Importing Tradition to the United States: Velo Sport’s Alan Cross Race Max and Alchemist Carbon Wheels

Velo Sport is a relatively new importer created by John Siegrist, the former owner and founder of Dean Titanium Bicycles. They will be covering a wide range of companies with a rich cyclocross heritage, including Guerciotti Bicycles, which American racer Elle Anderson rode on last season, Zullo Italian Handcrafted Custom Cycles, Sommerville Sport Shoes, Alchemist Carbon Wheels and Alan Bicycles: The most winning bike in cyclocross.

We took a closer look at an Alan Cyclocross Model at NAHBS 2015: The Cross Race Max Carbon, and also looked at the latest models from Alchemist Carbon Wheels.

Unlike the trends at NAHBS and other European-based companies like Ridley investing only into road disc brakes, Alan remains firm in tradition with a lineup of cantilever models, with only two of their models, the Cross Race Pro and the Cross Xtreme Scandium offering a disc option. Although the company was an early adopter of carbon fiber and has switched their manufacturing base from Italy to Asia for monocoque and lower-end models, many models are still made in Italy.

One of the Italian built frames, the Super Cross Carbon, has a throwback look, with metallic paint simulating the classic aluminum lugged carbon frame that won countless World titles, although the current version is full carbon with tube-to-tube construction.

The Cross Race Max Carbon is built from T-700 grade carbon, with monocoque dual mold technology. The Cross Race Max frame, which comes with a fork and headset, will retail for $2,450.00, with a full build option running SRAM CX1 and Avid Shorty Ultimate cantilevers priced at $3,950.00.

Like the throwback style of the Super Cross? The frame and fork will retail at $400 more than its little brother at $2,850.00, and has a listed weight of 1,150g. The bike, which is under the umbrella of Alan’s Legendary Collection, has a curved top tube, unlike the Cross Race Max as shown in the slider below.

As for the Alchemist wheels, they are lightweight asymmetrical carbon rims with hubs that come with quick release or 15mm thru axle options, while the rear wheels also can accept xd drivers. The hubs themselves are constructed with a carbon fiber central frame, and the full wheels are available both as tubeless and tubular. This material takes the weight of the hubs down to a claimed total of 329g for a set.

More info: You can find more information of Velo Sport’s Alan and Alchemist imports in the slider below, as well as at veloimports.com. You can also find details at alchemistbikes.com and alanbike.it, and be sure to look at our ever-growing list of cyclocross and gravel bikes from NAHBS 2015.