Pro Bike: Tory Nyhaug’s Ssquared CEO

Tory Nyhaug will be representing Canada at the Rio Olympics as the sole Canadian racing BMX. It will be the second time the 24-year-old who calls Coquitlam, B.C. home will be headed to the Olympics after competing at the 2012 London Games. Before the third round of the BMX Canada Cup at Centennial Park, Toronto got underway on July 9 and 10 we had a chance to have a look at Nyhaug’s rig he would be competing on. This will be his backup bike in Rio, an identical build on a white Ssquared CEO frame is in the process of being built up which will be his primary race bike at the Olympics.

BMX bikes are single speed with a single rear brake

Nyhaug rides a limited edition Flo Yellow Ssquared frame

Nyhaug pushes a massive amount of power off the start through the chainring

BMX bikes have wide handle bars to give riders lots of control

Nyhaug has a time chip on attached to his bike for keeping track of times during training

Nyhaug has used a power meter in training for much of his career and says that off a start he peaks at 2400 to 2700 watts. Starts in BMX are critical, Nyhaug uses a 44t front chainring and a 16t rear freewheel hub on his race bike. The Ssquared CEO is an aluminum frame, some top-end BMX bikes are carbon but weight isn’t as much of a concern in BMX.

To minimize rolling resistence, BMX riders run tires with minimal nobs

An Answer dua length stem connects the handlebars to the steerer tube

BMX saddles are slammed because in the short efforts riders don't make use of them

Nyhaug likes his grips worn down

The single Shimano XTR brake lever doesn't get much use in competition as riders try and hold their speed

BMX races last under a minute and are all about maintaining speed. For that reason tires are slick despite being raced on compact grave courses. Riders don’t make use of their saddles during races so slam them. Nyhaug told me he will be replacing his grips after this weekend in order to begin wearing out the one’s he will be using for the Olympics.

Nyhaug uses a carbon Raceface 175mm crankarm with Time pedals

Strong alloy wheels for Nyhaug's race rig

The single Shimano DXR rear brake

The seat stay, steat tube junction is reinforced by a plate berring the SSquared logo

BMX bikes are built sturdily to handle the forces from flying down the track. Lighter weigh components are used but they are still built very strong. Nyhaug just started using Vancouver-based Race Face’s carbon crank arms. Check out a video of Nyhaug at UCI BMX Supercross in 2014. He will be traveling to Chula Vista, California to train ahead of the Olympics.