Raleigh RXC Pro of Gabby Day. © Cyclocross Magazine
With Gabby Day stateside for the start of her normally European-based season, it seemed like a perfect chance to get an up-close and personal look at her new Raleigh RXC Pro Carbon bikes with Ritchey and SRAM Red componentry. Since we’re the same size, it’s been a huge temptation for me to sneak a “test ride,” after seeing the new carbon Raleigh frames with their stealth matte black appeal. Day is stylish on her own, and the new bikes perfectly compliment to her new team, The Chainstay and RENNER Clothing Team. She’s racing on the East Coast for the next month, from Baltimore to Vermont, and spent some time this week talking with me about her race plans, thoughts on the US, and thoughts on being a woman in racing.
Day has only had the bike for a week and it’s been too rainy to get in much dirt time, so she’s been getting used to the bike by riding on the road. However, she did get a chance to test it in some water-soaked muddy fields yesterday and says, “From the one off-road ride I’ve done so far, it felt really good. I’m very excited to have my first race in America on it, since it is, after all, Raleigh USA.” The bike is so new that she didn’t even have time to put the new wheels on before heading to the US, so her new Cole wheelset will see use strictly overseas this season.
The Raleigh RXC Pro is a carbon frame, specifically direct connect carbon with a BB30 bottom bracket with an integrated headtube. It’s matte black, and the most noteworthy part of the overall appearance is the subtlety of Raleigh’s sticker positioning. The Raleigh logo is only visible on the bottom of the downtube and in small lettering in other less noticeable places, giving the bike a (as Day puts it) “stealthy” appearance. It’s the same bike that Raleigh offered as part of the prize package at Midsummer Night’s Cross this past July.
Day uses SRAM Red components, from shifters to cranksets, which are supplied by her team. On the front, Day runs a 46/38 chainrings and and on the back, her rear cog runs from 12 to 27. Additionally, Day loves her Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes, saying that they are “great to set up and adjust. They seem to work really great.” The handlebars are Ritchey WCS Road Logic 2, and Day says she prefers her aluminum bars to the carbon fiber alternative. Her seatpost is also Ritchey WCS, though unlike her Ritchey WCS Carbon matrix 4-Axis stem, it is not carbon fiber.
The Enve fork (note the logo design!) is standard with the Raleigh frame. © Cyclocross Magazine
Frame: Raleigh RXC Pro Carbon
Fork: Enve Carbon Monocoque
Stem: Ritchey WCS Carbon Matrix 4-Axis
Handlebars: Ritchey WCS Road Logic 2
Front brake: Avid Shorty Ultimate
Rear brake: Avid Shorty Ultimate
Shift/Brake levers: SRAM Red
Front derailleur: SRAM Red
Rear derailleur: SRAM Red
Cassette: SRAM Red
Crankset: SRAM Red
Bottom bracket: BB30
Pedals: Crank Bros Eggbeaters 1
Wheelset: Cole (not pictured)
Front tire: Challenge Grifo typically, Limus for muddy conditions, Excess for fast conditions or Fango for snowy conditions
Rear tire: Challenge Grifo typically, Limus for muddy conditions, Excess for fast conditions or Fango for snowy conditions
Saddle: Ritchey WCS Racing Lady
Seat post: Ritchey WCS
Chain Catcher: K-Edge ( personalised with my own logo )
Brake & Gear Cables: Fibrax Pro-Formance Fully Sealed
For a look at Gabby’s bike, check the gallery below:
