We've been remiss in getting you this 2016 Cyclocross National Championship bike. Nicole Mertz raced the Elite Women's race at Nationals finishing 19th. Before that she won the Women's Singlespeed title, winning aboard a Trek Boone 9, profiled here.
Nicole Mertz's Trek Boone title-winning singlespeed. Singlespeed Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine
Mertz's singlespeed is built around Trek's Boone 9 frameset. The 600 Series OCLV carbon frame is designed in the US and built overseas. The frameset features a bevy of Trek's design features including their E2 tapered headtube, BB90 bottom bracket shell and of course the IsoSpeed decoupler, designed to add compliance to the bike's back end.
Mertz's winning drivetrain was a SRAM x-sync 38 tooth ring with SRAM Force crankarms and a 19 tooth cog on the rear hub. Braking duties were handles by TRP's RevoX cantilevers paired with SRAM Red 10 speed levers, non-shifting, of course. Mertz did have a SRAM Red 10 speed rear derailleur, but it was used only for chain tensioning purposes, a similar set-up to the Men's Singlespeed winner Tristan Uhl's.
Mertz ran a 19 tooth cog with her 38 tooth chainring. Singlespeed Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine
Mertz raced aboard a Fizik Alinate VS saddle, mounted to Trek's Ride Tuned carbon seatmast. Up front, Mertz's Zipp Service Course SL bars were mounted to a Bontrager XXX carbon stem. For pedals, the title winner rode Shimano's Deore XT M8000s.
Mertz rolled on Enve's Smart 3.4 tubular wheels glued up with Clement's PDX tubeless tubular tires on her way to the podium's top step.
Mertz approaches Ingles Heckle Hill. © R. Riott / Cyclocross Magazine
Mertz, a friend of Cyclocross Magazine's who has done design work for us, is likely to focus on next year's Elite Women's race and the defense of her Singlespeed title will be a decision that comes later possibly leaving the door open for would-be challengers in Hartford.
Nicole Mertz's National Championship Winning Singlespeed Trek Boone 9 Highlights:
Frame: Trek Boone 9 600 Series OCLV carbon
Fork: Trek Boone carbon
Brake Levers: SRAM Red 10 speed
Brake Calipers: TRP RevoX carbon cantilevers
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Red 10 speed (non-functioning)
Front Derailleur: n/a
Crankset: SRAM Force 22 crankarms with SRAM x-sync 38 tooth ring
Saddle: Fizik Aliante VS
Seatpost: zero set-back Trek Ride Tuned carbon seatmast
Stem: Bontrager XXX carbon
Handlebars: Zipp Service Course SL
Pedals: Shimano Deore XT M8000
Wheels: Enve Smart 3.4 tubulars
Tires: Clement PDX tubular
More info: www.trekbikes.com
Nicole Mertz's National Championship Winning Singlespeed Trek Boone 9 Photo Gallery:
SRAM Red 10 speed shifters were inoperable in terms of shifting duties given Mertz’s singlespeed drivetrain. Notice the scuffed bar tape from a spill the champion took. Singlespeed Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine
