Interbike 2014 is upon us, and you can be sure we’ll have plenty of photos and details on the latest cyclocross, gravel and adventure bikes and gear over the next few weeks. But today we’ve got a few early looks at just-released cyclocross items before that masses check them out. First up is the brand new, completely redesigned 2015 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie cyclocross frame.
The FTB frame lost over 300g in the redesign. 2015 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie Cyclocross Frameset. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie cyclocross frame is all-new for 2015, and now the frame is fully dedicated to disc brakes—no disc brake mounts that look like an afterthought as we saw on a previous model.
Back in May, we got an early peek at the upcoming frame, but now we’re building up a Full Tilt Boogie review bike, and here are Cyclocross Magazine’s photos of the just-arrived frame.
Edwin Bull and the team at Van Dessel went all-out on the redesign, and there are a number of noticeable changes from the previous model. Most obvious to the observer is the lack of canti posts. Post-mount disc brake mounts are present, front and rear, without the option of rim brakes.
Pick up the frame and you’ll notice an even more significant change—the frame went on a crash diet. While the previous Full Tilt Boogie reportedly tipped the scales at a bit over 1300 grams, our 2015 56cm FTB frame weighs just 1020 grams. That alone should make the weight gain that comes with disc brakes negligible for someone upgrading from a canti FTB frameset.
The frame also features a nicely sculpted chainstay/bottom bracket junction that lacks any horizontal shelf to collect mud.
No mud shelf here. 2015 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie Cyclocross Frameset. © Cyclocross Magazine
Graphics have been updated as well, and are less Belgian and more neutral in color, to match with a greater variety of kits. Need to check if your glasses or helmet are on straight? Take a peek in the reflective graphics before you cross the line with your hands up.
Metallic logos on the 2015 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie Cyclocross Frameset. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Van Dessel disc cyclocross fork provides plenty of clearance for fat tires (think 40c gravel tires), and tips our scale at exactly 500g uncut. We haven’t ridden it yet, but it looks quite stiff.
Speaking of stiff, the biggest change up front is the move to a thru axle on the front fork. Dive into a corner and your tracking should be predictable if the thru axle does its job.
Thru axle front fork – 2015 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie Cyclocross Frameset. © Cyclocross Magazine
Routing of brake lines or cables is fully internal, including inside the left fork leg for the front disc brake cable or hydraulic line. The rear derailleur cable exits the right chainstay.
At the Nittany Lion Cyclocross race weekend, Van Dessel-sponsored rider Laura Van Gilder was riding an US-made Aloominator, and reportedly prefers aluminum, but you can expect company founder Edwin Bull and most of his team’s sponsored racers make the jump to the Full Tilt Boogie frames shortly.
The frameset will retail for $1799 MSRP, while complete builds range from value-oriented $2999 (SRAM Rival / Mechanical) to a whopping $9999 for a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 / R785 hydraulic disc brake model.
Bull and team have been so focused on getting the frames and bikes ready for cyclocross season that their website has taken a back seat. But when it’s up, more info can be found at: www.vandesselsports.com
