{"id":50603,"date":"2023-06-02T17:13:31","date_gmt":"2023-06-02T15:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=732471"},"modified":"2023-06-02T17:35:37","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T15:35:37","slug":"lauren-de-crescenzos-custom-factor-ostro-gravel-for-unbound-2023","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/lauren-de-crescenzos-custom-factor-ostro-gravel-for-unbound-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Lauren De Crescenzo\u2019s custom Factor Ostro Gravel for Unbound 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Speed reigns for the Queen of Gravel <\/p>

By Jack Evans\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 02 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Lauren De Crescenzo will ride a custom, Factor Ostro gravel bike with semi-slick tyres at this weekend\u2019s Unbound 200.<\/p>\n

The defending Gravel World Champion is one of the favourites in the women\u2019s Unbound 200, having won the Mid South gravel race in Oklahoma earlier this season.<\/p>\n

But facing a stiff test from the 2022 Unbound <\/a>champion, Sofia Gomez Villafane, Factor has tried to help De Crescenzo eke out every last watt.<\/p>\n

A 1x drivetrain<\/h2>\n
\""Lauren\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The huge single chainring should keep the chainline straight and efficient.<\/span><\/figcaption> Cinch Cycling<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

De Crescenzo, the 2021 Unbound female champion, will run a 1x drivetrain<\/a> on her Factor Ostro with a 48T SRAM X-Sync aero single chainring and a 12-speed, 10-44t SRAM XPLR cassette.<\/p>\n

The Unbound 200 course measures 205 miles, or 321.5km, but features only 1,210m of climbing.<\/p>\n

For elite athletes such as De Crescenzo, the lack of elevation negates the need for a smaller inner chainring to provide an easier climbing gear.<\/p>\n

\""Lauren\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Aero bars are out at Unbound, but one-piece bars and stems are in.<\/span><\/figcaption> Cinch Cycling<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Meanwhile, the high average speed<\/a> of nearly 31km\/h (19mph) calls for a sizeable and aerodynamic chainring, matched to a wide-range cassette<\/a>.<\/p>\n

De Crescenzo\u2019s Factor Ostro Gravel<\/a> is custom painted in the mint and black colours of her Cinch Racing team.<\/p>\n

Unbound organisers banned aero bars<\/a> this year, so De Crescenzo will rely on an integrated Black Inc cockpit to cut through the wind.<\/p>\n

Ceramic bearings galore<\/h2>\n
\""Lauren\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
CeramicSpeed says its Oversized Pulley Wheel System delivers a small efficiency saving.<\/span><\/figcaption> Cinch Cycling<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Factor\u2019s go-fast gravel bike<\/a> is specced with a SRAM Red eTap AXS rear derailleur<\/a> and a CeramicSpeed OSPW rear derailleur cage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The brand claims its Oversized Pulley Wheel System is two to four watts more efficient than a standard Shimano Dura-Ace derailleur cage.<\/p>\n

CeramicSpeed also supplies ceramic bearings<\/a> for the bottom bracket<\/a> and headset<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Semi-slick tyres<\/h2>\n
\""Lauren\"<\/picture><\/div>
The Snoqualmie Pass is a slick, fairly wide gravel tyre. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Cinch Cycling <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Lauren\"<\/picture><\/div>
There\u2019s room for wider rubber than the 700x44mm tyre De Crescenzo is running.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Cinch Cycling<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

The pace of the race, smoothness of the gravel and scarcity of corners also explains De Crescenzo\u2019s tyre choice.<\/p>\n

The Ren\u00e9 Herse Snoqualmie Pass TC combines a slick centre tread to reduce rolling resistance, with a generous width of 700x44mm.<\/p>\n

According to the brand, the gravel bike tyre<\/a>\u2019s diagonal side grooves can grip in mud. This feature is probably less of a concern for De Crescenzo because the sloppy conditions at last year\u2019s edition of Unbound look unlikely to be repeated this time.<\/p>\n

\""Lauren\"<\/picture><\/div>
The 200-mile race will take the elites barely 10 hours. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Cinch Cycling<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Lauren\"<\/picture><\/div>
The Ostro Gravel has deep, aero-optimised tubes and a Kammtail seatpost.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Cinch Racing<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Lauren\"<\/picture><\/div>
The head tube mimics the shape of the Ostro aero road bike. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Cinch Cycling<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

De Crescenzo will use the Snoqualmie Pass TC with Endurance Plus casing, which features added sidewall protection to lower her risk of puncturing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Snoqualmie Pass TC will be set up tubeless<\/a> on Black Inc\u2019s gravel racing-oriented Thirty Four gravel bike w<\/a>heels<\/a>.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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