The bike that won ♕Adam ꦇCraig a tattoo at the 'Single Speed Cycle-cross World Championships'
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Adam Craig rode a one-off Giant TCX SLR SS for his fifth SSCXWC title in P𝓡ortland, Oregon (Image credit: Jake Orness)
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Splat, a l🔴ocal Oregon paint job, did the honors on t🐽he frame (Image credit: Jake Orness)
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The was the Sven Nys' view during the race (Image credit: Jake Orness)
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If it wasn't messy, it just wouldn't feel right (Image credit: Jake Orness)
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Did the astrophysicist ride? We have no idea (Image credit: Jake Orness)
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While Craig may be wearing the USA kit semi-ironically😼, it is his. Craig has represente🌃d his country at the Olympic Games, among other international events (Image credit: Jake Orness)
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Was the mustache too much for Sven to handl﷽e? Yes, yes it was (Image credit: Jake Orness)
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To the winner go the spoils, er, the tattoo! (Image credit: Jake Orness)
In most races, when you cross the finish line, the pain stops. If you win the just-about-anything-goes Sᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚinglespeed Cyclocross World Championships, more pain awaits as the tattoo gun hums. As t♚estament to the spirit of the preposterous-over-pretentiousness event, the winner, by rule, must get a SSCXWC tattoo.
This year, Giant's Adam Craig rallied his way through cornfields, spear-wielding Ewoks, giant-ball mud pits, a pond and more en route to winning his fifth title — ahead of an actual former wo⛄rld 'cross champion Sven Nys, no less.
The legendary Belgian does🅘 not show fear on the race course. But was Nys perhaps a little bit skeered of a tattoo? That we may never know.
While Craig may be wearing the USA kit semi-ironically, it is his. Craig has represented his country at the Olympic Games, among other international events
For the second consecutive year, Craig piloted a machine with flatꦯ bars instead of the traditional d😼rop bar.
To celebrate the tenth annual edไition of SSCXWC, Giant did a one-off custom paint design for Craig, based on a 2016 TCX SLR SS that was produced in small numbers.
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"The out-of-this world Galaxy theme is inspired by the event and Carl Sagan, of course," Giant marketing director An Le told BikeRadar. "The design is a colab between✱ Adam and a few folks here at Giant. We wanted a theme that tied in with SSCXWCxPDX and its nebula-vibe. Once the design was nailed, we worked with Splat, a local Oregon paint shop to bring it to life. Strong Oregon/Pacific Northwest connection here with Adam (a residജent of Bend, Oregon), Splat and the event."
Did the astrophysicist ride? We have no idea
What g꧙ear does a guy like Craig pick when he can only pick one? Why, a 38x16, of cou✨rse.
Check out the gallery above for a closer 𝔉look at the bike — and the tattoo.
To the winner go the spoils, er, the tattoo!
Model - TCX SLR SS Frame - L Stem - Zipp Service Course SL OS 110mm Handlebars - Truvativ Noir T40 Riser 720mm x 15mm Grips - ODI "O" BMX grips Front brake - SRAM Guide RSC Rear brake - SRAM Guide RSC Brake levers - SRAM Guide RSC Brake Rotors - SRAM Centerline 140mm Front derailleur/Guide - N/A Rear derailleur - N/A Shift levers - N/A Cassette - Chris King 16t Cog Chain - SRAM PC-1 singlespeed Crankset - SRAM Force CX1 38T chainring Bottom Bracket - SRAM Pressfit GXP Pedals - HT M1 Front Wheel - Zipp 303 Tubeless Rear Wheel - Zipp 303 Tubeless Front tire - Schwalbe Rocket Ron Rear tire - Schwalbe Rocket Ron Saddle - Giant Contact SL Forward Seatpost - Giant D-Fuse Composite
