Brexit the Ecroix ST

So far from Interbike, I’ve shared stories about walking for days across a dead sea, in a dead land. Circling the trade show floor like fetid water down a rusty drain, I endured a heroic journey with tests, allies, and enemies.

There was an angry homeless person who chased me while I rode a dropbar 29r, supply chain excellence from Taiwan, and a ride on the Strip during our marvelous Mobile Social.

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And, now the rest of the story is about the Brits, who I guess anticipating Brexit are shipping handcrafted bikes to the States for a nice bounce in market share. The imports from Enigma include the Ecroix, a road bike built up for riding on dirt. They showed it in their booth with tea and crumpets—I missed happy hour, but they probably served shaken, not stirred martinis too.

I wouldn’t categorize the Ecroix as a gravel bike, because it doesn’t meet the expected tire clearance of a 700×40 but Enigma enigmatically does. Steel tubing will provide a refined ride and all-day comfort in most conditions. I’d spec it with the upgraded ENVE fork for more precise steering. In their declared category, spec’ing without thru axles is as confusing as a vote to leave the EU, but damn those bikes are, “Sexy bitches, yes!” Especially, when dressed up in Union Jack paint.

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As built with fenders mounts and an Ultregra spec, welded in conditions as grey and dreary as those in the Pacific Northwest, I’d recommend the Ecroix as a century-riding rain bike. Also for a buyer that doesn’t want the same bike as everyone else on the ride.

You can order one in the US by contacting the US importer at sales@britishcycleimports.com, by phone at 440-385-6790 or sales@enigmabikes.com.

Enigma like their US importer fights the good fight. What makes them special is they are a family-owned maker of steel and titanium frames. When so many bikes are being made overseas, they’re manufacturing in house and making bikes accessible to people who want a beautifully made, not insanely expensive alternative to other off-the-shelf brands.

Next time in the UK, I’d like share a pint with Enigma while discussing politics. In the next issue of our magazine, I’ll share more about how the Ecroix ST landed in the States. It was a British invasion of sorts—not in search of screaming, teenage, record-buying fans, but new markets for handbuilt bikes from East Sussex.

The Specs

  • Columbus Zona and Life triple-butted niobium steel tubing
  • Shimano Ultegra 11 Hydro kit
  • Shimano Ice-Tech rotors
  • Reynolds ATR Carbon Clinchers with center lock hubs
  • Kenda Happy Medium Tires
  • Enigma bar, stem, seat post, saddle, headset and gel bar tape
  • Union Jack paint scheme is a $775 upgrade from the $2250 USD Retail on the frameset price

Also published on Medium.

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