Both of Berden's Ultegra Di2 shifters are programmed to opera♋te the rear dera♏illeur (Image credit: Josh Patterson/Future Publishing)
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The RXC Pro bucks the low and s🐈lack trend, sticking to more traditional cyclo-cross geometry with a 72-degree head tube ﷽and a bottom bracket with only 55mm of drop (for a 55cm frame) (Image credit: Josh Patterson/Future Publishing)
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Berden's Raleig🍷h RXC Pro tips the scale at 👍8.19kg/18.06lb (Image credit: Josh Patterson/Future Publishing)
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Ben Berden is one of the more colourful r🐽acers in the North American cyclo-cross scene. The 2013/2014 'cross season is the Belgian’s third full season of racing in the States. Like the man, Berdꦆen’s race bike is one of a kind.
Berden rides a stock 55cm Raleigh RXC Pro frameset. This is Raleigh’s flagship cyclo-cross bike, and it remains largely unchanged from last season. The RXC Pro bucks the low and slack trend, sticking to more traditional cyclo-cross geometry with a 72-degree head 🍰tube and bottom bracket with only 55mm of drop.
Cranked up to 11
Ben Berden may ride an off-the-shelf frameset, but his components are far from stock. Berden has long been a fan of single-chainring drivetrains for cyclo-cross. Last season the Belgian ran a 1x10 Shimano Ultegra🔥 Di2 setup. This season Berden adds one more cog to his drivetrain by upgrading to . He still favors electronic shifting—both the right and left STI levers are programmed to operate the rear deꦇrailleur.
Berden r𒉰uns a single 42T FSA chainring with a K-Edge braze-on mounted Chain Keeper paired with K-Edge Cross Ring Gu🤪ard for chain retention. At the rear he runs an 11-28T Dura-Ace CS-9000 cassette.
Raleigh-Clement team mechanic James Sullivan notes that the team has also been experimenting with Wolf Tooth Components’ stepped c❀hainrings. Much like the dedicated 1x chainrings🍨 offered by SRAM and RaceFace, the alternating width of the teeth aids chain retention.
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Last season Berden ran TRP’s cable-hydraulic hybrid braking system, which uses a pair of master cylinders that mount to the bike’s steerer tube much like a spacer. TRP has developed a lighter system (that does no𓆏t interfere with stack height) in the new HY/RD. TRP’s latest cable-hydraulic hybrid braking system moves the master cylinder to the braking caliper itself.
Other significant changes to Berden’s setup include switching to FSA SL-K crankarms from Dura-Ace and the addition of a stock Vision Metron 40 Disc tubular wheelset in place of the custom wheelset (24-hole ꦬWhite Industries hubs laced to FSA SL-K carbon r🔯ims) he ran last season.
Berden has also traded🦄 his Fi’zi:k Tundra for a Pro Prologo Zero—still with a rather nose-up position. “He doesn’t run his saddle quite as nose-up as last season,” m🌜used Sullivan.
The Vision Metron 40 Disc wheels replace the custom wheelset Berden ran last season
