It’s been a week since Nobeyama. Blessed with great weather, the cyclocross festival that draws people from all over the country was another wonderful two days this year.
With my C1 retention in doubt this season, I was hoping to secure it across the three races of the Makino and Nobeyama double-header, but in the top category, things are never that easy. Still, there is no denying that being able to ride amidst that level of cheering holds great significance and served as a race that motivates me for what’s next. I am shifting my focus to the next race to grab the one remaining ticket for retention.
I haven't properly introduced it yet, but this year my main bike is the Cielo CX Racer Disc.
Actually, this is my first time riding a disc brake CX bike. Since the first race I used it in was in muddy conditions, I was able to put its strong points to good use.
The feel is no different from the CX Racer I have been riding for a while now, and although it's slightly heavier due to the discs, it seems like the benefits of the brakes far outweigh that.
I chose mechanical disc brakes; I like the TRP Spyres, but I got a bit ambitious and went with Paul’s Klamper. They pull lighter than I expected, perform well, and are easy to adjust. The calipers themselves are a bit beefy, but that ruggedness makes me want to use them—it’s very "Paul" after all.
For the wheels, I hand-spoked Velocity’s Major Tom rims to R45 Disc hubs. I chose Dugast Typhoon (30mm) tires and got them perfectly glued on with CX TAPE. It’s also easier to apply Aquasure for the finishing touch on disc-specific rims.
And, the SimWorks Wonderer Bar is performing incredibly well. Since I have small hands, they are very easy to handle, and switching between the hoods, the tops, and the drops is stress-free. I especially want smaller riders to give these bars a try.
| Frame | Cielo Cross Racer Disc | size:XS |
| Fork | ENVE | CX Disc |
| HeadSet | Chris King Inset7 | Mango |
| BB | Chris King | PF30 |
| Crankset | Shimano Ultegra | FC-6800 46/36T |
| Brake | Paul Component | Klamper |
| Brake Rotor | Avid | F:160mm/R:140mm |
| Brake Lever | Shimano Ultegra | ST-6800 |
| FD | Shimano Ultegra | FD-CX70 |
| RD | Shimano Ultegra | RD-6800 SS |
| CS | Shimano Ultegra | CS-6800 11-28T |
| Rims | Velocity | Major Tom 32H |
| HUBS | Chris King | R45 Disc |
| Spokes | Philwood | 14G Black |
| Tires | Dugast | Typhoon Cotton 30mm |
| Handle | SimWorks | Wonderer 390mm |
| Stem | Thomson | X4 90mm |
| Seatpost | Thomson | Elite |
| Saddle | Fizik | Gobi |
| Pedals | Crankbrothers | Egg Beater |
And once I safely secure my retention, my plan for this winter is to build up some clincher wheels and have some fun in the mountains with this thing.