Frenchman's Sand Pit CX & The Portland Cross Heritage
Portland's fall cyclocross calendar is a celebration of damp wool, cedar woodsmoke, and grueling sand run-ups. There is no better proving ground for bespoke steel bicycle prototypes than 60 minutes of full-gas heart rates in frozen mud.
Designing for the Barrier and the Shoulder
In traditional road design, round tubing is king. But when you dismount at 25 mph before double 40cm log barriers, how the bike feels on your shoulder is everything.
On our Ira Ryan Cyclocross CX builds, we ovalize the top tube horizontally where it meets the seat cluster, providing a flat, comfortable surface that rests against your trapezius during 50-meter stair runs without digging into muscle.
The Geometry of PNW Cross
- Higher Bottom Bracket: 60mm BB drop prevents pedal strikes when leaning aggressively through off-camber grass ruts.
- Mud-Shedding Stays: S-bend seatstays without brake bridges prevent leaves and sticky loam from locking the rear wheel.
- Fillet-Brazed Smoothness: Hand-filed joints eliminate sharp edges around the head tube when gripping the bike for quick suitcase lifts.