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This project from Easton features our local riding here in LA with one of our local personalities, Ginger from Machines for Freedom:
“Perspective. Easton joined Ginger Boyd, Brand Manager for Machines for Freedom, in LA to talk perspectives within the cycling industry, opportunities for growth and inclusivity in the sport, and the new MFF podcast – conversations with community builders to learn more about how to improve the diversity of our favorite pastime.”
This one is not to be missed!
Matt Lieto is a professional triathlete but when his professional obligations are fulfilled, he takes to the dirt on his all road bike.
Wendy’s Silk Road Mountain Race Bike is Now a Badass Commuter
Photos and words by Morgan Taylor
Conversations began early this year around what eventually became the Kona Rove LTD you see here. For the past five or so years, our friend Wendy – an accomplished ultra runner in a former life – has applied her endurance racing experience to big solo bike rides. In that time she’s explored southern British Columbia, completed the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, ridden through much of the south-east US, and raced her first ultra bikepacking event, the 2017 Transcontinental.
This year Wendy set her sights on the inaugural Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan, and we began to talk about what kind of a bike she might want to ride. She wanted drop bars, she wanted discs, she wanted steel, and she wanted bigger tires than the traditional road bikes she’d ridden in the past. These conversations led to a bike based around wide 650b tires and Wendy got scheming on a build.
A common issue plaguing seatposts on ‘cross bikes is the inevitable slipping at the saddle rail clamp. The ISA system, or Independent Saddle Adjustment, allows you to lock in the saddle’s position with two bolts, ensuring your saddle won’t slip on remount. See the new EC70 and EC90 posts at Easton.
Easton gives us a look at their brand, from various vignettes and users.
Just over a week ago, I was meant to be racing this bike, in my first ‘cross race in a very long time. The Friday night before the race, I pre-registered to make things go more smoothly on race day, and had everything ready to go. As it turns out, I wasn’t going to make it to that race.
Photos and words by Morgan Taylor
Double drivetrains may currently be out of vogue for off-pavement riding, but I think they really do have a place on today’s gravel and adventure bikes. While the chainring combinations in Easton’s Gravel Shifting Rings introduced today aren’t a new idea by any means, they make a lot of sense with the way people are using their bikes these days.
It was a game changer when 1x drivetrains made the leap from mountain bikes to drop bar bikes. Last year when RaceFace purchased Easton, the merger promised a bit of cross-pollination between RaceFace’s MTB technology and Easton’s road 1x systems. The EC90 SL crank adopted RaceFace’s Cinch system, allowing it to utilize direct mount 1x chainrings and direct mount 2x spiders, all in a road q-factor and chainline. This makes for an incredibly versatile crank interface that not only looks good, but in my opinion, out performs many other cranks. I’ve been riding the EC90 SL cranks on my firefly with a 38t direct mount on SRAM’s 1x Force system with a 10-42t cassette. Mounting them was easy, and there’s a new found confidence in Easton’s beefy bottom bracket. Especially when compared to SRAM’s GXP offering which always seems to creak right out of the box.
When Race Face bought Easton a few years back, the company received a thorough makeover, resulting in the EC90 cranks. These hollow carbon crank arms are made in Canada, feature a 149mm Q-Factor, 30mm spindle, are optimized for 2x or 1x performance and come with a bottom bracket. Make sure you check out the EC90 SL cranks for your next ‘cross build.
During the Amgen Tour of California, I spent eight hours in Santa Barbara with Aaron Stinner. His framebuilding company, Stinner Frameworks has been on fire lately. From building the Mudfoot Elite cross bikes, to speaking at Mission Workshop and unveiling his newest model: the Fundero MTB.
Available in both 27.5 and 29’r these semi-custom frames are meant to take you to the trail and home again in (mostly) one piece, depending on how much you enjoy ripping. For this build, Aaron went with SRAM XO, Stan’s wheels, XT brakes and a White Brothers Loop 120mm fork but build kits are available in any group.
These frames are lightweight, come with a powdercoat, replaceable derailleur hanger and a tapered head tube. If you’re looking for a straight up, made in the USA shred sled, holler at Aaron!
After I shot photos of his workshop, I grabbed Aaron and his 29’r Fundero for a quick photoshoot at a trailhead down the block from his house… Next time, I need to actually shred this thing!
It says a lot when someone buys the two most important women in their life custom frames from one builder. Ian Sutton from Icarus Frames is a good friend of mine, so when I realized that my mom was in need of a new road bike, I called him up and got the ball rolling.
This is the third custom bike I’ve bought from Ian. The first being my Viking Track, then Lauren’s Porteur and now, this True Temper road bike for my mom.
The geometry is clearly road, but the drivetrain is geared more towards a cross bike. Up front, I chose Shimano‘s Ultegra cross crank, with a mid cage Ultegra rear mech and a 32t cassette in the back. This will help my mom get up steep hills with ease, while giving her the range she needs while riding coastal North Carolina roads.
Circle A nailed the paint, coating the frame and the ENVE fork in a bright “marine” blue.
Easton was kind enough to send along the bars, post, stem and even bar tape. I couldn’t be more thankful! For her wheels, I bought a set of the NAHBS display Chris King Alloy Ride wheels. Taking advantage of the trade show pricing, I also bought some King Cages.
When I dropped the parts off to Mellow Johnny’s I still needed a headset – NoThreadset in Sotte Voce black, a saddle – Fizik Vitesse- and tires – Continental Gran Prix 28c. In the end, it came out great. As shown, it weighs 17lbs on the head.
There is no greater feeling in this world than to see your mother happy, healthy and riding in style. Cycling has no doubt changed her life for the better and to me, this bike was worth the investment. She did her first century last summer and I’ll be pressing her to do another this summer!
One day, I’d love to check out Rick Hunter’s shop and ride his pump track. As part of their Dream Bike series, Easton interviewed Rick about his work and that killer road bike he built for the charity.
I really, really, really love the work of Rick Hunter. In fact, if I didn’t have a plump stable already, I would get him to build me something. What? I don’t know but after seeing this Easton Cycling Dream Bike, something tells me it’d look fast!
The fifth installment of the Easton Cycling Dream Bike Charity Sweepstakes looks amazing and all proceeds go to the Red Cross. Check out more at the East Cycling Facebook…
… and more photos below!
Remember that Caletti Cycles road bike that Easton is raffling off? Well, here’s a look inside Caletti Cycles. I just want to add that I really love this Dream Bike giveaway. Kudos to Easton for supporting their local frame builders!
A new year, a new dream bike. Easton’s Dream Bike giveaway continues with this beautiful Caletti race machine.
“Easton Cycling has announced the fourth installment of The Dream Bike Charity Sweepstakes, a titanium Caletti race bike. The Dream Bike Charity Sweepstakes is a promotion giving away hand- built road bikes from Calfee Design, Rock Lobster Cycles, Black Cat, Caletti Cycles and Hunter.
All proceeds from each sweepstakes are donated to five charities selected by the frame builders. Each bike is outfitted with Shimano Dura Ace and Easton EC90 components including the new EC90 Aero 55 wheelset. To participate in the sweepstakes visit Easton Cycling’s Facebook.”
Check out more of this insane bike below!
I love Todd from Black Cat‘s work and this new video by Easton shows why!
These Dream Bike raffles from Easton are getting better and better. The third one is my favorite, and I’ve shot photos of it before at Interbike. Seriously, Black Cat makes some of the nicest bikes…
Check out more information on this Black Cat Dream Bike:
Easton Cycling has announced the third installment of The Dream Bike Charity Raffle, a steel Black Cat race bike. The Dream Bike Charity Raffle is a promotion giving away hand-built road bikes from Calfee Design, Rock Lobster Cycles, Black Cat, Caletti Cycles and Hunter. All proceeds from each raffle are donated to five charities selected by the frame builders. Each bike is outfitted with Shimano Dura Ace and Easton EC90 components including the new EC90 Aero 55 wheelset. Raffle tickets are available on Easton Cycling’s Facebook.
For me, nothing beats a 32h 3x wheelset for my cross bike but after talking with the guys at Easton about their new EA90 SLX tubeless race wheels, I was willing to try a set out.
While these can be used for road or cross, I have no desire to run them as road wheels. Tubeless rules for off-road riding, especially if you live in an area with a lot of rocks, roots and thorns. Why? There’s no pinch-flatting. The latex sealant also keeps trail debris from flatting your tires. Around this time of year in Austin, the thorns get blown and washed onto the trails, leaving you with at least one flat per ride if you’re not careful.
I don’t have this issue on my 29’r but my cross bike…
Check out more of my Initial Reaction to Easton’s EA90 SL tubeless race wheels below and more photos in the Gallery of my dialed-in Geekhouse Mudville, race-ready (for all who have asked).
