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New Arrivals – September 20, 2004Edited by John Stevenson 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.
Scott CR-1 Team IssueThe 2005 incarnation of Scott's CR-1 carbon fiber frame is claimed to be a shade lighter than the previous version at 880g instead of 895g for a 56cm frame. It certainly builds into a startlingly light bike. Scott claims the Team Issue (one of five CR-1s available for 2005) comes in at 6.7kg, so it's under the UCI weight limit, at least till you add pedals. We've not weighed our test bike yet, but it certainly passes the 'wow' test with flying colours - that's the reaction of everyone who picks it up. The US $4799.99, Dura-Ace equipped CR-1 Team Issue is the second-from-top in the 2005 CR-1 line, which starts at US$2099.99 with the 105-equipped CR-1 Team and tops out at US$8499.99 with the CR-1 Limited, which boasts a complete Campagnolo Record carbon group and Campagnolo Bora carbon wheels. The line is filled out by the US$3359.99 CR-1 Pro Ultegra and the US $2782.99 CR-1 Pro Centaur, with Shimano Ultegra and Campagnolo Centaur groups respectively. The CR-1 Team Issue spec is rounded out by Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, Ritchey WCS bars, stem and seatpost, Selle Italia SLR saddle, Continental Grand Prix 3000 tyres - and lots of stickers. Well, it is the Team Issue bike after all! More info: ScottUSA's website
Zero Gravity brakesTed Ciamillo's Zero Gravity brakes were an instant hit when they were reintroduced earlier this year - so much so that it's taken Ted until now to get the point where he has any spare sets to hand out to reviewers, looking after paying customers being more important than gratifying freeloading journos. Now that we have a set in our hot little hands (and, as soon as I have some shed time this weekend, on a bike) we can confirm, first of all, the weight: a mere 183g/pr. For a weight weenie, that's a staggering improvement on Shimano Dura_Ace (320g) or Campagnolo Record (308g). Zero Gravity achieves this low weight in two ways: lots of titanium in the hardware, and a clever cam-action design that gives a high mechanical advantage without the extra metal in a dual-pivot brake. More info: Zero Gravity's website
fi'zi:k Bar GelSaddle maker fi'zi:k has built quite a reputation for comfort at one contact point, the seat, and is now branching out into handlebar coverings with Bar Gel, a combination of 'Microtex' tape and what Fizik calls Technogel that sits under the tape to provide shock absorption on rough roads. (And inevitably make us think of Wallace and Grommit's Techno-trousers, but maybe it's just us...) More info: Fizik's website
Ritchey WCS road stemAt just 107g for our 100mm sample, Ritchey's WCS stem is far and away the lightest we've seen - and, as far as we can tell, genuinely one of the lightest stems there is. Part of the reason it's so light is the minimal face plate, which consists of two bands to hold the bar, rather than the usual big slab of metal. It's also internally bored out to remove as much metal as possible. More info: Ritchey's website
Ritchey WCS carbon handlebarRoad bike handlebars are an area where it's tricky to shed lots of weight. A handlebar is, basically, a long tube in a special shape, and it's got to be a certain length, which means in turn that there's an unavoidable quantity of material to get from one end to another. Even if you use the strongest materials possible, so you don't have to use much of them, there's no avoiding the sheer physical necessity of getting from one end of the curve to the other. The WCS carbon, then, is Ritchey's lightest handlebar, but by Ritchey's own admission, it's only a few grams lighter than the company's other bars. Comparing claimed weights, the WCS carbon is 205g, while the WCS aluminium bars are 210g, with 26mm centre, while the more-comparable WCS O/S is 225g. But there's more to a carbon bar than just weight. Ritchey claims vibration damping advantages, and after we've thudded through a few potholes, we'll let you know whether that claims stands up. More info: Ritchey's website
Ritchey Moto Vader 2.4Ritchey describes its Motovader 2.4 as a freeride tyre, which means it's fat - a 2.4in cross-section provides plenty of traction and shock absorption for steep and silly trail riding - and usually means scant attention has been paid to the weight. It's not unusual for downhill and freeride tyres to run over 1000g apiece, which is weight you really don't want to lug uphill. However, Ritchey being Ritchey, the Motovader 2.4 isn't *that* heavy. At 800g it's not for cross-country whippets, but it's light enough to be used as an all-round tyre. More info: Ritchey's website
Syncros G2 Micro Adjust 7075After a couple of years in the wilderness, the Syncros name found a home last year as part of Ritchey, making for a natural separation of Ritchey road and cross-country MTB equipment and Syncros gear for the freeride and downhill sectors. There's bound to be some crossover, as Ritchey's Motovader tyre, above, demonstrates, and there are some components Syncros cannot but reintroduce, even if they're not really specific to the gravity set. The G2 Micro Adjust seatpost is the original Syncros two-bolt post reborn in modern guise. For those who aren't a mountain biking old fart like me, Syncros popularized the two-bolt seatpost back in the late '80s with its first design. It had the advantage of very light weight and infinite angle adjustment, and the disadvantage that the clamp was in line with the post, so if you liked your saddle well back, you were out of luck. The G2 incarnation has the same advantages and issues, weighing just 235g in a 350mm length. More info: Syncros' website
Syncros Crush Zone saddlesSyncros' pair of saddles comprise the Crushzone FR and XC, intended for, as you might guess from the name, freeride and cross-country riding applications respectively. Both saddles have padding that extends beyond the back of the hull to cushion accidental impacts and elliptical rails to reinforce the seat against vertical loads. The XC model has gel segments and cut-aways for pressure reduction, while the FR is long and beefy in the style downhillers go for. More info: Syncros' website
Cyclingnews winter socksMade from Merino wool, Cyclingnews new winter socks are just the thing for the imminent chilly weather in the Northern hemisphere - thin enough to fit under cycling choes, but with enough insulation to help take the chill off those cool autumn mornings. More info: The Cyclingnews shop
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TIAA-CREF/5280 jerseyAs well as our own Belgian-based Cyclingnews.com Division III team, Cyclingnews helps to support Jonathan Vaughters TIAA-CREF/5280 Magazine team, the US' most successful under-23 development squad. Made by Vermarc, the TIAA-CREF/5280 jersey features a full-length zipper, three rear pockets, and is manufactured from TVX, a 100% polyester fabric made up of two different types of yarns, so it's soft, comfortable and keeps you cool. More info: The Cyclingnews shop |
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