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Tech News – April 6, 2004Edited by John Stevenson Got tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads.
Cervelo rolls out new bikes at FlandersCyclingnews photo-reporter Chris Henry spotted these stealth bikes in the CSC pit area at Flanders over the weekend. Interrogation of Cervelo main man Gerard Vroomen reveals them to be Cervelo's new all-aluminium R1 road bike which fits into Cervelo's range "below the R2.5. It is an aluminum frame that is built along the same design parameters as the R2.5. So it is optimized for stiffness-to-weight ratio." The protos were delivered to the CS team just last week and were ridden in Flanders by CSC riders Lars Michaelsen, Tristan Hoffman and Thomas Eriksen. Fortunately, CSC's mechanics have prevented us from making lots of sad Spinal Tap 'none more black' gags by using white handlebar tape on these protos. No word yet on availability, though we'd be surprised if it's before 2005. More info: www.cervelo.com LA Bike show highlightsCyclingnews just spent a day at the LA Bike show. While LA is far from being as big and important a show as the fall round of gearfests in Las Vegas, Freidrichshafen and Milano, there were still a few nifty little items worth taking a look at. Saddleco Flow
Saddleco's Flow seat is a dramatic departure from standard saddle designs, which usually involve mounting a plastic hull on metal rails, putting some padding over that and holding the whole thing together with a sheet of leather. Instead, Saddleco moulds a nylon edge round a fabric top and stretches the assembly on to a frame to create a suspended seat. Saddleco describes the sat fabric as a "custom elastomeric monofilament textile specifically engineered to deliver precise stretch characteristics and exceptional creep resistance." In other words, it has just enough stretch to provide comfortable seating but won't go saggy over time. Saddleco claims the results is a saddle that's more comfortable because your weight is supported over the whole seat, and it's lighter, because there's simply less of it. More info: www.saddleco.com
Pedro's big toolsPedro's Master Tool Kit 2.0 contains just about everything you need to do your own wrenching, with 15 new tools in the 2.0 version. From screwdrivers to spoke keys and chain tools to cable pullers, it's a pretty comprehensive selection - and there's space in the case for more if your bike needs unusual special tools. More info: www.pedros.com Polar goes soft
As well as a seemingly never-ending parade of new monitors, Polar has been tweaking details of its existing range. A new option for 2004 is the WearLink 31 coded transmitter and its accompanying soft strap. The WearLink is designed to stop cross-talk between monitors in situations where you're surrounded by other HRM users, in a gym or a peloton, for example. The textile strap is removable and machine-washable and conforms to the wearer's body shape. Available as an optional accessory, the WearLink 31 is compatible with all Polar heart rate monitors. More info: www.polar.fi More from the LA show later this week. Giant hints at 2005Cyclingnews readers have been asking when the carbon fiber time trial bike that is being used by Giant-sponsored teams such as the women's T-Mobile squad will be available to mere mortals. According to Giant's Steve Westover, the answer is "soon". "I can probably give you a more definite day towards June," Westover told Cyclingnews, which in bike industry scheduling terms probably means an announcement in June and bikes available towards the end of the year. And while there isn't anything official on 2005 bikes from Giant yet, Westover did drop a tantalizing little hint, "The very light frame that we are working on is not something I can talk about at this moment but I can tell you that the next bike from us will be something everyone will chasing... both in technology and on the race course." More TT helmets
Another contender in the time trial helmet stakes has thrown its hat into the ring. Shain Helmets from Italy is supplying the Lampre team with time trial helmets that meet the UCI's requirement for a helmet to offer protection and not just streamlining, and the team rolled out in them for the first time at the Settimana Coppi-Bartali. More info: www.shainhelmets.com
Specialized teams up with DedacciaiSpecialized has announced that it will be making available its patented Zertz anti-vibration technology via a licensing deal with Italian bicycle tubing manufacturer Dedacciai. Deda will use the technology under the DAVS (Deda Anti-Vibration System) name in its carbon and aluminum tubesets that are widely used by high-end bike manufacturers. More info: www.specialized.com Cannondale's lightweight challengeGot a super-light road bike? Going to Sea Otter? Make sure you drop by Cannondale's booth where the company is running 'The Six13 Challenge' - a contest where riders can pit their bikes against the company's new Six13 rig. If your bike is lighter than Cannondale's production, Campagnolo Record-equipped Six13, you'll win a Saeco jersey. The first 613 participants whose bikes aren't lighter than the Six13 will get a Cannondale water bottle. "Hard-core riders love to get the lightest frames possible and trick them out with the latest lightweight parts, but we'll go head-to-head with anyone willing to step up to the scale," says Cannondale communications director Tom Armstrong. Cannondale claims the Six13 frame weighs 1,150g, which is respectably light, but not staggeringly so. We expect Cannondale will be giving away a few jerseys at Sea Otter, so if you turn up with a light rig and snag one let us know - and tell us the spec of your bike too. More info: www.cannondale.com Principia back in the USA
Danish bike builder Principia is once again available in the US, through Ochsner International. Something of a cult item, Principia frames have been ridden by several professional teams over the years, including the Linda McCartney and fakta squads. The company currently supports Danish Division III team Haraldshus and German Division III team Rosso Sport. Principia frames start at US$1649.99 for the T28 and run up to US$2699.00 for the Revolution D2S. In the middle is the Ellipse Team Issue for $2320.00, available in Danish national colours. More info: www.principiabikes.com
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