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Mt Hood Classic
Photo ©: Swift


Bikes of the Spring Classics

By Paul Mirtschin with Jeff Jones and Chris Henry

In some races, lightweight is the order of the day. Teams are willing to forgo reliability in order to gain those extra seconds by the finish line. However, at this time of year in Europe, teams put reliability at the top of the list; it is time for the Spring Classics.

Steel is real
Photo: © Cyclingnews

These races each year put rider and machine to the ultimate test of reliability, racing along bone (and bike) jarring pavé. These races take in country roads and cobblestone lanes, and if their bikes are not up to it, it can cost them the race.

Teams with a big enough budget tend to have specially built bikes made up for the needs that these two races demand, with cantilever brakes, added mud clearance and even suspension; the bikes seen here are not your average road bikes. And wheel and tire requirements are paramount; you will see very few paired spoke wheels here, and specialist tires are the order of the day.

So sit back and relax as we take you through what makes up a Spring Classics bike.

Frames

The personal touch
Photo: © Cyclingnews

Due to the roughness of the parcours, teams are willing to run a slightly heavier frame if it means that it will still be in one piece at the end of the race. And bike companies use the race to test new frame designs, with everything from carbon stays to reduce vibration, to elastomer inserts to provide a small amount of suspension.

One of the stars of both of these races is the Specialized Roubaix. In a big leap of design, Specialized have included not only a carbon rear, but have added elastomers in selected locations to provide a small amount of suspension, something that is much needed on the pavé.

Photos

Images by Jeff Jones & Chris Henry

Bikes at the Spring Classics - Part 2

 

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