The Future of Cyclocross is Disc?

After spending an entire summer longing for cyclocross season to come, I'm finally getting close.  This has been an interesting year too, with all of the new technology coming and the UCI now allowing disc wheels.

But this got me thinking, what's really the benefit of discs?  They aren't light, in fact they weigh quite a bit more.  I'd guess a disc wheel could resist sand buildup that a shallow rim could accumulate, but does that make up for the weight?

Let's get past the weight issue and move on to durability.  If a disc wheel can get a hole punched into it in a wheel bag, how is it supposed to stand up to a mass-start race where crashes are inevitable?  This one already has a hole in it, and the season hasn't even started!

And what's this about improved braking?  I don't claim to be a plastics expert, but this braking seems like it'll be the same as any other carbon wheel.  I've heard claims of better braking in adverse conditions, but I'm just not buying.

This particular disc does have dimples, but aerodynamics don't really matter in cyclocross.  The braking isn't going to be better on a disc wheel than any other carbon wheel.  Disc wheels are heavy.

After much thought I think I'm going to skip disc wheels for cyclocross.  I don't get all of the hype....

Welcome to Lumberjack 100!

The drive is done, the training is in the books, my bike is ready, now it's time to find out if my legs can make it. 

I've just returned from about 15 miles of riding on the course and it's exactly as I remember it.  Plenty of going up, a ton of sand, ferns galore, and a lot of fun.  This is my kind of trail riding, very little fear of smacking into a huge rock and a lot of speed.  The trail is very buffed out for the most part with the sand smoothing it out, but it's easy to find yourself drifting off the trail if you aren't paying attention.  Much like a cyclocross race, sand can push you around, and if you work too hard against it you'll end up on the ground.

For me, I've found a really smooth tread has made the trail feel fast and the smooth tread doesn't dig into sand.  If you stay light on the bike it glides through the sand and doesn't push you too much.

Enjoy these couple of photos, I wish I could have talked myself into stopping to take more.  The vast majority of the course looks just like this, smooth and fast.

Wish me luck tomorrow as I come back to this race.  Last year I was coming off of a nasty cold and the climbing got to me.  This year I am coming back to show myself I can do this.

I also want to wish all of my comrades out there the best of luck tomorrow.  Ride hard, have fun, and I'll see you at the finish.

New Build: ENVE 1.65 to PowerTap SL+ Track Wheel

Here's an "unusual" build for us, we don't build a ton of legit track racing wheels.  Lots of road wheels, lots of fixed-gear wheels, plenty of mountain wheels.  But, when asked to lace a PowerTap SL+ to an ENVE rim I wasn't about to pass on it.  We were asked to make this wheel really stiff, and stiff it is.

1.65 ENVE rim is light and stiff.  The internal nipples sway some people, but they build very nicely.  And a well-built wheel will last a long time on the track (or road).

PowerTap SL+ makes power relatively affordable for track racers.  Without this option, you'd need an SRM to get power on the track.

Made here in the good ole US of A.  I really appreciate this fact, much like Zipp, that I am supporting a US company when I can.

Brake track is very nice, though on a track bike that won't matter.

Complete rear wheel with bolts came in at 1,020g, very respectable for a 28h rear wheel with a PowerTap.  2x lacing and high spoke tension will make for a killer track wheel.

2013 Ridley Cyclocross

It seems strange to be looking forward to fall of 2012 in the middle of February.  And with this mild winter we've had, you'd think summer would be the only thing on my mind.

After spending the weekend at Frostbike, though, Ridley has firmly placed themselves at the forefront of my cyclocross-based mindset.  Check out a brief overview of the models they have coming to Iron Cycles around July.

DISC!  Yes, disc.  They are coming.  And we'll have them.