Something I’d been secretly plotting since the end of last year: making a few modifications to my own Sklarbikes / CX ALL ROAD Bike. I had originally been running 700x43c The Homage tires, but I quietly built up another wheelset to turn it into a monster cross bike.
Monster cross bikes have existed in Japan for a while, and are traditionally defined as having:
①: Drop handlebars
②: Full rigid frame
③: Block tires 40c or wider
④: 700c wheels
However, with the shift toward disc brakes over the past few years, the flexibility to change wheel diameters has grown. As gravel riding has diversified, there has been a trend of riders "sizing down" their wheels to accommodate wider tires.
And so, this bike transformed into a monster cross machine sporting 27.5″ wheels. This is exactly the ideal form I had envisioned. Aside from the drop bars, its presence is now more akin to that of a mountain bike.
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For the rims, I chose the 28H version of Blunt SS, the most modern cross-country rims released by Velocity. I paired these with a Chris King R45 Disc Hub in Matte Jet. I was finally able to match the colors of the headset and the bottom bracket (CK’s matte color production has become much more stable, so you should definitely consider them when placing an order).
As for the tires, I was worried about the front fork clearance, but I went with the Maxxis / Ardent Skinwall 27.5×2.25″, which features an all-rounder pattern and is tubeless-ready. In other words, I am leaking the fact that the ENVE DISC CX (thru-axle) fork can accommodate a 27.5×2.25″ tire. Even for a monster cross, I personally insisted on 28H, considering both the need for on-road riding and the fact that smaller wheels are inherently stronger.
Unable to suppress my excitement, I immediately headed out for a gravel ride. While it doesn’t cruise on the tarmac as well as my 700c wheels did, it’s still plenty fun, and my conclusion is simply to swap back to the other wheels when I want to do a big ride. It’s all about compromise. Regardless, I went out and rode every gravel route I could think of.
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I had been using The Homage (700x43c), which allowed me to ride over most bumps without worry, but the 27.5×2.25″ tires made for a whole new dimension of gravel performance. The increased volume means I can handle even larger obstacles with ease. Furthermore, I can charge into rocky terrain with total confidence, and that feeling allows for more mental breathing room, letting me respond more accurately to the rapidly changing trail conditions than ever before.
Additionally, since the wheel diameter is slightly smaller, the BB height is lower, which makes for a very comfortable and aggressive ride on rough terrain, especially on high-speed jeep road descents. Naturally, this setup is also perfect for snowy gravel roads, which only further expands my riding horizons. I can’t wait to pedal into even more uncharted territory. That said, don’t push yourself to the point of injury—if a section looks dangerous, get off and hike-a-bike.
The Sklar orders we are currently working on can also be built as monster cross rigs, and I’m personally excited to see how those turn out. If you can't fit 27.5×2.2″ tires on your current bike, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy diverse riding styles by converting to ROAD PLUS using thicker 650B tires, such as those from WTB. If you're looking to broaden your horizons, please feel free to reach out to us for advice.
