Pro bike: Geoff Kabush's Rocky Mountain Solo CX

Custom aluminium rig for the Canadian 'cross champ

James Huang

Published: November 23, 2009 at 10:10 am

Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) is best known for his exploits on the mountain bike course but the 32-year-old Canadian is also highly competitive on the North American cyclo-cross circuit. He captured his national championship in October and finishing a solid 11th and fourth at this past weekend's Mercer Cup in New Jersey.

For mud season, bike sponsors Rocky Mountain forego the carbon fibre rear end of their top-end Solo CXR production 'cross bike in favor of a fully aluminium rig custom welded to better suit Kabush's lanky build.

The top tube and seat tube lengths fall roughly in between Rocky Mountain's two biggest versions but the head tube length is spot-on with the smaller size, effectively creating a fit that is taller and longer than the stock 57cm but more aggressive than the 60cm.

And why no carbon rear end? According to team manager and mechanic Gary Wolff, the all-aluminium construction was simply easier to build in-house at Rocky Mountain's British Columbia headquarters.

Even without the carbon, the frame is anything but low-tech. Rocky Mountain build the custom chassis with Columbus XLR8R tubing throughout – including the stays – but sub in an externally bulge-butted Easton scandium pipe for the seat tube to save even more weight.

"I offered Geoff the choice between light and compliant or stiff pedalling and he picked light," sad Rocky Mountain product manager Alex Cogger. "That's what dictated the tubing selection."

Tube shaping on the triple-butted alloy pipes and the overall frame layout are fairly straightforward. Both the seat tube and top tube on the moderately sloping front triangle are perfectly round while the down tube transitions from an oval cross-section ahead to a trapezoidal one below to lend more stiffness to the front end and bottom bracket.

The down tube uses a trapezoidal profile to help bolster the bottom end: the down tube uses a trapezoidal profile to help bolster the bottom end - James Huang

The down tube uses a trapezoidal profile to help bolster the bottom end

Up front there's a conventional non-tapered 1 1/8in head tube (with FSA external bearing cups no less) and both the chainstays and seatstays are medium-sized with S-bend routing.

The straightforward design may contribute to the frame's impressive showing at the scale, especially for such a large size. Actual weight is just 1,320g (2.91lb) – not far off some carbon models.

Componentry is top-notch throughout, including a Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 transmission and drivetrain, an Alpha Q CX20 carbon fork, TRP EuroX Magnesium cantilevers, CrankBrothers Eggbeater 2ti pedals, and cockpit and seating bits from Race Face and Fizik.

A fizik antares saddle is mounted atop a race face deus xc aluminium seatpost: a fizik antares saddle is mounted atop a race face deus xc aluminium seatpost - James Huang

A Fizik Antares saddle is mounted atop a Race Face Deus XC aluminium seatpost

As we caught up with Kabush just prior to a muddy race in Boulder, Colorado, rolling stock consisted of Reynolds MV32C UL carbon clinchers wrapped up in aggressive 35mm-wide Maxxis Mud Wrestler tyres inflated to about 40psi.

As Shimano have yet to introduce proper 'cross-specific chainrings to their Dura-Ace groupset, Kabush's bike is fitted with Thorne Koksijde 38/44T rings, named after and developed by Cyclocrossworld.com proprietor Stu Thorne.

In addition to being offered in a wealth of hard-to-find ratios, Wolff says the pinned-and-ramped shifting performance has been very good so far and the thicker plates' extra stiffness lends a more solid feel underfoot.

Cyclocrossworld.com proprietor stu thorne now has his own range of 'cross-specific rings with pins and ramps for shifting performance and extra-thick plates for stiffness: cyclocrossworld.com proprietor stu thorne now has his own range of 'cross-specific rings with pins and ramps for shifting performance and extra-thick plates for stiffness - James Huang

Cyclocrossworld.com proprietor Stu Thorne now has his own range of 'cross-specific rings

Cutting weight – but not at the expense of durability – is a recurring theme throughout. The Alpha Q fork is among the lightest available at just 470g, the brakes are similarly feathery at under 120g per wheel, and though Kabush will run Reynolds' deeper 46mm rims from time to time, Wolff says he prefers the faster acceleration of the mid-section model.

As icing on the cake, nearly all of the steel bolts on the bike have been replaced with titanium bits from Wheels Manufacturing, which not only helps shave a few grams but also prevents corrosion from frequent power washing. Total weight is a race ready 7.73kg (17.04lb).

Next stop on the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross tour is the Stanley Portland Cup on the weekend of 5 December, where Kabush and his custom machine will hope to move up in the standings.

Bike specifications

  • Frame: Rocky Mountain Solo CX custom
  • Fork: Alpha Q CX20
  • Headset: FSA Orbit Xtreme Pro
  • Stem: Race Face Revolution, 12cm x -6º
  • Handlebars: Race Face Next SL, 44cm (c-c)
  • Tape/grips: Reynolds cork
  • Front brake: TRP EuroX Magnesium w/ TRP carbon pads
  • Rear brake: TRP EuroX Magnesium w/ TRP carbon pads
  • Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
  • Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7900-F
  • Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7900-SS
  • Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
  • Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7800, 12-27T
  • Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
  • Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7900, 175mm, w/ Thorne Koksijde 38/44T chainrings
  • Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace SM-FC7900
  • Pedals: CrankBrothers Eggbeater 2ti
  • Wheelset: Reynolds MV32C UL
  • Front tyre: Maxxis Mud Wrestler, 700x35c
  • Rear tyre: Maxxis Mud Wrestler, 700x35c
  • Saddle: Fizik Antares k:ium
  • Seatpost: Race Face Deus XC
  • Other accessories: Wheels Manufacturing titanium bolt kit

Critical measurements

  • Rider's height: 1.9m (6ft 2in)
  • Rider's weight: 74.8kg (165lb)
  • Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 770mm
  • Saddle setback: 95mm
  • Seat tube length, c-t: 575mm
  • Seat tube length, c-c: 535mm
  • Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 597mm
  • Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 30mm
  • Head tube length: 155mm
  • Top tube length: 585mm
  • Total bicycle weight: 7.73kg (17.04lb)
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