Keegan Swenson's Santa Cruz Stigmata CC for SBT GRVL 2023

[@chrisdistefano198]

King cages! Thanks for digging into these bike checks, Ben, love to see all those little details. This guy doesn't leave a single piece unconsidered and it shows.

[@PhotoColin]

Echoing the crew here, more of this the better! Especially with brands refreshing their offerings. ALSO congrats to you sir, 2nd place in the 100. 1st in your age group. I know it was a hot day and lots of people dropped pretty hard. Great work, and looking forward to the recap!

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Thank you. Recap coming up!

[@TheNhbraun]

More of this Ben! Well done.

[@davidvonslingshot]

very cool that the flat top chain works with new transmission. The old mullet AXS stuff was not

[@jasonc168951]

The transmission drivetrains are only compatible with flat top chains according to sram.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Love the headset cap.

[@RicardoRocha-lg1xo]

Love the stem cap!

[@seanmccuen6970]

proper well thought out weapon from front to back, that ain't no fred bike.

[@randygeeman1511]

I realize he’s the best rider in the world in these disciplines, but it’s still unfathomable to me that he can crush all these climbs with a 52T chainring. So much strength, power, and stamina - just unbelievable!

[@elefantrising]

Pretty sure Keegan is from another planet.

[@GravelRacer1]

Krypton

[@ebhkkc1]

Agree.

[@BPM-xh4yu]

@@ebhkkc1 💉

[@ezramullen4551]

Planet Pogacar.

[@lrh8197]

Planet EPO.

[@jerseybarrier64]

Amazing he is using a 120 mm stem given this bike is branded for long top tube and 70 mm stem. Must be on a bike 2 sizes smaller than what us mortals would use. Pros are freaks. 😂

[@MaxwellPowers666]

To nit pick it would be interesting to hear what tire pressure he was running. But otherwise great bit of content. Thoroughly entertained

[@TheDavidjakeson]

Looks like the Stigmata actually clears a 52t chainring when Santa Cruz's website says that it only clears a 42t. That's quite a difference.

[@br5380]

A longer (non-standard) crank axle and spacers on the drive side?

[@nateisright]

Yeah, I wish Ben showed us that part. I was thinking the same thing, I’ll bet that there’s a custom spacer to locate the chain ring where a big ring would be on a 2x.

[@mogulmayhem]

The velocita is a fun choice. Super fast and plush.

[@pmcmpc]

Slow af though.

[@mogulmayhem]

Bababooey.

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

@@pmcmpcsurely Challenge Strada Bianca Pro in 40 would be better!!

[@plain-bagel]

Do you know if Keegan is doing anything special to his crankset to fit the 52 chainring? I believe the Stigmata specs list 42 as the chainring size... Maybe it increases with the "wide" sram crank?

[@andrewnicholas7410]

I asked, and it’s spaced out further than the recommended chainline. Don’t know how far, but I’d bet a fair amount, because every 2 teeth adds 4.1mm to the chainring radius. That means they needed to get close to 20mm extra space

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Great detail. Thank you.

[@MarcEstrella]

Rad af!!

[@jamescourier1545]

That front chainring is ridiculous! 👍👍 I wonder, why Force components & not Red? Red is lighter, yes?

[@lazlo2511]

Man Ben you just really keep turning out great content, not one puncture thus far! 🤭 But seriously, if. I recall an article you wrote for BikeRadar in 2016 and lo see where we at with gravel today. Yeh crazy times. 👍🏻 keep pedalling.

[@toddmanley2983]

It would be great to see a component build list - I sometimes can't make heads or tails of all the SRAM component options. I just want the "Keegan" groupset (w/ a smaller front chainring).

[@br5380]

It'd be so much easier if SRAM (and Shimano) used the same cable pull ratios on both MTB and road/gravel groupsets.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

Garmin I think is actually the 840, it has the solar screen and buttons. Not that it makes any difference.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Good correction. 👍

[@rkv3681]

Chain ring to chain stay clearance? 1mm!? Looks like he also removed some of the rubber protector to get the 52 to fit?! 😬

[@JustOneRedSoloCup]

Good catch, you're right I had to go back and take another look. Keegan is a beast.

[@toddbecraft]

Congrats on the 2nd and 1st place finishes! That was a warm day. Those are road pedals, no?

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

Yup LOOK entry level road pedal!!

[@NothingToSeeHere-mb3fw]

Wax ON!

[@shawnoen1029]

Weird that Santa Cruz says the max chainring size is 42 tooth for 1x and 50 tooth for 2x. How is he running a 52 tooth on 1x here?

[@jimkelley6444]

Probably a longer custom derailleur cage on that fancy SRAM transmission

[@kevenfernandez4511]

​​@@jimkelley6444 they are talking about the chainring not the cassette

[@kubackjeee]

20mm spacer

[@Nojikuzus]

Proper cages!

[@petersouthernboy6327]

GOAT

[@johnhunt3076]

So it appears that the SRAM X Sync road rings work with the Transmission drivetrain? Is this bike using T Type chain?

[@robola_]

What size frame is Keegan running, looks like a 54?

[@thecappy]

@@johnnycab8986 that’s just the new stigmata.

[@snigs5T5]

Yeah 1X!

[@neilashton9459]

Guessing that 52 chainring is bigger that the nominal max size spec maybe?? Cool looking bike though.

[@BenZCardiff]

Dumb question - since this is specced as a max 42t single ring how does he run a 52t? And how is chainline affected as a result?

[@mattkilbane6645]

Wolf tooth

[@Peregrino.51]

@@mattkilbane6645 help us out bro…. what does that mean?

[@Peregrino.51]

Sounds like the crank had additional spacers added. chainline biased to the smaller cog end.

[@SmolSnake]

Sets a new record for Leadville one day. Wins SBTGRVL overall the next day, maybe? Would be incredible. Where's Keegan's competition??

[@ebhkkc1]

He has none!

[@ervin7178]

Racing world cups

[@jimkelley6444]

WC XC is where he should be to challenge him. ...Or World Tour but I don't think he would like being in the peloton all the time.

[@Matt-fb5xe]

In Europe if he ever goes roadie pro. Which I hope he does!

[@bikeste]

What size frame does Keegan run?

[@Antmunoz]

XS. And he’s 5’10.

[@kojie333]

So he is using road pedals?

[@Charles-wz9sd]

Yeah he is, he pretty much runs road pedals for most races unless there is a chance he needs to unclip like at unbound.

[@kojie333]

@@Charles-wz9sd thanks for the info

[@kennethward9530]

No dropper post?

[@datdudeinred]

0:02 Can you tell me about the winning bike of steamboat gravel? Him - HUHH 😂

[@stevenagy7152]

Those of us old enough to remember the “Green Machine” competitor to the “Big Wheel”, yeah, Keegan could race on of those and win.

[@brentcollins9727]

That’s Phil Simms, the quarterback of the New York Giants

[@adamgaisser1875]

Waxed chain?

[@kylecline3272]

I wondered what that was…

[@tommyrq180]

100%

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

Definitely

[@kevenfernandez4511]

The spirit of gravel is a demon named Keegan Swinson

[@Zahava]

Is he riding a size small or medium Stig?

[@tommyrq180]

Looks like a small to me. I run a medium Stig.

[@Omnis2]

0:02 Well, he was right.

[@MW-ud8zp]

I might be wrong but I think a shallower but wider rim would yield less drag than this setup

[@lechprotean]

4:19: is that classified hub shifter?

[@andrewbusch6022]

Nope just SRAM blips

[@timtaylor9590]

No aero cockpit? He's so good he should have custom everything

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

Yeah right?! Standard Zipp aluminum stem…

[@timtaylor9590]

@@SamuelBlackMetalRider it does the job but I figure marginal gains is the name of the game and sponsors are likely throwing products at him.

[@TheJanvicgwaps]

52t chainring and 10-52 cassette... Damn, this dude must have nuclear reactors in his legs 😂.

[@astrayagrarian]

The jumps between each of those gears must be fucking horrendous.

[@BPM-xh4yu]

funny, that frame looks just like my 2020 Diverge

[@domenicoitalico115]

Pro bikes set up,can't be considered for normal amateur riders !!!😂😂😂

[@Bill_IV]

FAFO

[@justinjewell1043]

Purpose built but ugly AF. Don't matter when a champ is riding it. Curious if he'd be even faster on another brand's setup...

[@randyschanaman2641]

The f word has no meaning, and posting on your bike shows ignorance!

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

1x what a joke I’ll stick with my colnago cyclocross bike lighter faster all round better bike grovel bikes 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣