Raleigh has released its 2013 SSCXWC Limited Edition steel singlespeed-compatible frameset.
The zany, crazy excuse for a party and a few tattoos called the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships (SSCXWC), founded by Portland’s Dani Dance, is getting ready for its annual return. This year, for the first time, it’s straying from the wrong coast and moving far east to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia.
And just as with past events, Raleigh Bicycles has teamed up with the promoters to release a new, limited-edition SSCXWC frameset. We first saw this special edition in 2009 with the 2010 white and brown Raleigh SSCXWC aluminum singlespeed-specific framesets, and then a year later with the svelte, singlespeed version of the carbon RXC frameset that also came in the team Hodola colors.
After aluminum and carbon SSCXWC frameset versions, Raleigh opted for a steel version this year, entirely appropriate for an event held in the state that was considered “the steel capital of the world” (despite the city’s NFL team’s name, not only Pittsburgh made steel).
The frame adopts what appears to be Raleigh’s updated RX 1.0 and RX 2.0 (see our in-depth review of the RX 2.0 in Issue 22) geometry that features lower bottom brackets than the carbon RXC bikes piloted by the Raleigh Clement team, but borrows Raleigh’s Tamland gravel bike’s rear vertical, disc-brake compatible dropouts. (See the Raleigh Tamland gravel bike first unveiled by Cyclocross Magazine at Dealer Camp).
Vertical dropouts with a derailleur hanger? That may seem blasphemous to singlespeed purists, and we originally were told it was just an image error, but the SSCXWC Philly team says the derailleur hanger has function beyond giving an out to the wishy washy. A simple hacksaw blade turns the hanger into a handy bottle opener, for that, you know, sparkling water bottle, since nobody encourages drinking and singlespeeding, especially this Raleigh-sponsored team.
Regarding the actual frame, it’s made from Reynolds 525 Chromoly steel, has a limited-edition paint job, comes in five sizes, and retails for $667 (better than the evil $666 says the SSCXWC team). The frameset comes with a FSA catridge bearing headset and an eccentric PF30 bottom bracket that allows you to adjust chain tension with the vertical dropouts. (Just keep the eccentric bottom bracket in mind if you’re Mr. mm and care about your exact chainstay length and seat angle.)
We first spotted images of the frame at the Philly Bike Expo, along with some other cyclocross-related goodies.
2013 SSCXWC Philly Frameset and Race Info:
