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Mt Hood Classic
Photo ©: Swift
 
 

Julian Dean's CSC-Tiscali Look KG381i

None more black
Photo ©: Cyclingnews/Tom Balks

Invisible on radar?

By John Stevenson

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Adjustable dropouts
Photo: © CN/Tom Balks

For 2002 the CSC-Tiscali team is once again aboard Look bikes, in the form of the all-black KG381i team issue carbon fibre model, each one of which is custom-built for the individual rider. This particular rig belongs to New Zealander Julian Dean, who joins the team this year from US Postal along with Tyler Hamilton.

One novel feature of the KG381 is the removable and adjustable rear dropout. The removable aspect means a gear hanger can be easily replaced if it's bent in a crash, while the fore-aft adjustability allows a mechanic to slide the rear wheel forward to tuck the tyre as close as possible to the seat tube for improved aerodynamics.

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Still space-age
Photo: © CN/Tom Balks

As you'd expect, the bikes are hung with other Look components: a matching Look HSC 4 fork, Look Ergopost carbon seat post and Look pedals. The Ergopost continues the theme of adjustability with a whopping 60mm of fore-aft displacement – and that's before you start moving the saddle in the clamp. Pedals are either the super-light CX7, claimed to be 180g/pr, or the pro workhorse PP396s.

CSC hits up Shimano for most of the rest of the components. Brakes, transmission and wheels are all Dura-Ace, which still looks startlingly modern to these eyes despite having been around for almost a decade now. More important than its looks though, is that it flat-out works.

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Deda Newton stem
Photo: © CN/Tom Balks

Bar and stem are Deda Newton, with stem length and bar shape tailored to the individual rider. As you can see from the lack of spacers under the stem, Dean likes a deeply-tucked position, and uses a deep-drop bar too. At the foot of the page you'll find more details of Jalabert's, Hamilton's and Dean's individual set-ups.

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Selle Italia saddle
Photo: © CN/Tom Balks

CSC may technically be a Danish team, but with Jalabert at the helm is has a French heart, and just as Telekom rolls on German tyres, so CSC gets its rubber from a French supplier, Hutchinson. None of this newfangled clincher stuff for Bjarne Riis' boys, either – CSC uses tubulars.

Finally, team members get their choice from Selle Italia's extensive range of seats. Dean uses a Turbomatic as does leader Jalabert, while Dean's fellow CSC newbie Hamilton goes for the lightweight Flite TT.

Full specification

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Frame: Look KG381i carbon fibre
Fork: Look HSC 4 carbon fibre
Colour: Black carbon

Cranks: Shimano Dura-Ace 53/39
Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace
Brakes & levers: Shimano Dura-Ace
Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura-Ace 11-21 or 11-23

Claimed weight: 8.5kg (18.7lb)

Wheels: Shimano-FIR Dura-Ace carbon
Spokes: SAPIM
Rim: FIR
Skewers: Shimano Dura-Ace
Tires: Hutchinson tubulars

Stem: Deda Newton
Bar: Deda Newton
Tape: Deda
Head set: Cane Creek Integrated

Pedals: Look CX7 / PP396
Seat post: Look carbon
Saddle: Selle Italia
Cage: TACX

More information: Cyclingnews teams database, CSC-Tiscali's website, Look's website


Rider details

                   Frame       Crank         Saddle        Bar        Bar          Stem
                   size (cm)   length (mm)   model         shape      width (cm)   length (mm)
 
Julian Dean        54          172.5         Turbo Matic   Deep       44           120
Laurent Jalabert   52          172.5         Turbo Matic   Deep       43           130
Tyler Hamilton     52          172.5         Flite TT      Anatomic   44           110