The Radavist

Photos by Dan Chabanov

I don’t know why, I but I really love these photos that Dan shot at Richard Sach’s shop. I also love that Team RS works on their own bikes, the night before a weekend of racing to build team dynamic.

See more at Dan’s Flickr.

Keeping up with current demand, State Bicycle Co has launched a new off-road division, including a fatbike and singlspeed cross bike:

“Say hello to the newest and most tenacious members of the State Bicycle Co. family: The Off-Road Division. This premiere line of Cyclo-Cross Bicycles and Fat Bikes were consciously built to take you as far & wide as your spirit of adventure can go.

We took our Team Riders out to some of the most singular landforms of the West Coast and Southwest, Cyclo-Cross and Fat Bikes in tow, and sent them barreling into terrain that gave us genuine pause. Three states, eight locales, more than a few attempted daredevil stunts, and a broken arm later, we realized something: it doesn’t get much better than adventuring through the unbeaten path with your friends.”

More information to come from State.

Leave your city with me and let’s travel to Valkenburg for the first race of the UCI World Cup and episode three of CX Hairs‘ excellent SVENNESS series!

For 2015, Ritte is doing something a little different with their Crossberg this year with a revamped geometry and yes, disc brakes. All wrapped up in a very Ritte paint job, ready to rip.

Check out more specs and photos below and see more at Ritte.

For those looking for a disc brake-equipped bike that won’t break the bank but will brake in all conditions, Kona’s got something new in their 2015 offerings. The Esatto DDL is their new “all road” bike. Spec’d to impress with a Shimano 11-speed drivetrain, Mavic Aksium Disc One wheels, TRP calipers and Continental Grand Sport Race 28c tires.

See more at Kona!

Photos by Bob Woods

Shawn from King Kog was over in Japan, visiting the home of Kinfolk frames. After visiting Kusaka San, the builder of Kinfolk, he was joined by the Kinfolk Japan team to partake in a cross race. Bob Woods shot some photos of this race, which you can see at his Flickr.

Looks like a fun race!

This one’s a truly unique ride. PAUL cantis, Rene Herse cranks, vintage Dura Ace and a paint job that will only look better with dirt, mud and road dust caked into the nooks and crannies. Jonathan’s dirt road bike is a dream build!

See more at the Bishop Flickr. Chris, this is a fine bicycle!

God, I’d love to race on courses like this!!

“The first World Cup Cyclocross race also meant the first time this year the pro women were broadcast, and that means we can finally premiere the first episode of LIKEAVOS, season two. The World Cup opener took place at Valkenburg in the Netherlands. The course is a brutal one. As you’ll see it rides more like a mountainbike race than a cyclocross race, with many elevation changes and off-camber sections. For this episode we concentrate on a tricky off-camber section, the run-up and descending skills. We also watch Katie Compton deal with adversity and Helen Wyman show great form.”

CX Hairs is killing it.

Look, I don’t buy into the whole gravel grinding marketing behind bigger tires, but I do like a big, fat tire on a cross bike for trail shredability. So far I’ve ridden the Nano, the Knard and now, I’ve got my sights on the Clement X’Plor MSO, a tire that officially launched last year, but this is the first I’m seeing it.

See more at Clement, or at your local shop. Anyone ride these tires yet?

Photo by Eloy Anzola

Well, you should! Head over to Peloton Magazine now to check out Dan’s US Pro CX circuit reportage.

Cell Bikes is an Australian company who offer up a rather affordable complete cross bike and they made a video showcasing a race from their last season… all I can think is damn, I wish our courses had a pump track in them!

It takes a bit of convincing for most people, but after you go with a fatter tire on your cross bike, you rarely will want to go back. Since riding the Nano for around 6 months, I’ve fallen in love with the extra cushion provided by a 40c tire and while I love the Nano, I really wanted to give the Surly Knard 41c a go. If, for any other reason than the allure of a smidge in additional width.

Trails, sure! But racing? For some reason, people are apprehensive about racing a 40+c tire – USAC allows it, so why not? My guess is, that age old myth that a “bigger tire is slower”… Oh but the contrary, with the right PSI, you’ll have the upper hand on just about any course.

I spent the weekend racing on my new Knards and have some thoughts below…

This video is from opening weekend here in Texas, at the Six-Shooter. In years past, it’s been a lot of fun. This year, I was out of town at a wedding, so I missed out. There’s lots of mayhem at the barriers in this one. Not to mention Tristan’s barrier beef as the last clip…

… has something for everyone. Track bikes, singlespeed, commuter, cross, road. You name it. Check out more at Issuu and at Bombtrack.