Van Dessel Sports Gin & Trombones

Price Paid:  $500.00 at Van Dessel

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Boulder-Ward-Brainard Lake

Bike Setup:
Alpha Q fork, SRAM Rival Shifters and derailleurs, Truvative Rouleur Crank w/ GXP bottom bracket, Empella Frogleggs brakes, Ritchey WCS stem and seatpost, Salsa Bell Lap bar, Mavic Open Pro wheelset w/Ultegra hubs, Tufo LPS 30 tubular-clinchers, Crank Bros Eggbeaters

Summary:
[the $500 price was for the frame w/o fork]

The G&T is my new favorite bike, at least of the ones that I've owned. Thanks first to Van Dessel for making a rig with a 60cm TT - most companies stop at 58 or so. Despite it's size, the frame is surprisingly light. Even with standard Mavic Open Pro clincher wheels, I was able to get the weight down to 19 lbs with a basic setup (which is LIGHT for a 60cm frame). With a better crankset and tubulars the bike would easily be sub 18. The ride is very forgiving - largely due to the carbon seat stays in the back. They are definitely not a gimmick. Laterally, the back end is pretty stiff for this size frame, but the front definitely has some lateral flex. I notice it most when sprinting out of corners or after remounts - basically those times when you're really pulling on the bars while mashing on the pedals. That said, my LT and overall conditioning is still my biggest limiter in a race, not the bit of flex in the front triangle. Overall, I really like this bike. I realize that building a stiff and lightweight bike for my size is difficult, and I think Van Dessel did a damn fine job hitting the sweet spot of that tradeoff.

Strengths:
Lightweight, carbon seat stays smooth out the bumps, 74 degree seat angle, cable routing, head tube length.

Weaknesses:
Front triangle is a bit flexy under power (again, this is for the 60cm frame). This surely costs some watts sprinting out of turns, but it also makes the bike more susceptible to speed wobbles when doing a fast descent on pavement (read Sheldon Brown's article on speed wobbles, it's interesting. Mine definitely happens more with a certain wheelset on the G&T and when it's cold).

Similar Products Used:
Empella Bonfire
Soma Double Cross
Bianchi Axis

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Van Dessel Factory

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Any

Bike Setup:
Centaur 10 speed 13-26, FSA Energy crank (lighter than SL-K and a little more durable for cross 36-46), Ventos, Maxxis Raze, Tektro cantis, Ritchey WCS aluminum bars and WCS stem, WCS aluminum post, Selle Italia Filante.

Summary:
Top notch cross bike. Built up with Centaur, Campy Ventos (1700g) and Ritchey WCS stuff, weighs in at about 17.5 lbs in a 58. You could get it lighter with a higher end gruppo and tubulars. Razor handling, Ritchey WCS fork (standard in 2007) tracks superbly. Tube shaping promotes shouldering. Stiff chainstays get all effort into forward motion, fairly compliant vertically which I've appreciated on bumpy courses.

Strengths:
As noted above. Also good finish on the frame. I also like the low profile Tektro cantilevers, which are an exact copy of Pauls due to lax Taiwanese compliance with patent law. Stock Maxxiss Raze tires light (315 g) and good all-purpose cross tread if you only run one set of wheels

Weaknesses:
Not intrinsic to the bike, but the Ritchey WCS post seatclamp slips at max recommended torque of 16 N-m so I've just cranked the hell out of the bolts. Skip this post if racing cross, go for a Thomson.

Similar Products Used:
Lemond Poprad (853 steel) - great ride, too heavy too race and crappy welds and paint.