Rider Profile
Name : Alexander
Information : 150lbs, 5’8”, Nutmeg Country Club
Origin : Connecticut, USA
Riding Type : Gravel, Road, 90’s 26ers
Specifications
Bike
Frame : Ron’s Bikes x Larkin Cycles CR1 - Team Nutmeg Edition
Groupset : Campagnolo Super Record 12 Speed Mechanical Rim Brakes
Brakes : TRP Deep Drop Brakes
Handlebar : Easton E100
Saddle : Berk Lupina Carbon
Headset : White Industries
Stem & Seatpost : MT Zoom
Wheels
Rims : AR56 - 28mm Hook UD Matte Non Disc - Grooved Graphene Surface 24H External Hole With Drain Holes No Access Holes
Hubs : White Industries T11
Spokes : Sapim CX Ray
Nipples : Sapim Polyax 14mm Brass
Tires : Ultradynamico Cava Race 39mm
A 17.7 lbs all-road custom build with AR56 rims, my favorite steed in the stable!
My buddy Ron designed these “CR1” frames along with local Connecticut framebuilder Darren Larkin for his company, Ron’s Bikes, with the more exclusive “team” colorway for a handful of us local folks who ride together. The idea was an ultralight steel frame “country road” bike, with brake mounts placed to clear 39c tires, utilizing mid-reach calipers. My build clocked in at 17.7lbs; not bad for steel!
With the AR56 rims with no nipple access holes, I’m able to run these tubeless with no rim tape; and 39c run at 45psi, it’s a plush ride. This rig does a fantastic job keeping up with pure road bikes in a spirited paceline, and can get me through singletrack unscathed when we’re in the mood for an ill-advised off-road linkup (happens more than it should). This bike immediately became my favorite steed in the stable!
The design ethos of this build drew a lot from the “resto-mod” aesthetic. I love the way the deep carbon rims juxtapose the ultra slim Columbus Life tubes. The Lupina saddle and bar tape from Berk Composites made a perfect match to the grey of the tires, Ultradynamico Cava Races. These bikes were really designed around this tire. High thread count, supple, light… These tires really bring ride quality to an all-road machine. They roll fast, and corner like a dream with their file tread and high volume.
A 90-mile mix of road, gravel, and dirtbike trails for a capable machine.
Its first big voyage was a 90-mile weekend ride we did in the southern part of Connecticut. A handful of us set out from Ron’s house on some choice country roads. We don’t have huge mountains here in the Nutmeg State, but the constantly undulating terrain allows the vert to add up quickly. What was advertised as a “road ride” proved to be anything but. On our first leg, we encountered dirt roads, jeep trails, and a touch of singletrack.
Our aim was for a small Lebanese restaurant in the forgotten town of Yantic, marking just shy of 40 miles into our trip. We made it there in good time and enjoyed our gyros and falafel of choice for an extended refuel. We stopped at the local firehouse to top off our bottles from their spigot and quested onward.
From there, we encountered our most arduous segment - full-blown gas-powered dirtbike singletrack. We had a handful of miles to cover through a spiderweb of trails that we didn’t quite know the way through. The riding was pretty frickin sweet though! Chunky descents, deep berms (though not as manicured as your standard MTB varietal), and four guys on road bikes trying not to wash out while the throttle-whopping dirtbikers watched us with confusion and amusement.
We emerged victorious, back on the roads. From there, the daylight was waning, as it took us a few hours to cover the dirt. We dropped the hammer as best we could and aimed back from whence we came. A few more gravel paths, a heap of road, and burning up the last of our power, we returned as the last glimpse of sun set for the day. A fine christening for a capable machine.
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January 4th, 2026 | Light Bicycle
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