Back to the Roots: A Crit Racer's Reawakening

Back to The Roots.

A Crit Racer's Reawakening.

Photography by: Tom Kieslich
Out there, deep in the woods of Southern Germany, far from the buzz of city life and the noise of modern tech, something beautiful took shape. This wasn’t just a bike build. It wasn’t even just a ride. This was a homecoming. A quiet rebellion. A statement that said: “This is who we are. This is where we come from.”
We built up a 2011 Scott Foil Team Issue. In the forest. Why? Because sometimes you have to step away from it all to remember why you started.
Back to rim brakes. Back to raw speed. Back to when racing was about the rider, the road, and the resolve to go all out with nothing in the way.
We call it “Basic” – but there’s absolutely nothing basic about it.
Munich-based photographer Tom Kieslich and Jan Herrmann, wrench wizard and mechanic at Scott Germany, are the minds and hands behind this build. Teammates on the gritty Schranz04 Racing Team, they’ve seen more than their share of elbows-out crit racing in Munich and across Southern Germany. The kind of races where precision matters, and a few battle scars are just part of the job.
But even warriors need to reconnect with their roots.
And for Tom, that reconnection meant letting go of the tech arms race and going back to what he loved most: a simple, fast, beautifully aggressive rim brake rig—built not for show, but for soul.
Jan took that vision and transformed it into reality. Armed with nothing more than a toolbox, a calm mind, and a deep respect for the craft, he turned the forest into his sanctuary. Piece by piece, he built the machine. Sharp geometry. Clean lines. HUNT 60/80mm carbon hoops that scream speed. It’s poetry in motion, forged in the trees.
Watching him work was like watching meditation in motion—pure focus, pure love for the build.
This project wasn’t just about building a fast bike. It was about remembering what makes crit racing so special. The chaos. The strategy. The rush of flying through a tight corner, elbow to elbow, no room for mistakes. That raw adrenaline doesn’t need a bike loaded with sensors or electronics. It needs something real. It needs trust in the machine.
And now that high-end frames with race pedigree are more accessible thanks to the disc brake boom, it’s never been easier to put together a weekend weapon that’s light on budget but heavy on intent.
Tom’s new build is exactly that: stripped-down, dialed-in, built to go fast and to take hits. It’s not just a bike. It’s a throwback to the days when every gram counted, and every race was won with guts.
“Back to the Roots” isn’t nostalgia. It’s not about going backwards. It’s about grounding yourself. About finding that center so you can push forward even harder. Tom and Jan didn’t just build a bike—they reminded us all why we fell in love with cycling in the first place.
It’s not just about watts or wind tunnels. It’s about sweat. Style. Stillness before the chaos of the race. And knowing that you built this machine—not just bought it.
So here’s to the builders. To those who ride with heart. To those who go back to basics so they can come back stronger.
Want to see more? Watch Jan’s full interview where he breaks down the build and shares his process. And trust us—you’ll want to.

Follow Tom and Jan on Instagram and stay tuned for more from the Schranz04 crew.

Build Your Own:

HUNT Proven Carbon Enduro H_Core MTB 29 Wheelset

Sold out
HUNT Proven Carbon Enduro H_Core MTB 29 Wheelset

Sold out
HUNT Proven Carbon Enduro H_Core MTB 29 Wheelset

Sold out
Left Older Post Back to Journal | Hunt Bike Wheels Newer Post Right