Tester: Thanita Adams
Age: 35
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 125lbs.
Inseam: 30"
Vital Stats
Country of Origin: Taiwan
Price as tested: $1999
Weight: 19lbs.
Sizes available: 50 (tested), 52, 54, 56, 58, 60
Contact: www.vandesselsports.com
Back in the late '90s, Edwin Bull was trying to figure out how he could make a living in the cycling industry. A self admitted "jack of all trades and a master of none" on the bike, Bull felt that starting a bike company was a safer bet than trying to make it as a pro, so that's just what he did in 1999 when Van Dessel, based in New Jersey, was born. Seven years later, Van Dessel employs six people and has enjoyed a recent growth spurt, up 300% YTD. Their tagline is "a bike company by and for bike racers," and with approximately 700 bikes and frames sold in the past year, looks like racing is as popular as ever, at least in some circles.
First thing's first: what's up with that name? Apparently, at all the big Belgian 'cross races, that is what you will see a lot of: gin in the form of jenever, a traditional Netherlander/Flanders juniper-flavored liquor, and fans toting trombones and other large instruments not typically seen on a race course. Sounds like a stellar way to do it up at a bike race to me.
My test bike is nicely understated, sporting a classy, pearlescent silver paint job with dark blue highlights, one of the 2006/2007 models. The tubing itself is 7005 triple butted aluminum, which, combined with oversized chainstays and carbon seatstays, makes for a nice race weight—my 50cm came in at just over 19lbs. sans pedals. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to actually race the bike as it didn't make it into my hot little hands until 'cross season had ended. So in order to put the bike through its paces, I hit a plethora of roads and trails in and around my new haunt, Santa Cruz, CA.
Van Dessel designed the Gin and Trombones with geometry that is more akin to a road bike in many ways. Specifically, it has a lower bottom bracket height than many 'cross bikes out there, as Bull decided that when racing 'cross, this lowered center of gravity confers the advantage of increased stability and tighter cornering capacities. The bike also has a relatively steep seat angle, which puts the rider in a more aggressive position over the pedals. For my test bike, this translates into a 7cm bottom bracket drop, with 75°/71° seat/head angles. Other pertinent numbers include a 46.5cm center to top seat tube, a 51.5cm effective top tube, a 10cm head tube, 42.5cm chainstays and a 1011cm wheelbase. I measured the standover at a bit over 29".
So, how did the Gin and Trombones fare on my local trails? I did indeed find that it rode much like a road bike on pavement, quick to accelerate and plenty stiff for standing up and pounding on the pedals, but it was also easy to maneuver on singletrack that I'd expect to encounter in a 'cross race: swoopy hardpack and lumpy, grassy fields. I also tried my hand at some shouldering and proper 'cross dismounts. The former was easy, as the cables are routed along the top of the top tube and on the drive side of the bike, making for a clean lift, and the latter was only impeded by my sloppy style. This is what the bike was designed for, so kudos to Van Dessel thus far. However, because much of the trail I rode was significantly more technical than one would find on a typical 'cross course, I did notice the reduced bottom bracket clearance at times. And, on steep descents, I found I had to put my weight back a bit further to compensate for the more aggressive forward positioning due to the bike's geometry.
That said, I have ridden many a ride on the Gin and Trombones when most others were on mountain bikes (both hardtails and full suspension), and was able to hold my own in both the shiggy stuff and in tight cornering situations. I feel that a 'cross bike should be able to go pretty much wherever a hardtail mountain bike can go, and other than some bottom bracket scrapes, the Gin and Trombones did me well. Of course, since the bike was designed specifically for racing, this isn't a critique but rather a consideration in making your buying decision. Although I certainly noticed my lack of suspension at times, the ride was as smooth as can be expected, a fluidity I attribute to the carbon stays and adjusting tire pressure for the terrain.
My one major gripe with the Gin and Trombones is now moot, but it's worth a mention here. The 2006/2007 model of the Van Dessel fork on my test bike did not allow me enough clearance to remove the 35c front tire without partially deflating it. Granted, 32c tires are the maximum allowed in UCI cross races, but still; the option for larger tires, depending on application, would be nice. However, I'm told the 2007/2008 Gin and Trombones (available some time after August) will see a major redesign of the fork; this redesign includes full carbon monocoque construction (making for a lighter, stiffer fork) and increased tire clearance, plenty for a 35c tire.
My test bike was spec'd with Shimano 105 front and rear derailleurs, Ultegra brake/shift levers, FSA SLK Carbon cranks (46x36t), a Cane Creek Strados wheelset and SCX-5 brakes, Van Dessel's own saddle with carbon injected base and Ti rails, and my requested set of Deda 4 Girls bars, all of which worked wonderfully once adjusted properly and broken in.
All complete bikes are built to order, although there are standard build kits, from the $1999 Shimano 105 to the $2,999 Dura Ace Pro build. The new frameset alone will run you $899 ($100 more than my test bike); however, complete 2007/2008 build kits will remain the same, even with the upgraded fork. Also new for next year is the Hole Shot, an all-alloy version of the Gin and Trombones for those with a bit less jangle in their pockets.
For 2007/2008, the Gin and Trombones will no longer be offered in silver/blue, but will be available in orange with pearl white panels and pearl white with black panels. All in all, I really enjoyed riding this bike. It's versatile (as a 'cross bike should be), and makes me feel really, really fast. Take note, commuters: the Gin and Trombones does not have braze-ons for fenders or racks, although it does have two water bottle mounts, one each on the seat tube and down tube. However, if you're a racer in the market for a high-end 'cross bike, the Gin and Trombones is definitely a contender.
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| Comment from Brandi Fabian on 2008-12-29 |
| Hey Thanita! Pretty sweet angles on that Van Dessel Gin and Trombone, although a 29 inseam is a little tall for the smallest size. I hope all is well with you. Sincerely, Brandi Fabian |
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