written by Philip Harwood, Alchemy Painter
A beautiful weekend here in the front range of Colorado was mirrored across the pond in Italy with an equally beautiful edition of Milan San-Remo! This race, nicknamed La Primavera, is the first monument of the season, and is a true harbinger of long rides in shorts under the sun. Nothing inspires and motivates us cycling enthusiasts at Alchemy more to get outside, brave the wind, soak up the sun, and start trying to ride more, as much as watching the best of the best battle it out.
I signed up for a few races in the cold grim dearth of winter, and now is the time to get the race bike prepped, tool kits dialed, and engine tuned up for a gradual build up to summer mornings, mass starts, new friends, friendly competition (for me anyway), and finish line beers with friends and family. Here's a deep dive into my own custom race bike to try and give some motivation, inspiration, and ideas for both the new racers out there and the veterans! Let's Go!
The bike frame is a custom geometry Alchemy Titanium Atlas AR with custom PPG Crystallance paint and an extra hard ceramic clear coat, paired with a painted to match Alchemy AR fork and Enve stem. A custom painted top cap for my daughter Poppy, a Spurcycle bell, Zipp computer mount, Alchemy carbon handlebars, and Leadout handlebar bag round out the cockpit.
I have a Pro Logo saddle with Ti rails and gripper pads perched on top of a Bikeyoke dropper seatpost, carrying a Leadout tool wrap, held in place by a custom painted Alchemy seat clamp. My butt stays dry thanks to a Loco Cycling branded "ass-saver". Sram 1x11 Rival mechanical shifters with hydraulic brakes run the controls, custom outfitted with a Ratio upgrade kit to run 12 speed shifting on the right side, and actuate the dropper post with the left shifter. Alchemy carbon fiber bottle cages, Sram Rival 1x 46 tooth chainring and power meter crank matched with an XO Eagle 12 speed rear derailleur, XO Eagle 10-52 cassette, and Sram 12 speed mountain bike chain round out the drivetrain.
The whole thing rolls on Alchemy carbon road wheels that spin on DT Swiss hubs with Terravail Cannonball 38c tubeless tires and custom painted Muc-Off tubeless valves. I use a Light and Motion Vis500 up front, steathily attached under the computer via a Go-Pro mount, and a Lezyne KTV Alert 75 Pro tailight mounted on the seatpost. I run both during the daytime and night-time, although I do not ride much in the dark anymore.
The bike weighs in at 22 pounds fully loaded with Shimano XT pedals, which isnt the lightest thing in the world, but a reduced tool kit and lighter weight components would knock it down quite a bit, and what matters most is that it's just right for me.
-Phil
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