Niner

BSB 9 RDO Cyclocross Frameset - 2016

Niner’s original BSB 9 RDO Cyclocross Frameset was pretty sick (read: stiff, light, and fast), so it’s pretty much OK that the company brought it back all but unchanged this year. It’s still every bit as capable of tackling mudpits, barriers, and general ‘cross horribleness (read: fun). The only change that Niner’s made, apart from updating the graphics, is to bump the rear thru-axle up to 12x142mm, which makes the back end even stiffer and faster when you’re putting down every ounce of power you’ve got to get through that damn sand.

The BSB 9 RDO achieves its stiffness without feeling heavy, an achievement that comes courtesy of Niner’s rigid foam carbon-fiber molding process, which the company credits for more consistent shaping with less material. Cleaner tubes means less excess material, and less excess material means less weight. The fork is all carbon, too, modeled on Niner’s flagship carbon rigid fork debuted on the Air 9. Steep head and seat tube angles, along with a high bottom bracket, make the BSB perfect for attacking tough courses, and it’s set up to accommodate disc brakes and both mechanical and electronic drivetrains, if you’re feeling fancy.