Cross-country world champion Christoph Sauser seldom races in the United States, but he made the long trip from South Africa, site of the 2009 UCI World Cup kickoff, to tackle the short track and cross country at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California. That team sponsor Specialized Bicycles sits just up the road in Morgan Hill likely influenced his travel plans.
We took advantage of the opportunity for a quick look at his bike, a Specialized S-Works Epic replete with all the personal touches he’s come to be famous for. The bike is actually a spare, but built to the same spec as the bike he’s been racing this season.
The bike
The heart of Sauser’s bike is the frame that Specialized developed last winter for his run at the 2008 world championships in Livigno, Italy. The S-Works Epic Carbon Disc uses Specialized FACT carbon fiber, the usual oversized press-fit bottom bracket, and a tapered 1-1/8th-to-1.5-inch headset for frame stiffness and torsional rigidity. A Specialized AFR remote mini rear shock with BRAIN inertia valve keeps the rear end moving under control and riding smoothly on sealed cartridge bearing pivots. The fork is a Specialized Future Shock e100, with a standard air spring and rebound adjustment.
Mechanic Benno Wiliet says that the suspension is almost standard issue, the same as every S-Works Epic available to consumers. The only difference is that compression damping is tuned to be a little stiffer.
“The platform is a little bit stiffer for Christoph, Burry (Stander), and Todd (Wells),” he said. “They like a little more platform because they use less pressure, so they get full travel.” Sauser runs 65 psi in the fork and 160 psi in the rear shock, plus or minus 5 psi.
Drivetrain choices
The drivetrain on Sauser’s bike is based on SRAM XO components, but with a few (well, many) modifications. A SRAM XO rear derailleur in new Redwin Red anodized trim moves across a PG-990 XO 11-34 cassette. The chain is a hollow pin PC-991, and the crankset is a Specialized S-Works OS carbon, length 175mm.
Rotor Q-rings are new to Sauser’s bike this year, but have proven to work fine so far, in concert with a SRAM Red road front derailleur. Sauser’s seat tube sports a special road-style braze-on that permits the use of a Red front derailleur, which works well, according to Benno.
“It works nice with the Grip Shift (shifters) because you have the micro-adjust, even if the cage is a little bit smaller. With the micro-adjust you can still adjust it to the right position,” he said.
Pro road riders have been known to use special-edition Red front derailleurs with stainless steel side plates, but Sauser is using a standard titanium version. The only issue is accelerated wear, so Benno has to change the part out more frequently. It’s worth it, says Benno: “55 grams you save just in the derailleur.”
Brakes
The brakes on this Specialized Epic deserve special mention as well. We had the feeling of having stumbled across something new and secret, likely an iteration of SRAM XX (the logos were marked out with black electrical tape). However, the brand is clearly Avid, and the brakes look almost identical to an Elixir CR set in shape and outward appearance. In a few photos, red logos peek out from behind electrical tape on the calipers.
The rotors don’t look anything like current Avid product, hinting at future offerings. A 6-bolt aluminum spider holds what appears to be a standard stainless steel rotor, cut out in G2 CleanSweep fashion. Only three titanium bolts hold the rotors, another effort at shaving every gram.
Wheels, tires and contact points
Sauser rolls on Roval Controle SL disc wheels. This particular bike was fitted with Specialized tires, marked as the SLK in 2.2-inch width. Benno says that Specialized works closely with the team in developing tread patterns, tire casings, and rubber compounds.
“We just got the new Renegade 2.1,” he said. “It’s the same tire and profile as SLK, but new casing, new compound. We did a lot of tire testing over the last year. That’s the latest version.”
Typical tire pressure for Sauser is 28 psi, but with some tires he can go as low as 25. The team uses a blend of Stan’s NoTubes sealant and Specialized’s own Airlock sealant.
Sauser runs Grip Shift shifters on a Syntace Duraflite carbon flat bar, with a Syntace F99 stem in 90mm length. He also uses Tune bar ends. Rounding out the package is an S-Works carbon seatpost and Phenom SL saddle. Pedals are typically Crankbrothers Eggbeater 4Ti while grips are Specialized Sidewinder.
