems, too. A series of 190€ Roller Stems for either threadless or quill steerers feature an integrated cable stop and roller under the stem for canti brake routing.

Or the 199€ Crypto stem, like on this bike, offers sleek old school MTB quill stem looks with the stealthy convenient clamping of a modern threadless stem

Remember how we all keep talking about how modern gravel bikes are just rigid dropbar mountain bikes from the 1990s? Yeah, Cyber Cycles gets it! And make it by hand in Germany.

CyberCycles.de

The post Cyber Cranks Out Tubular Steel Cranksets in Germany, Retro MTB Gravel Forks & Stems appeared first on Bikerumor.

Modern steel road bikes really don’t get much prettier and more well put together than Repete Cycles’ all new R3: Reason. This third generation road bike from the Czech framebuilder is a beautiful example of classic road bike looks updated with some of the cleanest integration and internal cable routing we’ve ever seen…

Repete R3: Reason neatly integrated modern steel road bike

A classic trope of perfected minimalism is that a design is complete when there is no unnecessary feature and detail that could be removed. Looking at the new Repete R3: Reason, this road bike is so smooth and sleek. There are clearly no extraneous details remaining.

We’ve been following Repete since their first road bikes built in Prague back almost a decade ago. But they’d really stepped up their game around 2019. That’s when we got a sneak peek inside their updated workshop of what would become their 2nd generation Reason road & Verne gravel bikes. But now Repete take their design and craftsmanship to the next level with this new generation three R3: Reason integrated road bike.

What’s new?

Compared to the 2nd gen road bike, Repete still welds and brazes the new Repete R3: Reason Prague, from top-tier lightweight Columbus Spirit HSS double-butted steel tubing. But now, fully integrated. Cables completely disappear. The seatpost clamp gets hidden away. A new removable CNC-machined braze-on front derailleur clamp makes 1x, 2x & Di2 setups sleeker than ever. And even the water bottle bolt braze-ons are so low-profile that they blend into the tubes.

To make the integrated routing and internal 1 1/8″ to 1.5″ tapered headset solution work, Repete welds a stainless cup for the upper bearing of the headset directly onto the top of the tapered Columbus headtube to create that multi-curve hourglass shape without losing the strength of the originally-drawn tube. It’s quite a bit more work that simply machining such a headtube, but Repete assures us it’s worth the hassle.

The seatpost clamp is a special treat. It utilizes a 3d-printed stainless steel element at the top of each of the seatstays that flows neatly into the back of the cut-away seattube. Then a stainless steel bolt tightens from the non-driveside to replaceable hardware tucked away inside. It’s such a clean modern adaptation of an integrated clamping concept you could find on classic steel bikes for decades.

Oh, and at the same time, Repete gives the R3: Reason more tire clearance to take on rougher roads. Now there’s room for up to 35mm tires. While at the same time, they shave a couple millimeters off the already short chainstays.

Tech Details & Geometry

The Repete R3: Reason is a performance road bike handbuilt in the Czech Republic from the best steel available. It features fully hidden internal cable routing. And it’s compatible with electronic shifting groupsets only – either 1x or 2x. Repete calls it the perfect blend of “rigidity, durability and truly unique comfort“. All with classic good looks and modern functionality.

The Reason features a threaded T47 bottom bracket, flat mount disc brakes, a stainless dropouts for 12mm thru-axles, a polished stainless chain hanger inside the seatstay, and a classic 27.2mm seatpost for comfort & style.

Repete R3: Reason – Pricing, options & availability

Repete sells the new Reason frameset for 5600€, available in 6 stock frame sizes (50-60cm). For that you get the frame and a full carbon ENVE Road In-Route fork painted to match in the RAL color of your choice, plus all the regular hardware. Frameset lead-time is approximately 10 weeks.

Integrated routing headset & stem are apparently extra. Repete will also build you up a complete Reason road bike with the component spec of your choice. Or you can get a frame and build it up through one of their retailers.

Must Watch: Inside the Foundry

On a side note – well they are a part of the new bike too – we haven’t shared this video before. But it’s great. Repete has the stainless steel dropouts of the Reason and the Verne, investment cast locally in the Czech Republic – about an hour from their workshop. For Repete, custom cast dropouts were core element of a proper handmade bicycle frame. And a bit of a symbol of success. So, they worked hard to make it happen. And then, they documented the process of development. So, they take us all along for the ride, all the way inside the foundry to the actual casting.

Enjoy.

Repete.cc

The post Repete’s New R3: Reason is the Cleanest Modern Steel Road Bike You’ve Ever Met appeared first on Bikerumor.

Slovenian road pro Matej Mohorič won the UCI Gravel World Championships on Sunday aboard an unreleased, but not very hidden Merida Silex gravel race bike. We caught up with him an evening after the race in Italy for an up-close look at the new Merida gravel bike. And a quick chat a bit about why he chose a proper gravel bike over some to the endurance road bikes you’d find in the gravel peloton. And what spares he carried in case he had a mechanical…

Update: The Pro Bike Check Teaser of Matej Mohorič’s Gravel World Championship-winning unreleased Merida Silex is now an official Pro Bike Check of the all-new 2024 Merida Silex carbon gravel bike. Read on for his actual race bike weight. Then, click through for the full launch story details on the new bike!

2023 Gravel World Champion Matej Mohorič’s unreleased Merida Silex

As is almost de rigeur for pro UCI gravel race winners these days, Matej Mohorič is first and foremost known as a pro road cyclist, racing for Bahrain Victorious. Over the last few years he’s won stages in all three of the Grand Tours, plus Milan-San Remo last year. But speaking to him, it seems Mohorič is very much an off-road rider at heart. And he was pretty excited for the opportunity to put his road racing chops to the test on gravel.

With that said though, the Gravel World Championships was his last planned race of the season. And he really didn’t expect to be fighting for the win. Mohorič said he went into his first Gravel Worlds just hoping to have a good day on the bike and finish near the front.

What about this new bike?

The trick here was that Merida had a new bike in the works. And he jumped at the chance to try it out.

Merida has released the full details just yet on the new bike. But the custom team paint job pretty obviously shouts that this is the replacement for their existing Silex. While that versatile gravel bike seems to have been quite successful for Merida over the past 6 years, its tall headtube looks were pretty divisive for anyone looking for a performance-focused bike.

What apparently convinced Mohorič to race this unreleased Silex vs. Merida’s fast gravel endurance all-road bike, or even the same Reacto that his ex-teammate Sonny Colbrelli rode to a muddy Paris-Roubaix win in 2021, was the long-wheelbase stability of the Silex.

What’s new on the bike looks like pretty much everything at first glance.

But apparently, even through details like subtly more aero tube shaping, an integrated seatclamp, full internal cable routing, and dropped chainstays… the character of this upcoming Silex reboot was still about versatility. Not just racing.

Apparently, this is not really a gravel race bike. Luckily nobody told Matej Mohorič that.

Pro roadie gravel bike setup

The first hint that this is a pro road racer’s setup of what might be an average Joe’s gravel bike is that incredibly long FSA stem. And that fact that the stem was slammed.

At first, I thought Mohorič subscribed to the weird ‘turn your levers in’ crowd on his 40cm wide bars.

But in reality, he just had a crash in the last few kms of the race when he was sprinting off the front for the win. And he couldn’t be bothered to try to mess with it when the brakes and shifting still worked and he had hungry racers closing in behind him.

How did Matej Mohorič customize his Gravel Worlds setup?

I had a chance to chat with Matej, and much of his bike setup came down to the last minute. And literally building up the frameset with whatever road components the team had lying around their service course at the end of the road race season. In fact, his team mechanics got this Silex prototype ready just in the last week for him. They didn’t even have time to round up a Dura-Ace powermeter crankset. So, Matej raced Gravel Worlds just based on his heartrate.

Onboard gravel flat repair kit

Interestingly though, while most road pros are used to being followed by team cars with spare bikes and capable mechanics, Matej told us how he wanted to be more self-sufficient racing gravel. Of course, if he got a flat he wouldn’t likely get super fast mechanical support anyway.

So, in his bar ends were Muc-Off’s Stealth Tubeless Puncture Plug tire repair kit. With the clear silicone protective covers still in place. And Matej was quick to show how the removable QR axle tool he carried in his pocket could pull the serrated knife or plug tool out in a moment to fix a flat. Clearly, he knew what he was doing to enact a fast fix if needed.

Under his saddle was also a small saddlebag with a few CO2 canisters, a Muc-Off inflator and a small bottle of Stan’s tubeless sealant. Matej figured if he got a flat that he had to repair quickly on the roadside, he could squeeze in some extra sealant, stab a tire plug in, and blast some air back into it before the team cars would ever make their way to him.

In the end, he had no mechanicals for the entire race thanks to smooth riding and great luck. That ultimately helped him distance the competition. But he was clearly prepared more than we’re used to seeing from pro road riders.

Compact road gearing for gravel racing

Back to the ‘run what you brung mentality and a road bike build, his Gravel World Championship-winning Silex prototype was built up with a pretty straight-forward Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset with compact 50/34T gearing and an 11-34T cassette. No fancy gravel gearing required. But also plenty of speed from a road compact setup, even for elite professional racing.

A closer look at the non-driveside of the unreleased next-gen Silex reveals a good ‘ol threaded bottom bracket. And there dramatically dropped chainstays (under all the Italian gravel dust) to provide ample tire clearance and 2x chainring compatibility.

I also not unsurprisingly that Mohorič was racing gravel on road pedals. If you go fast enough, and never put your foot down, who needs walkable pedals, anyway!

There’s nothing much more pro than a ludicrously long stem, with race notes taped on top.

Matej raced with this 140mm long FSA ACR stem with all of his cables hidden inside. And his team marked out where in the race they’d be standing roadside for a bottle hand-up, plus the one feed area where he’d get a musette full of snacks, too.

Actual gravel components too!

About the only real dedicated gravel component outside of the unreleased Silex bike itself, were the tires.

Mohorič raced on a set of 40mm Continental Terra Speed tubeless tires. Presumably with Stan’s NoTubes inside, based on the spare bottle he was carrying in his saddlebag. And inside were some lightweight tire liner inserts. Mohorič didn’t know which ones they were. or even what color they were, as I tried to see if he might clue us in.

But he wanted the added security in case he flatted, since he was running the very lightweight carbon Vision Metron SL road wheels.

As a nearly last-minute build to be ready to race Gravel Worlds on the new frame, pretty much everything else on the bike except the tires is straight out of the Bahrain Victorious road service course, including these Dura-Ace brakes with 160mm rotors.

Of note, Matej raced with one of Merida’s removable QR axle levers in his pocket as it includes a 4mm/6mm Allen key for quick bolt tightening. But also a second one already installed on the rear axle to speed up a wheel change if needed. That rear one wasn’t in a very aero position either, based on the dust that accumulated during the race.

Doesn’t seem to have slowed him down much.

What’s next for Mohorič as new Gravel World Champ and with a new Silex coming soon?

The 2023 Gravel Worlds title wasn’t Matej Mohorič’s first rainbow stripes. He won Junior Road Worlds in 2012 & U23 Road Worlds in 2013. But both of those times he moved up in the ranks the season after he won those gold medals. So he never got to compete in a rainbow jersey. Now Mohorič says he won’t miss that opportunity again. And he will ride “at least 2 or 3 or 4 or maybe 12” gravel races next season to make sure he gets to show off a new rainbow kit.

And he seems pretty happy with the new bike. He even talked about what he would change with his race setup… Maybe a 2cm shorter stem. But with some negative rise to get the bars a bit lower. But that’s about it. And has already mentioned that he can’t wait until he gets one with a rainbow-themed paint job!

Coming soon… Here now!

Update: Yes, this is a new 2024 Merida Silex gravel bike

Yes, we can now officially confirm that this is the all-new carbon Merida Silex gravel bike. No, it’s not a gravel race-specific bike. It’s more of an all-rounder. In fact, it’s also a pretty solid bikepacking bike too. It’s also not crazy lightweight. Read our launch story coverage for the full details now.

With a roughly 1200g frame & 540g fork, Mohorič’s race bike weighed in at a real 9.33kg complete on our scale.

That’s with his very road-oriented build as outline above with pedals. And with spares under his saddle, tubeless tools in his bar ends, liners in his tubeless tires, and an empty bidon in his bottle cage. Still, 800g lighter than my Silex 7000 test bike with mechanical GRX and alloy wheels.

I’m sure Mohorič raced against plenty of lighter and more aero bikes at Gravel Worlds. But it seems that the bike’s stability combined with his fitness, bike handling & race tactics worked out quite well in the end!

Merida-bikes.com

The post Updated Pro Bike Check: All-new Merida Silex of Gravel World Champ Matej Mohorič appeared first on Bikerumor.

Czech steel mountain bike builder Zoceli has a new short-travel trail bike – the Narum. Built with a rigid one-piece back end the new Zoceli Narum pairs 135mm of rear wheel travel to a 140-160mm fork to create a playful ride for every type of trail riding from swoopy singletrack to all-mountain shredding.

Plus, take a closer look at their best-selling handmade Naosm enduro frame and the long-travel Dobordelu freeride bike with its main pivot concentric with the bottom bracket…

Zoceli Narum handmade EU steel trail mountain bike

We’ve been watching the progression of Zoceli’s full-suspension steel mountain bikes for a few years, all designed and handcrafted in the Czech Republic. They also have some fun names, for those who dig into the Czech language. The brand itself “z oceli” means simply the bikes made ‘of steel‘. And now the new trail bike “na rum” means ‘for rum‘. Like, let’s go for a ride to get a shot. Drink and ride responsibly, of course. But just another reminder not to take riding bikes too seriously.

The new Narum is another new short-link 4-bar suspension design, this time with a vertical linkage-driven shock. Designed to be a progressive, poppy trail bike, the Zoceli Narum can be setup with either 135mm or 125mm of rear travel (with a 185 x 55mm or 50mm stroke Trunnion shock).

Zoceli framebuilder Martin Saida designed the Narum and its geometry around a 140mm fork. But you can also build it with up to 160mm forks if you are looking for something slacker.

Besides their 26″ slopestyle bike, the Narum is Zoceli’s shortest travel mountain bike. It’s definitely designed to be more of an everyday trail bike vs. their bigger bikes that are more suited to bikeparks or full-on gravity racing. That said, the Narum still provides a stiff ‘steel is real’ platform ready for abuse, and gets slack geometry that’s capable of handling steep technical terrain.

Narum Tech Details

The Zoceli Narum frame is handbuilt in Brno, Czechia in the heart of Europe from a mix of chromoly and Columbus steel tubing. Its 3-piece rocker & 1-piece lower links are machined from 6060 alloy, and all threaded pivot hardware are CNC-machined from 7075 aluminum. All threaded pivot hardware is replaceable. Links rotate on standard-sized sealed bearings and stainless steel hardware. Frameset weight without shock is claimed at 3.7kg.

The Narum features a UDH universal derailleur hanger, machined headtube for a zero stack tapered headset, a BSA threaded bottom bracket, Boost spacing, post mount 180mm rear brake, clearance for up to a 36T chainring, and a max 2.5″ rear tire.

And of course, gussets all around for plenty of strength with classic thin steel tube aesthetics.

The frame features internal cable routing with fully-enclosed guides, including for a 30.9mm dropper seatpost. It requires a 34.9mm seatpost clamp.

It comes in 4 stocks sizes (M-XXL) all with a slack 65° head angle and steep 80° seat angle. Three geometry options are offered based on the same 140mm front travel and either 135mm or 125mm out back. Zoceli varies BB drop & frame stack to maintain the same BB height with either 27.5″, 29″, or a mullet combination of wheel diameters.

Build it up however you please! Read on for pricing and availability.

Naosm steel enduro bike frame

Jumping back over to the Naosm is Zoceli’s most popular bike currently – a steel enduro bike frame with 150mm or 160mm of rear wheel travel. Saida designed it around 160mm of front wheel travel. But you can also go up or down with 150-170mm forks.

The enduro bike is just a half a degree slacker up front than the new trail bike, and actually has shorter frame reach and slacker seat angle putting rider weight a bit further back to go down steeper tracks.

Suspension-wise, the Naosm also gets a short-link 4-bar suspension design. But here those links rotate in opposite directions from each other. And the horizontal shock is driven by the lower link, which also happens to rotate on double-row bearings.

The Naosm is also welded in-house from chromoly tubes, a folded plate cage, and Columbus tubing. That box around the pierced lower seattube also houses a stainless bottle opener for post-ride adult beverages.

Dobordelu steel freeride bike frame

The Dobordelu freeride bike is both bigger and a bit more complex. It gets 175mm or 180mm of rear wheel travel from another short-link 4-bar design, paired to 180-200mm forks. But this time, the lower main pivot is concentric around the threaded bottom bracket. That’s said to help keep chainstays short and chain growth to a minimum on this big freeride shredder.

Integrated around the Dobordelu’s lower link, Zoceli has developed a built-in chainguide with a Sag-o-meter to help dial in suspension setup. Plus, a mini rear shock fender.

Again you get Crmo and Columbus front & rear triangles, connected with 6060 aluminum links, and replaceable stainless & 7075 pivot hardware. This time with a slack 64° head angle and the same Reach as the enduro bike.

Send it.

Zoceli Narum, Naosm & Dobordelu frames – Availability & Pricing

Zoceli sells their bikes exclusively as frame-only – with just a SRAM UDH and a DT Swiss rear axle. So, we don’t often see complete bikes. These two are just a couple of builder Saida’s own bikes to get an idea of what these steel shredders look like with wheels on ’em. Everything from the shock to the tires is up to you.

The new Zoceli Narum sells for 2600€ for the frameset. On the other hand, the Naosm & Dobordelu are a bit more expensive at 2880€ & 2980€, respectively.

Each Zoceli frame is made to order in 4 stocks sizes (M-XXL). Then, you get to pick from 27.5, 29″, or mullet wheels geo. As a result, it also means you get to pick your paint color. Zoceli includes any RAL powder coat color in the standard price. Clear powder coating adds 85€ extra to see the raw steel tube colors underneath, and 220€ chrome plating can give your new frame a mirror finish. Custom wet paint is possible, too.

Frame orders require a 50% deposit up front, with delivery lead times between 2-3 months. Although, a limited number of pre-built frames are sometimes ready to ship right away. Like that size L orange Dobordelu that you can buy now.

Zoceli.cz

The post ZOceli Crafts New NaRum 135mm Short-Link Steel Full-Suspension Trail Bike for Bespoked appeared first on Bikerumor.

We’ve ogled Ingrid’s Italian CNC-machined components for years – but their alternative mountain bike drivetrain has been of particular interest, and this new shifter takes it to the next level. Paired to their own RD1 mechanical rear derailleur and wide range 12-speed cassettes, you’ll soon be able to ride a premium mountain bike gruppo made entirely in Italy…

Ingrid MTB Trigger Shifter prototype machined & 3D-printed

What more to say than that Ingrid says they’ve finally solved their alternative MTB Trigger Shifter project?

Designed to offer a viable high-performance mechanical shift alternative to the big drivetrain makers, the Ingrid MTB Trigger Shifter is made in Italy just like all of their other drivetrain components. And it’s just as modular and serviceable. It is also still a combination of CNC-machined 7075 alloy and 3D-printed PA12 plastic, rotating on an in-house machined bushing and offering tons of adjustability.

Simply push the paddle to downshift. Pull back to release from the other side to upshift.

Mounting is with a standard band clamp or MatchMaker direct mount. The shift lever angle is fully adjustable. And the end of the trigger can be replaced with a different shape paddle. The large black PA12 cylinder hold the shift ratchet inside. At first, Ingrid will offer the MTB Trigger Shifter with 12-speed compatibility to work with their RD1 derailleur (SRAM Eagle gear spacing). But other options are inevitable. 11 & 13-speed come to mind next.

New CRS MTB crankset protector, too

Another nice little new detail, Ingrid has added an anti-scuff protector option for their cranks. Seen here on their heavy-duty, CRS-G2 MTB crankset, the protector is made of the same plastic as their crank boots protectors. The new anti-scuff guards are simply stuck in place with a durable double-sided adhesive, and continue the machined lines aesthetic of the crank arm underneath.

Get them soon to protect all Ingrid CRS cranks.

Ingrid Dropbar Gravel & 1x Road shifters, too.

Less further along in development are dropbar levers, too. But prototypes do now officially exist.

These were not working prototypes like the MTB shifters, so I could only get a feel for the shape of the hood, body, and angular lever at this point in development. They aren’t especially slim, but felt good in hand – even that long straight lever blade.

Of course, these are much more complicated, hiding a new brake master cylinder inside there, as well. Ingrid did say that the shift mechanics will be essentially the same as the MTB shifter. That means 12-speed compatibility at first, but 11 & 13sp possibilities, too.

Ingrid MTB shifter & groupset – Pricing & ultimate availability

Ingrid was reluctant to put a price on their new shifter just yet, but was happy to let me guess how much it would probably cost. That led to me optimistically lowballing them to try to see when their eyes perked up. We stopped virtually haggling somewhere north of 200€. That would make this about the most expensive single mechanical shifter on the market. But don’t forget, it’s totally made in Italy, and pairs with a 600€ mechanical derailleur. Plus, in the days of electronic drivetrains, it’s still cheaper that most AXS kit.

As for when you’ll be able to buy it? Soon. Officially, these are almost ready for production. So we expect you’ll be able to buy them at the start of next year. The road levers though, will have to wait at least another half year, we think.

Ingrid.bike

The post Ingrid Shifter Completes 1x 12-speed MTB Drivetrain, Made-in-Italy for Bespoked appeared first on Bikerumor.

German CNC mountain bike specialists Actofive Cycles slash the price of their beautifully-machined cranks in half with the new Signature X crankset. That’s because the new Signature X takes advantage of a more conventional 1-piece construction for each arm. The change significantly simplifies their CNC-machined construction and improves durability at the same time, while adding just 90g overall.

Plus, check out Actofive’s updated I-Train trail bike, too – now made even more in-house…

Actofive Signature X more affordable CNC-machined MTB crankset

Actofive makes a lot of amazing, intricately-machined aluminum bikes and components. But it isn’t lost on them that all that development, machining& hand-assembly time means the pricing is out of reach of most cyclists. At 800€ for Signature crankset – their “most affordable” component offering until now – founder Simon Metzner says he often has people tell him, “you make beautiful bikes and cranks, but I’m never going to consider buying them.”

So Simon set out to make his Signature cranks more affordable – while still keeping them under a 600g lightweight threshold.

What’s new?

To do that, Actofive machines the Signature X crank arms from a single piece of aluminum. On the outside that looks exactly like the hollow clamshell Signature cranks. And they can share the same slip-on protective crank boots. But by carefully designing, then machining out only the backside, the Signature X cranks require less than half as much machining time and also no need for bonding two halves together.

The end result is that the new cranks are almost as light at just 570g (without a chainring or BB). And since they don’t have two pieces glued together, they are more durable too.

Impact strength was another driver for developing the new cranks. Actofive says that their UCI EDR racing pro Vojta Bláha did manage to actually damage the original Signature cranks, by bashing the end of the arms into rocks at super high speeds. They didn’t break apart like we’ve seen with all the recent Shimano road scare, but needed to be replaced after a few intense World Cups. Now, Bláha has shifted to racing on the new Signature X crankset, reassured by the more durable construction.

Tech details

The new Actofive Signature X crankarms are entirely CNC-machined in one-piece in Dresden, Germany from “high-strength aluminum”. They feature 168mm Q-factor in the long spindle mountain bike variant or 161.5mm Q-factor in a short spindle version for 1x gravel & cyclocross bikes.

The crankset is 1x specific with a SRAM 3-bolt direct mount chainring interface, and built-in self-extractor. It features a 29MM diameter spindle compatible with SRAM DUB bottom brackets, and includes a CNC-machined BB pre-loader ring.

The new Actofive Signature X cranks are EFBE TRI-TEST certified according to ASTM F2043-13 / EN 17406 CAT 5. That means DH certification, tested for even more gravity abuse than the original Signature cranks. Ride them for gravel, cyclocross, XC, trail, enduro, and DH.

Actofive Signature X cranks – Pricing, options & availability

The new made-in-Germany Actofive Signature X crankset retails for 390€ (including VAT), available with MTB Boost or CX/Gravel spindle lengths. Like everything else from Actofive, the new cranks officially come in limited productions runs. The next run is slated for December 2023 delivery, with pre-orders opening any day now. But since these are much more affordable than the standard Signature cranks, we expect there to be bigger numbers of the Xes. Fingers crossed.

The Signature X comes standard in 170mm lengths and in 4 or 5 stock colors per run. Pick from raw, silver, black, purple & blue for example. More colors are in the works, like a gray that Simon isn’t quite happy with yet. Of note is the raw finish which is actually more shiny than anodized silver. You can’t do the clamshell Signature cranks in raw because of negative effects of oxidation on the bonding. But you can with the new 1-piece Signature X cranks.

Actofive can also make them in custom lengths between 160-180mm if you get in touch. And if you aren’t in a giant hurry.

The Signature Xes include protective crank boots. Matching Signature chainrings add an extra between 119-149€, depending on size.

First Rides on the new Actofive Signature X cranks

We’ve rolled out of the Bespoked show with a Sour Crumble trail hardtail test bike. And it’s kitted out with these new Actofive Signature X cranks. And they already got a bit wet & dirty on my local trails.

So far, I’ve managed to keep from smashing them into any rocks. (And I don’t have the protective boots on my test cranks.) And they certainly look pretty. But even though I don’t plan to bash them into rocks like a pro enduro racer, it’s reassuring that they will likely stand up to any rock gardens I find along the way.

And while not exactly cheap, they seem like a solid value for a premium lightweight alloy crankset built to withstand abuse.

Updated Actofive I-Train CNC-machined trail bike

Since we first caught up with their shorter-travel 4-bar I-Train last spring, Actofive has been looking at ways to make more of the bike in-house. When they started building the bike earlier this year, Simon of Actofive chose to use a welded aluminum rear triangle produced by Nicolai, also made in Germany. That original choice was to help get the I-Train out the door in a timely manner.

But Simon ultimately wanted to machine more of the bike as soon as development and manufacturing capacities would allow.

That time is now.

Going forward, new I-Trains will feature a CNC-machined set of hollow-back seatstays. The update doesn’t impact performance per se. But it creates a more unified aesthetic like the P-Train. Now, with a straight line from the rocker back to the drop out. It also means a more consistent look.

The new stays will be the exact same anodized color as the front triangle – something you can’t do with different alloys for machining and welding. That means the still-Nicolai-made chainstays will be a contrasting color.

No change in price or availability. An I-Train frame kit starts at 5450€ with a 12-20 week lead time.

Actofive.com

The post Actofive Signature X Crankset CNC Cuts Price in Half, Tougher Than Ever at Bespoked! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Baskets on bikes, I love them. When you put a basket on a bike, it boosts that bike’s versatility up quite a few notches, that’s just a fact. Bikepacking rack aficionados, Old Man Mountain, has been teasing us with the OMM Basket for some time, at both Sea Otter 2022 and 2023.

Well, now it’s finally available.

They also have their new Ponderosa Panniers and Juniper Trunks in stock and available to ship as we speak. Plus, I saw a great little prototype that OMM was displaying at their booth at the MADE Show. Read about it below.

Let’s go over these new goodies.

The Old Man Mountain Basket

The new basket is the same size as the wildly popular Wald 137 basket, making it compatible with all of the “137” basket bags that are out there. The difference is that the OMM Basket is powder-coated black aluminum, making it rugged, corrosion-proof, super durable, and lightweight.

Additionally, the OMM Basket can bolt to many OMM rack systems (as well as some other brands on the market), eliminating the zip ties needed to mount a Wald 137 to a rack. The basket “weave” pattern is Molle compatible, making it easy to attach your fave accessory pouches.

The OMM Basket is ready for any basket bomber adventure you can think up. Commuting, check. Bikepacking, check. Grocery getting, check. S24O’s, check. Whatever else you can dream of using a basket on a bike for, the OMM Basket can hold it for you.

OMM Basket Features and Retail

Retail: $80

• Stamped and welded aluminum construction is corrosion-proof
• Molle compatible
• Compatible with all “137” basket bags
• Bolts directly to OMM Divide, Divide Fat, Elkhorn, and Pizza Rack (does not match the Divide MUSA which has a bigger platform and different hole pattern).
• Hardware included for attaching to all current OMM racks
• Durable black powder-coated
• Weight: 499 grams 17.6 oz
• Dimensions: Depth 13cm, Bottom: 33 x 20cm, Top: 38cm x 26cm
• Backed by Old Man Mountain’s Lifetime warranty

The Poderosa Pannier

Using the Ponderosa Pannier will ensure that your gear will stay dry and protected as the panniers are made with 100% waterproof, TPU fabric with welded seams and Hypalon reinforcements

They are secured to the rack with a camming velcro strap at the top and a lower compression strap to loop through the rack. OMM says that this makes sure that your panniers “don’t turn into Dumbo ears when you hit a bump, no matter how rough”.

All of the compression straps are replaceable and easy to swap out should something happen to them. There is a traditional plastic frame sheet in the back (against the rack) of the bag. Additionally, there is another removable frame sheet on the frontside so it compresses evenly, allowing for the slimmest profile. Plus you can take it out to use as a cutting board for some charcuterie shenanigans.

OMM offers subtle branding on the Ponderosa Panniers as well, being embossed into the loop velcro.

Ponderosa Pannier Features and Retail

Retail: $200 (sold as a pair)

• 100% waterproof: Made from TPU fabric with Hypalon reinforcements
• 13 Liter Capacity
• Outer frame sheet for even compression and as a cutting board for charcuterie shenanigans
• Lower Compression strap design means no floppy bags
• Replaceable straps
• Minimal branding on velcro patches
• Silent contact points mean no more rattling and clanging bags.

The Juniper Trunk

The Juniper Trunk is a bikepacking trunk bag that is ready for anything. It’s made with the same 100% waterproof TPU fabric as the Panniers, with the same Hypalon fabric with welded seams.

This new bag is secured to your rack using four cam lock stepped buckles. Again, the branding on this bag is super subtle, in the picture above, with the patch removed, you can see the logo embossed into the velcro.

Juniper Trunk Features and Retail

Retail: $125

• 10-liter capacity per bag.
• Fully welded and waterproof construction made from TPU fabric
• Hypalon reinforcements at all attachment points
• PFAS/PFC-free materials
• Roll top enclosure.
• Waterproof zipper pocket on the outside.
• Minimal branding on velcro patches.
• Clip light slots on the back
• Great fitment on all racks with a deck. Perfect fitment for OMM pannier racks.

The Axle Pack

There was something new at Old Man Mountain’s booth at the MADE Show that I caught a few photos of. They’re called the Axle Pack, and they provide a unique new way to mount your anything-type cage to any front fork. As the name implies they axle mount with the Old Man Mountian fit kits.

The Axle Packs can be mounted using “any thru axle fork we have a fit kit for, rigid or suspension”. The upper attachment in the photos is one of OMM’s trusted pucks which is just holding the Axle Pack upright so nearly all of the weight is carried through the axle.

Weighing in at a mere 73g each, these lil’ bad boys have a weight capacity of 22 lbs (10kg) per pair! And because they are axle-mounted, OMM says that they can’t spin, slip, or rotate out of place, making them perfect for tapered carbon forks and suspension forks.

No word on retail or availability…I’ll be passing along the info on these to you guys, as it comes to me. Stay tuned.

OldManMountain.com

The post Old Man Mountain’s Basket is Finally Here + Brilliant Axle Pack for Suspension Forks! appeared first on Bikerumor.

While walking around the MADE Bike Show a few weeks ago, I stopped at the Bike Friday booth and kinda fell for the bicycle that they had on display. The Bike Friday All-Packa was really cool looking and obviously ready for adventure.

A foldable, purpose-built bikepacking bike makes a ton of sense. After talking to the guy in charge of design and production, Willie Hatfield as well as the President of Bike Friday, Hanna Scholz, I come to find out that we share a lot of values and opinions on the state of our industry. Let me tell you, they “get it”.

Bike Friday’s company mission is to “Be a company with a conscience, offering elegant transportation solutions for modern world problems. Passionately build high-quality, versatile bicycles, personalized to empower people, with freedom and convenience, to ride anywhere on a bike that fits them“.

Bike Friday All-Packa

Bike Friday says the All-Packa is the “world’s first bike with all the braze-ons that quick folds in 30 seconds for easy transport to the trailhead”. The All-Packa is built to run tires up to 2.4″ wide. It also sports some geo tweaks for better-loaded, off-road handling.

Custom-built in Eugene, Oregon, to your size and color choice, the All-Packa is ready for adventures and expeditions far and wide. A bikepacking bike that folds quickly would shine in so many different travel situations.

It would make making traveling by bus, train, or cab, easier than with a full-sized bike. You can fold it down to fit in the back of your overland vehicle, adventure van, or even on top of a pack raft while navigating a river.

With the 20×2.4″ tires, I’m sure the All-Packa is a great “dirt rambler” as well, ready for unpaved excursions. While it may not be the most shreddable bike for super techy trails, it is a bike that was designed to tramp around the local logging roads and flowy singletrack of Oregon.

Using 30 years of experience building customized travel bikes, the Bike Friday All-Packa is custom-built by hand to fit you perfectly, and optimized for the key needs of dirt and gravelbikepacking.

All-Packa Features

• Fits most bikepacking bags on the market with three-packs (3 bottle braze-ons) on the seat mast, fork legs, down tube, and four-pack on the top tube
• Clearance for 20 in x 2.4 in tires. (Widely available around the world.)
• Geometry optimized for off-road gear hauling with a longer front-center and lower center-of-gravity than other Bike Fridays
• The All-Packa is custom fit for riders from 4′ ft 6″ to 6′ ft 4″ in, with better gear-hauling options than any other bikepacking bike on the market.
• The frame folds in 30 seconds (32x24x12″)
• Packs into an airline checkable suitcase – The only bikepacking bike that also flies!
• Rider weight up to 220lbs with no gear weight limits
• E-assist compatible and upgradeable
• Built to your size, color, and component choices in Oregon by our team

All-Packa Retail

The complete bike price below is the base price. There are many options to make the All-Packa fit your specific needs. You can also contact their bike expert to help guide you through the ordering process here.

All-Packa complete: $2,495

Check out everything Bike Friday has to offer by hitting the link below.

BikeFriday.com

The post A Folding Bikepacking Bike? The Bike Friday All-Packa is Capable & Compact appeared first on Bikerumor.