Craig Richey knows cyclocross. He's raced in Europe, is in charge of marketing at Easton and has written articles for Cyclocross Magazine in the past, including one on how to get sponsored, which was featured in issue 29, as well as on many other topics.
We're taking a look here at Richey's Louis Garneau Steeple XC cyclocross bike, which he raced at the 2016 Sea Otter cyclocross race. The Garneau Steeple XC was first previewed at Interbike two years ago, and we had a chance to review the bike last year and gave you a look at it on-line and in print issue 29.
Craig Richey's Easton-equipped Louis Garneau Steeple XC cyclocross bike. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Steeple XC is also one of the few bikes we’ve actually had a small role in developing through our feedback on a prototype from Southern California’s Bailey Bikes. We wanted the chainstay bridge removed to offer superior mud or fat tire clearance, and that feature came to pass.
Now well into production, Louis Garneau and Alan both offer the Steeple XC frame from the same mold, albeit under their own brand and model names.
For Richey's race bike he perhaps obviously runs a very Easton affair, with each cockpit component—stem, bar and seatpost—coming from his employer. Interestingly, Richey also went tubeless, eschewing the typical use of tubulars, opting for Easton's EC90 XC mountain bike wheelest wrapped in Schwalbe's X-One Tubeless Easy rubber.
Craig Richey ran tubeless with Easton's EC90 XC carbon mountain bike wheels. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
While the drivetrain duties were handled by SRAM's Force 1 shifting and hydraulic disc braking, perhaps the most notable component on Richey's bike was his choice of crank. What we can tell, as there's yet no official word on this particular component, is that it’s carbon and a Direct Mount single ring.
The Easton-branded carbon, direct mount mystery crank on Richey's Garneau Steeple XC cyclocross bike. No specific, offical details from Easton on this crankset yet. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
Obviously branded Easton, we surmise, since Easton’s sister company is Race Face, that the crank seen on Richey's bike shares the same interface as Race Face offerings. Easton has made carbon cranksets in the past, when it was part of the same ownership as Giro, Bell and Blackburn. We'll have to await official word on the crank from Easton.
Craig Richey has raced in Europe and in the US at the professional level, but holds down a full-time position leading marketing for Easton. © Cyclocross Magazine
Richey finished 7th in the Sea Otter cyclocross race, 1:18 off of Tobin Ortenblad's winning time. Within minutes of his finish, he was back at the Easton booth, all cleaned up, talking shop with everyone that came by.
Take a look at the complete specs from Richey's bike, as well as slideshow of images, below.
If you missed any of our other 2016 Sea Otter Classic coverage so far, close the gap here.
Craig Richey's Easton-Equipped Garneau Steeple XC Cyclocross Bike Spec Highlights
Frame: Garneau Steeple XC carbon
Fork: Easton EC90 XD
Stem: Easton EC90 SL
Handlebar: Easton EC90 SLX
Seatpost: Easton EC90 Zero
Saddle: SDG Falcon Ti
Brake/shift levers: SRAM Force 1
Front derailleur: N/A
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Force 1
Pedals: Crank Brothers Candy 11
Wheels: Easton EX90 XC
Tires: Schwalbe X-One tubeless
More info: louisgarneau.com and eastoncycling.com
Craig Richey has raced in Europe and in the US at the professional level, but holds down a full-time position leading marketing for Easton. © Cyclocross Magazine
