I’ve been testing the Pacenti SL23 rims with Schwalbe Durano (700×28) tires, and the ride is super plush. Inflated to 80psi, the Duranos measure 28.5mm wide on the 24mm rims. The Ergott-built wheels have survived broken pavement, dirt roads, and everything else I’ve thrown their way.
Stay tuned…
Compact road cranksets have been a boon to riders seeking lower gears without the added complexity of a triple chainring setup. The ubiquitous 34/50 combo has proven popular with racers and recreational riders alike. But what about the rest of us? Not everyone wants–or needs–a 50t big ring, and the compact crank’s 110mm BCD (bolt circle diameter) can’t accommodate anything smaller than 34t (33t if you use T.A.’s Zephyr). Alternative solutions have been available in the form of vintage setups such as the T.A. Cyclotouriste and Stronglight 49D (and their copies), but they lack the ramped-and-pinned chainrings necessary for compatibility with modern integrated shifters.
For those riders seeking to break out of the 34/50 box, Sugino introduced the OX801D crankset. Instead of a 110mm BCD, the Japanese company designed their new crankset using 74mm and 110mm BCDs. The dual-BCD design enabled the use of inner chainrings as small as 24t, and the ability to run large chainrings much smaller than the ones usually found on compact-double cranks. To the delight of mechanics everywhere, Sugino spec’d their new crank with ramped-and-pinned chainrings, as well as making it compatible with external bottom brackets such as those from Shimano and Chris King.
There were a couple of gotchas, however. First was the price–over $500 when it was initially introduced. Contributing to the high price were the highly polished finish, and cold-forging and machining the units in Japan. The second gotcha was the extremely limited choice of available chainring combinations in the US (34/50, and later, 34/48). The latter limitation could be circumvented by ordering directly from one of the specialty retailers in Japan, but the price put the OX801D out of reach for many riders (including yours truly).
Sugino OX601D crankset (34/48) on the author’s Campagnolo-equipped test bike.
Then, in late 2012, Sugino brought the OX601D crankset to market. This new model featured the same cold-forged arms as the OX801D, but with a less-costly matte silver finish. To satisfy the pickiest gearhead, the OX601D can be ordered with the customer’s choice of chainring sizes. With a suggested retail price of just under $400 (including sealed bottom bracket and all necessary hardware), the new Sugino crankset is on par (price-wise) with similar offerings from Rene Herse and White Industries.
One of the first things you notice about the OX601D is that the outer chainring mounts inboard of the spider. Positioning the outer chainring this way allows the use of the 74mm BCD for inner chainrings smaller than 34t. On setups where both chainrings utilize the same (110mm) BCD, the inner chainring is attached to the outer chainring via spacers and the large chainring’s mounting hardware. If the smaller 74mm BCD is used, the inner chainring uses a separate set of mounting hardware.
The 74mm and 110mm mounting patterns accommodate a wide range of chainrings.
Installing the OX601 cranks and bottom bracket was is easy as any other two-piece unit. The external bearing cups install using a standard, Shimano/SRAM-compatible socket (such as this one from Pedro’s), and the cranks themselves require only 4mm and 5mm hex keys (although I did use a torque wrench to insure that the left arm’s fixing bolts were properly tightened). While the MB-608-II bottom bracket seemed to have less seal drag than a comparable Shimano unit, I couldn’t detect any actual difference once the cranks were in place.
Sugino MB-608-II cupset weighs 93g with sleeve.
For this test, I installed the Sugino cranks on my Black Mountain Cycles bike, replacing the Shimano R4550 cranks that I normally use. Weight-wise, the OX601D came in at 925g, compared to 900g for the aforementioned Shimano cranks (with Dura-Ace cups, 34/46 chainrings, and alloy chainring bolts). Where the Sugino cranks really shine, though, is their q-factor of 145mm (the Shimanos measure 150mm). Riders who want to maintain a narrow(er) pedaling stance without having to sacrifice modern drivetrain compatibility will be well served by the OX601D cranks.
The left crank arm is secured with two opposing pinch bolts.
On the road (and trail), the ramped-and-pinned Sugino chainrings meshed perfectly with my Campagnolo 10s drivetrain. The only necessary adjustment involved raising the front derailleur to clear the larger 48t chainring. Shifting up and down was quick, reliable, and didn’t require any babying on my part. Climbing out of the saddle didn’t induce any unwanted flex (that I could notice), and everything has remained silent. Because the OX601D doesn’t rely on the spider’s width for determining chainring spacing, the crank is compatible with 9-, 10-, and 11-speed systems simply by using different spacers. And while it’s too soon to comment on chainring durability, the 74mm and 110mm mounting patterns ensure a wide range of compatible replacement rings.
Hardware and spacers used for mounting the 48t outer and 34t inner chainrings.
Currently, the US importer offers Sugino OX601D cranks in 165mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, and 175mm lengths. Inner chainrings are available in 30t, 32t, 34t, or 36t. Ramped-and-pinned outer chainrings come in 44t, 46t, 48t, or 50t. Shops can order the cranksets through Merry Sales, or you can purchase them directly from SOMA Fabrications.
Disclosure: SOMA Fabrications provided review samples for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.
Prologo‘s Scratch Pro saddle is very different than the tensioned-leather saddles that I normally ride. The round-profile Scratch is loaded with features, including what the company calls Active Density. To balance support and comfort, Active Density combines padding with multiple densities and a shell with varying stiffness. The result is a narrow (134mm) racing-style saddle that’s not short on creature comforts.
Stay tuned…
I am not what you would call a fair-weather rider. Whether it’s below freezing or when the mercury hits the triple digits, I love riding my bicycle. And whatever the weather, DeFeet’s UnD Shurt base layer has been my go-to gear for remaining dry and comfortable.
Weighing only a few ounces, the UnD Shurt takes up very little room under form-fitting jerseys or other clothing. The athletic cut is slim, but-comfortable, and there’s no annoying bunching or “riding up.” And despite being whispery-thin, it’s not fragile, nor does it require special care. One of my tank-style base layers has seen near-daily use for over a year, and is still going strong.
DeFeet recommends the UnD Shurt for 40° to 80° weather, and I’d say that their ratings are a little conservative. While it may not offer as much warmth as the company’s UnD Wool model, it does an excellent job of keeping you dry when you’re layered-up for winter conditions (which there are no shortage of here in Colorado). As someone who tends to sweat profusely, I’ve found that the UnD Shurt is ideal for staying dry and comfortable.
For more information on DeFeet’s entire range of base layers, please visit DeFeet’s website.
Over the last two-and-a-half years, BikeHubStore.com of Chapel Hill, NC, has made a name for itself by offering great deals on hubs, rims, and spokes. For the past couple of months, GRAVELBIKE has been testing two of the company’s latest offerings–the SL218 rear hub, and the SLF85W front hub.
BikeHubStore.com’s SL218 and SLF85W hubs.
Both hubs feature CNC-machined 6061 alloy bodies, 7075 alloy axles, and roll on Enduro sealed bearings (which are easily serviced with common hex keys). Our samples came in a 28/32 configuration with a Campagnolo-compatible freehub (130mm rear spacing). Weight was dead-on at 85g (front) and 218g (rear). For this review, the hubs were laced to H Plus Son Archetype rims by local expert Peter Chisolm of Vecchio’s Bicicletteria. Sapim spokes completed the build, with 2.0/1.5/2.0 Lasers being laced 2x in front, and 2.0/1./8/2.0 Race laced 3x in back (both using brass nipples).
The heart of the SL218 rear hub is a six-pawl, alloy freehub. The hub is available in Shimano- or Campagnolo-compatible versions, and both drivers are fitted with two Enduro sealed bearings. Engagement is solid (even below freezing), and the axle’s drive-side end cap features an additional rubber seal that does an excellent job of keeping water and dirt away from the bearings.
The SL218′s freehub is well sealed and easy to service.
For this test, I used a Campagnolo Veloce cassette with separate cogs, and couldn’t detect any excessive gouging or notching of the freehub body’s splines. One thing to note, however, is that the SL218′s freehub positions the largest cog very close to the spokes. Extra care should be taken when adjusting the rear derailleur’s inner limit screw so that there’s no contact with the spokes when the chain is on the large cog.
One of the highest compliments I can bestow on the BikeHubStore.com hubs is that I basically forgot about them. They worked (very) well, and didn’t require any babysitting or tweaking whatsoever during the test period. Whether I was exploring dirt roads or riding pavement, they became “invisible” and let me focus my energy on enjoying the ride. And in all honesty, you really can’t ask for more than that.
Disclosure: BikeHubStore.com provided review samples for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.