Last year, veteran Belgian cyclocross racer Ben Berden crossed the pond for his first full season of racing in the United States. He’s returned for the 2012/2013 season with the support of Raleigh Bicycles and Clement tires.
BikeRadar caught up with him in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the second stop on this year’s US Gran Prix of Cyclocross. He finished third and fifth, respectively, in Saturday and Sunday’s elite men’s races, aboard his Raleigh RXC Pro Disc.
New brakes, old numbers
As a Raleigh-sponsored rider, Berden can opt to race the disc or cantilever version bike. He counts himself among the growing number of elite racers who are fully embracing disc brakes for cyclocross.
At a time when many North American cyclocross rigs are trending lower and, sometimes, slacker, Raleigh’s cyclocross line bucks the trend, sticking to more traditional, old world geometry: a 72-degree head tube and high bottom bracket with a scant 55mm of drop.
Berden really does run his saddle nose-up
This stock geometry appears to suit the Belgian, who rides a stock 55cm RXC Pro Disc frame.
Custom additions
Berden’s setup is a mix of the Ultegra Di2 kit that comes standard on the RXC Pro Disc, along with some special finishing touches. Like the man himself, the bike has a lot of personality.
The most notable addition is the TRP Parabox hybrid hydraulic brake system. The version Berden runs is a blend of the production line and prototype pieces of a lighter, more refined model that, according to TRP, should be available to the public by January 2013. Dubbed Parabox R, the new system shaves grams by using titanium hardware and composite pistons. It also takes advantage of a shorter mounting collar to decrease its stack height.
Berden runs a prototype of the next generation TRP Parabox system on the rear
Berden’s RXC Pro Disc spins on custom-drilled, 24-hole White Industries hubs laced to pair of 50mm-deep FSA SL-K carbon tubular rims. He alternates between Clement’s PDX and LAS tires, depending on course conditions.
“Ben really likes to run the PDX in the front and the LAS in the rear – he finds this to be a great combo,” noted Jordan Schware, head mechanic for the Raleigh-Clement cyclocross team.
As for tire pressure, Berden keeps that to himself. “He’s an old-school Belgian – he does it by feel. We start his bikes and his spare wheels at 30psi and he drops it from there,” said Schware.
Berden is a fan of the simplicity, reliability and the mud-worthiness of a 1x10 drivetrain. His single-ring setup consists of a Dura-Ace crankset mated to a 42-tooth FSA chainring.
K-Edge handles chain retention, with an outer Cross Ring Guard and inner chain catcher in place of the front derailleur. An 11-28t Dura-Ace cassette gives the Belgian all the range he needs to keep up with his American competitors.
Complete bike specification
- Frame: Raleigh RXC Pro 55cm (stock sizing)
- Fork: ENVE CX DISC, 1.125in to 1.5in tapered steerer
- Headset: FSA Integrated
- Stem: FSA SL-K 110mm, -6 degrees
- Handlebar: FSA SL-K Compact 44cm
- Tape/grips: FSA cork handlebar tape, white
- Front brake: TRP Parabox with 160mm TRP rotor
- Rear brake: TRP Parabox R (prototype) with 160mm TRP rotor
- Brake levers: Ultegra Di2
- Front derailleur: K-Edge braze-on mounted Chain Keeper paired with K-Edge Cross Ring Guard
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2
- Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Di2
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace 11-28T
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace (172.5mm crankarms) with single 42-tooth FSA chainring
- Bottom bracket: FSA
- Pedals: Shimano XTR
- Wheelset: FSA SL-K carbon rims laced to custom 24-hole White Industries hubs
- Front tire: Clement PDX tubular, 700x33c
- Rear tire: Clement PDX tubular, 700x33c
- Saddle: Fizik Tundra
- Seatpost: FSA SL-K, 31.6mm diameter
Critical measurements
- Rider height: 1.78m / 5'10"
- Rider weight: 68kg / 150lb
- Saddle height: 755mm
- Saddle setback: 20mm
- Tip of saddle nose to center of bar: 550mm
- Saddle to bar drop: 110mm
- Seat tube length, c-t: 540mm
- Seat tube length, c-c: 530mm
- Head tube length: 130mm
- Top tube length: 540mm (horizontal)
- Head angle: 72 degrees
- Seat tube angle: 73.5 degrees
- Wheelbase: 1005mm
- Chainstay length: 425mm
- Fork offset: 45mm
- BB drop: 55mm
- Total bike weight: 7.94kg / 17.5lb
