Amber Neben's Buitenpoort - Flexpoint Team Stevens Vuelta SL

	All Photos ©: Chris Davidson

SRM/Dura-Ace crankset

The SRM head unit

Continental Competition 22 tubulars

Bontrager carbon wheels

All-aluminium featherweight

By Chris Davidson

I first worked with Amber Neben last year when she was a member of the T-Mobile squad based in the US. She is very particular about her bikes and their fit, as a mechanic it is great to work with her as she is very direct and specific with her feedback. Last year she was aboard a pink carbon Giant, however this year (and for 2006) Amber is riding for the Dutch power house squad Buitenpoort - Flexpoint, directed by former pro Jean-Paul van Poppel. Her new team rides the all aluminum Vuelta SL from the German manufacturer Stevens. I had a chance to scope out her current ride in Park city this summer at US Nationals. She flew into Utah with no team or support, so she rung me for some bike help. As it turned out, the airlines had done some damage in the process.

Amber has had a super successful year riding the Stevens. In May she won the grueling Tour de L'Aude in France, flew to Montreal for the World Cup and then headed home before road nationals. In Park City she recorded a fifth in the RR and second in the TT, while riding solo against complete teams. In July she was top five in the Giro d'Italia Femminile overall, taking foourth in the crucial uphill time trial.

Amber's Stevens is a stock model in their lineup. It is made of Dedecciai's EM2 tube set, and maybe surprisingly for 2005, does not contain a set of carbon rear stays. For Nationals in Park City Amber chose a 12X27 cassette on her carbon hub/carbon rim Bontrager wheels. As she says, "why not spin if you have the chance to save your legs?"

The SRM power measuring unit has become very standard these days as the current version is integrated into the Dura-Ace 10 speed crankset. Amber's cranks show the signs of heel rub, again not too uncommon among the pros. I did not get a chance to weight the bike, but with the carbon tubular wheels and the other light parts (Ti Speedplay pedals, ti seat rails, etc.) this 50cm bike is obviously down near the UCI limit.