The 2012 Redline Conquest Team. © Tim Westmore / Cyclocross Magazine
photos by Tim Westmore
The cycling world has once again descended on the town of Monterey, California for the traditional season opener, at least for those road and MTB racers. But never fear dedicated cyclocross fans, as the crew from Cyclocross Magazine is on the ground to bring you previews of the new product that is in store for our upcoming season.
What caught our eye today? Three new carbon cyclocross bikes caught our eye today: the Redline Conquest Team and Pro, the Felt F2x and the Norco Threshold. All three race bikes were unveiled today at the 2011 Sea Otter Classic. There are some similarities among the new offerings: the trend to BB30 bottom brackets and tapered head tubes is here to stay, and all three have sculpted bottom bracket junctions to avoid the mud build-up shelves from years past. Internal cable routing and disc brake options are also becoming popular.
Redline Brings Carbon to the Conquest Team and Conquest Pro
The Team and Pro models in the Conquest line both feature the same frame, using different builds to appeal to riders at different price points. At 1,200 grams for the frame (58cm!) and 480g for the fork cut for a 58 cm frame, the Redline shaves about a half pound from the previous aluminum Team frames, and the price for the Pro — $2,599 for a complete full-carbon bike with Rival and Apex levers — will leave some cash left over for race wheels. Some highlights of the new carbon Conquest cyclocross frame and fork include:
42.5 cm chainstays (.5 cm shorter than the previous Team frame)
70mm BB drop
130mm rear spacing
Tapered steerer flares to 1.5″
rear disc brake mounts
Internal cable routing (full internal housing for the rear brake)
BB bearings fully enclosed in the frame by an aluminum sleeve to protect them from moisture
Design allows for water drainage and good mud clearance
Upward-swooping chainstays
Sculpted BB junction for mud clearance
Slightly-curved front fork
Builds
Conquest Team — $3499
SRAM Force
Easton EA50 wheels/Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires
TRP Euro-x Brakes
FSA Energy Crankset
Ritchey WCS Cockpit, WCS carbon seatpost
Conquest Pro — $2599
SRAM Apex Levers/Rival Drivetrain
Kore Brakes
Mavic Aksium Race Wheels, Schwalbe Racing Ralphs
FSA Gossamer Crankset
Felt Goes Carbon with Three Models, Tests Hydraulic Discs
Ryan Trebon will be on Felt for the upcoming season. © Tim Westmore / Cyclocross Magazine
Felt has three new complete bikes for this season, the F2x, F3x and F4x. With Ryan Trebon racing on Felt bikes this season, the Dura-Ace Di2-equipped F2x will be his weapon of choice. It retails for $6,500 with Fulcrum tubeless wheels with Vittoria XG TNT tubeless ready tires and an aluminum FSA Energy crankset. The crew from Felt also showed off a full-on race bike including the newest from TRP, the Parabox Hydraulic Brake system, but it may just be a sign of things to come as the bike might not be consumer ready for this season.
Highlights of the new Felt carbon cyclocross frame:
Approx. 1,050g for a 55cm frame
Removable cable stops and guides for the use of Di2
Tapered steerer flares to 1.5″
BB30
130mm rear spacing for the F2x, F3x, F4x
135mm rear spacing for the disc-model, with a 3t disc-only fork
Sculpted BB junction for mud clearance
Norco: Canadian Carbon with Options
2012 Norco Threshold carbon cyclocross bike. © Tim Westmore / Cyclocross Magazine
The Norco Threshold, which we’re told will be available this summer, is a new offering from the Canadian manufacturer. Not an overly-common name in the US, or in ’cross, really, Norco is a respected name with over 40 years of building everything from high-end downhill bikes to the road rides of the H&R Block pro road team. What grabbed our eye about the Threshold was the sculpted tubes of the all-carbon frame, and what kept our attention was the subtle touches that create a very versatile frame. How about fender mounts? Or removable drop-outs that allow for a switch from geared to singlespeed? And, since you can remove the dropouts, well, belt-drive anyone?
All carbon, 1320g for frame
Three complete bike builds will be available, price and specs to be determined
Tapered steerer, 1.5″ lower
Internal cable routing
Stainless steel chainstay guard
Removable dropouts, comes with vertical and rear facing, bolted on with common chainring bolts, allows for belt drive
BB30
Subtle fender mounts
Sculpted BB junction for mud clearance
43cm chainstays
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