new singlespeed CX bike

I have never raced cyclocross, nor do I have any drive to do so. It sure looks like fun, but I am not a competitive person, and I can't imagine devoting enough time to a race schedule, so I don't bother. I do, however, love the feeling of exploring on long rides that involve a mix of pavement and dirt, and there's something that feels fast about riding skinny tires and drop handlebars, although I can't be certain that I am actually faster.

I've owned a few drop-bar bikes over the year and enjoyed all of them to some degree. I try to have two bikes at all times: one with skinny tires and drop bars for riding roads and unpaved roads, and one with flat bars and big ol' fat tires for technical trails. I sold my last drop-bar bike, a Soma Double Cross Disc, over a year ago and really started to miss the snappy feel of a cyclocross bike under me under me ever since.

I was dedicated to building a "monstercross" Frankenbike out of a mid-'90s Specialized Cross Roads hybrid, but gave up on it when I realized that the expense of the thing would result in a sub-par compromise of a bike. I checked used bikes all over the region and considered a few other Frankenbike options until someone pointed me in the direction of the Traitor Crusade bike, which I found for a good deal.

yup, I bought it.

Since this bike is no longer in production and might be hard to find (I am under the strong impression that this is built on the same frame as the Transitition Rapture), I don't see the point in writing a "review." Instead, I will just write about and photograph my experiences riding this bike.

After unboxing and getting the bike into a rideable state, I noticed a few things:
1. the handlebar was HORRIBLE. Too much reach, too much drop, giant, round bend. The drop position was usable due to the lack of space on the ends. I researched handlebars and was about to buy a Ritchey Venturemax bar, but a friend came through with a Salsa Cowbell bar, which I have used in the past with great satisfaction.

worst drop bar ever.

2. Rear tire clearance, meh. This is marketed as a cyclocross bike, so 35mm tires seems reasonable, but they could have squeezed an extra few millimeters between the chainstays for a little more rubber. I can force a 40mm tire in there, but the clearance is too tight for comfort. I'd love to run 42mm tires for gravel racing, but sub-38 is going to have to suffice.

segmented fork with ample room for a lot of tread.

Just for grins, I stuck a 29x2.1" tire (Schwalbe Thunder Burt) on this front wheel to see what would fit. It does, but I have no intension of using a tire this big on this particular bike.

lack of rad rear tire clearance. I might be able to shoehorn a 40mm tire in there.

3. One pair of water bottle cages, no rack/ fender mounts. Again, a true cyclocross bike doesn't need these things, but I'll probably have need of them at some point.

Things I like:
1. nice chromoly steel frame with a rad segmented fork. Green!
2. rocker-style dropouts for singlespeed drivetrain with the option to put a 2x - whatever drivetrain. The downtube has some bolt-on cable stops similar to the bolt-on Gyro tabs I am used to seeing on BMX bikes.

lil bracket for derailleur cable stops.

Rocker dropouts, nice touch!

3. TRP Hylex brakes. Hydro drop-bar brakes without shifting nonsense? Yes please!
4. Wheels are alright. Cheap by reliable Weinmann DA19 rims, double-butted spokes, Joytech sealed-bearing hubs. These will do, but will be a giant pain to set up tubeless. I probably won't bother.

Pretty cool so far. Expect a write-up soon about riding this thing!