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Bayern Rundfahrt
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EICMA show

Milan, Italy, September 16-19, 2005

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Part 1 - Colnago, FSA, Continental, Limar, Oval Concepts, Paolo Savoldelli, Fiorvanti

Tim Maloney takes a trip to Italy's biggest show to grab a look at a few more 2006 goodies.

Colnago for Ferrari CF4
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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When Colnago met Ferrari

On our way to the EICMA Milano show, we stopped for fuel ($US6.50/gallon!) in Cambiago, just outside of Milano and then dropped on on Ernesto Colnago at his world HQ before the show. We caught il Mago di Cambiago with his all new Colnago for Ferrari CF4 carbon fibre road bicycle, based on his all-new Cristallo carbon fibre bike. "I'm happy to show this bike to you before the official introduction at the EICMA. We have a close collaboration with Ferrari and are proud of the way this CF4 and our special CF5 city bike model have turned out."

Alessandro Petacchi's 2006 Colnagos
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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Colnago told Cyclingnews, "For the CF4, the frame is our all new Cristallo, with a special monocoque front triangle and a specially shaped rear triangle that we designed to transfer the most power possibile to the rear wheel. The CF4 has a Star carbon fibre fork and for this bike, we also added many special parts in carbon fibre, like the handlebars, seatpost, and crankset are made in composite. And of corse, like all of our carbon fibre bicycles, the frame and fork are made in Italy." Colnago will produce the CF4 bicycle in a strictly limited edition of 750 units.

As Ernesto Colnago and his crew loaded up the bikes for the EICMA Milano show, Cyclingnews drifted back in the workshop area, where we saw two bike frames for Italian super sprinter Alessandro Petacchi who will race on a Colnago next season.


FSA's new RD-255S handlebar
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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FSA's C-16 front derailleur
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FSA fits all the curves

FSA's new RD-255S handlebar is designed just for the new Shimano Dura Ace 10 speed levers, with an 8mm smaller curve that provides a better fit than most bars. Made from double-butted, tapered and shot-peened 2014 aluminium, with a double-width single cable groove design and 31.8mm clamp diameter, FSA's new RD-255S weigh 250 grams and will be available in Spring 2006, according to FSA's Maurizio Canzi.

As pioneers of the compact chainset trend, FSA has created a new front changer that adapts to the smaller curvature of 50-tooth chainrings for smoother shifting. FSA's C-16 front derailleur has all stainless steel hardware, a polished and chrome plated steel cage and anodized silver and black body. The clamp-on style C-16 fits 31.8 or 28.6mm seat tube diameter C-16 has a shift capacity of up to 16 teeth, perfect for a 50/34 compact chainset combo. The C-16 works with both 9 and 10 speed shifting systems, is also available in braze-on style and weighs a reported 89 grams.


Seven colors
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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Continental Vs The Road

Continental presents the GP4000
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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German tire manufacturer Continental has an all-new version of its famously resistant Grand Prix clincher tire, called the Grand Prix 4000 for the 2006 season. Conti has upgraded by adding an anti-puncture band of Vectran, a lightweight fibre spun from a liquid crystal polymer that has high strength and modulus which is usually used as a reinforcing fibres for ropes, cables, and advanced composites.

Conti didn't stop there with the upgrade, adding an all-new 'activated silica compound' rubber mix, then redesigning the tread pattern, and offering the Grand Prix 4000 in seven colors, including gold, silver and bronze to evoke the various Olympic cycling medals won on Continental tires over the years.


Limar 950 helmet
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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Limar for road and TT

Limar Crono 05
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For 2006, Limar will offer a UCI-legal version of its TT helmet called Crono 05. The in-mold aerodynamic helmet shell weighs a svelte 330 grams and has five air vents for cooling.

Limar's leggy lovely Emma, star of their global ad campaign was gracious enough to show Cyclingnews the Italian lid leader's new top of the line product for 2006, the 950. "This helmet has enough vents to blow you off the saddle," joked Emma, who quicky switched gears and explained further that, "the 950 has 33 air vents, carbon reinforced two piece In-Mold shell and weighs only 260 grams in a medium size." Shown here is the Blue / Silver Limar 950.


Oval Concepts Jetstream TT bars
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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Ovalicious

Roberto Heras rode to victory in this year's Vuelta a Espana on Oval Concepts' new A900 Upgrade Aero bars. Based just up the road from Lugano, Oval's founding father Morgan Nicol told Cyclingnews, "We have worked closely with Liberty Seguros and our other sponsored riders to develop our new Jetstream TT bar. It has a patented shape that redirects airflow to reduce drag."

Oval Concepts R910 Aergo bar
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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Oval Concept's Jetstreams are fabricated in the same carbon fibre facility in the UK that makes Jordan F1 cars and weigh in at a reported 550 grams.

Nicol also showed Cyclingnews Oval Concept's new R910 Aergo carbon fibre handlebar, with a unique shape throughout, here mated with Oval Concept's R700 stem. R910 Aergo reportedly weighs in at 240 grams.


The Giro leader jersey
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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"Think pink"

That's what Discovery Channel's Paolo Savoldelli said in so many words when we ran in to "il Falco Bergmasco" at the presentation of the new Maglia Rosa for the 2006 Giro d'Italia. "Yes, I hope that I can defend my Giro title next season", Savoldelli told Cyclingnews at the Milano bike show. "But it's a long way away from now!"

Savoldelli was swamped by fans in Milano as he autographed the attractive new poster for next years Giro d'Italia, designed by reknowed graphic artist Lucio Del Pezzo.

The jersey and graphic theme is entitled "Scatto al traguardo" and portrays a rider approaching the finish line going all out for victory. The 89th edition of the Giro d'Italia, which runs from May 6-28, 2006 will be revealed next January in Milano, but rumours are saying that the UCI's preliminary ProTour calendar for 2006 has the Tour of Germany starting the same day as the Giro.


Fiorvanti Cicleo
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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Tranny Bike

Perfect for a dude or a chick, Bruce or Sheila, the Fiorvanti Cicleo can be configured for either a male or female rider with the flip of a switch. We don't get exactly why a city cruiser like this needs to be gender specific, but maybe it's an Italian thing.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com

 

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