The Making of Team CX Rigs: Small Batch and Single Barrel

We've been saying it for a while: cyclocross is coming. This week, in fact, we'll kick off the season by partying (oops, we mean racing) under the lights at Cross Vegas.

The Mosaic Factory has been buzzing about cyclocross since the course tape was torn down last January at CX Nats. But recently, within this last bit of summer, this excitement has turned into straight freakin giddyness- and not just because there's something irresistable about 45 minutes of pure pain, bacon handups, and debauchery.

This year we are proud to support two local cyclocross teams: Team Small Batch and Team Single Barrel. Each team has specific and unique needs. Team Small Batch is comprised of racers who "enjoy riding, racing, and advocating for the local, the traditional, the sustainable." Team Single Barrel is a single speed team who is "dedicated to community, fun, and competitive kickassery." We couldn't be more thrilled to support, and race with, these entities.

Here's a factory look at the production of the race rigs behind both teams, and the industry partners who have helped in supporting local racers:

Team Small Batch

The XT-1

Our 3-2.5 titanium tubing is a custom blend of butted and thin-walled straight gauge.

Shimano Ultergra DI-2, Internal Routing, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes are now standard on the team rigs that roll out of our shop.

So much Enve. Wheel sets and forks from Enve Composites will help to make the Small Batch XT-1 completely dialed. These rims are about to be glued, as many Small Batch racers have elected to go with tubulars this season.

Just like all of our builds, each Team Small Batch XT-1 frame is designed using custom geometry and racer preferences. Small Batcher Evan will race his bike (above) at Cross Vegas on Wednesday night.

Team Single Barrel

The XS-1

The Team Single Barrel XS-1 is built with the OX Platinum Tubeset. Like every tubest by True Temper Steel, it is manufactured right here in the US.

Clement Cycling's MXP, PDX and LAS tubular tires are all popular choices here on the front range and with that comes the arduous gluing process.

While Team Single Barrel XSS-1 frames are built to fit the geometry of each rider, team rigs will all be painted the same (powercoated by Spectrum Powderworks). A fleet of 14 Single Barrel bikes will definitely garner attention in the SS category. Look for Daimo's XS-1 (above) this weekend at the Boulder Cup.

The true test of a good cyclocross bike is how it actually performs in the elements: how it handles around a loose gravel corner, a steep descent, an unrelenting sandpit...

So let's get these rigs dirty. And let's have a kickass cyclocross season, it's final here!

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Click here to follow Team Small Batch and Team Single Barrel this season.

Photos by Kevin Batchelor (complete Single Barrel bicycle photo by Daimo Shanks)

Words by Liz Barcheck