Features Road The green machine that drives the future of America's cyclo-cross hopefuls By James Huang published 26 December 2007 The 2007 UCI World Cyclo-cross World Championships was undeniably a breakout year for US 'cross... Comments Image 1 of 48Salsa also provides its bar and stem to the team.(Image credit: James Huang)A flattened top tube(Image credit: James Huang)The head tube is reinforced at the ends(Image credit: James Huang)There's no carbon in the frame(Image credit: James Huang)More SRAM stuff can be found out back…(Image credit: James Huang)Surprise, surprise(Image credit: James Huang)The fi'zi:k Nisene saddle(Image credit: James Huang)…and stems in an effort to shed weight.(Image credit: James Huang)The team and its equipment travels to races(Image credit: James Huang)The CLIF Bar Development Team(Image credit: James Huang)Danny Summerhill finished second at last year's UCI Junior Cyclo-cross World Championships last year atop a Salsa Chili con Crosso.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Summerhill just place third at this year's US Nationals event on the same bike.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The Salsa Chili con Crosso frame foregoes carbon in the interest of saving weight.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Scandium-enhanced aluminum alloy tubing is light and fatigue-resistant.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)A flattened top tube is designed to improve portaging comfort.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Chain stays are flattened slightly in their midsection to promote vertical compliance…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)…and the seat stays are similarly shaped for the same reason.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The standard dual seat stays include a stout anchor for the rear brake housing stop.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The head tube is reinforced at the ends to combat ovalizing.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Mud clearance is aided by the lack of a chain stay bridge.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The front of the bike is fitted with an Alpha Q CX20 fork.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Summerhill was running the tubular version of Mavic's Ksyrium SL the day we caught up with his bike.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)There's no carbon in the frame but there is a bit in the front hub.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The venerable Dugast Rhino tire is reliably glued to Summerhill's rims.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The SRAM Force DoubleTap levers work well in nasty 'cross conditions.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The SRAM Rival OCT crank is made of hollow forged aluminum.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)More SRAM stuff can be found out back…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)…and at the front derailleur.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Avid Shorty 6 cantilevers offer simple and reliable stopping.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)A handy Jump Stop prevents the chain from falling to the inside.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Surprise, surprise : Crank Brothers pedals on another pro-level 'cross bike.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The SRAM PowerLock allows for chain installation without tools.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Salsa also provides its bar and stem to the team.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Summerhill prefers an anatomic bend.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The fi'zi:k Nisene saddle has a little extra padding to ease the impact of remounts.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)A stout Salsa Lip-Lock collar secures the seatpost.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Most team bikes are fitted with painted-to-match Alpha Q forks.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The team is also experimenting with Alpha seatposts…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)…and stems in an effort to shed weight.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)When conditions call for clinchers, the team relies the Mavic Ksyrium ES…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)…and Maxxis tires.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The unique CLIF Bar Development Team has bigger goals in mind than just bike racing.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The team and its equipment travels to races in this converted school bus.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)It doesn't go very fast, but it's very eco-conscious.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The bus runs on biodiesel whenever possible and will soon be able to run on waste vegetable oil.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)A simple idea that's not always so simple to execute.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The CLIF Bar Development Team does their part, though, wherever it can.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)It's a tight fit sometimes, but the team gets the stuff where it needs to go.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Pro bikes, December 26, 2007Danny Summerhill's CLIF Bar Development Salsa Cycles Chili con CrossoGet The Leadout NewsletterThe latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct 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