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Photo ©: Sirotti

Shannon Skerritt's Vanilla Cross, January 7, 2006

U.S. Master's 35-39 national cyclo-cross champion Shannon Skerritt
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image) U.S. Master's 35-39 national cyclo-cross champion Shannon Skerritt  and his Vanilla Cross bike. Skerritt says that although the championship jersey (his first) is on his laundry pile right now, it will probably be framed and hung with respect in his home in Portland.
The flower insignia
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image) The flower insignia  Sacha White imprints on most of his bikes is a modified image of a Vanilla plant leaf. "An orchid actually," White says, "but as a decal on a frame, people often thought it was a bug or a pot leaf, so I decided to go more streamlined and a little more modern."
Skerritt runs Paul's Neo-retro cantilever brake
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image) Skerritt runs Paul's Neo-retro cantilever brake  on the front of his Vanilla Cross. He says he scraped the decals from his Bontrager Carbon Aero rims because they were "looking a little ratty".
Skerritt runs the front brake cable
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image)  Skerritt runs the front brake cable  over the reversed 130mm stem because "my cable hanger and stem are so close, it's much cleaner and doesn't pinch the cable." He runs a 44cm-wide Salsa Short and Shallow handelbar.
Chris King's NothreadSet headset
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image) Chris King's NothreadSet headset  keeps the carbon steerer on the Alpha Q fork locked into the Vanilla steel head-tube. The frame is was built with a 58cm seat-tube and 58cm top-tube (C-C).
One of the many reasons to look closely
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image) One of the many reasons to look closely  at the elegantly simple Vanilla is the detail of this cutout in the rear drop-outs.
Skerritt's Alpha Q Carbon fork
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image) Skerritt's Alpha Q Carbon fork  gets a complimentary paint job to keep the whole bike looking clean. And despite being a Bontrager fan, Skerritt says he'll probably build a set of wheels on Chris King hubs for 2006 "because they stand up so well to the power washers."
Sacha White fillet-brazes his steel frames,
Photo ©: Robert M. Huff
(Click for larger image) Sacha White fillet-brazes his steel frames,  which results in an almost invisible join. The process keeps the lines simple and clean, a philosophy to frame building evident in this simple head badge; a sterling silver cutout of the company logo and symbol.