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Helen Wyman writes:
This year I have been provided with bikes directly from Guerciotti in Italy
(www.guerciotti.it). I have 3 matching bikes with identical equipment on them.
They’re a special edition frame and fingers crossed will help me move into
the medal at the cyclo-cross world cups and world champs this season.
Guerciotti are very big in cyclo-cross and have been used in the past by such
riders as Radomir Simunek and Roland Liboton. To me, they really are a great
bike with all of the basics being perfect following year of development and
then with one of the best finishes in cyclo-cross.
Although the bikes are the same, I have distinguished my ‘number 1’
bike with a special edition saddle. It’s a SLR with pink roses on it………probably
the girliest touch I could have added to this rather muddy sport.
My season has started this year with 4th in Berlin and a win at the first round
of the National Trophy Series, so the bikes seems to be helping me out. Now
I’m back in Belgium where I live preparing for the World Cup Series that
starts on 22 October in Kalmthout Belgium and is quickly followed by a race
in Treviso Italy. So fingers crossed the luck will be with me for these important
races.
Bike spec
Frame – Guerciotti X-Crow Full Carbon.
Fork - To complete the bike Guerciotti have added the full carbon fork.
Group – Shimano Dura Ace where possible. Added to this are Canti Style
brakes with which I use a specially engineered Canti pad holder which allows
me to use road blocks (see below). This saves a lot of time when it come to
switching between Carbon and Alu block types.
Gearing - I run a 39-46 chain ring set up with either 12-25 or 12-27 cassette
options depending on the course.
Wheels – I use the Carbon FSA wheel for my tub set ups with various tub
choices (Mub tread, File Tread and standard treads)
Tyres – A mix of tubs and will be using the new Schwalbe cross tub later
in the season.
Handlebars & Stem– ITM Millenium OS or FSA OS.
Handlebar Tape – It has to be white to match my saddle
Seatpin – BBB 29mm
Saddle – I generally use the Selle Italia C2 saddle (Of course in white),
but on my number one bike, I have a special edition SLR white pink roses!!!
Pedals – Shimano SPD’s
Other bits - Special canti blocks
They are made in Switzerland, and have combined a road brake pad holder and
a canti brake block rod. Where the two meet, you can adjust the angle of the
brake pad, and thus the towing of the brake. You can see where they can be adjusted
on the picture.......Bolt head is undone, then the angle of the rod changed,
then it is done back up again to fix it in the correct position. This completely
removes any worries about towing with a cross bike. This can be a big problem
as its a lot harder to get the canti bosses perfectly lined up on the frame.
When you are running carbon wheels, even being a millimetre out can cause a
lot of noise when braking. It also gives you the benefit of being able to use
a 'Koolstop' (Plug Plus) road brake insert, so that changing the pads only takes
a few seconds. Once the towing is set up, it remains set up for ever.
These pad holders cost around 100 Euro for 4 (eg for complete bike) plus P&P
and can be purchased via Stefan at Team FBUK. Enquires to stefan@teamfbuk.com
Ambrose's sister
