New Arrivals – January 21, 2008 Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Welcome to New Arrivals, a section showcasing the latest equipment that's landed on the Cyclingnews tech desk. Look out for reviews over the next few months when we've clocked up some saddle time with this stuff. Pinarello Prince Carbon The Prince returns Photo ©: Ben Atkins The Prince's Onda FPX fork is a further development Photo ©: Ben Atkins After an absence of two years, Pinarello has resurrected the Prince as the flagship model of its range. Unlike previous versions that mixed aluminium and carbon fibre, the new Prince Carbon is now a full carbon fibre construct using Torayca's advanced 50HM1K material. According to Pinarello, careful design has not only made this latest Prince stronger than before but also lighter: an unpainted 54cm frame weighs a claimed 900g. Pinarello's radical styling is displayed throughout, particularly in the front and rear Onda FPX 'Wavy System Carbon' fork and seat stays that are even more dramatically shaped than those found on the previously range topping Dogma FP. The Onda FPX fork is also equipped with a tapered and oversized carbon steerer tube that flares from a standard 1 1/8" diameter at the top to 1 1/4" at the crown. Pinarello has been supplying frames to the Franco-Spanish Caisse d'Epargne team and its various previous incarnations for many years - including Miguel Indurain's Banesto - and the Prince has been used by the majority of the team since the middle of 2007. After featuring the team's new bikes back in June, we now finally get to try Green Bullet Alejandro Valverde's weapon of choice for ourselves. Our test model is built up with a full Campagnolo Record groupset with the sole exception being the limited edition Pinarello Tank FP compact carbon chainset (which looks to be made by FSA). Also featured is a plethora of Pinarello's in-house MOst branded kit, including a Tiger Lite stem, Lion Air bars and a Tail C-Max seatpost. The wheels are also from Camapgnolo in the form of Shamal Ultras with their new-for-2008 titanium colour scheme. These are appropriately shod with a pair of Prince special edition Continental Attack and Force tyres. With the included carbon and titanium - Pinarello branded, of course - Look Keo pedals fitted, as well as two MOst carbon bottle cages, our 55cm tester comes in at a (just about) UCI-pleasing 6.95kg. /BA Price: US$5000 (frame, fork, headset, and seatpost) Avanti Quantum Team New Zealand manufacturer Avanti Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly New Zealand bike manufacturer Avanti has been around for many years in its native land as well as Australia producing models for a wide range of market segments. Included in that list is the purpose-built road racing segment, topped with the Quantum Team. The Quantum Team's premium 950g CRR2 frame blends a careful mix of fibers and tube-to-tube construction and is matched with a Dedaccicai Black Wave monocoque carbon fork. The top-end build includes Shimano Dura-Ace componentry and a custom decaled set of Zipp's versatile, aerodynamic, and lightweight 404 carbon fiber wheels wrapped with Specialized's S-Works Mondo tubulars. The finishing kit on our 58cm test rig is supplied entirely by Oval Concepts. Up front the bike features an oversized R900 Carbon handlebar mated to an R700 aluminum stem while the M801 Carbon seatpost is capped with a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow saddle. How does it ride, you ask? You will have to wait and see! /PV Price: AUD$7999.99 fi'zi:k Arione CX and Gobi XM saddles fi'zi:k's latest Arione model is the CX Photo ©: James Huang The fi'zi:k Arione was introduced just a few years ago but has quickly become a staple in the pro peloton with its versatile elongated shape and classic profile. fi'zi:k adds to the family yet again with the advent of the Arione CX, a decidedly racier model with a more sparsely padded shell and reinforced 'C4' braided carbon fiber rails. Of course, it also includes fi'zi:k's Integrated Clip System accessory port and now-trademark Wing Flex sides that supposedly promote a more natural pedaling action. Actual weight of our tester is just 170g, only 11g more than claimed. fi'zi:k also addresses the off road side for 2008 with the updated Gobi XM. The new model continues with the same proven Wing Flex and Tail Flex-equipped shell shape as before but the Microtex top now boasts Meryl Techno material around the sides and rear for improved durability and slightly improved grip in rougher conditions. The recently introduced k:ium rails are supposedly 8% lighter than solid titanium while offering similar stiffness, fatigue life, and impact resistance. Actual weight of our Gobi XM sample is 248g. Price: US$299.99 (Arione CX); US$139.99 (Gobi XM) Ritchey WCS 1Bolt seatpost The Ritchey WCS seatpost Photo ©: James Huang The polar icecaps are melting, crude oil regularly flirts with US$100 a barrel, Britney's little sis is pregnant, and yes, Ritchey finally offers a zero-offset seatpost. Truly, the world must be ending. The new Ritchey WCS 1Bolt seatpost uses the same 3D-Net forged 7075 aluminum mast as the standard offset version but foregoes the somewhat cumbersome two-bolt clamp for its latest 'SideBinder' low profile design. The new forged alloy head works with a single side-accessed bolt and provides a wide range of tilt adjustment on its semi-cylindrical cradle and saddles are easily installed or removed without having little bits falling all over the place. The 38mm-long clamp should offer plenty of support for most lightweight rail materials and separate clamp pieces are available for Selle Italia’s 8mm x 8.5mm rails and fi’zi:k’s 8mm x 9.6mm braided carbon rails. Actual weight on our 27.2mm x 350mm tester is a competitive 192g. Price: US$79.99 BBB Successor World Champion and Attacker PH sportsglasses Interchangeable polycarbonate lenses Photo ©: James Huang BBB continues to expand its range of sportsglasses which now includes over a dozen different styles. The Dutch company earned the rainbow stripes on its Successor World Champion model with Paolo Bettini and his Quickstep-Innergetic team. The half-enclosed Grilamid frame incorporates an adjustable rubber nosepiece and moldable rubber temples for a custom fit and three interchangeable UV-blocking polycarbonate lenses are included with the kit. The medium-sized fit looks to offer good coverage against wind and debris and its Euro-inspired styling seems to fit Paolo just fine. The Grilamid frame on the Attacker PH loses the adjustable temples but offers a slightly larger fit with more aggressive wrapping for more protection or bigger faces. The polycarbonate lenses can be swapped out if you want, but the wide 17-85% variable transmission range of the included photochromic lenses means you'll usually have the correct tint for the job at hand. We've used BBB's photochromic lenses before and found their 85% transmission extreme to be clear enough even for nighttime riding. As always with BBB optics, both the Successor and World Champion and Attacker PH include a soft carrying bag and protective hard case. Price: US$104.99/€69.50 (BSG-28 Successor World Champion); US$159.99/€119.00 (BSG-29 Attacker PH) BBB Microfold tools The smallest one Photo ©: James Huang BBB doesn't just offer sportsglasses, though, and its diverse product catalog also includes a range of tools both for home and on-the-road use. The new Microfold trio of mini-tools is particularly compact at barely 7cm long and under 1cm thick, yet the grippy rubber-coated bodies are still big enough to remain useful. The smallest Microfold S includes six tools: 2, 3, 4, and 5mm Allen, plus #1 Phillips and flat head screwdrivers. The 'just right' Microfold M adds T25 and T30 Torx bits, while the largest Microfold L continues to build on the list with 2.5 and 6mm Allen bits and additional larger Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers. Actual weights are just 62, 84, and 122g, respectively. Price: US$12.99/€9.95 (BTL-42S); US$14.99/€11.95 (BTL-42M); €14.95 (BTL-42L) Giro Advantage2 helmet The Giro Advantage 2 Photo ©: Ben Atkins Since the 2004 Tour de France, riders in UCI sanctioned time trial events have been required to wear helmets that meet some sort of accepted standard and not just some aerodynamic shell that would have done little in the event of a fall. The Advantage2 is the newly updated model from Giro, developed in the wind tunnel as well as alongside its numerous sponsored ProTour riders. Thanks to the additional EPS foam in the liner, the new model is larger than the previous incarnation - simply called the Advantage - but it now meets CPSC safety standards as well as EN1078. As such, it is now legal for all events in the US, including triathlons coming under the USAT banner. The Advantage2 features five frontal vents and an internal channelling system to allow some cooling over the rider's head and it is held in place with the same Roc Loc 4 retention system and chin strap arrangement as on Giro's other top-line helmets. Weight for our medium sized tester is 416g. /BA Price: US$150 Polar CS600 with Power computer Polar's feature-packed CS600 computer Photo ©: Paul Henderson-Kelly Polar has long been known as the heart rate monitor to use and its watches have been seen on the arms and handlebars of the biggest names in the sport. Power has since evolved as the primary measure for those serious about their training and Polar has offered its own unique add-on unit for several years. Its most recent W.I.N.D. Power Output Sensor incorporates the same unique chain-based measurement system as on the original but now offers a cleaner wireless look, interference-free 2.4GHz transmission, and promises better reliability. The unit is reasonably straightforward to install and looks fairly neat on the bike as well. Power-related features include the usual power output but also helpful training aids such as pedaling efficiency and left-right balance. The CS600 also features Polar's full range of HRM functions such as OwnZone, OwnCal (a built-in fitness test that helps calculate your maximum heart rate), three settable HR zones, and an altimeter, as well as the standard speed and distance functions. Workout data can be downloaded back to your PC via the IrDA USB 2.0 adapter to Polar's own ProTrainer 5 program. The advanced software not only displays and analyses past workouts, but can also upload training plans back to the wrist unit, making for a virtual travelling 'coach'. Price: US$US$709.95 (CS600 with Power); US$419.95 (CS600) Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com The Prince returns to take its place at the top of Pinarello's range. The Prince's Onda FPX fork is a further development of Pinarello's established Onda FP curves. It features a tapered steerer: 1 1/8" at the top and 1 1/4" at the crown. Radical styling is everywhere on the Prince's frame, but not just for show. These ribbed areas supposedly stabilise and stiffen the tube walls. Like the other top frames in the Pinarello stable the Prince features an oversized 55mm bottom bracket shell. Included on our test model is a Pinarello Tank FP compact carbon chainset. Images by Paul Henderson-Kelly/Cyclingnews.com New Zealand manufacturer Avanti offers its top-end road model, the Quantum Team. The front end is graced by a Dedacciai Black Wave monocoque carbon fork. Tube-to-tube construction yields clean looking joints. Dura-Ace componentry is littered throughout the Quantum Team. The chain stays take a curvy line from the bottom bracket shell to the dropouts. Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com fi'zi:k's latest Arione model is the CX , which shaves weight from standard versions with a more lightly padded shell and braided carbon rails. The new Arione CX wears the same profile as other Arione models. fi'zi:k's familiar Wing Flex and ICS features are integrated into the new Arione CX. The updated fi'zi:k Gobi XM is a tougher version of the original. The classic shape has been upchanged from the original Gobi. Wing Flex and Tail Flex features promise increased comfort and easier 'offs' off the rear of the saddle. The Ritchey WCS seatpost is now available with the conventional two-bolt head or the new 'SideBinder' one-bolt version. Yup, it's true. Ritchey finally offers a zero offset seatpost. The new head uses a single bolt for all adjustments. BBB's range of sportsglasses expands with the new photochromic Attacker PH model. The Attacker is a full-sized model with plenty of coverage and protection. An adjustable nosepiece offers a custom fit. The included case keeps things protected. BBB earned its rainbow stripes with Paolo Bettini and the Quickstep-Innergetic team. The Successor is a medium-fit model. Adjustable temples can be fitted to suit particular head shapes. Interchangeable polycarbonate lenses are included. An included case keeps it all together. BBB's new Microfold range of minitools is small and easy to transport. The smallest one is easily lost in a jersey pocket! Rubber sides throughout the range make for a positive grip. The largest Microfold model is rather broad, but still short and thin. Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com The Giro Advantage 2 is the latest development of its time trial helmet. Images by Paul Henderson-Kelly/Cyclingnews.com Polar's feature-packed CS600 computer offers plenty of on-the-bike information… …but its uploadable workout feature turns it into a carryalong coach.