Living here in Western North Carolina, there is no shortage of lonely roads for the road cyclist. “I’ve heard road cycling is over?” Bullshit. One of the reasons I moved here is because of the emense amount of low to zero traffic roads for me to cycle… pure heaven (well, besides the lose dogs.)
Lucky for me, Crust made what I would call “my signature model” (even tho its not my signature model, and I had zero to do with it)… The Malocchio. It fits 38mm tires which are still pretty huge IMO, and just as an FYI, gravel roads are still roads. Also, that Columbus Spirit tubing….. Stupefacente!!!
I was fortunate enough that our friend Max forgot his Malocchio at Crust HQ in Richmond, and he’s my size so I tore it apart and put my used shit all over it (sorry Max.)
A few build notes:
Campagnolo 11sp works A-OK with any 11sp cassette that can fit on a 10sp body… like the shimano CS-R7000 for example. No need for campy specific free hub and cassette. And I used one of those wolf tooth dangler extenders to get the short cage to clear the bigger cassette. I love the frame peg and using a full sized frame pump, like the Zefal HPX which is VERY GOOD at pumping, cuz I get flats a lot. I like my gearing low, and Max put some small small rings for me on the crankset (42/26) and I paired it with the 11-36t in the back. Now I can climb a wall! (Albeit very slowly.) Finally, the rug that ties the room together, is the Soft Palms bar tape. Matt really knocked this design out the park. Think about it, hours of cycling and your hands will be touching the bar tape the whole time, so why not use the best bar tape I’ve ever caressed?! It is so soft, soft like the touch of your favorite lover on a crisp autumn morning.
Frame: 2022 Crust Malocchio
Crust Rim Brake Wheelset 700c
White Industry VBC Cranks
Stronglight Headset
Shaka Handlebars (52cm)
B&M IQ-Xs dynamo light
Berthoud Aspin Saddle
Nitto S65 Seatpost
Simworks Stem
Velo Orange Grand Cru Brakeset
Campagnolo Super Record 11sp Shifters
Athena front and rear deraileurs
King Bottle Cages (x2)
Crust Disco Bottles (x2)
Gallery time!