Winner’s Bikes: Tim Gould’s Forme Calver

A world champion in Mountain Biking, and World Cup winner, Tim Gould is a legend, in the Hall of Fame for mountain biking no less, and he spoke to us about his Forme Calver CX machine.

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Winner’s Bikes: Tim Gould’s Forme Calver

A world champion in Mountain Biking, and World Cup winner, Tim Gould is a legend in off road racing. He’s in the Hall of Fame for mountain biking no less, won the Three Peaks six times and he spoke to us about his Forme Calver CX machine.

The Calver, say Forme, is a pure thoroughbred-racing tool, designed for the specific demands of a Cyclo-Cross race. You will not find any mudguard eyelets, pannier rack mounts or unnecessary weight anywhere here.

The Calver frame say Forme, is the lightest aluminium disc-brake compatible frame on the market and lighter than most carbon frame at less than 1.2kg. Developed with the assistance of some of the UK’s most experienced and successful Cyclo-Cross racers, their ambition was to deliver race-winning performance at an affordable real-world price point.

At the Bradford National Trophy they went close to winning in two events, the Over 50’s with Tim Gould (2nd) and the Elite Men’s with Grant Ferguson (2nd). “The bike has a slacker head tube angle than what I am used to” says Tim, “but I am finding that a positive. The bike isn’t twitchy, and on the steep descents we have today (Bradford National Trophy), it rides really well and the confidence to attack them”.

“If you are starting crossnow,  you’d go for disc brakes and the single chain ring. One or two of the die hards will use canti-levers but they are people with three or four pairs of canti lever wheels and it is hard to make the transition”.

Forme say …”With more and more Cyclo-Cross riders realising the benefits of a 1x Gear system we have introduced a removable front derailleur hanger to accommodate all drivetrain options, saving weight and cleaning up the frame design.”

“I’m riding a 42 front chain ring and 11 speed, 11 to 28 at the back” says Tim. “Today, I was never in the 11 and I don’t know if I was in the 28 even, I don’t look round and I wasn’t fighting for a lower gear so I probably never used the 28”.

Thru Axles for increased stiffness – A 100x12mm front thru axle and 142x12mm rear thru axle optimize power transfer and responsivity by making the frame/fork and wheel connection stiffer, stronger and more secure.  Disc brakes (above) are here to stay in Cyclo-Cross! Flat Mount Disc brake options support a clean and compact braking system.

Tyre Clearance & Mud Shedding Frame Stays
Cyclo-Cross personifies our Formed by the UK stance. Insufficient frame clearance on a wet & muddy race in the middle of December has ruined many a race. The Calver offers exceptional clearance across the full circumference of the tyre by reinforcing the rear triangle and bottom bracket shell of the frame allowing us to remove the chain stay bridge all together and heighten the seat stay bridge.

Integrated Cable Routing
To extend cable life and deliver faultless gear changes, all inner cables are fully sleeved and internally routed inside the frame and fork to ensure protection against water, ice, mud and sand during the race and high-pressure jet washers during pit cleaning laps.

Race Optimized Tube Profiles
The underside of the top tube is flattened for shouldering the bike easily and as comfortably as possible during running sections.

External Bottom Bracket Shell
Compatible with the largest range of cranks and less prone to creaking by being isolated from the frameset. This is a benefitting factor to consider when the frame is constantly exposed to mud, sand and grit.

Reinforced Head Tube
To assist steering precision and reduce flexing under powerful braking we utilise 1 1/8” to 1 1/2” integrated bearings and a tapered head tube.

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