Sea Otter 2012: Cyclocross and some road… that kind of thing.

Let’s start off with certainly the first look we’ve had at Easton’s new disc ‘cross fork. We’re not sure if it’s fully officially in production, but it looks HUGE!

And now here’s a look at Felt’s prototype full carbon disc cyclocross bike that we found lurking round the back of the booth. No comments about the saddle height or classy pedals as it was probably used for riding to get a burrito or something.

 

TRP was showing off its prototype Shimano DI2 and hydraulic conversion ready for the future… It’s still a ways off, but it’s getting there and it’s certainly more than we’ve seen from Shimano. There’s a clunky looking up/down pair of buttons on the bottom of the brake lever and the hydraulic master cylinder is still a very visible square shape under the wide rubber hood. Should be ready in time for ‘cross season though and then we’ll see how the pickup in the pro ranks is. We expect to see lots in our local Vet 40 class as the lawyers and doctors all try to buy vital seconds…

 

Turner Cyclosys – David Turner’s making some ‘cross bikes for this season. Limited to 25, you won’t see many around. Traditional cantilever style too.

 

 

Grammo bikes come through Pearl Distribution in the UK and it makes some good and bold looking road bikes. This is its full carbon, full disc cyclocross bike. It’ll come as a frame/fork combo and as two full bikes. An Apex level and a full-on Red probably. The frame is also available with a press-fit eccentric option to allow it to convert to single speed. The full Apex version is going to be about $1800 all in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’ll be more on Praxis Works in a later story, but for now, know that they’re the only other company (other than Shimano) that forges its own chainrings. This is its new Dura Ace chainring and bolt set that allows your to bolt on its chainrings but still maintain the svelte look of the Dura Ace cranks. It also offers its ‘holy grail’ ratio of 52 x 36T…

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Egger is (and always has been) Specialized’s Creative Director. He never stops making crazy stuff – he’s also a demon fast rider. Even so, he built up this Specialized time trial bike as a regular road bike so that he could ‘keep up with the lunchtime ride’. The lunchtime ride at Spesh is F.A.S.T. More on this bike later too… Robert’s been busy…

 

 

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