2007 Cyclocross Laundry List

With the cyclocross season fast approaching, my humble abode is transforming into a bicycle-themed episode of ‘The Price is Right,’ where the prizes are sleek, high-performance two-wheeled machines. Here’s the battle plan for transforming my humble two-wheeled steed into a mud-slinging, barrier-hopping, cowbell-clanging machine.

First up, we’ve got the heart of the operation: the LEADER LD 416R CROSS Frame. This isn’t just any frame; it’s the Excalibur of cyclocross frames, ready to carry me valiantly across any battlefield… or at least through a lot of mud and over some questionable terrain.

To match, I’ve enlisted the NEW LEADER C802 3K CARBON 700C CYCLO CROSS BIKE FORK. Because if you’re going to have Excalibur, you might as well have Merlin’s wand to guide you through the course, right?

Steering won’t be left to chance thanks to the Sette Avanti O/S 31.8mm Carbon Road Bar and the Planet X Team Pro Road 3D Forged Stem. Together, they’re like having the hands of a surgeon, if that surgeon were performing delicate operations on gravel at 20mph.

Grip is no joke either, with Sette Carbon Gel Bar Tape. It’s essentially like holding onto a cloud, if clouds were made of ultra-tacky gel and could withstand the rigors of cyclocross.

Then there’s the Salsa Chainring Guard and Redline Chain Keeper combo, the dynamic duo tasked with keeping my chain where it belongs. Because the only thing I want dropping mid-race is my competition, not my chain.

For tires, we’ve got 2 Kenda Small Block 8 Cross DTC Tires, ready to bite into the earth with the determination of a toddler biting into a cookie. Paired with Stan’s System (tubeless), because flats are for quitters and I’m not in the business of standing sadly by the sidelines.

Shifting will be smoother than a politician at a fundraising dinner, thanks to the Shimano XT M772 Shadow Rear Derailleur. And to keep things moving, there’s the SALSA INNER 130MM CHAINRING, because power transfer is key, and I intend to transfer all my pent-up energy from the off-season into speed.

So there you have it, my meticulously curated list for the cyclocross season. It’s less of a shopping list and more of a manifesto—a declaration of my intent to conquer the cyclocross season with as much grace, speed, and style as a mud-covered racer can muster. Let the games begin!