Japanese Cyclocross National Champion Sakiko Miyauchi’s Author Cyclocross Bike. © Cyclocross Magazine
This weekend marks the last hurrah of summer here in the US, but in China, a five-month hiatus has come to an end with the completion of the first UCI cyclocross race of the 2014 season.
The second annual Qiansen Trophy Race, held in Yanqing County outside of Beijing, China drew in competitors from 24 countries, including Japanese Cyclocross National Champion Sakiko Miyauchi. This season the two-time national champion has joined up with Team Chainring, a newly-formed five person squad with the hopes of promoting cyclocross domestically in order to build the support systems needed for up-and-coming racers to compete at the international level. In addition, Team Chainring is behind Chainring Project for Kids, a program designed to teach kids how to ride safely.
Many in the US may not be familiar with the Author brand, but Team Chainring partnered with the Czech bicycle manufacturer to supply the team bikes. Author bikes have been popular in Japan for a while, and we’ve seen a bunch at the UCI race in Nobeyama a few years back. In China, we were able to take a closer look at Miyauchi’s Author X-Control TeamCX bike before the race.
Miyauchi’s Author Team CX is made from 24T carbon monocoque construction and comes as either a complete build in a black and white color scheme, or as a frame and fork in blue and white. Frame sizes, however, are limited to 48, 50 and 52cm. One of the first things you notice is the curved tube that joins the top tube to the seat tube The additional piece, which we’ve seen this incorporated before, most notably in Sven Nys’ Colnago Prestige, is said to provide comfort during shouldering but most of us don’t have our shoulder that far back.
Sakiko Miyauchi’s Author Team CX features a curved tube at the seat joint to aid in shouldering, like Nys’ old Colnago, but most of us do not have our shoulder back that far. © Cyclocross Magazine
Shimano 105 is standard on the Team CX, and although Miyauchi’s bike sports some 105 components, it appears to be more of a custom build. Older style ST-5600 10-speed shifters control the Shimano CX70 front, and Shimano 5600 rear derailleur.
Sugino Mighty Tour square tapered cranks adorn Miyauchi’s Author, along with 110 BCD Sugino 42/34 chainrings, and Shimano XTR pedals finish off the look.
Miyauchi’s Sugino Mighty Tour 2000 square taper cranks and Sugino 110 BCD 34/42 chainrings are old school, but are classy and do the job. © Cyclocross Magazine
Dura-Ace 7800 wheels and Challenge Grifo tires negotiate the bumps while braking is done with TRP EuroX cantilever brakes. Other custom bits include an FSA zero offset K-Force seat post and a Felt Devox saddle.
Miyauchi would finish 17th in China at the Qiansen Trophy race, and we’re likely to be seeing more of her this season, as she has reportedly set her eyes on competing at the World Championships in Tabor in January. Stay tuned for more pro bike profiles from China.
Sakiko Miyauchi’s Author Team CX Highlights:
Frame: Author X-Control Team CX Carbon Monocoque
Fork: Author X-Control Team CX Carbon
Shifters: Shimano 105 10-speed 5600
Front Derailleur: Shimano: CX70
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 5600
Cranks: Sugino Mighty Tour 2000, 34/42 Sugino 110BCD chainrings
Pedals: Shimano XTR
Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace 7801
Seat Post: FSA offset K-Force
Saddle: Felt Devox
Sakiko Miyauchi’s Author Team CX Photo Gallery:
