It’s difficult for those from the northern hemisphere to comprehend, but Christmas in Australia means it’s starting to swelter. In the north, however, it’s the cyclocross season that’s really starting to heat up, despite the cold and the mud. That means it’s perfect conditions for Breadwinner Cycles’ Holeshot CX Disc.
Ira Ryan and Tony Pereira’s Breadwinner Cycles project was announced at the 2013 NAHBS and since then, they have accrued the same level of respect as the bikes of their individual frame building pursuits. Ira and Tony are both legends of the Portland scene and their skills and passion are combined in the Breadwinner range.
Being seasoned cyclocrossers, mountain bikers and all-round cyclists themselves, Ira and Tony intrinsically knew what makes a winning CX bike. There’s no denying the mud, sweat and gears in the Holeshot’s DNA. It was designed to get dirty, from the wet ground of the Pacific Northwest up.
This disc-specific Holeshot was created for Joel Madrone, a Portland-based veteran CX racer and long-serving member of the Breadwinner Cycles team. It’s virtually identical to the standard, cantilever-braked Holeshot, save for the necessary mechanical adjustments, like the Paragon dropouts and 44mm head tube.
The ‘beer can’ head tube is married to ENVE’s highly popular and good-looking CX fork — with colour-matched cable guide — which is beefy enough to keep the front end tracking correctly. The Thomson cockpit is also a contributor to the front end strength, turning smoothly thanks to a Chris King headset.
The steel used for the frame is the same as the standard Holeshot: a mix of Columbus Life and CX tubes, which results in a light, strong, fast and forgiving frame. That’s the right combination for a machine that needs to be navigated through deep muddy gullies and launched over barriers.
Joel’s Holeshot was spec’d with an Ultegra group and cable-actuated TRP Spyre brakes, shaving off a few grams compared to the hydro setup with little difference in performance. They also look spectacular next to the gold Chris King R45 hubs, laced to HiFi’s new EP carbon tubular rims and Challenge Limus rubber by Sugar Wheelworks.
When it comes to ‘cross bikes, the Holeshot is, without a doubt, a thoroughbred. It’s the professional-standard details that sets it apart from other offerings, like the cable configuration and the impressed seat stays for extra ‘give’. Not to mention the fact that it’s handmade by Ira Ryan and Tony Pereira.
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