Scott Scale Limited
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Scott Scale & Genius
Cyclingnews MTB editor Steve Medcroft is currently testing
this brace of top-flight MTBs from Scott. The Scale Limited is Scott's
off-road equivalent of the CR-1 road bike - a very light, stiff
carbon fiber frame designed for one thing and one thing only: going
fast. With a full XTR group, Mavic CrossMax SL wheels and an 80mm
RockShox Reba World Cup fork, it's a lightweight rig for the cross-country
race track.
The Scale frame is a favourite starting point for lightweight enthusiasts
building superlight mountain bikes as it's possibly the only frame
to tip the scales under 1100g - size L frames are reliably reported
to weigh around 1040g. We know of one example that's claimed to
weigh 5.878kg - a mountain bike with a suspension fork that's under
the UCI limit for road bikes is pretty staggering. And probably
pretty staggeringly expensive given the amount of carbon and titanium
exotica needed to reach that weight.
Scott Genius MC Limited
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The dual suspension Genius MC Limited is more of all-rounder with
125mm of rear wheel travel out back (that can be locked out or switched
to a 90mm intermediate setting when you don't need it all) and a
Fox TALAS RLC fork that can be adjusted for between 90 and 130mm
of travel. However, the carbon fiber frame and XTR group keeps the
weight well under control compared to many five-inch travel bikes,
making the MC Limited a prime candidate for endurance racing.
Because the MC Genius uses the 'Horst link' rear suspension pivot
to which Specialized owns the patent, it's not available in the
USA. However, we hear that Canadian Scott dealers do a good trade
in Scott suspension bikes to visitors from South of the border…
More info: www.scottusa.com
FSA offers the K-Force Light
carbon fiber seatpost
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FSA K-Force Light SB-0 and SB-25 seatposts
Unlike most companies that offer their seatposts in just one setback,
FSA's K-Force Light post is available in three (0, 25, and 40mm)
in order to provide a perfect fit for any rider. Both posts feature
one-piece continuous carbon fiber construction as well as convenient
and secure two-bolt heads. The 0mm post also incorporates FSA's
unique DATA head which offer enhanced rotational adjustability for
unusually steep or slack seat tube angles. Our test posts came in
heavier than advertised at 244g and 224g for the SB-0 and SB-25
posts, respectively.
MSRP: US$159.99
More info: www.fullspeedahead.com
FSA’s new ceramic bearing-equipped
MegaExo bottom bracket
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FSA Ceramic MegaExo bottom bracket
For those of you searching for that extra edge, FSA now offers
its MegaExo bottom bracket with ceramic cartridge bearings. The
ceramic bearings offer a bit of weight reduction (about 10g) and
promise grand reductions in rotating friction. Our English-threaded
road version weighs in at 130g.
MSRP: US$189.99
More info: www.fullspeedahead.com
Louis Garneau Carbon Air
shoes
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Louis Garneau Carbon Air shoes
Louis Garneau's new top-end road racing shoe has a cuple of features
that help it stand out from the vast horde of carbon-soled road
shoes out there. For starters, the sole is drilled for more than
just a three-bolt Look pattern cleat; there's a two-bolt SPD fixing
too and while two-bolt road pedals are not very common it's nice
to have options.
The Carbon Air's other claim to fame is the mesh-covered ventilation
holes in its sole. This goes with a perforated insole to make up
a shoe that's intended to keep your feet from getting too toasty
on hot days. In the winter, you can swap out the perforated insoles
for the supplied solid ones, which is a nice touch.
Otherwise, the Carbon Airs are a conventional high-end road shoe.
The upper is a combination of mesh and leather, with double-stitching
in stressed areas. Closure is a three-strap arrangements, with two
sets of Velcro and one ratchet buckle per shoe. A double clicker
in the ratchet provides finer-than-usual adjustment as the two engagement
teeth are offset by half the width of the teeth on the strap. Another
thoughtful touch is a small tape loop on the tongue to make the
shoe easy to pull on.
Louis Garneau claims a pair of Carbon Airs weighs 586g in a size
42. Our size 45 samples came in at 710g.
More info: www.louisgarneau.com
DMT Ultimax Spirit RSX
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DMT Ultimax Spirit RSX
The Cyclingnews office has been like Imelda Marcos' wardrobe
lately - well, if she'd been a cyclist. These new offerings from
DMT have plenty to appeal to riders whose budgets don't stretch
to high-zoot carbon-soled shoes like the DMT Kyomas we featured
a couple of days ago. The sole uses a mixture of fiberglass and
carbon fiber for rigidity, which has the advantage of being stiff,
but keeping the cost under control compared to an all-carbon sole.
That sole is attached to a shoe that's basically the same as the
Ultimax
RSX shoes we reviewed back in 2004. It features DMT's Energy
Strap Control System, in which the ratchet buckle strap extends
round to the heel cup, so the shoe pulls your foot down and back
into place. It's a solid design that we've found works extremely
well.
More info: www.diamantdmt.com;
US importer: www.uplandsg.com
The “Lance” pedal
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Shimano PD-R540 SPD-SL pedals
Shimano perpetuates the "trickle-down" effect with the introduction
of a 105-level SPD-SL road pedal. The PD-R540 pedals incorporate
all of the positive traits of the SPD-SL retention system but in
a heavier package with a less expensive bearing system. Our test
pair weighed 332g for the pair, plus 72g for the cleats and hardware.
MSRP: US$69.99
More info: www.shimano.com
Time’s new Water Shield seals
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Time ATAC XS Carbon MTB pedals
Time's MTB pedal design isn't new for 2006, but their new Water
Shield system is. The new seals improve on their tried-and-true
ATAC interface with enhanced foul-weather durability. Carbon-reinforced
bodies and chromoly spindles strike a good balance between light
weight and durability for a package weighing 340g a pair without
cleats (cleats add an additional 44g per pair with hardware).
MSRP: US$169.99
More info: www.timesport.fr
The Premia Sensor LX saddle
from Sampson
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Sampson Premia Sensor and Sensor LX saddles
For those that prefer a more
traditional saddle
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As you can tell, a rather large box showed up from Sampson! Their
new Premia line of saddles is intended to offer premium levels of
performance and quality but at more pedestrian costs. Both saddles
feature hollow titanium rails and full-grain leather covers with
a smooth profile for ease of maneuverability. The Sensor LX features
a cutout design and minimal padding for a weight of just 197g while
the Sensor offers a more conventional design with additional gel
padding at 292g.
MSRP: US$119 (both models)
More info: www.sampsonsports.com
Sampson’s new Stratics S4
pedals
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Sampson Stratics S4 pedals
Sampson's new Stratics clipless road pedals certainly don't look
anything like the similarly named pedals of the mid-90s but they
are feature-packed nonetheless. Wide aluminum bodies rotate on sealed
bearings around chromoly spindles and adjustable release tension
and rotational float are also included in a package weighing just
298g a pair without cleats (cleats and hardware add an additional
86g).
MSRP: US$119
More info: www.sampsonsports.com
Cyclo-Speed
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Cyclo-Speed
New from Graeme Street and Domestique Multimedia, this six-disc
set (three DVDs and three audio CDs) contains advanced training
techniques to improve anaerobic strength, flexibility, agility,
and recovery. The three audio CDs contain interviews with former
pros Chris McGovern and Andy Bishop and current pro Aimee Vassee
that provide expert tips on time trialing, riding like a pro and
getting a mental and physical competitive edge.
MSRP: US$99.95
More info: www.cyclo-speed.com
Cyclo-Zen
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Cyclo-Zen
Also from Domestique Multimedia, Cyclo-Zen combines cycling workouts
with yoga exercises to help build your fitness, flexibility and
core strength. The two DVDs include a 45 minute spin workout and
30 minute power yoga session, a strength conditioning and flexibility
training set and a 30 minute recovery yoga plan. The two bonus audio
discs feature interviews with sports medicine doctor Matthew Marchal
and naturopath Dr Rick Liva.
MSRP: US$79.95
More info: www.cyclo-core.com
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