Driscoll piloted his Cannondale to a win at Cross Vegas this year. © Joe Sales
by Jamie Mack
Jamey Driscoll has been having a breakout year. With each race he seems to be stepping more out of the shadows of his Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com teammates Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers. Driscoll has pulled together some impressive results this year, standing on the podium in USGPs, and winning at Cross Vegas and Day 1 of the Cycle-Smart International. To reach each of those finish lines, Driscoll has relied on his Cannondale CAAD 9 Cyclocross to carry him to victory.
The Cannondale CAAD9 Cyclocross is an all-aluminum frame, mated to an all-carbon Easton fork. The frame design is the same as available to consumers and is also ridden by the rest of the Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com team.
The TRP CR-950s are traded out for Euro-X models for muddy courses. © Joe Sales
The frame uses traditional, roadie-style cable routing with the derailleur cables running below the down tube and under the bottom bracket shell. While not the optimal placement for the conditions of cross, Driscoll counteracts the placement by using Gore sealed cables. The sealed system protects the cables from the elements, maintaining better shifting and braking in the event the weather is what we hope for in cross.At the rare moment where Driscoll needs to slow down, he relies on brakes from team sponsor TRP. Driscoll prefers the stopping power of the CR-950s for drier courses. But when conditions get sloppy, he trades the power for mud clearance and mounts up TRP Euro-X stoppers. “I am running the 950s now because they have more power, but I will switch to the EuroX for europe where mud clearance is a bigger factor,” says Driscoll. One of the benefits of sponsorship is that Driscoll has been seen running custom-painted TRP’s in kit-matching green.
Driscoll uses TRP's CR-950s for drier conditions because of their stopping power. © CXM
The drivetrain is SRAM’s top-level Red, including the cranks mated to a BB30 bottom bracket. Driscoll rolls on ZIPP 303 Cyclocross carbon wheels mated to the tires to best suit the course at hand. One of the benefits of being sponsored by a leading ‘cross specific bike retailer is flexibility. When CXM saw Driscoll’s C-Dale it was equipped with Dugast Typhoons, but Driscoll likely has access to other high-end treads to better fit other courses.
The contact points on Driscoll’s bike, like many cyclists, are very much about choice and personal comfort. The cockpit is composed of parts from long-time component manufacturer Control Tech. Control Tech supplies the bars and stem up front and a zero setback seatpost in the back. The saddle is the popular fi’zi:k Aliante and the pedals are proven Shimano XTR models, but he was running the Shimano 959 earl in the season.
Frame: Cannondale CAAD 9 Cyclocross
Fork: Easton EC90X
Headset: Cane Creek
Stem: Control Tech
Handlebars: Control Tech
Front brake: TRP CR-950 or EuroX Carbon, depending on conditions
Rear brake: TRP CR-950 or EuroX Carbon, depending on conditions
Brake levers: SRAM Red
Front derailleur: SRAM
Rear derailleur: SRAM Red
Shift levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap
Cassette: SRAM
Chain: SRAM
Crankset: SRAM Red
Bottom bracket: SRAM Red
Pedals: Shimano 959 or XTR
Wheelset: ZIPP 303 Cyclocross
Front tire: Dugast Typhoon
Rear tire: Dugast Typhoon
Saddle: fi’zi:k Aliante
Seat post: Control Tech
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