There was no shortage of purpose-built machines at the 2016 Lost & Found. We’ve taken a look at the Robin Farina’s winning rig as well as men’s race winner Carl Decker’s bike. We also spotted Barry Wicks on an interesting ride, as well as a unique French commuter turned gravel grinder.
We also saw this two-decade old Soulcraft owned by Yuba Bikes’ Greg Williams who is also a volunteer with the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, who put on the Lost & Found as well as the other races in the Triple Crown race series.
The Jand frame bag is a useful tool for events like the Lost & Found. ©️ Clifford Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
Though he did not ‘race’ the event, the Soulcraft was rejunvinated from its original singlespeed setup to what we see here as an up-to-date 1 x 11-speed gravel grinding machine, complete with a Gravity Dropper Turbo dropper post with a remote.
Williams is the bike’s original owner and he told Cyclocross Magazine that the Soulcraft has taken him through many journeys over the past 20 years. And the bike’s current setup is arguably exactly what’s needed for the terrain seen at the Lost & Found. Its steel frame was originally set up with cantilevers and then V-brakes with rear-facing dropouts for its original single speed intentions, though a derailleur hanger was included for future versatility. The rear disc tabs were added and now hold a purple anodized Paul Klamper mechanical disc caliper.
Originally set up with cantilever bosses, Williams had disc brake tabs added. ©️ Clifford Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
For William’s rebuild of the 26er steel framed bike, he used Lost & Found sponsor Paul Components’ Box Car stem for the Salsa Cowchipper drop bar. A single Paul Cross Lever inline brake lever, also purple, is on the right side to more comfortably drag the aforementioned Paul Klamper rear brake on long bumpy descents. The front end is suspended by the venerable Fox RLC F80, also with a Paul Klamper to stop the 180mm rotor.
Tried and true WTB Wolverine 26 X 2.2 tires wrapped Williams’ WTB Laser Disc rims, the rear laced to a DT Swiss hub and the front to a WTB Laserdisc hub. The rear hub held a 10-42 SRAM cassette shifted by the company’s XO1 rear derailleur using Force double tap road levers. One of the most retro parts left on the bike was William’s old WTB SST 98 saddle.
For added conveience and versatility for the day’s ride, Williams used a Jandd FFP frame pack.
More info: soulcraftbikes.com
Soulcraft 26″ Suspended Gravel Bike Specification Highlights
Frame: Soulcraft steel
Fork: Fox RLC F80
Shifters: SRAM Force CX 1
Crankset: SRAM XO, 40 tooth X-Sync ring
Rear derailleur: SRAM XO
Front derailleur: n/a
Brakes: Paul Components Klamper
Cockpit: Paul Components Boxcar stem, Salsa Cowchipper bar
Seatpost: Gravity Dropper Turbo
Saddle: WTB SST 98
Wheels: WTB Laser Disc rims, front WTB Laser disc hub, rear DT Swiss, XD driver
Tires: WTB Wolverine 26 X 2.2”
Soulcraft 26″ Suspended Gravel Bike Slideshow
Soulcraft 26″ wheeled suspended gravel bike. 2016 Lost & Found. ©️ Clifford Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
