[Forum Team]

In contrast to our first two NAHBS previews, in which both builders work predominantly in steel, this featurette showcases a framebuilder working with a different method of construction and choice of raw material – carbon composites.

Nick Crumpton is rapidly becoming one of the leading lights of custom carbon frame construction. Based, like the previous "cover star" Moyer Cycles in Austin Texas, Nick made the move to working exclusively with carbon in 2003. Nick describes his interest in frame building as "coming out of years of competitive cycling, my love of bicycles, my need to learn, and my curiosity about how things are built."

Nick’s early work with carbon immediately made an impression, with his frames winning 'Best Carbon' category at NAHBS for the past two years in a row. More recently, Crumpton frames have been getting rave revues, notably online in Pez Cycling News, with his NAHBS 2006 winning ‘SL’ model and more recently, in print with ProCycling, featuring a ‘special project’ gram-shaving hill climb machine. It’s the latter, featuring a host of one-off developments, which really show the quality of Nick’s work and just how far his skill has progressed since making the move to carbon.

The bike is bristling with exclusive features, like carbon track dropouts and a rider and event-specific, high modulus tube set. In the seatstay area, Nick forgoes the customary pre-fabbed wishbone arrangement to make way for truly elegant twin 15mm stays, while the chainstays are a Crumpton-fabbed custom "monobox" design to give maximum efficiency under all-out hill climbing loads. Nick’s proprietary bonding and layering system used at the tube junctions is so fine and carefully applied that at first glance the impression is that the frame is a one-piece molded monocoque. The top tube is subtly ovalised and the down tube gently flares to an oval at the bottom bracket. The end result is a frame of outstanding aesthetic quality; one that will draw admiring glances from even the most ardent member of the "lugs and steel" school.

Components are equally exotic with the bike assembled in partnership with special projects experts Groupe De Tete. The majority of the parts pick is made up of one-off and prototype designs made exclusively for this bike and event. There’s cranks that have been carefully selected from a production batch of Zipp 300’s and then modified to weigh in at 304gr; there’s an incredible set of wheels by Troy Watson of Ligero Wheelworks featuring titanium bladed spokes, carbon nipples and pared-down Zipp 202 carbon rims; up front there's a modified Schmolke handlebar with integrated brake lever mated to a custom Crumpton stem. Alpha Q have built a one-off, superlight fork for the project, described as "much lighter than standard; much, much lighter – too light to quote!" On top, you'll find a Crumpton manufactured carbon seatpost to hold the Tune Carbon/Kevlar saddle.
ProCycling’s Richard Hallett describes the bike as "an astonishing achievement" and "as single-minded a bike as ever seen on a public road". There’s no doubt that last statement rings true and in essence, describes this bike as perhaps the pinnacle of custom building; built with one purpose, one rider, one event in mind.

You can’t get more custom than that. If you’re headed for San Jose, do not under any circumstances, miss this bike!

* Link-O-Rama *
ProCycling Test Report (members-only download)
Crumpton Carbon webpage
Groupe de Tete website
PezCycling News test report

NAHBS Preview Pt. 1
NAHBS Preview Pt. 2



more later....