Alonso Tal is one of the founders of the CNCPT Team and his eye for design and photography play a big role in the CNCPT Team’s aesthetic. But Alonso also competes side by side with the rest of the team, one minute skidding track bikes, the next moment swapping a skinsuit for a camera to create art for the team & other projects.
He was recently up in our neck of the woods to compete in the Rapha Prestige event, a 170 kilometer road and gravel terrain that made its way from the idyllic roadways curving along the Pacific Ocean to dramatic singletrack woven through the redwoods. A long day in the saddle for all (upwards of 10 hours depending on your pace), the day was a mixed bag of both terrain and weather. It was a day that made bike set up all that more important. Here is Alonso’s bike check from the day.
Q: Which frame are you riding, which size and why? How tall are you?
A: My self and the rest of the CNCPT Team are riding the Áspero-5 from Cervélo. I’m 5’10" and ride a 54CM, it’s the most capable GX bike I’ll experience. Some of the stuff I’ve ridden so far can be considered XC trails.
Q: Which tires are you running, which pressures and why?
A: I’m currently rolling the Panaracer GravelKing SK Tire 700c x 35mm. On the road, I started with 40psi but as the day progressed and the singletrack became muddy, I took it down to 30psi.
Q: Which crank length are you running and why?
A: I am running a 172.5 length crank on an Easton 2x 90 SL. I paired it with a 46/36 11 speed Shimano cassette. After doing this Rapha ride, I am seriously considering putting on a 34 tooth front chainring. Outside of it being a common crank size, I like having consistency across all my bikes, so this is the crank I am running on all of my bikes.
Q: Which width handlebar and stem?
A: I use a 42/ 110mm Cervélo bar. The team over at Cervélo have a really dialed cockpit with no visible wires.
Q: Favorite bar tape? Any special wrapping?
A: I’ve been riding the Cervélo stock tape for a while.
Q: Which wheels are you running and why?
A: I’m riding the Reserve 35|35. Living in the city, I wanted something fast on the road and durable on the local trails...you know, something with aerodynamic advantages but still has rock gravel capability.
Q: What is the weight of your complete bike?
A: 20 pounds, give or take.
Q: Any special setup tips for long days in the saddle?
A: I usually add a handlebar bag for feed. After 40 miles into a century, I try and eat something every 40-60 minutes even if I don’t have the appetite for it. I also double up Dino plugs and CO2 and even voilestrap a tube on the frame (better safe than sorry). Also dropping the route into your computer is clutch (but easily forgotten).
