The Hilltown CX is built for the demands of cyclocross racing
- General Handling Feel: Stable & predictable, ready to shred your next CX race.
- Ideal For: Cyclocross racing, as well as covering a wide range of terrain & riding conditions.
The HilltownCX is built to handle the abuse of intense, all-out, often muddy and snowy cyclocross racing. The HilltownCX is built with the dismounting, and shouldering techniques of CX in mind. A horizontal, or minimally sloped top tube is used, as well as cable routing that stays out of the way when the bike is slung over your shoulder. Here in New England, we often get some of the muddiest and sloppiest conditions at our cross races, so the HilltownCX is built with plenty of mud clearance.
While the HilltownCX can be built all-out race specific, even eliminating water bottle boss mounts, there are also options to have the bike gain more versatility without losing race performance. Rack mounts can be added to allow loaded touring, and fender mounts can keep you drier during all-conditions riding.
The HilltownCX features a tight and short wheelbase to handle the tight turns found in CX racing with speed and agility. It can be built with disc brakes or cantilever rim brakes, and can use both single ring, or double ring gearing setups.
While the HilltownCX can be built all-out race specific, even eliminating water bottle boss mounts, there are also options to have the bike gain more versatility without losing race performance. Rack mounts can be added to allow loaded touring, and fender mounts can keep you drier during all-conditions riding.
The HilltownCX features a tight and short wheelbase to handle the tight turns found in CX racing with speed and agility. It can be built with disc brakes or cantilever rim brakes, and can use both single ring, or double ring gearing setups.
Cyclocross vs Gravel Bike:
'Old school' cyclocross race bikes used to often feature very high bottom bracket heights, raising the rider's center of gravity. Now, the norm for cross bikes finds the bottom bracket at a lower height, increasing stability and predictability. This change also means that the CX race bikes of today often have very similar geometry to gravel and dirt road specific bikes. While gravel bikes will often feature an even lower bottom bracket height than CX bikes, typical CX race bike geometry still allows you to handle and perform well at dirt road and gravel events. This means that while the HilltownCX is a CX race-inspired machine, its ready to take on far more than just cross races.
'Old school' cyclocross race bikes used to often feature very high bottom bracket heights, raising the rider's center of gravity. Now, the norm for cross bikes finds the bottom bracket at a lower height, increasing stability and predictability. This change also means that the CX race bikes of today often have very similar geometry to gravel and dirt road specific bikes. While gravel bikes will often feature an even lower bottom bracket height than CX bikes, typical CX race bike geometry still allows you to handle and perform well at dirt road and gravel events. This means that while the HilltownCX is a CX race-inspired machine, its ready to take on far more than just cross races.
Rhys May headed to a podium finish (Photo: Night Weasels Cometh CX Race)
MonsterCross Mode: The Hilltown CX+
The HilltownCX+ features a special chainstay yoke to allow massive tire options
The HilltownCX+ Add Even More Versatility:
For those who want even more off-road, and mud conquering ability, the HilltownCX+ adds a proprietary, machined chainstay yoke. This yoke, which was 100% designed and made in-house, allows you to run all the way up to a 700c x 45 or 650b x 2.1" (53mm) tire, yet still features a very short and agile chainstay length.
(More specific information about the special chainstay yoke can be found on the Hilltown+ bike model page.)
For those who want even more off-road, and mud conquering ability, the HilltownCX+ adds a proprietary, machined chainstay yoke. This yoke, which was 100% designed and made in-house, allows you to run all the way up to a 700c x 45 or 650b x 2.1" (53mm) tire, yet still features a very short and agile chainstay length.
(More specific information about the special chainstay yoke can be found on the Hilltown+ bike model page.)
Room for Massive Tires for Serious Off-Road Ability:
Fit up to a 650b x 2.1", or a 700c x 45!
Fit up to a 650b x 2.1", or a 700c x 45!
650b x 47mm
Semi-Slick WTB ByWay Tire |
650b x 2.1" (53mm)
Low-Profile Knobby Schwalbe ThunderBurt Tire |
650b x 2.1" (53mm)
Winter Studded w/ Large Knobs Kenda Klondike Tire |
Fully Custom Hilltown CX Pricing:
- $2,350 Fully Custom Frame when bought with complete bike, $2,500 for frame only builds
- Complete bikes starting at $4,000
- Includes a detailed, in-person fitting
- Every aspect of fit, handling, material selection, frame mounts & more are customized for the individual rider
FULLY CUSTOM HILLTOWN CX+ PRICING:
Features PVF's proprietary machined chainstay yoke for even more tire clearance.
- $2,550 Fully Custom Frame when bought with complete bike, $2,700 for frame only builds
- Complete bikes starting at $4,200
- Includes a detailed, in-person fitting
- Every aspect of fit, handling, material selection, frame mounts & more are customized for the individual rider
A HilltownCX shown setup with slick tires on for mixed terrain riding
PVF's forward facing seat tube slots help keep water & muck that sprays off the rear wheel from getting into your seat tube
Shouldering during a CX race (Photo: Katie Busick)
Hilltown CX & CX+ Features & Specifications:
- Materials: The highest quality thin-walled, butted steel tubing. Each tube selected for rider's specific needs.
- Joinery: All joints are Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welded, cable guides & fittings are silver brazed.
- Wheel Size Options: 700c or 650b. Designed to be able to swap between sizes (when using disc brakes).
- HilltownCX Maximum Tire Size: 700c x 40 / 650b x 47
- HilltownCX+ Maximum Tire Size: 700c x 45 / 650b x 2.1" (53mm)
- Brake Type: Disc brakes, or rim brakes.
- Fork Type Available: Custom Steel or various carbon fiber models. (HilltownCX+ is Custom Steel only)
- HilltownCX Typical Fork Length: 395mm (Axle to Crown).
- HilltownCX+ Typical Fork Length: 400mm (Axle to Crown)
- Fork Steerer Options: Threadless Straight 1-1/8" or Threadless Tapered 1-1/8" - 1-1/2".
- HilltownCX Typical Chainstay Length: 420mm.
- HilltownCX+ Typical Chainstay Length: 425mm.
- Bottom Bracket Type: English Threaded (T47 & BB30 also available).
- Front Rack: Yes, optional.
- Rear Rack: Yes, optional.
- Fenders: Yes, optional.
- Axle Options: Quick Release or Thru Axle.
Standard Features on All PVF Frames:
- Anti-Corrosion Treatment: All frames are delivered with the inside of the frame treated with Rust Inhibittor to prevent internal corrosion.
- Replaceable Derailleur Hanger: The mount for the rear derailleur is designed to intentionally break in the case of a crash to avoid damage to the frame and derailleur.
- Stainless Steel Mounts: All water bottle mounts and many other fittings are made of corrosion resistant stainless steel.
- Forward Facing Seat Tube Slots: Seat tube slots are made facing forward, to help prevent water that sprays up off the tire from getting inside your frame.
- Reinforced Seat Tube Slots: The bottom hole of the seat tube slot is reinforced to protect against clamping forces, to endure a lifetime of use.
- Reinforced Water Bottle Bosses: All water bottle bosses are reinforced to protect the thin center sections of the frame's tubes against possible crash damage.
- Reinforced Head Tubes: The ends of every head tube have brazed-on reinforcing rings to increase strength where the inside of the tube is reamed for the headset.
- Down Tube Gussets: A gusset reinforcement custom cut from tubing is welded at the top underside of the down tube to protect against hard front impact stress.
- Special Shift Guides: Designed & machined in-house stainless steel cable guides hold cable adjustment barrels.
- Headtube Badge: Cast Bronze Head Tube Badge designed by Rhys May Jewelry
Options & Add-Ons:
- Seat Tube Reinforcing Lug: Only used when necessary, included in frame price.
- Curved Top Tube: $250, discounted for $150 when curved TT is necessary for ideal fit & design of the bike.
- Choice of Axle Type: Quick Release or Thru Axle, cost for either is included with frame.
- 3rd Water Bottle Mount: Optional, included in frame pricing.
- Rack Mounts: Optional, included in frame pricing.
- Fender Mounts: Optional, included in frame pricing.
- PVF Quick Release Fender Mounts: $150
- Tapered Head Tube:The outside diameter of the frame's head tube tapers, DT miter is hand filed. $100.
- Pump Peg: Optional, included in frame cost.
- Chain Hanger: $20
- Top of top tube bag mounts: $20
- Stainless Sliding Dropouts: $150
- Internal Cable Routing: $200 per cable
- Internal Electronic Shifting: $200
- S&S Travel Couplers: $750
- T47 Bottom Bracket: $200
- Twisted Seatstay Bridge: $200 for twisted steel, $350 for stainless steel masked and polished.
Paint & Finishing:
- Stock Finish: Durable, single color powder coat with vinyl decal logos
- Custom order color: Usually ~$75
- Paint Upgrade: Single color, wet paint with painted logos (usually +$300 and up)
- Multiple Colors, Special Masking: Many options, pricing varies with complexity (usually +$500 and up)
Preview of PVF Stock Color Options:
Nearly Endless Parts Options
PROPRIETARY SYSTEM
PVF has made a proprietary system for being able to more efficiently and easily offer you a massive number of part options.
The PVF Build Kit Option System:
PVF has made a proprietary system for being able to more efficiently and easily offer you a massive number of part options.
The PVF Build Kit Option System:
- Drop-down menus show many available options for each part of your build kit.
- Easily compare prices between different part options, and instantly see the total build cost.
- Custom Wheel Builder Tool allows every detail of the wheel build to be customized.
- Configure all the options for a custom fork with the Fork Builder Tool.
- Own multiple wheelsets or tires for your bike.
- Many American made parts available.
- Accessories such as fenders, racks, lights, bags etc also available.
- Only available to PVF frame customers.