{"id":64931,"date":"2024-06-03T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/6e3aaae8-7f33-4988-873e-55188a4f3c97"},"modified":"2024-06-03T19:25:27","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T17:25:27","slug":"the-first-ever-unbound-winning-bike-how-have-gravel-bikes-evolved-since-2006","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/the-first-ever-unbound-winning-bike-how-have-gravel-bikes-evolved-since-2006\/","title":{"rendered":"The first ever Unbound-winning bike | How have gravel bikes evolved since 2006?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A look back at Dan Hughes\u2019 Shimano and Campagnolo drivetrain mash-up and the only 42mm tyre available in 2006\u00a0 <\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n <\/p>

Published: Monday, 03 June 2024 at 17:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Dan Hughes rode this Steelman Cycles Cyclocross to victory at the inaugural 2006 edition of Unbound, then named the Dirty Kanza.\u00a0<\/p>

Both the antithesis of and a pre-cursor to gravel bikes<\/a> as we know them today, the bike wears a mixture of Shimano and Campagnolo drivetrain<\/a> components, alongside the only 42mm gravel bike tyres<\/a> available at the time.\u00a0<\/p>

Although this bike was only raced in the 2006 edition, Hughes went on to become a four-time winner of Unbound<\/a> and is an 11-time finisher of the 200-mile gravel race.\u00a0<\/p>

The bike was very nearly \u2018lost\u2019 after Hughes retired it from racing. \u201cI sold it at one point to a kid that worked with me at the shop I used to own. He rode it a few times and then hung it up and bought something newer,” he recalled.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cYears later I went back to him [and bought it back]. I\u2019m glad I did and will never let it go again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

Let\u2019s take a closer look at this historic steed.\u00a0<\/p>

A Frankenstein frameset\u00a0<\/h2>
Steel was, and still is, real. – Dan Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Steelman Cycles Cyclocross is a steel cyclocross frame hand-built by Brent Steelman from Redwood City, California.\u00a0<\/p>

It\u2019s a mash-up of the two models Steelman made at the time \u2013 the Eurocross and the Psychocross.\u00a0<\/p>

The Eurocross was a traditional cyclocross bike<\/a>, with the Psychocross designed to accept a mountain bike groupset<\/a> with a sloping top tube.\u00a0<\/p>

\"Steelman
Meet the maker. – Dan Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>

At its centre, Hughes\u2019 bike is a Eurocross but with the forks and stays from the Psychocross.\u00a0<\/p>

Hughes specced this setup in order to run chunkier rubber, given cyclocross bikes<\/a> typically sport tyres no wider than 33mm.\u00a0<\/p>

The frame is built using Deda ZeroUno tubing, with the Psychocross rear end just about allowing room for 42mm gravel tyres.<\/p>

The only 42mm tyre available\u00a0<\/h2>
\"Rock
The Rock ‘n Roads are still available today. – Dan Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Hughes wasn\u2019t exactly spoilt for choice with picking a suitable tyre for the Steelman \u2013 the Bruce Gordon Rock ‘n Road tyre was the only available 42mm-wide option at the time.\u00a0<\/p>

The Rock ‘n Road is an all-terrain gravel tyre designed for varying weather conditions, whether that be on road, sand, gravel or chipseal.\u00a0<\/p>

Still produced to this day, the tyres just about squeeze into the Steelman frame, despite its 425mm chainstay length (Bruce Gordon recommends a minimum 435mm chainstay).\u00a0<\/p>

Clash of the (groupset) titans\u00a0<\/h2>
\"Campagnolo
The Campagnolo Record components were a fine choice. – Dan Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Hughes’ bike used a Campagnolo Record 10-speed groupset, with cantilever brakes and a 12-26t cassette<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

The crankset<\/a> and front derailleur<\/a> came from rival brand Shimano \u2013 a move that would doubtless make the hearts of either brand sink.\u00a0<\/p>

Hughes did this to run a more forgiving chainring, but had to get creative to stop it from hitting the driveside chainstay.\u00a0<\/p>

\"Dan
There’s all manner of things going on at the crankset. – Dan Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Dura-Ace 7410 cranks (an 8-speed item) are paired with a 50t outer chainring (from a different but unknown groupset generation) and a 38t inner.\u00a0<\/p>

Hughes couldn\u2019t run a smaller inner chainring because of the crank\u2019s 130mm bolt circle diameter<\/a> (BCD).\u00a0<\/p>

The crankset is matched with a Shimano 600-series 8-speed front derailleur and spins on a custom Phil Wood bottom bracket, designed to clear the 42mm tyres.\u00a0<\/p>

\"Clearance
The clearance between the chainring and chainstay is wince-inducing. – Dan Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Hughes says because the crank was slightly outboard, he had all manner of issues with the poor chainline resulting in sub-optimal shifting.\u00a0<\/p>

However, that didn\u2019t prevent him powering to victory in 12 hours and 58 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>

Reliable finishing kit\u00a0<\/h2>
\"Rock
It’s all Deda kit up front. – Dan Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Thankfully, things were a little more straightforward when it came to the wheels and finishing kit.\u00a0<\/p>

Hughes specced Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL<\/a> wheels, the \u2018SSC\u2019 standing for Special Service Course, which was its flagship line at the time.\u00a0<\/p>

Elsewhere, a Deda Newton stem is mated with a Deda 215 aluminium handlebar.\u00a0<\/p>

We\u2019re not sure what seatpost Hughes is running, but what appears to be a Fizik Aliante saddle is installed atop it.\u00a0<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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