Pro Bike: Rebecca Rusch's Leadville Specialized Fate

Three-time world champion and four-time Leadville winner Rebecca Rusch will look to defend her crown on this 29-inch Specialized Fate, the company’s carbon fiber women’s frame. She’s on a SRAM XX and XO 2×10 drivetrain, a RockShox SID with Specialized Brain internals, and Specialized cockpit, seatpost, saddle, crankset, wheels and tires. The setup is nearly identical to her winning ride from last year — except this year she may run the aero bar pads pictured. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

The Fate’s top tube drops down, improving standover clearance. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

An increasing number of companies are realizing that there is a market for high quality race frames built for women. Specialized is one of them. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Rusch has a custom-etched CarbonTi seatpost collar. Due to the sloping top tube, she can’t run a second bottle cage inside the main triangle; instead she mounts a second cage on the seatpost. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Rusch runs a 2×10 setup with 38/24 chainrings. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Many pros use SRAM’s XO rear derailleur instead of the top-tier XX because XO has a roller-bearing clutch to help control chain slap. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

SRAM’s heavily machined 11-36-tooth XX cassette. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

SRAM XX disc brakes keep Rusch under control. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Rusch still wasn’t sure if she was going to run the arm rests as of Friday, but mechanics had them mounted up for testing. They would allow her to rest her elbows comfortably on the bars in a sort of invisible-aero-bar position. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com