Kinesis CXRACE

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Kinesis has been showing off its new ‘cross frame this week: the CXRACE (all-caps makes you faster, apparently).

So fast it's already dropped its bar tape…
Some bikes look fast standing still – and this is one of them.

It’s unashamedly a race bike, and a race bike only – there are no bottle bosses, mudguard or rack eyelets (they’ll only slow you down), and top and downtube profiles are optimised for ease of handling.
Nary a boss, bolt or eyelet to be seen.
Nary a boss, bolt or eyelet to be seen.

This single-mindedness doesn’t quite extend across the whole bike, though – because you do get options when it comes to the brakes… It’s equipped with something Kinesis calls ‘Canticonnect’: bolt-on mounts which allows you to run canti brakes on the otherwise disc-specific frame. There are disc and canti versions of the new matching CXRACE fork available, too, so if you’re considering a new bike but aren’t quite ready to make the hop to discs yet, you could run with cantis ’til you’re ready to commit.
Cantis welcome.
Cantis welcome.

Tasty carbon disc fork.
Tasty carbon disc fork.

The frame is designed to take advantage of Shimano’s Flat Mount hydraulic calipers and sets the caliper very neatly inside and inboard of the seatstay/chainstay junction, though it will accommodate regular post-mount brakes with an adapter.
Tubtastic.
Tubtastic.

kinesis7
UK importer Upgrade also brings in Praxis, which is handy, as its Turn crank is perfect for single-ring race duties.

Kinesis claims the frame is ready for electronic groupsets, though it’s only the downtube run which features ported internal routing – there are zip-tie mounts on the top of the top tube and the underside of the right-hand seatstay for cables, while the rear hose runs underneath the chainstay. Chainstays are unbridged for maximum mud clearance and have been designed round UCI-regulation 33mm tubs so there should be plenty of room in there for the worst grot-fest you can throw it at.
The CXRACE frame will retail at £549.99, is available in 51, 54, 55.5, 57 and 60cm sizes, and should be landing in time for the start of the UK ‘cross season in September.
kinesisbikes.co.uk

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