Bruce K's Concours Cross

[Argos]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062576/concourscross1.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062576/concourscross2.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062576/concourscross3.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062576/concourscross4.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062576/concourscross5.JPG

[jdoiv]

couple of quick questions though...
Why not do more of a slope on the top tube instead of having the head tube extension?
Also, why the down tube cable routing instead of top tube?

Great looking bike and I would certainly be quite happy with it...

Congrats Bruce...

[dirtdigger88]

Cool Flames!!!

Jason

[Argos]

I'd have even left the headtube length and moved the TT up 1 cm at the HT and the ST for better portage. Great bike though! Cross Rocks..

[Bruce K]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I still can't figure out what I was doing wrong.

More slope would have made the bike harder to shoulder. Higher top tube at the head would have left me with no standover.

The BB drop is 6cm - towards the high end for cross bikes.

The down tube routing was Serotta's standard. My LBS cross guru actually likes it better and he's a guy I trust when it comes to cross.

If anyone is going to order and cross frame and you are going to reverse your braking (left side - rear), and use top levers, be sure you specify right biased cable stops. I didn't and it made for a slightly odd rear brake cable routing. They still work fine, it just looks odd.

BTW the brakes are not carbon. They are Empellas aluminum brakes with the faux carbon finish. But they do look good (at least for now).

BK

[Bill Bove]

Woulda looked better with Campy :p

[Ozz]

NO FAIR!!!!

I want one.... :beer:

oh yeah, cool flames!

[Climb01742]

Woulda looked better with Campy :p

NOT!

;)

[BumbleBeeDave]

You have really outdone yourself this time! That bike is absolutely beautiful!

BBDave

[The Spider]

although...someone has accidently put Shimano pedals of there...

but relax...

everything will be O.K once the Time ATAC XS pedals go on.



It looks fantastic..what is the setup for the wheels? :)

[Tmogul]

Sweet ride there. I never knew you could do flames like that. Curious as to how many degrees of slope you have on your top tube.

[FierteTi52]

Nice bike!
I want one too!
Enjoy the new ride,
Jeff

[Bruce K]

spider - wheels are real basic. Ultegra hubs w/ Open Pro rims (cyclocrossworld.com specials). The bike could be about 1/2# lighter is I wanted to spend a bundle on Ksyriums or tubies.

Tmogul - 2 degrees +/-

Thanks all. The gang in the Serotta paint (polish?) shop really did an outstanding job. Thanks to Jarod (I think) for a super looking bike.

BK

[The Spider]

Bruce,

You won't need to care about 1/2 pound of wheel weight when you have a pound of mud hanging from the underbelly!

[Doc Austin]

Disgustingly nice.

[Serotta PETE]

Bruce, I really like the way you designed and built the bike....Hopefully SPOKES has not seen it (nor SANDY)> You might be looking for it - if they hit town.

Hope to see you one of these days, before the next open house. I am in the blue ridge mountains this week....my full time job is now getting back into some type of bike riding shape.

PETE
:beer:

[Bill Bove]

NOT!

;)
Well, at least it's not orange :p

[Bill Bove]

Bruce, so is that a banana on the back of your seat tube or are you just :D :D :D :D

[Bruce K]

Yup, the Official Forum Banana sticker (courtesy of Dave T.) graces the back of the seat tube just below the back stay joint.

You know how it is, Banana decal, don't leave home without it!

BK

[shinomaster]

NOT!

;)


Yah Huh!!!!!!!!!

[BumbleBeeDave]

I have to say something again about what a really super looking bike this is. I also had no idea the flames could be done like that, but in hindsight it certainly makes sense they could do it that way if they can do the decals like that that.

The whole set-up just states “Class” . . . Doesn’t shout, yell or scream. Just elegant class.

Only way I can possibly think of to improve it is by putting some YELLOW on it! ;)

GREAT job, my friend!

BBDave

[ols]

This looks like a really nice bike to ride as well. Would you mind please also explaining how your cross frame differs from a "non-cross" frame, geometry-wise? Are the chainstays much longer? Is the fork trail the same? What made you go with the higher end of the BB range? What are the biggest tires you could fit on there? (That kind of stuff.) Thanks, Oliver

[Bruce K]

Now you're going to make me go find the build sheet.

I believe the chain stays are slightly longer than my Ottrott. The fork has less rake.

The bottom bracket height was chosen for 2 reasons, 1 - the majority of cross frames that had any appeal to me all use the 6cm drop, and 2 - ground clearance.

I do more recreational cross riding than racing and wanted the clearance for the local woods.

The tire clearance was designed for Michelin Mud/Jet which I believe are 700X40. The Schwalbe Racing Ralphs are 700X35.

The maiden voyage was today and I can say that the bike handles extremely well, and was extremely comfortable over rought terrain while still being pretty responsive.

BK

[Wayne77]

I love the polished flames! I wish I had thought of this when ordering mine. Just curious, how much does Serotta charge for the polished flames over matte finish?

[Bruce K]

Wayne;

PM me and I'll tell you. It wasn't cheap.

BK