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Tech News – November 7, 2003
Edited by Paul Mirtschin
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Take me home Country Road Bob
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For the rider who wants a do-anything bike, we give you Bob; the Country Road Bob that is.
The Van Dessel Cycles Country Road Bob features horizontal drop-outs as well as a removable rear derailleur hanger, allowing the bike to go from a fixed-gear to a singlespeed to a commuter to a cyclocross bike. The aluminium frame also has removable cable guides for that clean look when used as a fixie.
Out of the box, the Bob comes with a Van Dessel Sports XXXX Carbon fork, Ritchey bars, stem, and headset, and wheels made up of Van Dessel GoGo Hoops laced three-cross to VDS Flip Flop hubs.
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The 32-hole Flip Flop hubs are a single-speeder’s dream, with one side threaded for a fixed gear, and the other for a freewheel. The Flip Flops are available in either 135mm mountain bike width or 130mm road widths, and can be used with a quick-release or bolted on.
The Bob is priced at just US$699; while a frame/fork/headset package will set you back US$299. Van Dessel also sells the Flip Flop wheels separately for US$74.99/front and US$84.99/rear
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Van Dessel also has two professional level bikes, the Campitello and the new Tijdrit TT bike. The Campitello, the official bike of the Colavita-Bolla cycling team, is made from Columbus Altec2+ professional tubing with Dedacciai carbon wishbone seat stays. Weighing in at a claimed 1,375g (60cm frame, 1,865g with fork and headset) the Campitello is an affordable race-ready bike at US$999.99.
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Van Dessel also offers a crash replacement program with replacement Campitello frames just US$599.00. The offer is limited to one frame per six months. If you crash badly more than that, Cyclingnews suggests a change of sports.
Cyclingnews also got a sneak peek at the Tijdrit TT, a new bike for 2004. The Tijdrit is an aero time trial frame kitted out with carbon aero forks, internal cable routing, and is decked out in Colavita-Bolla paintwork.
Look for this bike to be raced under Colavita-Bolla new signings Ivan Dominguez and Mark McCormack in 2004.
Syncros is back
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After purchasing Syncros from Pacific Cycle back in April, Ritchey has been busy setting up the new company in its new home in Vancouver, British Columbia, and building up some burly components.
Pippin Osborne and Peter Hamilton originally founded the company in Vancouver, making light yet strong bike components. The original Syncros factory closed its doors a few years ago and the name was bought by GT, which was then bought by Schwinn and the whole Schwinn/GT shebang ended up owned by Pacific Cycle after Schwinn/GT filed for bankruptcy in 2001. Tom Ritchey, owner of Ritchey, recently cut a deal with Pacific with the idea of having the company become the 'hardcore' arm of Ritchey, manufacturing components for the downhill and freeride crowd.
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Nine different types of components are to hit the stores, covering everything from an updated hinged stem to tyres and rims. The original Syncros Hardcore headset is to make a welcome return, unchanged from its original design. Two other headsets will be added to the line however, one made from stainless steel and the other from chromoly steel. Both will feature headset cups with 20mm of insertion into the frame.
The entire range includes three different bar designs, three stem designs, two different rims, two saddles, two grips, two tyre models and two seat posts, all designed to stand up to the abuse that the local North Shore riders can deliver.
A stealthy bike
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RNM Sports is preparing to release its new 2004 Stealth Pro mountain bike. The Colorado company claims the Stealth Pro will build up to a lightweight 23 pounds out of the box.
Built around a Scandium aluminium frame and Marzocchi Marathon SL fork, the bike runs an XT shifting system, Cane Creek Zonos Ti wheels, Magura Marta SL disc brakes and Easton Carbon Fibre stem, seat post and bars.
The Stealth Pro is expected to retail for $3,499.
I see the light
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With the gain in popularity of endurance mountain bike races, riders are always on the hunt for a lightweight long-burn light that will provide a good second light for the non-technical sections of the race.
Enter the Inova 24/7, a multi-function eight-LED light that can be helmet or bar mounted. In its high-output mode, the light is claimed to throw a beam 25 meters, and to have a burn time of six-hours. Its waterproof body also makes it a perfect light for touring cyclists.
The 24/7 can also be used as an emergency light, cycling between red and yellow or white, yellow and red, with a burn time of up to 15,000 hours when used as a locator beacon.
Burn baby, burn
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Niterider has released its 2004 range of lights, adding two new HID lights as well as a new Commuter Series. The new FlameThrower and Cyclone HID lights both feature three ultra-bright LED lights offering six hours of burn time for when you don’t need the HID’s 50-watt equivalent output of light.
The two HID lights can also be stepped down in power to lengthen the lights burn time.
The new Commuter Series lights are designed specifically for the urban commuter, with a number of incandescent and LED front lights as well as two bright taillights.
Front lights range from a 7.2 watt halogen head/bar mounted light to three different LED safety lights, as well as a combo-pack comprising of both a three-LED front light that can also be used as a torch, and a three-LED red safety light.
Down from the mountain
Another company that has recently released lights for cycling is Princeton Tec. Better known for making lights for outdoor and underwater sports, Princeton Tec has redesigned three of its head-mounted lights for cycling use.
The Yukon Bike has both an incandescent light as well as three LED globes encased in a waterproof case, the Aurora Bike uses three LEDs with three different output settings to allow a burn-time of between 50-160 hours, and the Vor-Tec Bike offers up to eight hours burn time from its four-watt globe.
Lightweight chain
Interloc Racing Design has released a new hollow-pin bike chain for those who really worry about their weight. Coming in at just 277 grams, lighter than both Campagnolo and Shimano’s nine-speed chains, the IRD-991 comes in eight, nine and ten-speed models.
Both the nine and ten-speed models feature Teflon impregnation, which IRD claims lengthens shift quality while prohibiting corrosion. All chains come with IRD’s Snap Link II chain connector.
Photos
Images by Van Dessel Sports
- The Country Road Bob and an old-style bike rack
- The removable hanger on the Bob
- The Bob can be used for almost all forms of cycling
- Removable cable guides allow clean lines
- 2004 Campitello road bike
- Brand new for 2004; the Tijdrit TT bike
- All three Van Dessel bikes on the roof
Images by Syncros
- Syncros Bulk handlebar
- DP-25 and DP-28 rims from Syncros
- One of the chunkiest headsets around
- The original Syncros Hardcore is back
- How many companies now use this design?
- A different way to set up the post head
- Up close with the Derived post
- Lightweight bash rings
- There are now two saddles in the Syncros range
- A nice short stem for the downhillers
- A slightly longer stem for the rest
- Syncros now does tyres; the Big Hucking Tyre
- Point 'n' Chute enduro tyre
Images by RNM Sports
- RNM Sports new 2004 Stealth Pro
Images by Niterider
- Commuter series lights from Niterider
- Cyclone HID helmet light with LED's
- FlameThrower HID bar light also has LED's
Images by Inova
- The Inova 24/7 multi-function LED light