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FEATURES: TODD WELLS' SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TRICROSS
Road Bike Action
December 21, 2009
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While Todd Wells’ main focus is mountain bike racing for Specialized, he has become a force on the North American cyclocross circuit. Wells won his first national cyclocross title in 2001 before winning it again in 2005. Along with his two cyclocross national titles, Wells has a national mountain bike short track title to his credit as well as the 1995 and 1996 collegiate mountain bike titles. In 2004 he won a hard fought battle to represent the United States as a member of the US Olympic mountain bike team. As the 2009 US Cyclocross National Championships approached there was a lot of pre-race talk about Wells, as it appeared his form was coming just in time to claim a third national cyclocross title. On race day, Wells was unable to match the pace of Tim Johnson, but still finished an impressive fourth. At the US Cyclocross National Championships in Bend, Oregon, Road Bike Action got a chance to take a look at Wells’ Specialized S-Works Tricross.
Wells uses a 58-centimeter Specialized S-Works Tricross frameset that is pulled from the production line before the water bottle and pannier mounts have been drilled into the frame. Other modifications to save weight include shaving off of the fender mounts from the fork and rear dropouts.
The full carbon frame features oversized and shaped carbon tubing, with an internal 1.125-inch Cane Creek headset and Specialized Zertz vibration dampeners in the seatstays. The frameset is then mated to a Specialized FACT monocoque carbon fork with SpeedZertz vibration dampeners.
The SpeedZertzs in the fork not only smooth out the ride but also reduce brake chatter.
Wells is sponsored by SRAM, which provides the Red shifters and derailleurs. Like many other SRAM riders, the front derailleur on Wells’ bike is Red, but the titanium cage as been replaced with a steel version from SRAM’s Force group. This has been done to increase shifting precision and durability in muddy conditions. Wells’ bike also continues the trend of SRAM sponsored riders using a Force level PG-1070 cassette. Unlike the Red PowerDome cassette, the PG-1070 has deeper grooves between the cogs to better shed mud.
 For gearing Wells runs a 46/38 front chainring setup mounted on 175-millimeter Specialized S-Works FACT carbon cranks with ceramic bottom bracket bearings. On race day Wells’ mechanic replaces the grease in the bottom bracket with a light coating of oil to further reduce drag. To shave every possible gram, Wells uses red anodized aluminum chainring bolts. In the rear Wells runs 11-26 gearing setup. Unlike a lot of elite riders Wells does not use sealed derailleur cables.
Braking duties go to white TRP EuroX Magnesium brakes with red Roval carbon pads made by SwissStop.
Wells’ bike features an adjustable front cable stop mounted to the front fork instead of the steerer tube under the stem. This provides a more natural bend for the cable housing and Wells says it gives the brakes a more positive feel.
The hot wheel choice for cross racers this season is Zipp's new 303 carbon tubulars.
Wells’ 303s are wrapped in custom tubular tires that feature a FBM
casting with a Specialized Captain CX tread and hand trimmed knobs. No
word on whether Specialized has plans to produce the tubulars.
 The cockpit on Wells’ bike is a strictly Specialized affair, starting with a 125-millimeter S-Works Pro-Set Stem that features an angle adjustment of +/- 13 to 21-degrees. Specialized also provides the 44-centimeter S-Works SL carbon handlebar and S-Works bar tape. Clashing with the otherwise red, black and white paint scheme is a Bike Pure headset spacer that shows Wells’ belief in drug free sport.
To round out the cockpit, Wells uses a Specialized S-Works FACT Carbon seatpost and Specialized Phenom SL 143-millimeter wide saddle.
Crankbrothers provides Wells with Egg Beater 4ti pedals
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