Design Philosophy: Building the Ultimate Race Bike

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To celebrate his 40th birthday, Rob English built a race bike designed specifically for the grueling 4,300-mile TransAm Race across the United States. This custom-built machine reflects Rob’s 40 years of experience in riding, racing, and framebuilding, combining classic road bike geometry with endurance cycling innovations.

Featuring a lower bottom bracket and longer wheelbase for enhanced stability, the steel frame uses True Temper S3 and Columbus Life tubing for a perfect balance of strength, comfort, and lightweight performance. Rob’s signature pencil-thin seat stays absorb road vibrations, making this race bike ideal for ultra-distance challenges.

A Race Bike Engineered For Speed And Reliability

Every detail of the TransAm racer is engineered for speed and reliability. Aerodynamic touches like the Parlee aero fork and custom nose cone reduce drag, while deep-dish carbon DT Swiss wheels paired with tubeless Schwalbe Pro One tires ensure smooth, fast riding over varied terrain.

The SRAM eTap wireless groupset offers precise shifting, and custom luggage solutions from Kaibab Customs and Ruckus Composites maintain aerodynamics while carrying essential gear. This race bike is a true showcase of craftsmanship and innovation, designed to help Rob-and any endurance rider-push further and faster on their ultimate bike race adventure.

Engineering and Frame Details

Rob English’s TransAm race bike is a masterful blend of engineering precision and thoughtful design, crafted to meet the extreme demands of a 4,300-mile ultra-distance race. The frame combines True Temper S3 and Columbus Life steel tubing, chosen for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and durability, making it ideal for the rigors of long-distance cycling.

The geometry is carefully tuned with a lower bottom bracket and a longer wheelbase, providing enhanced stability and control on varied terrain-a crucial feature for a race bike built to endure thousands of miles across the continent.

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Vital Considerations For Endurance Riders

Signature details such as the pencil-thin seat stays not only add to the bike’s sleek aesthetic but also improve ride comfort by absorbing road vibrations, a vital consideration for endurance riders. The bright orange paint with chrome logos from Colorworks ensures high visibility and a striking presence on the road. Every aspect of the frame and its construction reflects Rob’s deep expertise in custom framebuilding, resulting in a race bike that is as reliable and comfortable as it is fast and efficient.

Aerodynamics and Component Choices

Rob English’s TransAm race bike is engineered with aerodynamics and high-performance components to maximize speed and efficiency over the grueling 4,300-mile journey. The bike features a Parlee aero fork and custom nose cone, designed to reduce drag and help slice through the air with minimal resistance-key factors for any competitive race bike.

Additional aerodynamic enhancements include fairings for the disc brake calipers, which further streamline airflow around the bike. These thoughtful design choices combine to give Rob an edge in endurance cycling where every watt saved counts.

The component selection complements the aerodynamic frame perfectly. The bike is equipped with a SRAM eTap wireless groupset, offering crisp and reliable shifting, paired with extra Clic shifters on the Enve SES Aero Bars for precise control.

 

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Deep-dish carbon DT Swiss ERC 1100 wheels and 28mm tubeless Schwalbe Pro One tires provide a fast, smooth ride with puncture resistance essential for long-distance racing. Disc brakes ensure confident stopping power in all conditions, making this race bike a finely tuned machine built for speed, comfort, and durability on the road.

Bike packing Innovations and Race-Ready Gear

Rob English’s TransAm race bike goes beyond traditional racing setups by integrating innovative bike packing solutions tailored for the demands of ultra-distance racing. Collaborating with Oregon-based Kaibab Customs, Rob designed an aerodynamic food storage box mounted under the aerobars, complete with an integrated map flap for easy navigation on the go.

Complementing this setup is a standard XLAB bento box on the top tube, providing quick access to nutrition without sacrificing aerodynamics. Additionally, the custom carbon saddle bag from Ruckus Composites, molded from a foam cutout supplied by Rob, enhances airflow while securely carrying essential gear.

Every piece of gear on this race bike is chosen to optimize performance and reduce drag, enabling Rob to maintain speed and efficiency throughout the TransAm Race.

Balance Of Cycling Needs And Aerodynamics

The bike’s lightweight design, just under 10kg fully loaded, paired with a minimal lighting setup powered by rechargeable Exposure lights, reflects a thoughtful balance of endurance cycling needs and aerodynamic principles. This race-ready configuration showcases Rob’s passion for innovation and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of what a custom race bike can achieve in the toughest conditions.

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