As we’ve piled on more and more epic rides—starting with those that trace their roots back to what is now the Rapha Prestige, formerly known as the Gentlemen’s Race—it has become second nature to ride on rough pavement, gravel roads we’d never ventured onto before, or even farm tracks.
What began with fitting the widest possible tires onto road bikes eventually led to riding cyclocross bikes with wider tires, and many exploration-minded cyclists began seeking bikes that, while based on the road bikes that could take them anywhere, had the tire clearance of a cyclocross bike and could handle rough terrain without a second thought.
BreadWinner’s B-Road was born exactly from this evolution. Built by Tony and Ira based on their cyclocross lineup, the Holeshot, it was designed as a bike capable of pushing further and charging strongly over any kind of road. (The video of Ira riding the Oregon Outback on his B-Road is just as shocking every time I watch it.)
This time, we worked with an owner who, while enjoying riding his road bike, developed a stronger desire to explore a wider variety of roads. He initially considered the Holeshot, but since he was more interested in exploring different landscapes throughout the four seasons than in racing cyclocross, we suggested the B-Road.
The wheels were hand-spun with Notubes Iron Cross rims and Chris King R45 Disc hubs, tailored to the rider’s physique and riding style. As the rider is small-framed, we used Philwood double-butted spokes in a 28H pattern to ensure strength while keeping the rolling weight as low as possible. The B-Road can swallow tires up to 40c, and fender eyelets can be added upon request (with a maximum tire width of 32c in that configuration).
Designed for adventure, the bike comes standard with three bottle cage mounts in case of emergencies.
The saddle is a Brooks Cambium C13, with a Thomson stem and seatpost. I personally use Thomson components for my own cyclocross racing and gravel riding; I’ve used them for a long time because I love that they are lightweight while being robust enough to use with total peace of mind.
And here is the frame pump, which is becoming an essential item for epic rides. The Silca/Impero frame pump, which was reborn after relocating its base to the US, has been custom-painted to match the frame. Beyond the aesthetics, it’s a vital item for handling flats or adjusting tire pressure based on road conditions.
Come the weekend, the owner is out in all sorts of places, exploring roads he’s never ridden before. This is a bike that will definitely broaden the scope of his riding more than ever before.
This is Breadwinner’s interpretation of an adventure road bike: one that allows you to push forward without hesitation, even when you encounter roads that you would have turned back from on a standard road bike. It might be early to say, but I personally think it’s a bike that will even change how you spend your winters. Of course, add some fenders, and your rainy-season rides or commutes will be perfectly comfortable, too.
How about a bike like this to enrich your life?
| Frame | BreadWinnerCycles | B-Road |
| HeadSet | Chris King | Inset7 |
| Crankset | Shimano DuraAce | FC-9000(50/34T) |
| BB | Chris King Thread Fit24 | |
| Brake | Shimano | BR-RS785 |
| Brake Lever | Shimano | ST-RS685 |
| FD | Shimano Ultegra | FD-6800 |
| RD | Shimano Ultegra | RD-6800 GS |
| CS | Shimano Ultegra | CS-6800(11/32T) |
| Rims | Stan’s Notubes | Iron Cross 28H |
| Spoke | Philwood | Double Butted |
| HUBS | Chris King | R45 Disc |
| Tires | Panaracer | Gravel King 700x32c |
| Handle | SimWorks By Nitto | Wonderer 390mm |
| Stem | Thomson | X4 90mm |
| Seatpost | Thomson | Elite |
| Seat | Brooks | Cambium C13 |
| Frame Pump | Silca | Impero Ultimate Frame Pump |