Feature

Pro Bike Check: Isabeau Courdurier’s Custom SUNN KERN LT Team

26.02.2016
by

2015 was Isabeau Courdurier’s break through season in the EWS which seen her taking to the podium steps twice alongside consistent placings in the top five, finishing off the season fourth in the overall. Shortly after the end of the season she announced that she would no longer be riding for the Rocky Mountain URGE Team, and in the following months came the news that she would be joining SUNN for the next 2 years. Most interestingly it was noted that she would be riding a fully custom extra-small SUNN KERN LT. Whilst in the South of France we took the opportunity to visit Isabeau and have a close up look of her shiny new race bike.

Isabeau Courdurier SUNN KERN LT Bike Check Portrait.
Isabeau all smiles shortly after receiving her new steed for the coming season.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check 1
At first glance it looks for the most part, like the same frame layout as the larger models. It isn’t until you look a little closer that you see the significant detail changes.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 1
Starting with the cockpit. Isa runs Race Face’s SIXC carbon bars at 785mm mounted to an Atlas stem.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 2
SRAM’s Guide Ultimate brakes provide the stopping power whilst SRAM XX1 takes care of the shifting, she will swap between a rise of 20 or 35mm depending on the terrain.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 3
And on the left she has her Reverb remote paired with a set of Hermans grips.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 5
The first major difference between the larger models is a shorter headtube. Internal cable routing also keeps things tidy.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 5
Up front is a Rock Shox Pike RCT3 with 160mm of travel, Isabeau runs with 2 bottomless tokens but has the option to swap to the longer travel Lyrik throughout the season.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 6
With a Rock Shox Monarch + on the back.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 7
A DDK REPLICA TEAM TI saddle is paired with a Rock Shox Reverb.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 8
On the larger models the top tube has a triangle connecting it to the seat tube. On Isabeau’s this has been removed and replaced with curved tubing to meet the shorter seat tube.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 9
The shorter seat tube is also laid out in a vastly different arrangement to her team mate’s bikes.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 10
Isabeau runs a 30T chainring for the moment but can swap it for a 32T on appropriate terrain, an e*13 top guide is used for extra security.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 11
A complete SRAM XX1 drivetrain will propel Isabeau around the world’s stages this year.
Isabeau Courdrurier SUNN Kern Bike Check Brake
Isa will use 180mm rotors on her SRAM Guide anchors but could go up to 200mm for certain races.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 12
Isa will run on a SRAM ROAM wheelset.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Detail 12
Hutchinson rubber is mounted to the ROAM 60 Carbon rims, she also has the option to swap to the aluminium version. Rolling on a Squale on the front and a Toro on the back.
Isabeau Courdurier Bike Check Action Shot
First day on the bike and she was looking super comfortable and confident straight away. Look out for Isabeau on the EWS podium this year!

We also had a chat to Isa about everything from her team change to her studies: Isabeau Courdurier Interview. You can see the big differences in Isa’s frame when compared with our bike check of her team mate Thomas.

Keep up to date with Isabeau’s training and racing on her Facebook-Page.

Words & Photos: Ross Bell

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