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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

Pro bikes: Barb Howe's Rock Lobster, January 24, 2006

Barb Howe's custom Rock Lobster 'cross bike
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Barb Howe's custom Rock Lobster 'cross bike  - Builder Paul Sadoff says that in 2005, sponsorship bikes accounted for almost a third of the 101 frames he built.
Bundled up against the cold
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Bundled up against the cold  Barb Howe preps her Rock    Lobster cyclo-cross race bike an hour before the elite women's national race in Providence, Rhode Island.
Howe runs Zipp 303 Paves
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Howe runs Zipp 303 Paves  on her main race bike and 404s on her spare. She says the 303 Pave has more carbon fiber than the road version of the 303, a higher hub flange and greater spoke count.
The rear derailleur cable
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) The rear derailleur cable is routed up over the top tube to avoid it getting clogged or damaged by the terrain in cyclo-cross races.
Barb's custom 'cross race bike
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Barb's custom 'cross race bike is built by hand with Easton's Ultralite and Scandium tubing. Sadoff says it's a good time to be a frame builder. "There are so many new great materials to work with and plenty of customers seeking something that the big companies might not be focusing on. There's also lots of new blood in the frame building community; some great new craftsmen out there. They'll be at the American Handbuilt bike show in San Jose, Calif. on March 4-5th, along with yours truly."
In the cockpit
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) In the cockpit  Barb runs Easton's EC90 bar and Shimano Dura-Ace levers. Just like we saw on <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2005/probikes/?id=skerritt_vanilla">Shannon Skerritt's 'cross pro bike article</a>, Howe routes her front brake cable over the stem to allow a cleaner route from lever to the cable mount at the top of the headset. You can just see the SRP front brake in this picture.
Eggbeaters
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Eggbeaters  - Howe says she's run Crankbrother's minimal pedals since they first came out.
Paul Sadoff's signature head badge
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Paul Sadoff's signature head badge is an homage to music. A musician himself, Sadoff has been known to play live in his Interbike trade show booth. "I have been playing professionally on a part time basis since 1982," he says. "At Interbike, I invited people to come and jam around an hour before closing time. As far as I know, I was the only booth in Interbike history to that point to have live music. I think it wasn't actually permitted. I am supposed to play at the Handbuilt Bike show with (fellow frame builder) Bryan Bayliss. In 1988 I gave up a fulltime gig in a 50's-60's dance band to launch Rock Lobster full time."
Much of Barb Howe's race bike
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Much of Barb Howe's race bike is built from Eastom Scandium and Aluminum tubing. Sadoff believes in strong welds and has been rewarded with a months-long backlog or orders from loyal customers.
Chris King's Pretty and Strong headset
Photo ©: Keli Medcroft
(Click for larger image) Chris King's Pretty and Strong headset  - team issue for the Bella's.