Imagine taking the overall win for the National Trophy series, winning bronze at the National Championships, and getting to toe the line with the world’s best next month in Hoogerheide, Holland. Now imagine all of that before you’re even 23 years old. That’s the case with the UK’s Ben Sumner as he finishes up a great season on the cross bike and prepares for one final race which just happens to be the biggest one of all. Ben sent over some photos of his dialed ride for the big race that is decked out with some killer parts from his sponsors including Beeline Bicycles, Reynolds Wheels, Upgrade Bikes, Challenge Tires, Specialized UK, and Shimano/Mike Brunson. The full bike is said to weigh just 7kg (15.43lbs).
Details on the build for its World’s debut after the break.
Announced this week was the list of riders heading to Holland for the World Cyclo-Cross Championships and part of the Under 23 team is Ben Sumner. Winner of the National Trophy for Under 23′s and then Bronze medallist in the Under 23 title race, Ben has used the bike featured here all season and its final outing will be at World Champs in Hoogerheide, Holland on the 2nd Feb.
Shimano Di2 electronic gearing has worked faultlessly all year despite the constant pressure washing and mud. The bikes show some battle scars but have held up well to the battering that a Cyclocross season dishes out. Shimano Ultegra ‘cross ratio cranks are a super slick edition.
Ben has been riding canti brakes this year and the fuss of adjustment and set-up has been taken away by the CX70 Shimano set-up. Great brakes. With disc brakes still limited by wheel choice canti brakes were the only choice for this season.
Using a £4000 pair of wheels off road?? Go on then… Proof that well built light wheels are also tough enough to rely on. Reynolds stand by the quality of their wheels and Ben has been a big fan for ages now!
Challenge tyres are winning some real fans on the ‘cross scene. It’s nice to see a company challenging ‘excuse the pun’ the reference Dugast tubulars and making Dugast riders question if they’re on the best setup!
Thanks to Graham Alder and Andy Whitehouse for the photography.
Thanks to Ben for sending that in, and good luck at Worlds!
