Race Chat: With Beth Crumpton

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Second in the sprint to the line in the Women’s National trophy race at Hetton Park was Estrella ambassador Beth Crumpton. We chatted afterwards …

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Race Chat: With Beth Crumpton

Second in the sprint to the line in the Women’s National trophy race at Hetton Park was Estrella ambassador Beth Crumpton. We chatted afterwards …

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Of all the races on the day, the Women’s one was the closest with very little between Hannah Payton and Beth Crumpton and it took a mad dash to the line for the winner to be decided.

Unfortunately for Beth, Hannah managed to get to the line first but Beth was still pleased with the race. “It was nice to see a bit of mud on the course which meant a bit more skill came into play” she explained after the podium presentation.

“It was a really good course and I really enjoyed it. I went out fast and strong, probably a bit too fast so I needed to knock it back a bit and that is when Hannah came back to me so we were swapping the lead.”

“I went into the pits to change bikes and that was when Hannah got away from me and I had a bit of gap to close for a little while. I managed to come back to her on the final part of the race in the technical sections and whilst we got the bell, we were still confused as to what lap we were on”.

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“Hannah was a lot stronger than me on the climb up to the top and it was a really physical course. You ran up the Run Up and your legs are burning and then you have to climb up on the bike all the way up to the top of the course. Then, it was about getting back down the quickest but safest manner without slipping off”.

“They did a great job on the course and it had a bit of everything. The descents were technical and with the mud it was nice to get a bit of drift on. I got back to Hannah on the last half lap on the off camber section but that finish straight was a little too short and I couldn’t quite get round her.”
Beth’s Bike
As we chatted I couldn’t help notice Beth’s colourful Estrella bike and the big sprockets on the back. I asked Beth to talk me through the bike and how it was set up.

“I have a 42 tooth chain ring on the front which is not the smallest so I have the 36 sprocket on the back for when it gets really steep. Like when I raced Koppenberg the other week! I needed that 36 then. I’ve got the Estrella Fangoso CX set up so I can ride any course and it works great.”

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“I have the SRAM CX1 group set with the Apex hydraulic disc brakes. I wanted them especially because in the mud especially, they work better than the non hydraulic ones. Braking is pretty instant and you can feather them too. And being from a mountain bike, I am used to the hydraulic brakes.

And I am on Schwalbe tyres too and getting the best grip I can as well. I’m was on the Rocket Rons and that was the perfect tyre for today.

As an ambassador for Estrella, Beth says she has been given the task of testing their cyclo-cross bike and all she can say are good things about it because that’s the reality of how she feels about the bike. “I am telling them how it handles, and any changes they could make but I haven’t seen much that does need change as it handles great.”

“The chunkiness of the top tube makes it so stiff and it doesn’t feel like it flexes at all and that’s what I want in a cross bike. I want to be able to throw it round corners and when I am going down the rough stuff, it’s got it all under control. It’s great.”

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Road Bike too
Beth also has a road bike and that too she says has proved to be a great bike to race and train on. “This is the first year I have done a bit more on the road than normal as I’ve been part of a road team while working with Darren and Rob on the Estrella’s.”

“We have been on the T1000 carbon, top bike of the range and it is has been so stiff and strong throughout the season. It made me go faster for sure!”

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The road bike Beth is riding is made from Toray T1000 carbon fibre which is Estrella’s current flagship machine, the Camino Liso which Beth and Team Boot Out Breast Cancer have been using through the 2016 season.

This model has an oversized downtube with a square profile which maximizes stiffness and power transfer. Utilising their ‘Stop Shock Technology (SST)’ the flattened seat stays offer superior rider comfort and reduce rider fatigue too which leads to improving lateral stiffness so every ounce of energy is transferred from the rider to the rear wheel.

The Liso can do it all (as Beth explained), being equally at home tackling an all-day mountainous sportive just as it is whizzing around tight corners in a technical town centre circuit race. The race bike offers a more aggressive riding position that adds improved aerodynamics reducing the frontal area and drag.

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The Liso also has internal cabling which caters for both mechanical and electrical groupsets, improving the aerodynamics and offering clean, smooth lines for improved aesthetics. Although Beth and the team have been using the pink and blue model which has been equipped with Shimano Ultegra, the Liso is also available in three vibrant colour schemes, six individually designed sizes and a range of full build or frame only options.

Current build options are either Campagnolo, SRAM or Shimano, all of which are available in both electrical and mechanical groupsets.

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Website: www.estrella-bikes.com

 

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