Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. brought an intricately-detailed and painted, brazed steel cyclocross bike to NAHBS back in 2012 and walked away tied for first place with the Moots’ Psychlo-X RSL in the Best Cyclocross bike category. In his first three years, Six-Eleven’s Aaron Dykstra has won three awards, beginning with the Rookie of the Year in 2010, Best Track Frame in 2011, and Best Cyclocross Bike in 2012. Will Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. make it four for four in 2013?
If so, it will either be in the Best Mountain Bike or Best Theme Bike categories, as Dykstra hopes to conquer other categories this year. However, he certainly captured our attention again with the bright yellow S&S Coupled steel cyclocross bike built for Jon Woodroof, the author behind the TwoToneATL “dirty south” cycling blog.
The yellow bike with pink and blue accents, painted by Hill Clarke, is in stark contrast to Six Eleven’s subdued dotted cream-colored cyclocross bike from 2012, but is just as detailed and stunning.
Six Eleven’s 2013 NAHBS S&S Coupled cyclocross bike for Jon Woodroof. © Lance Barry / Cyclocross Magazine
The Roanoke, Virginia-based Dykstra builds his frames using fillet brazing and lugs, and named his company after the famous steam locomotive. Indeed, many of his bike have elements that reflect that same yearning for yesteryear.
S&S Couples and cable couplers will help the new owner travel the world with his new 611 brazed steel cyclocross bike. © Lance Barry / Cyclocross Magazine
The TwoToneATL cyclocross bike was no exception, and was dressed with an interesting parts group that included both modern and pseudo-retro components, with Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes, Velocity A23 disc wheels, Chris King hubs, Continental Speed cyclocross tires, and a Shimano CX70 drivetrain with Retroshift’s brake/shift levers (reviewed last fall). A Thomson seatpost and a Brooks-style retro leather saddle kept the modern yet retro feel.
Dykstra built this one for disc brakes, and by opting to go with an ENVE carbon CX disc fork, needed to go with an oversized, 44m head tube to accommodate the 1.5″ lower bearing cups — quite a massive head tube for a steel bike.
Can’t get enough of the hand-built artisan cyclocross frames? Stay tuned to our NAHBS 2013 page for more drool-worthy cyclocross bikes and parts over the next week.
Six Eleven Bicycle Co.’s 2013 NAHBS Cyclocross Bike Photo Gallery:
