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Dura-Ace 2004: In the flesh
By Paul Mirtschin with Mark Shimahara
Ready for inspection
Photo: © Mark Shimahara
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For the past few months, the cycling public has been privy to random snippets
of information about the 2004 Dura-Ace: occasional photos of Lance Armstrong's
bike, press releases from Shimano and the usual rumours.
When Mark Shimahara popped along to visit the Rabobank training camp,
he got a chance to not just look at Levi Leipheimer's Dura-Ace equipped bike,
but to speak to Rabobank mechanic Bart van Go about how it all falls together.
Lots of questions about the new gear have centred around the new bottom bracket
and cranks. How does the new bottom bracket work; how does the new design affect
the pedal spacing (aka "Q-factor"); how does it all fit together?
Outboard bearings
Photo: © Mark Shimahara
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Well as you can see from the photos, the bottom bracket bearings sit more-or-less
where the exposed section of axle is on your current bike. So there appears
to be no change in the Q-factor, but there should be a significant reduction
in the loads on the bearings, and, theoretically, a longer bearing lifespan.
The new chainring design is also a hot topic of conversation, and even if you
don't like the look of it, all reports are that it is one of the stiffest and
better shifting chainrings out there. And if you take a look at this
photo you can see that there really is no spare metal in the back of the
crank.
Inboard pins
Photo: © Mark Shimahara
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The new 2004 Dura-Ace chain is something that hasn't garnered much attention;
after all, what can be so exciting about a chain? Well with Shimano completely
changing the pin design so that nothing is sticking out of the side-plates,
it has managed to make a thinner chain without reducing the plate-to-plate measurement
too much.
A close look
Photo: © Mark Shimahara
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The new STI levers now incorporate a lot more plastic composite, allowing less-stressed
parts to be made lighter. Both the rear derailleur and brake calipers also feature
the same plastic composite material.
The reach on the STI levers is noticeably shorter. We know riders who can't
get on with previous STI systems at all because the throw to the levers is just
too great, so this should broaden the range of people who can use Shimano's
top kit.
Photos
Images by Mark Shimahara/BikeZen.com
- Leipheimer's
bike equipped with new Dura-Ace.
- A closer
look at the bottom bracket.
- The
new integrated lever which appears to use more plastic (black).
- The
new STI levers, with a noticeably shorter reach.
- The
axle is permanently affixed to the drive side crank arm, but the left
crank arm can be removed.
- Sealed
bearings (black donut shaped, on outside) and cups are joined by a plastic
connector. Mechanic Bart van Go best explained the new crank as installing
"just like the [threadless compression] headset"; the drive side crank and
axle are like the fork and steerer, the shell is the headset, and the left
crank fits as the stem.
- Close-up
of Levi's crank.
- A look
at the drivetrain from the back.
- Instead
of sticking out, pins are flush with each link to reduce the chain width.
- A closer
look at the brake calipers (again integrating plastic components), which
are lighter than before.
- The
deraillleur from the back.
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