Let’s get this out of the way right now. It is true that Diamondback Bicycles is not a brand I would have fingered for having a decent CX bike. The brand, long ago popular for its BMX bikes (and my first decent whip as a kid in the ’80s!), went through a few ownership changes, including some dark days as a “department store” bike brand.
But the company is battling back these days to return to respect. Last month, I threw a leg over a new Diamondback to race in a pre-season CX event in Park City, Utah, called the Raleigh Midsummer Nights Race.
At the start line I straddled the company’s Steilacoom RCX Pro Disc model, a $3,500 bike that serves as Diamondback’s top-of-the-line. The frame is standard fare for CX, including a wide, flattened top-tube for easy shouldering and a lightweight alloy build. But don’t miss the formed top tube and seat stays, the latter which is flattened to allow some compliance (flex) to the otherwise stiff frame.
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Most people immediately noticed the bike’s robust Easton EC90 XD carbon fork. It appears over-built, but it’s light and stiff, exactly what you want up front on a CX racer. With its 1.5-inch tapered steerer tube, the fork is the stiffest carbon front end I’ve experienced on a CX rig.
Brakes are from Avid. This was my first race on a disc brake equipped CX bike. First impression: I’m a fan. Any extra weight was not noticeable and the power and consistent performance, whether wet or dry, was awesome.
This bike wears Avid’s proven BB7 calipers with a 160mm front rotor and 140mm rear. Several times I found myself accidentally locking up the rear wheel on the pavement sections because I was unaccustomed to that much power at the lever. Another bonus with discs: no annoying front wheel chatter under heavy braking.
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Components are sensibly racey. Sram Force 10 spd, shifting, cassette, cranks. A full carbon cockpit and seatpost help dampen the bumps. When you’re tired, every bike feels heavy, but the RCX shoulders nicely during a race at 19.2 lbs (56cm size) for run-ups and barrier hopping.
Perhaps the best way I can sum up the build is this: Unless you’re moving into the Cat 2 races, I wouldn’t be in a big hurry to swap any of the parts out before racing this bike. It’s set up pretty well.
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