At the 2017 Sea Otter Classic, the options for gravel and cyclocross bikes, wheels, tires and gear keeps growing, but not all the new products are from new brands. Today's featured bike comes from an old brand that's back in its third incarnation.
The all-new Rada from VooDoo Cycles pairs a Reynolds 853 steel frame with a carbon fork and runs hydraulic disc brakes with room for 40c tires. 2017 Sea Otter Classic. © G. Kato / Cyclocross Magazine
This year's Sea Otter Classic seemed to be a bit of an old school revival with legends like Chris Chance launching his Chris Cross and Joe Murray relaunching VooDoo Cycles. Although the company disappeared for a few years, the VooDoo brand is still strong and interest and hopes remain high. Mountain Bike Hall of Fame legend Joe Murray is still with the company and he was on hand with several new models. Helping Murray out is Daryl Roberts, who formerly worked at Titus before creating his own company called Form Cycles. Based out of Arizona, VooDoo has titanium, alloy and even scandium models in its ever growing line-up, but we got a close-up look the all new Rada gravel bike made from Reynolds 853 steel.
The Rada has a steel frame with a carbon fork (the fork is produced by the same factory that makes the brand's carbon frames) and the bike we looked at featured a SRAM Rival 2x10 drivetrain and SRAM Rival hydraulic disc brakes. The frame has two water bottle mounts and the rear has mounts for a rack and a fender. The cockpit has an Easton bar, stem and seatpost with a WTB saddle and FSA headset. The Rada rolls on Stan's NoTubes ZTR Grail wheels with Maxxis Rambler tires in 700x40c size. Roberts informed us that there is actually enough clearance to run a 45c tire.
It is nice to see a bike with a real head badge. The VooDoo logo remains the same after all these years. You can see plenty of rear tire clearance even with a 40c tire fitted. 2017 Sea Otter Classic. © G. Kato / Cyclocross Magazine
It was great to see VooDoo Cycles at Sea Otter with many different new models as the company's relaunch has not been without some struggles. Cyclocross Magazine covered the Nakisi monster cross at a previous Sea Otter and at the time, we looked forward to that bike with much anticipation. Murray and Roberts assure their many fans that the company is dedicated and focused with its latest models of mountain, road and gravel bikes.
The VooDoo Rada features slick graphic highlights along the seat tube and top tube. 2017 Sea Otter Classic. © G. Kato / Cyclocross Magazine
At this time, not a lot of details about the bikes geometry are available, but Roberts informed us that the VooDoo Cycles website is getting relaunched within the next week and all the information and geometry of the Rada will be available soon. As shown here with the SRAM Rival drivetrain and brakes, the Rada will have a suggested retail price of approximately $3200. VooDoo will also offer the Rada with a SRAM Force groupset.
More info soon: www.voodoocycles.com
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See our ever-growing stream of new cyclocross and gravel-oriented bikes, wheels, tires, components and cycling gear from 2017 Sea Otter here.
