1997 Slingshot Cyclocross
This circa 1997 Slingshot cyclocross bike originates from the quirky design of Mark Groendal, who at one time found himself riding a bike with a broken downtube. He noticed that the bike rode smoother over rough terrain, and developed the concept into a design that incorporated a cable in place of the downtube with a spring attached at one end. A fiberglass board connects the toptube to the seattube, providing a vertical hinge with lateral rigidity. Capitalizing on what some would call sling-power, the idea was to recover energy expended on the downward pedal stroke. Within the regulated world of competitive cyclocross, the lack of a traditional downtube was a problem and the cable would be shrouded in a plastic tube. This particular bike has a nice configuration, with horizontal dropouts, fender mounts, and a quick-release that allows the bike to fold for travel.
The Build
Year: 1997
Frame: Slingshot Cyclocross Fork: Slingshot Cyclocross Unicrown Stem: Control Tech Headset: Dia Compe Aheadset Bottom Bracket: Shimano Cartridge Bearing Handlebar: Bontrager Race Brake Levers: Dia Compe SS-7 Front Brake: Avid Tri-Align Rear Brake: Avid Tri-Align Crankset: Shimano Deore XT Chainring: Ritchey 38T Pedals: Shimano M525 Hubs: Spinergy Rims: Spinergy Rev-X Tires: IRC Crosscountry Wheel QR: Control Tech Seatpost: Control Tech SL Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Grips: ATI Neutron Cog: Shimano DX 18T Chain: Sachs PC41 |
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