The Old Man Winter Rally event is being run in a time trial format this year, wit𒊎h riders timing themselves across two segments that add up to 100 kilometres. Morton set the benchmark time of 2:29:57, with Howes following three seconds later. Other contenders have until 14 February to set a faster time.
Most notable, of course, is Morton's choice to use the SuperSix Evo HiMod, a bike marketed as a lightweight road bike and certainly not somethi𓆉ng designed to tackle 100km of gravel racing. It's his well-used training bike, and the same model that he and his team wi﷽ll race in Grand Tours and through mountain passes in the upcoming season.
Proving its durability, the only thing needed to get it gravel-ready is a set of 33c Vittoria Terreno Dry tyres. Surprisingly, Morton did not have the tyres set up tubeless, so to avoid pinch flats he pumped them up to 60 psi, which he says was too much for the course. Overall, he said the tyres൩ were "very good on most 🐠surfaces."
For gearing, ✱Morton used an FSA 53/39 crank paired with an 11/32 cassette. He ran Vision Metron 5D bars and Vision Trimax 30 KB wheels, along with a Prologo M5 saddle - "same as all of my bikes, love it."
Finishing off the build▨ are the 56mm axle Sp🥂eedplay pedals and a mini-pump from Silca.
Tech specs: Lachlan Morton's Cannondale SuperSix Evo
Ryan Simonovich has been riding and racing for nearly a decade. He got his start as a cross-country mountain bike racer in California and qu🐎ickly learned how fun road cycling can be. He has dabbled in road, criterium and cyclocross racing as well. He lives in Durango, Colorado, where there are endless mountain views and hilly gravel routes.
