Naked Factory Racing 2017/2018 Update

We’re partway into the 2017/18 cyclocross season and we’re just catching our breath enough to update all of the exciting changes that have happened this year. And there’s a ton that’s happened so far! We’ve added a bunch of new, talented teammates, we’ve welcomed the support of an incredible group of sponsors, and, oh yeah, racing! Between COTR, VCXC, and a couple inter-series double headers combining the two, it’s been a busy September and October. Next up, NFR’s off to Nationals in Sherbrooke, Quebec!   Our big news is the addition of a contingent of rising talent Juniors to Naked Factory Racing! Emilly Johnston and Carter Woods have both grown up in the Comox Valley, and have both steadily been rising through the ranks of Cross on the Rocks. Emilly’s raced cross on the Island and beyond with great success for a several years now. She’s also an incredibly talented XC mountain bike racer, hitting Canada Cups and other events all Summer long. Carter Woods seems to excel at anything on two wheels, racing XC and Enduro, and even taking a huge win in the Canadian National Enduro Series final round at Big White. He’s also the reigning U17 BC Provincial Cyclocross Champion after taking the tile at Squamish Cross-pocalypse last fall. At the same event, Mical won the Women’s Elite Provincial Championship and Halldor won the Single Speed Men’s Provincial race (and was subsequently denied the title due to his strong, Icelandic heritage). Also returning to the team are Naked Bicycles own Sam Whittingham, single speeder Terry McKall, and new father Jamie Cameron. The entire team also benefits massively from the mechanical and organizational wizardry of Regan ‘Den Mother’ Pringle, in the pits and in the months leading into cross season. In addition to new members of the race team, Naked Factory Racing’s expanded its roster of incredibly generous supporters. As always, Naked Bicycles are at the core of the team, and all racers remain on Sam’s beautiful, handmade bikes. Steel is real, and carries most of us as fast as we can go, while Sam’s own personal bike and Mical’s new race rocket are of the titanium variety. Long time team favourite, Industry Nine are a small company that’s supports NFR in a big way. The entire team is rolling on their excellent, crazy light wheels. Race wheels range from their super-light, pure ‘cross race wheel, the Ultralight 235cx, to the sturdy TRCX Disc build for the taller, excessively powerful racers, as well as the AR25 Disc wheels, for the NFR’s ‘Goldilocks’ middle grounders. All hoops roll to the instantly recognizable tune of their Torch hubs. Smith Optics have joined in on the 2017/18 season, supplying their ChromaPop equipped Arena glasses and helmets. Cross can be incredibly hard on moving parts, so we’re lucky to have super reliable Shimano drivetrain, and hydro disc brakes. For the Singlespeeders and 1x’ers on NFR, Minnesota based Wolf Tooth Components supplies their drop-stop chainrings and SS cogs. When things get greasy, the crew relies on Horst Engineering’s array of cyclocross spikes, engineered to excel in all conditions. Naked Bicycles Quadra Island neighbours Study Build support Naked Factory Racing’s travel, as they do Cross on the Rocks rising crop of Jr racers. Last, but not least, Jakroo helps design and produce Naked Factory Racing kit, so the team isn’t actually Naked on the start line!