Tech News – January 28, 2008 Got tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech desk. New hard and soft goods from Seven Cycles By James Huang Seven Cycles will add some soft and hard goods to its catalog Photo ©: Seven Cycles Custom frame builder Seven Cycles will add a few hard and soft goods to its range of titanium, carbon fiber and steel frames for 2009. The Wool Jersey 3.0 is made of 100 percent Merino wool by Woolistic and features a quarter-length front zip, three rear pockets and a knitted-in Seven Cycles logo. Seven Cycles will offer the jersey only in red with grey accents though the broad sizing range covers S-XXL. Retail cost is US$160. Alternatively, Seven Cycles will also offer a heavier Winter Trainer in limited numbers. The 100 percent Merino wool construction includes a higher-cut collar and elastic waist plus a full-length front zip. Available colors include anthracite/white or white/black with sizes ranging from XS-XXL. Retail cost is US$225. Seven Cycles will also supplement its current aluminum seatpost model with a carbon fiber post that features a structural wrap over a cold-forged 2014 aluminum skeleton. The new post will be available in 280mm or 400mm lengths, both with 27.2mm diameters. Claimed weights are 185g and 205g, respectively. Retail cost is US$179. USA Cycling announces dates for 2009 Bill Woodul Mechanic Clinic USA Cycling will hold the 2009 Bill Woodul Mechanic Clinic March 12-15 Photo ©: James Huang USA Cycling will hold its annual Bill Woodul Mechanic Clinic this March 12-15 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The intensive three-day clinic is not intended as a general skills seminar but instead provides specific training for those looking to become a race mechanic. The unique course curriculum will include: instruction on road, track, mountain bike and cyclo-cross support in a variety of settings such as stationary pit, caravan and motorcycle; guidelines on tool, equipment and supply needs; race equipment preparation; bike washing and wheel change techniques; wheel building theory; proper tubular tire gluing technique; and relationships between the mechanic and other team members such as the coaches, soigneurs and the athletes themselves. Past instructors have included current team and neutral support mechanics as well as prominent industry figures such as Calvin Jones of Park Tool. Graduating attendees will be eligible to purchase a USA Cycling mechanic's license, which will qualify them for work at the US Olympic Trials, National Championship events and USA Cycling training camps as well as some corporate neutral support services. License holders will also be added to a national database of race mechanics. Registration costs US$300 but housing at the OTC plus all meals and instructional materials will be provided. Attending students must provide transportation to and from the OTC. Interested parties should submit a brief resume, contact information and a check payable to 'USA Cycling' to: USA Cycling Attn: Mechanics Clinic One Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs, CO 80909 All prospective students must be US citizens with at least two years' experience as a bicycle mechanic. Registration materials must be received no later than February 13, 2009. For additional information, contact USA Cycling operations manager Justin Koch at jkoch@usacycling.org or (719) 866-4708 or download the official event flyer. Commencal produce Atherton downhill race machine Commencal's Supreme DH World Championship Photo ©: Commencal Commencal have built a limited edition production version of the bike Gee and Rachel Atherton rode to victory at last year's World Championships in Italy. The Supreme DH World Championship comes complete with a rainbow stripe paintjob and the spec is as close as possible to the Athertons' race-winning machines, with top-of-the-range kit from Shimano, Fox Racing shox, DT Swiss, Chris King, Sunline, E13 and Maxxis. The bikes will be available in limited numbers from March. The price has not yet been confirmed. Supreme DH World Championship Ltd Edition Spec: Frame -'09 Supreme DH Rear shock - Fox DHX 5.0 (Atherton setting) Fork - Fox 40 RC2 Headset - Chris King 1 1/8" Stem - Sunline V1 DH direct mount Bars - Sunline V1 Low Grips - Sunline Logo lock-on Brakes - Shimano Saint 203mm/203mm Shifter - Shimano Saint r/h Chain device - E13 LG1 Rear derailleur - Shimano Saint short cage Bottom bracket - Shimano Saint Crankset - Shimano Saint Chain - Shimano Cassette - Shimano 12-25T Wheels - DT Swiss EX1750 Tyres - Maxxis High Roller 26 x 2.5" Seatpost - Thomson Elite Saddle - SDG Fly RL Titanium Sidi release new racing-red Dragon shoes The new Sidi shoes feature high-shine Vernice patent leather uppers. Photo ©: Sidi Sidi's top of the range Dragon 2 off-road shoes have received a makeover and are now available in a fetching shiny red colour. Flamboyant to the maximum, the new shoes use the company's tried and tested carbon sole, built for mile-munching racers and trail thrashers alike. Sidi says the high-shine Vernice patent leather upper is soft and pliable, yet tough and the shoes fit like a glove. Well, a sock. The shoes have a soft in-step closure, as well as a calliper buckle that locks in two ways and is designed to be easy to adjust while riding. They also feature a monofilament line and ratchet buckle that adjusts the shape of the shoe's upper to fit your foot. Thule to sponsor BMC UK Racing Team The BMC UK Racing Team have announced a new sponsorship deal with car rack manufacturer Thule. The company will provide the road team with bike carriers for the 2009 season. "The team will be travelling across the UK in 2009 and it's vital that our BMC team bikes arrive at the races safely and are firmly secured," said team manager Alan Rosner. "The Thule ProRide 591 bike carriers are the perfect solution for the team and we're thrilled to have them gracing our team vehicles." The team will travel to Valldemossa, Mallorca, on Friday for a week's training to hone their fitness and strengthen their teamwork for the season ahead. Hotlines to import Tomac mountain bikes Scotland-based bike distributor Hotlines has made a deal with Tomac Mountain Bikes to become the Californian manufacturer's exclusive UK distributor. "Hotlines has seen unprecedented growth the past few years and Tomac will be another big part of our arsenal", said Hotlines general manager Illy Anastasi. "The bike range fits a nice niche in our product mix and the bikes are consistently among the highest rated in the market." "The UK has long been one of Tomac's strongest markets," added Tomac owner Joel Smith. "Hotlines is a company that can truly take advantage of the brand's strength." Tomac Mountain Bikes is the namesake of racer John Tomac. The brand is focused exclusively on mountain bikes and has currently a range of 6 models, including the Primer 220 downhill bike, which was raced on the world cup circuit last year. Hotlines imports over 30 high-end bike brands including Lapierre, Viper and X-Tools. BikeAsia exhibition returns for 2009 BikeAsia 2009, Asia's only bike and motorbike exhibition, is back in Singapore, from Saturday February 28 to Sunday March 1 at Singapore Expo Hall 3. Experts will be on hand to offer advice on health, fitness and choosing the right bike. There will be demo models for testing and displays from daredevil professionals. There will also be a section dedicated to BMX. Entries are now open for the exhibition's 100km mountain bike race, where US national champion, two-time US Olympian and Pan Am Games gold medallist David 'Tinker' Juarez will be competing. The race will take place on Febuary 28 and March 1 at Tampines Mountain Bike Circuit. To enter, go to www.bikeasia.org. "This year we have an excellent line up of exhibitors," said Roberto Fabbri, managing director of BikeAsia, "from the finest Italian motorcycle specialists such as Ducati, Cagiva and Motoguzzi, to Cannondale and Street Surfers, the guys who know everything and anything there is to know about bicycles. "Also, this is your chance to be one of the first people in Asia to see the 2009 motorcycle range from world renowned motorcycle manufacturer, MV Agusta - they will be showcasing their MV Agusta Brutale 989R, MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR, MV Agusta F4 RR 312, and Cagiva Mito SP525." Tickets for BikeAsia 2009 are available from www.bikeasia.org from January 15. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Aerodynamic expert Cobb goes solo In the mid 1980s, John Cobb's work with athletes began with regionally competitive cyclists and multisport athletes in the US southeast, then grew into consulting work for Greg LeMond and then Lance Armstrong. Cobb's design handiwork has included bicycle frames, forks, wheels, aerodynamic handlebars and extensions, bike saddles, helmets and waterbottle cages. Now he has a website to share his expertise and start selling stuff, including his expertise. "I've learned a lot from my work at other companies, and I think that I've helped them bring some truly unique and advanced products to market," Cobb said. "But I can do the same thing as a consultant, as evidenced in the design of an aero frameset I did for a prominent international brand (currently being used by both a world champion pro road team and an Ironman champion), and in the creation of innovative new bicycle components." After being aligned with different personalities and organizations over the years, Cobb decided it was in his best interest to build his own company and brand, making his products available directly to the public. Cobb has designed products for Hed, Oval Concepts, Blackwell Research, SoftRide, Giro, Trek, Aegis, Kestrel, Scott, Shimano, Cervelo, Litespeed, Javelin and others. "Cobb Cycling allows me to follow my own research agenda, working more closely with a broader client base," he added. "It also allows me to be more in charge of my own destiny." Cobb will offer VFlow saddles initially, gradually introducing more products over the next 18 months. For more information, visit www.cobbcycling.com. CycleOps trainer recall Wisconsin-based Saris Cycling Group has clarified information recently released by the Consumer Products Safety Commission regarding its voluntary recall of some CycleOps trainers. Most importantly, this is not a new recall and most trainers affected by the recall have already been returned to the company. "Saris Cycling Group identified this problem in November 2008 and proactively informed the Consumer Products Safety Commission and its customer base to cease use and return the recalled product to us," said company spokesperson Maggie Waltz. "The CPSC released information pertaining to this over two months later. This is not a new recall notice." Waltz elaborated on the specifics of the recall. "2,248 trainers are affected by this recall notice," she added. "They are CycleOps model numbers 9331, 9460, 9014, 9321 and 9322. To date 1,954 trainers have been returned. This represents 90 percent of the effected units." These trainers were sold in October 2008 and November 2008 at Independent Bicycle Dealers (IBDs) nationwide. A technical advisory on this issue is posted at www.cycleops.com. Isaac recalls all bikes built since 2004 Isaac International Ltd has issued a voluntary recall on all bikes and framesets built since 2004 due to a potential safety problem with some stem and spacer combinations. No serious accidents have occurred, but the company said in a statement that a faulty fork steerer could break suddenly during riding, resulting in serious injury or death of the rider. Anyone who owns an Isaac bike or frame set built since 2004 should take it to an Isaac dealer, where it will be checked any necessary replacements made. Isaac strongly recommends against using a bike that has not been checked and has not had a new expander fitted. For more information, visit www.isaac-carbon.info. Isaac Bicycles offers further clarification on carbon steerer tube service recall By James Huang All prior models of the Isaac expander must be replaced with the new model. Photo ©: Isaac Isaac Bicycles has issued a voluntary service recall pertaining to all of its full carbon forks and expander plugs built since 2004 but stresses that there is no physical defect in either the design or manufacture of the components themselves. Rather, the recall notice emphasizes the need to exercise proper care in both the assembly and maintenance of related parts and the new 60mm-long replacement expander plug is required only to increase the margin of error, not to bring the system up to a minimum safety standard. The service bulletin represents the company's view of "best practice" for carbon steerers and outlines several precautionary and/or corrective measures. According to Isaac International's Dave Palk, none is individually more critical than the others though all are related to how the internal bore of the stem interacts with the steerer tube surface: 1) The lower collar of any stem used on an Isaac carbon steerer tube must be 7mm tall or more. Shallower stem collars may indent the steerer tube surface and create a dangerous stress riser even if the steerer tube clamp bolts are properly torqued. 2) Headset spacer height below the stem must be limited to no more than 30mm but should be at least 5mm. Exceeding that figure will create too long of a lever arm on the steerer tube while running no spacers at all will create undue point stress at the base of the stem. In addition, the steerer tube length should be cut such that it just slightly extends completely through the stem for maximum surface area contact. 3) All Isaac steerer tube expander plugs should be replaced with the new 60mm-tall version, which will be provided free of charge and offer additional reinforcement below the bottom edge of the stem as a redundant safety precaution. To ensure the plug extends to the correct region of the steerer tube, total stem clamp height should be no more than 45mm and a maximum of 5mm of spacer should be placed on top of the stem. Isaac Bicycles is keen to point out that this recall does not involve any defective or faulty Isaac components but only pertains to the "potential for damage due to incompatibility and misuse." Though other manufacturers may not have issued such specific guidelines, Isaac's conservative view of what should be used on its own bicycles are sensible rules of thumb that can also be applied to other makes as a precaution. Additional information can be obtained at www.isaac-carbon.info.