It looks like a cold snap is headed our way this weekend.
During our anniversary ride last week, there were even a few snow flurries over in Seto. I find myself getting excited like a kid when it snows, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.
The cyclocross racing scene is also heating up this winter. I’m completely immersed in it myself, and while it’s easy to let your regular rides turn into training for races at this time of year, I’ve also come to realize that there are certain joys that can only be savored on a winter ride.
Many others have discovered this joy as well, and despite the time of year, these types of bikes are being built one after another. Breadwinner bikes, in particular, are moving fast. Among them, the Breadwinner “Holeshot” CX model has an overwhelming track record. Of course, some people order them with CX racing in mind, but many choose them for the ability to take advantage of the CX frame’s tire clearance for gravel rides or to explore without worrying even if it snows.
We can now choose from various tire patterns. These Panaracer tires, including the new Gravelking, will likely be our go-to staples all year round. You can keep slicks on for day-to-day use and swap them for semi-slicks or knobby patterns depending on the location and season to expand the variety of ways you can ride.
This is Ariba Mattun’s new bike. He put it together himself with hard work.
It’s not fair, Mattun, getting an 11-speed groupset before me.
This Holeshot is the disc brake model ordered by a young guy who also enjoyed RIDEALIVE. The fact that he chose cable-actuated brakes instead of hydraulic STIs makes me think he isn't just focused on racing, and that he'll be out riding all over the place this winter.
The last bike is my mentor’s. It’s a build-over from his previous CX bike. When winter hits, he spends his time endlessly exploring routes that you just can’t take a road bike on. I join him for a ride occasionally, and even as someone who considers himself somewhat of an adventurer, I’m often surprised by the places he takes us.
Whether to go with rim brakes or disc brakes depends on your riding style, and while the builds vary, the stance of enjoying winter to the fullest remains the same.
For those riders who want to enrich their cycling rather than just focus on racing, I’d like to introduce the perfect bike for riding all winter long without a break. We have stock frames of the new “B-Road” model, which I also introduced when I went to NAHBS this spring, now in stock.
Breadwinner Cycles “B-Road” size:53 color:Orange 298,000 yen (excluding tax)
While based on the Holeshot, the “B-Road” is Breadwinner’s interpretation of an adventure bike, designed for long-distance and gravel rides, and capable of being used extensively through all seasons, including winter.
Like the Holeshot, you can choose between cantilever or disc brakes, and this stock frame is set up for discs. It comes standard with a matching paint-finished Enve fork.
It features three bottle cage mounts as standard. The tire clearance accommodates up to 38c, or 32c with fenders. That’s the key point.
There are fender eyelets on the Enve fork where there shouldn't be. This is an optional feature, modified by Portland’s custom carbon shop, Ruckus Composites. This makes riding in the rain stress-free. It’s safe to say this bike is packed with the experience of builders Tony and Ira, who are real riders in rain-heavy Portland.
By the way, Ira is the kind of guy who rode this bike in the Oregon Outback this summer—an insane 360-mile (approx. 580km) ride, about 70% of which is unpaved—and finished it in 28 hours.
Breadwinner B-Road and the Outback from Breadwinner Cycles on Vimeo.
While I’ve introduced the stock frames this time, we are of course accepting custom orders at any time.
There’s fun to be had precisely because it’s a cold winter—the routes you couldn’t normally enter on a road bike, and the unexpected discoveries you make. I hope you won't hole up indoors, but rather keep pedaling out into the world.
Even if it’s freezing out, you’ll start to warm up within 10 minutes of hitting the road.