Two years ago, we contacted Eric Brunner in Cincinnati to learn more about his blue Norcross, and later he won two national championships on horseback in Lakewood. title. Two years later, Brunner and his Blue-Stages program came back with a brand new framework.
The redesign seemed to be useful to the Colorado native, who achieved top 10 finishes this season — including a podium in a quick race at Jingle Cross — and won his first game at Cincinnati C1 wins. We took a close look at this new bicycle on the spot.
Blue Norcross is a legendary route that once led drivers such as Jonathan Page to victory, but the brand changed hands several times and gradually faded out of sight in several seasons.
When we saw Brunner for the last time, the Norcross he drove was definitely an older design. Despite some updates, such as flat-mounted brakes on the front forks and cylindrical rear forks, the tire capacity of the frame is limited, and rear-mounted calipers are still used on the frame.
The new Norcross uses the chainstay design popular on gravel bikes. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
In 2021, Norcross has undergone a complete redesign, with new geometries, new side profiles, increased tire capacity and full internal wiring. Although Blue owns its Hoback gravel bike, just like Specialized did with its redesigned Specialized Crux (see our introduction to Maghalie Rochette’s new Crux here), Blue relies on its new Norcross to gravel pay tribute. The company went further in its new design, with 69mm bottom bracket drop and longer front center in all dimensions-637.2cm on Brunner's ML frame. Combined with the 427 mm chainstay, the bicycle has a wheelbase of 1055 mm, which is the longer side for cross-country bicycles, but is consistent with many gravel bicycles. To match a more stable design, Norcross now accepts 700x45mm tires, although this may not be an ISO-certified measurement.
Although Norcross claims to have a 700x45mm tire capacity, on Brunner's 33mm tires, the struts look very close. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
The falling struts give Norcross the appearance of a road bike. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
FSA's ACR system allows cables to pass through the headset. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
The down tube ports not only provide another location for the Di2 connector, they also provide a useful channel for bicycle pipe connections. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
The frame uses FSA ACR complete internal cable system and straight 1.5-inch steering gear, which will definitely limit the choice of stems. Fortunately, FSA offers options compatible with most handlebars. Brunner chose one-piece handlebars and stems from the FSA sub-brand Vision, and installed his Dura-Ace 9170 Di2 gear lever pointing slightly forward, giving his bike a distinct road racing appearance.
He did not collapse! Brunner set his lever slightly inward, which is more common on the road than off-road bikes. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
As in the past, he also set up Moto-style brakes, the front brake is controlled by the right lever. Norcross retained the round seat post in the redesign, but it did shrink to 27.2 mm. Brunner chose a carbon fiber FSA column and installed the same Velo Senso saddle he used before.
The seatpost clamp is kept clean through the hatch. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
Brunner has used Velo Senso for several seasons. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
Since the last time we saw him, Bruner has indeed changed his figure. This season he uses the Dura-Ace 9100 Di2 transmission system, which means that he gave up the clutch derailleur used in 2019 and chose Shimano's special professional version 46/39 Dura-Ace chainring combination.
When we handle the bicycle, the blue brand tape provides a good grip. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
Dura-Ace is equipped with special sprockets, but only for sponsored riders. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
No clutch is required. Brunner's new version abandoned the RX805 unit in favor of Dura-Ace. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
The new Norcross has flat-mounted calipers, so Brunner now has a matching kit on his bike. He also upgraded his pedals to match the transmission system, choosing the M9100 XTR pedal to replace his previous M8100 XT kit.
The pedal is one of many places where Brunner has upgraded. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
When we checked in last time, the Blue-Stages team was working with Spinnergy, but by mid-season in Cincinnati, Brunner had not received the wheels and was using the off-brand Reynolds suit. This time, he was riding Dura-Ace tube tires with Dugast tires.
The Shimano system wheel is the symbol of the sponsoring team. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
The first day in Cincinnati was a bit wet at the beginning, and many drivers hurriedly put on heavier tires when it started to rain halfway through the race, perhaps because they were worried that a situation similar to the World Cup Waterloo would occur. Although we did not see his starting point, Brunner finished the race with Rhino mud tires.
Brunner finished the race with Dugast Rhino mud tires. Eric Brunner's Kings CX won the award-winning Blue Competition Cycles Norcross cross-country bike. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
Frame: Blue Norcross, BLUE-TEC high modulus UD T-800 composite material, flat-mounted disc brake, 12mm cylindrical axle front fork: Blue Norcross, FSA ACR internal wiring, 12x100mm cylindrical brake axle, flat-mounted disc gear lever/ Brake lever Shimano Dura-Ace ST-R9170 Dual lever caliper: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-R9150 Di2 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-R9150 Di2 Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC- R91 left power installation chain link: Shimano Dura-Ace, 46/39t Freewheel: Shimano 11-speed chain: Shimano Ultegra HG901 Wheel set: Shimano Dura-Ace Tire: Dugast manual tube tire, 700c x 33mm Handlebar: Vision Metron ACR integrated Handlebar seatpost: FSA Carbon fiber seat: Velo Senso, Ti rail pedal: Shimano XT M9100 SPD More information: bluecompetitioncycles.com
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