Fulcrum RacingLight wheels
Fulcrum RacingLight wheels
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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It's been obvious for a while that aluminium-rimmed clincher wheels
had reached their limit in terms of light weight. But while tubular
wheels went to carbon fiber rims for ultimate low weight a few years
ago, it's taken longer for the engineering problems to be solved
of making a carbon clincher rim that's strong enough to stand the
forces exerted by a tyre.
Fulcrum's solution is its new RacingLight wheels, which use a rim
made from high strength carbon fiber, oversize aluminium hubs and
stainless steel spokes to assemble a wheel pair that weighs 1355g
(760g rear; 595g front). The RacingLights have 22 spokes up front
and 24 rear, the latter arranged in Fulcrum's 2:1 configuration
that puts 16 on the drive side and 8 on the other side.
RacingLights are available with Campagnolo or Shimano compatible
freehub bodies and come with Fulcrum skewers (55g front, 65g rear)
and a Campagnolo tyre lever.
More information: www.fulcrumwheels.com
Technique Sports SuperbikeMarkOne
Australia's Superbike
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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Back in the 1990s, Australia's Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
developed a bike for the Australian national track team. Known as
the Superbike, it had a one-piece carbon fiber frame that represented
the state of the art in aerodynamic bike design and was ridden to
victory in numerous World Cups, world championships and two gold
medals at the 1996 Olympics.
UCI technical regulations banned frames without the equivalent
of tubes and the Australian team stopped using the Superbike. But
maker Technique Sports has continued to produce it, making a road
version for triathlon use, or in races that aren't covered by UCI
regulations.
The latest incarnation of the Superbike is this aluminium machine,
which brings the Superbike's highly aerodynamic design to a less
expensive price. As well as its striking looks, the SuperbikeMarkOne
boasts internal cabling and a custom seat clamp that allows use
of a standard round seat post in the heavily ovalised seat tube.
More information: www.techniquesports.com.au
Santini Genesis One bib shorts
Santini Genesis bib shorts
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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Santini's new top-of-the-line shorts hide a host of advanced features
in a very understated garment. For starters, the reason these shorts
aren't covered with the curvy stitching lines we've seen on everyone
else's high end shorts recently is that they're not actually stitched.
Rather the fabric - a Nylon/Lycra blend called MaxEnergy that has
25 percent Lycra rather than the usual 18-20 percent - is welded
together.
This makes for completely flat seams with just a few millimeters
of overlap between fabric panels and a very sleek look. That sleekness
extends to Santini's silicone leg grippers which are also very nearly
flat and the thin, light mesh fabric used for the bibs. The only
thing that might interrupt the line is the tiny rear pocket, but
it's handy to have somewhere for your keys.
The Genesis One bibs use Santini's top-model liner, the Twist Gel
Fluid insert, which uses varying thicknesses of special gel foam
for comfort, covered with extremely soft Meryl microfiber fabric.
All this technology doesn't come cheap, but this is a garment that
is sufficiently labour-intensive to make that Santini is only able
to turn out a handful each day and only a few of Santini's top sponsored
professionals get the Genesis One shorts instead of the company's
other top-quality shorts. What price comfort and exclusivity?
MSRP: AU$449; US$295
More information: www.santinisms.it
Australian importer: www.bikesportz.com.au
Capo Forma Retro Wool jersey
Capo Forma jersey
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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New clothing company Capo Forma hails from Italy and is distributed
in the US by Upland Sports Group. Highlights of the range include
this very retro wool/acrylic jersey, which boasts a looser, "club
style" cut, a 20cm zipper and three rear pockets with a button closures
in true mid-20th-century style.
Available in sizes S to XXXL in this stylish combination of red
and cream.
MSRP: US$149.99
More information: www.uplandsg.com
Capo Forma cap
Capo Forma cap
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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You'd want to top off a retro jersey like the one above with a
classically-styled cap and Capoforma has one for you (along with
a host of other goodies including more socks than you can shake
a stick at; more of those next time).
Capoforma's cycling cap is made from 100 percent polyester to wick
moisture and is elasticated so one size fits all.
More information: www.uplandsg.com
Louis Garneau Airgel bib shorts
Louis Garneau Airgel bib
shorts
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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Louis Garneau's new Airgel bib shorts build on the ideas that LG
introduced with last year's Lycra Power bibs. The Airgel bibs use
a combination of Lycra Power and Alveo fabrics in a ten-panel construction
that cleverly avoids having a seam in the inside of the leg.
There's a rear pocket built into the mesh bib section, leg grippers,
flat lock seams and reflective logos on the front of one leg and
back of the other. Inseam length is a generous 11.25 inches/28.5
cm.
MSRP: US$179.99
More information: www.louisgarneau.com
Louis Garneau carbon Ion jersey
Louis Garneau Carbon Ion
jersey
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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Carbon Ion is Louis Garneau's name for its ultra light fabric that
comprises 95 percent polyester and 5 percent ResistexTM carbon fiber.
Yep, you read that right - carbon fiber comes to clothing.
The fabric is certainly very light and so is the jersey. We wouldn't
usually bother to put a piece of clothing on the scale, but you
can get some idea of how feathery this jersey is when we tell you
a size L weighs 130g, compared with 210g for the fairly standard
jersey I ride to work in this morning.
The practical upshot of this should be a jersey that is very cool
for hot days, and that's what Louis Garneau claims. High breathability
is a feature of the Carbon Ion, according to Louis Garneau, along
with hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties.
MSRP: US$119.99
More information: www.louisgarneau.com
Louis Garneau Speed TS vest
Louis Garneau Steep TS vest
Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly
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If it's a bit cooler where you are - and it sure looks like summer
is quite a way off yet in Europe and some of North America - Louis
Garneau would like you to consider its Speed TS vest. It's made
from TexStretch fabric, a slightly stretchy Nylon/spandex mixture
that incorporates ripstop threads and a water repellent finish.
The Speed TS has three rear pockets for carrying your stuff, including
a zippered compartment; Lycra trim on the neck, waist and arm holes
and reflective logos on the back and chest - just in case the screaming
Kawasaki green isn't enough to help drivers pick you out on the
roads. It's also available in grey and red.
MSRP: US$84.99
More information: www.louisgarneau.com
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