This bike has been with me since summer 2010. At that point we were designing the Psychlo X RSL, so this bike became the first proto type to use the Press Fit BB30, 1 3/8” seat tube along with the butted tubeset throughout. We kept it with the 1 1/8” head tube. It is a stock 56.5 cm at the time.
I had it built without water bottle bosses and without front derailuer routing as I like to run a 1 x set up. In this case it was a 1 x 10 SRAM Red set up. TRP cantis, bridgeless chainstays for maximum mud clearance. Stiff, light and bomber.
It was ridden that summer and all the way through cross season that ended with nationals in Bend, OR. It’s seen it’s share of crashes with one in particular in October of 2010 that saw me miss a good month of racing due to injuries. Once back on the bike the goal was to make it to Bend for nationals. Which Matty P and I did that year. I’m not sure if it was the break from racing for 4 weeks or what, but we went to nationals and encounter super muddy conditions and I road to a 4th place in the single speed catagory (behind Adam Craig) and then to a 3rd place in the 40-44 masters behind Pete Weber and Brandon Dwight…..almost had Brandon at the line in the toughest conditions of the week.
After the race we all hudled in the Moots Sprinter van to regain feeling in fingers and toes. I’m pretty sure we had about 20 people in the van.
After that I got a final version of the PX RSL and this bike became my “B” bike and training bike. As time has gone on I ride on dirt roads and secondary Forest Service roads around Steamboat during the winter and summer seasons. I wanted to take this bike and make it worthy of those long dirt days so this past month after our 2013/14 cross season ended I took the bike apart, had welding add water bottle bosses and front derailuer routing, then I re-blasted and decaled the frame. Now it’s built up with a double ring (compact), water bottle cages, somedays fenders, frame pump and is ready for a new season of base miles and adventures over the summer.
For me it really speaks volumes about the material we choose to work with…it’s durable, stiff, light and can span seasons of abuse and still return to look like new with a little work. It’s a bike I will never part with.
It’s getting to be late February and the temps are creeping up slowly day by day…..20 to 30 mile rides are possible on the warm days and the morning commute is a little less cold. It’s time to ride.