Tech News March 3, 2004
Edited by John Stevenson
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New seats from Selle Italia
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High-tech saddles from Selle Italia
Selle Italia has announced two new saddles in its SLR and Flite ranges.
Both the SLR Kit Carbonio and the Flite Kit Carbonio have weight-saving
titanium and carbon fiber rails, and carbon inserts in the rear of the
hull.
The SLR Kit Carbonio has a claimed weight of 140g, but still boasts closed
cell EVA foam padding and full grain leather cover over its carbon-reinforced
hull. The Flite Kit Carbonio - the latest in a saddle dynasty that began
12 years ago with the original Flite - is slightly heavier at 160g.
Both saddles have a suggested retail price of $199.98.
More info: www.selleitalia.com
ROI Zefiro carbon bar/stem
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ROI Zefiro bars
Will the deluge of carbon components ever end? We hope not! From Italy
comes the latest black composite component for weight fanatics, ROI Zefiro's
carbon monocoque, one-piece handlebar and stem. Weighing a claimed 365g
in its 110x42 version, the bar/stem is also available in 100, 120 and
130mm stem lengths, all with 42cm bars (measured center to center).
Cost is a cool $595, which, we think, definitely makes them race bike
only components.
More info: www.cyclinginnovations.com
Team Seasilver's Iron Horse Victory
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Team Seasilver's Iron Horse
Here's a quick look at the Iron Horse road bikes currently being raced
by new US Division III team Seasilver, parked, in the tradition of team
bikes inside a hotel room somewhere in the USA...
Seasliver's team bikes are built around Iron Horse's Victory frame, the
top model in its five-bike line-up of road machines. The semi-compact
Victor is built from Columbus Airplane aluminium tubing with carbon seatstays
and Reynolds Composites Forks.
The running gear is a mixture of high-end parts from various manufacturers.
Truvativ suppliers the lion's share, coming in with cranks, bottom brackets,
handlebars, stems and seat-posts. Tyres by Maxxis are wrapped round Reynolds
Composites wheels while the team's Nike shoes push on Speedplay Zero pedals
and they sit on fi'zi:k saddles.
Other equipment sponsors include Sock Guy socks; Rudy Project glasses;
Lazer helmets; Accelerade/Endurox R4 sports and recovery drink and Premier
Nutrition protein bars.
More info: www.ironhorsebikes.com
Klein & Maverick get coupley
In one of this year's more unusual bits of racing sponsorship, Klein
and mountain bike fork manufacturer Maverick American is sponsoring boyfriend/girlfriend
racing pair Ariel Lindsley and Abigail Hippely. The couple will travel
the US racing and promoting the two brands, which have a link through
Klein's use of the Maverick American suspension frame design on its Palomino
range of mountain bikes.
As well as offering Palomino test rides from their team truck, the duo
will also be promoting Dale's Pale Ale, a 'micro-brew in a can'. We assume
for the sake of safety that ale samples will follow test rides and not
the other way round...
More info: www.kleinbikes.com
Zero Gravity brakes sponsors Webcor & Jittery Joe's
New American lightweight brake maker Zero Gravity will feature on two
US Pro team's bikes in 2004: Webcor Builders and Jittery Joe's.
Zero Gravity recently announced the tie-in with Webcor, the substantially-strengthened
California team that this year boasts former Saturn demi-god Chris Horner
on its roster and rising star 2003 Univest GP winner Ted Huang.
Athens, Georgia-based Jittery Joe's team will also be using the sub-100g,
CNC-machined, titanium and aluminium brakes this year, a not terribly
surprising tie-in given that Zero Gravity Brakes are made in Nicholson,
Georgia, just a few miles up the road from Athens.
More info: www.zerogravitybike.com
Ambrosio's 2004 teams
Italian rim manufacturer Ambrosio may not quite have the ubiquity in
the peloton of, say, Mavic, but it will still have a strong presence in
2004, with no fewer than nine Division I and II pro teams using the Solaro
manufacturer's rims and wheels.
Ambrosio's 2004 pro roster
Gerolsteiner Wilier cycles
Colnago - Landbouwkrediet Colnago cycles
Panaria - Margres Battaglin cycles
Colombia - Selle Italia Daccordi cycles
Tenax Olmo cycles
Vlaanderen - T Interim Merckx cycles
Cafes Baque Olmo cycles
Miche FRW cycles
Team LPR Guerciotti cycles
More info: www.ambrosiospa.com
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