Lightweight Cyclocross Bike: Ben's Redline

Ben sent in photos of his Redline cross bike:

"This is my size 60cm 17.6lb Redline Conquest Pro. The frame and fork are not super light but with a full dose of Dura Ace and Zipp 303 tubulars, it still ends up pretty light.

Conquest Pro frame/fork 60cm, 12cm stem
Dura Ace drivetrain with, XT BB, XTR pedals
46/39 front, 12-25 rear
Zipp 303 tubulars
Challenge Griffos 32
King headset
Specialized Sworks Carbon H.B.
EA70 carbon post
Old Deore front / Avid Tri-Align rear brakes

17.6lbs

I tried to like Eggbeater pedals because they are so light, but in the end, I switched back to SPD’s.

I built it from the ground up with the frame I got from Ross at Sun Country Bikes in TX. It has some touches I really like.

Ben's Bike Blog

Lightweight Cyclocross Bike: Josh's Rocklobster

Josh sent in photos of his Rocklobster 2 years ago. Now, he's just built it up with new components take a look.

Josh wrote:
"This thing is pretty through the roof. It's the Scandium frame that I've had for the last couple seasons with all Easton's top stuff and shimano. I have the new EC-90 SLX carbon cranks and the lightest carbon tubulars they make so I think the bike is right around 16 lbs. The cranks are really crazy looking.

Frame- Custom Rock Lobster Easton scandium
Fork- Easton EC-90x
Wheels- Easton EC-90 SLX carbon tubulars
Tires- Challenge Grifo 32
Cranks- Easton EC-90 SLX crankset
BB- Easton w/ceramic bearings
Headset- Chris King 1-1/8"
Bar- Easton EC-90 SLX Equipe
Stem- Easton EA-90 100mm
Seatpost- Easton EA-70
Pedals- Crank Brothers 4-ti
Brakes- Paul Neo-retro front, touring rear
Shifters- Shimano DA
Front Der.- Shimano DA
Rear Der.- Shimano Ultegra
Chain- Shimano Ultegra
Saddle- Fizik Airione

I'll go and weigh this thing on a digital scale later today. On a very primitive hanging scale it looks to be 16 lbs. It's freaky to pick it up.

Thanks man- josh"

The Litespeed cx bike is back on eBay with one bid at $1000.

Lightweight Cyclocross bike: Jesse's Raleigh

I love your site. I am going to flag it on my site (www.thebell-lap.com).Attached are some pics of my cross bike and it weights just under 18lbs.

Frame 57 Raleigh RX1.0

Fork EC90x

Seat SMP Strike

Seat post campy chorus

Wheels Ksyrium SLs

Tires Vittoria Semi Slick

Brakes Kore

Drive Train Campy Chorus

Crankset Truvative Alum

Pedals Egg Beater Chromoly

Hudz red or white with Fizik tape

Best regards,

Jesse G

eBay Game: Guess the Sell Price #3

This week its a 2007 Lemond Proprad disc equipped bike.

It already has two bids (by the same person) and is priced at $890.00

My guess is $1103.10

Go check out the auction and come back and make your prediction in the comments below.

eBay Game: Guess the Sell Price #2

Brooke was right with the "no sale" guess. No buyer at $1300, maybe we'll see it listed lower in the coming week?

eBay Game: Guess the Sell Price #2

Round 2 of Guess the Sell Price is for this really sweet Litespeed.

Production frames dont get much nicer than this. Plus you get an Alpha Q fork and Thomson seatpost too.

Check out the link, and then come back with your guess on the final sell price and list it in the comments section.

Starting price is $1300, I think it'll sell for $1412.09

Guess the Sale Price Conclusion

Gary was the big winner with a vote of $889.

The frame and fork sold for $1000 a few minutes ago----I was way off!

Stay tuned for the next round!

eBay Game: Guess the Sell Price

So, I'm starting a new little game on +1lap, called Guess the Sell Price. I'll post a cyclocross item that's listed on eBay and in the comments, you guess what the final selling price will be (not including shipping).

This week its a Steelman frame, fork, Chris King Headset and stem.

Notice the track dropouts, perfect for a singlespeed or fixed gear.

My guess is $512.37

Lightweight Cross Bike: Harris' Guerciotti

Total weight with pedals is 16.5 lbs. Here are the specs:

Guerciotti Full Carbon X Crow Frame XL
4ZA Python Carbon Fork
FSA OS99CSI 120mm Stem
FSA Energy 44 Bar
Selle Italia Flite Saddle
Sram Red Drive Train
Sram Red Double Tape Levers
Ultegra 10sp Cassette
Selcof carbon seatpost
TRP Euro X Brakes
Easton EC90 Aero Wheels
Tufo Flexus tires
Egg Beaters SL pedals

Lightweight and Custom: Joe's Desalvo

So here is my custom built Ti Single speed cyclocross bike. It started out as a raffle prize that Mike DeSalvo donated to the Southern Oregon Outlaw Cyclocross series in 2007. Upgraded the frame set to Ti (check out the sweet etching. not a single drop of paint or sticker on this machine!) and built it up as follows.

Frame: DeSalvo Ti Single speed with track dropouts (spaced to 135mm)
Fork: Alpha Q CX 20
Wheels: Chris King Single Speed laced to Mavic Open Pro 32hole
Tires: Kenda Small Block Eight (with spinskin tire liners)
Cranks: FSA SLK light with a 38t Chainring
Seat post: Thompson Masterpiece
Stem: Thompson X2 90mm
Handlebar: Salsa Bell lap
Grips: ESI silicone grips-(heavy but very effective in wet/muddy conditions)
Brake Levers: Cane Creek
Brakes: front-Paul Neo Retro rear-Paul Touring Canti
Saddle: Selle San Marco Aspide Ti
Pedals: Crank Bros 2Ti

Final Build weight with heavy grips, tire liners, & pedals etc......16.71lbs

Thanks,
Joe

Lightweight and Custom: Owen's Kelly

My new Kelly, comes in just under 18lbs.

Frame: 50cm Kelly Knobby X, 1-1/8" Head Tube, True Temper Platinum Ox

Wheels: Planet X Pro Carbon 50 Tubular, with American Classic Hubs, bladed spokes.

Tires: Challenge Grifos, 32mm

Drivetrain: Campagnolo Record QS 10spd Shifters/Campagnolo Record Rear Derailleur/ Campagnolo Record Front Derailleur/Campagnolo Record UT CT Crankset /Campagnolo Record Bottom Bracket

Brakes:
Front: Paul Neo Retro w/ SwissStop Yellow King
Rear: Paul Touring w/ SwissStop Yellow King

Seatpost: Campagnolo Record Carbon

Saddle: Selle San Marco Racing Replica (Ti)

Stem: Ritchey WCS

Bar: 3T Prima 199

Tape: Cinelli

Headset: Cane Creek 110

Extras: Deda Dog Fang chain watcher

Reader's Question: Cross Pedal interference?

Hey, love your blog. Hope an update is coming soon. I will send you a picture of my kelly when my new pedals are here.....on to that....

I have a pair of candy pedals, but the platform interferes with my sidi dragon's tred. What in your opinion is the best/lightest pedal choice for cross that has a low profile? I am also trying to keep cost in mind, considering the money tree is not in bloom. I was going to go with the eggbeater SL, but someone told me they were not all that great. Any suggestions? Thanks, Patrick

Patrick---thanks for the comment, and your question brought about the update, fancy that!

Anyway, I have always had issues with this myself as I have primarily used the Candy's as well. My solution is to grind/shave some of the tread where the Candy platform touches the shoe. Clip your shoe into your pedal at your house and see where the shoe is making contact with the pedal platform. Make a mental note, pull out the Dremel and grind away a little tread. This is what many people do.

Additionally, Crank Brothers supply cleat shims for this purpose as well. I sometimes have had to employ both methods as the shims dont do enough shimming for some shoes.

Thanks for the question, anybody else have any insights, put it in the comments!

UPDATE: Patrick let me know that the shims supplied by Crank Bros worked great!

Question from a reader

Question:
Greetings from Portugal!

I loved seeing photos from your excellent Colnago conversion. It looks great! but, how does it work in the mud? Have you tried it out?

I am asking you this because I have the opportunity to get an 80's stylo road frame, much like your Colnago. All I have to do is weld the canti bosses and possibly dimple the chainstays...
Is it worth it, or should I just get a Surly?

Keep up the good work, Pedro

Answer:
Well, the "worth it" question is one of personal taste. A Surly may be cheaper. But uniqueness is another concern. I love the pantographs on my Colnago and those you cant find on a Surly. Also, the fun and enjoyment I had in building the bike up and choosing the colors and restoring the bike couldnt be matched by buying a stock bike.

Not all bikes will have room for bigger tires. I know that bikes designed for 27" wheels such as 80's Nishiki's work well. They are the best converts in my experience.

I am actually writing an article for CX magazine on this very subject, so I will save much of my ammunition for that article. So if you arent a subscriber, do it now.

Cyclocross bike weights

Reader, Tim, sent us some weights for some new cross bikes and fork:

Redline 2009 Conquest Team scandium frame—54cm 1480g

The new 12K weave 2009 Redline Conquest Team carbon fork is 450g

And the new 2009 Lapierre full carbon FDJ ‘Cross frame—57cm---1247g

Thanks, Tim!