Lukas Baum and Georg Egger of Speed Company Racing won hearts and minds at the 2022 edition of the Absa Cape Epic. Arriving with a skeleton support team comprising just their fathers, the team’s full gas and combative style in true untamed fashion spoke to an appreciative fanbase.
Taking home the 2022 championship title cemented their status in Cape Epic folklore. In 2022 they raced on the previous year’s model bikes but, for 2023 with both Orbea and Leatt as partners, Speed Company Racing arrived with 2023 Orbea Oiz builds, specced with key componentry from German brand Bike Ahead.
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Despite the upgrade, Lukas and Georg still have an organic feel as a team with a strong family component. We managed to get a closer look at Lukas’s bike after Lukas and Georg won Stage 5 with an all-out attack in the rainy stage, putting them firmly in yellow.
Baum’s 2023 Orbea Oiz comes outfitted with 120mm travel. While a subdued build, there are key performance customisations that set the SCR Oiz apart as a race sled. A two-tone paint job with flake finish ties in well with the team’s galaxy-themed kit.
Watt harvesting is handled by an SRM power meter. The unit is sealed and charged by a maglock connection, reliable and robust in wet conditions – like Stage 5 which traversed a wet and muddy Groenlandburg. Note the placement of a SahmuraiSword tyre plug in the axle. A cSixx 38T chainring keeps the power on point. cSixx is a Cape Town-based, South African component manufacturer also specialising in aftermarket chainrings for almost any crankset standard.
Textured bar tape takes centre place on the 740mm wide bars. Providing a safer and more comfortable perch when getting low and aero.
An Ergon Team saddle mated to a custom prototype setback seatpost by German brand Bike Ahead Components. Details were thin on the exact spec but the profile suggests that there is some damping effect for low-frequency vibrations.
Possibly the most obvious centrepiece of the build is the Three Zero wheelset – a burly-looking 30mm wide rim with DT Swiss 180 hubs, running on ceramic bearings. Made in Germany, the extended leading edge profile is dubbed by Bike Ahead as Safewing and laid up with a “circumferential laminate” aiding puncture protection and allowing lower pressures to be run. This does speak to the choice of Addix Speedgrip for the Schwalbe rubbers.
At the rear, a Ceramic Speed OSPW System mated to a Shimano XTR derailleur takes care of shifting. The added stiffness and larger pulley wheels contribute to friction efficiency and crisper shifting throughout the various terrain encountered. The derailleur in question, however, needed to be replaced on Stage 6 when a piece of fence wire tangled itself in the pulley wheels. The costly incident saw the Orbea x Leatt x Speed Company surrender all hopes of defending their title owing to the time-consuming trail-side repair.
A custom-integrated Bike Ahead stem with a negative rise for the ultimate slammed position, measured at 100mm.
Fast access quick links, the tape has a small lip, allowing the link to be removed in a flash.
Another view of Bike Ahead’s Three Zero rim profile. These are designated for trail, cross-country mountain biking and wait for it, yes, downcountry.
A Bike Ahead remote lockout for both front and rear suspension. Strikingly close resemblance to a Twinloc design.
A determined Georg and Lukas as they put one minute plus into the chase group.
Threading the needle on Stage 5 to take the win and claim the yellow leader’s jersey.
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