Maxim's XCR All-Road
One of the best parts of making custom bicycles is learning about what makes the client tick and how we can help make their riding experience better. For Maxim it was to have a light fast road bike that could tackle the gravel roads around his home city of Astana (that's right, in Kazakhstan).
Maxim had already decided that our All-Road model would best suit his needs but wanted to have the worry-free benefits of a frame built using stainless steel. Columbus XCr was our choice for it's great strength, weight and corrosion resistance. We kept the profiles smaller to deal to have a bit more flex over the rough stuff and to make the ride less harsh under Maxim's weight. The Columbus Futura Gravel fork takes care of the front end giving us great clearances and the right amount of stiffness with the 1 1/4" tapered steerer.
The finishing kit for this build is quite simply phenomenal using some of the best components you can buy. SRAM eTap Hydro for the group was the only way to go, along with Rotor INpower meter and limited edition stealth Q-Rings, all finished off with 3T Stealth Ltd carbon post and bars, a SMP carbon saddle and a YBN molten-speed wax chain. Of most interest though are the wheels built by DCR. Opting for a set of Alto rims, these are laced to the remarkable Onyx hubs, remarkable not for their weight (which is light) but for the rear hub tech. The freewheel of these hubs put to use spray clutch technology which results is drag free, instant pickup and completely silent hubs. Not a single click to be heard!
As always Cole Coatings executed a stunning job of the paint, using chromaflair paints to achieve two-tone maroon to orange tones over a deep cosmic black with red pearl. This paint gets better each time you look at it!
Custom Quirk Cycles frame painted by Cole Coatings
Columbus Futura Gravel Fork
SRAM eTap HRD group
Alto CCX Rims/Onyx Hubs DCR Wheels
3T Ltd Stealth finishing kit
YBN Ti-Nitride Black Chain (machine break-in, ultrasonic clean and molten speed wax)
Chris King Inset8 Red Headset
Rotor INpower power meter
SMP Carbon Saddle
Photos by Nikoo Hamzavi.