Building the ultimate crit bike: Finishing the build

In this second part of Alex Paton's ultimate crit bike build, he is putting the finishing touches together to prepare the bike for some racing action. In the first episode, the GCN presenter took the time to get the frame custom-painted and decided on what build best suited the bike. Now it is time to get the bottom bracket, brakes and groupset installed.

Crit racing has its own unique set of demands. The fast-paced, short circuit nature of the racing means that weight is less of a consideration when compared to a bike aimed at long alpine climbs or road racing.

• Read more: Building the ultimate entry-level crit bike: Shimano 105 mechanical and Cannondale CAAD13

A crit bike needs to be robust and able to handle crashes that are part and parcel of the racing style. The Cannondale CAAD 13 that Alex has selected, and the mechanical Shimano 105 groupset are both characterised by their durability, low cost, and performance. Blending all three into a perfect combination for its intended use.

Although it may be a mid-tier frame made from aluminium, the CAAD 13 still features internal cable routing for both the mechanical gears and the hydraulic disc brakes. When fitting these to a new frame it can be difficult to guide them through, however we have taken the time to show you how it can be done, if you are looking at building a bike up from scratch.

How much did the ultimate crit bike cost to build?

With the bike fully built, Alex breaks down the rough cost of the bike. If you are going to buy everything from new then it will cost around £/€/$3,000-3500 depending on exactly what spec you want to go for. An aluminium frameset, much like the CAAD 13, will set you back around £/€/$1,000 and a set of carbon wheels will cost around the same.

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Shimano's latest 105 mechanical groupset hits the perfect blend of performance and cots

Depending on which groupset you choose to fit you can spend from £/€/$500 upwards with the 105 12-speed mechanical groupset that Alex fitted costing £/€/$1000. On top of these costs the finishing kit needs to be included, such as pedals, bar tape and saddle.

Build kit and weight

The basis for Alex’s ultimate crit bike is the Cannondale CAAD 13 aluminium frame that has been fitted with Shimano’s latest mechanical R7120 105 groupset. The bike is running on a set of Shimano 105 carbon fibre wheels that with a 46mm deep rim profile offer an aerodynamic advantage and a weight saving.

• Read more: Mechanical Shimano 105 goes 12-speed and is disc-brake only

The finishing kit on the bike comes from Shimano’s in house finishing brand Vibe, with a carbon bar and stem. The final touch to the build are the Pirelli P Zero tyres with TPU inner tubes in a 30mm width, which is fairly wide by crit racing standards.

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The finished bike with its custom paint finish is something to behold

With the bike fully built there is only one last thing to do. Put it on the scales and find out just how much it weighs. For an aluminium bike with 105 mechanical gearing the bike tips the scales at a very respectable 8.27kg. This is competitive with a lot of similarly priced carbon fibre bikes, if not a little bit lighter.

Now that the ultimate crit bike is built it is only fair that it gets put through its paces at a local race. Keep your eyes peeled when the season kicks off again for another instalment with the bike in action.

For more of the latest tech news, features, and pro bikes make sure to head over to the dedicated areas on the GCN website.