Weight, or lack of it, is important when you’re racing around the clock and this is something Rob Dean knows all about, priding himself in cutting the weight right down on his race bikes. And his latest build is no exception.

Rob picks up the story:

I got back from a big old ride in the Peak District on Monday afternoon to find a big box that felt empty sitting in the dining room. Opening it I was pretty excited to find a new Santa Cruz Highball frame and a full set of Syncros finishing kit, including an FL 29er rigid fork, to build myself a new singlespeed to replace my venerable, but robustly built, and almost 10 year old steel mile muncher.

This was going to be something a whole lot more whippety.

I had a pretty big grin as I unwrapped everything and prepared to get spannering. The part I was most excited about was the new, all-carbon, Syncros Fl 29er fork, and when I picked it up I wasn’t disappointed, it’s light and the bottom of the crown is solid, leaving no hole to bung up with mud, a nice touch.

Once it was all together I almost fell over when I weighed it: 17.85lbs.

Blimey! This thing is going to fly. A long commute to and from work today confirmed it is just glorious.

For those who may be interested, the full spec is as follows:

• Frame: XXL Santa Cruz Highball
• Fork: Syncros FL Carbon 29er
• Handlebar: Syncros FL Carbon
• Stem: Syncros FL Stem 110mm
• Seatpost: Syncros AM 1-bolt
• Seatpost 400mmSaddle: Syncros FL
• Saddle/Grips: Syncros Deep Relief Locking Grip
• Headset: Hope
• Wheels: Notubes ZTR hubs on Crest 32H rims, black DT Revolution spokes, brass nipples
• Tyres: Kenda Small Block 8 29er 2.1″ run tubeless
• Chainset: Shimano XTR M970 180mm
• Brakes: Shimano XTR M970 Discs with Ashima 160mm rotors & ti rotor bolts
• Pedals: Shimano XTR PD-M970 SPDSinglepeed: 32:18 ratio + Surly Singleator