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Interbike show
Las Vegas, USA, September 26-30, 2005
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Part 18: Time, Zipp, Easton, Ibis
Time of their lives
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What a year it was for the folks at Time, with a pile of tremendous wins, including Paris-Roubaix and the world road championship by Tom Boonen, and Michael Rogers' world time trial title. Boonen crossed the line in Madrid aboard Time's newest VXRS Ulteam road frame, which shaved over 125g off the standard VXRS (and finally breaks the 1kg barrier at 890g) through the use of carbon matrix composite for the fork tips, shifter bosses, and a heap of other little bits that used to be aluminum. Rogers' very futuristic-looking RXR allegedly achieved a 25% increase in aerodynamic efficiency over Time's previous TT frame through careful wind tunnel testing.
In addition to the new framesets, Time also displayed a very stiff-looking carbon crankset which used a large-diameter spindle press-fit to the driveside crank and double-row bearings that rest wholly within the bottom bracket shell for narrower Q-factor. The ATAC mountain bike pedal is largely unchanged, save for an updated inboard seal to better keep out dirt and water.
Zipp offers something for everyone
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The venerable 303 carbon rim has been reworked for 2006, making it 6mm deeper (now 44mm) and about 2mm wider for better aerodynamics, yet still tipping the scale at just 285g for the 700c tubular version. Additionally, the rim sidewalls also gain Zipp's unique surface dimpling which further improves aerodynamics.
Zipp is trying to tap into a slightly more pedestrian market with the introduction of their new Flashpoint series of wheels. The Flashpoint 40 and 60 are both clincher-only and use a co-moulded aluminum and carbon fibre rim joined to sealed cartridge bearing hubs with DT bladed spokes. Wheelset weights range from 1670g to 1755g.
In addition to wheels, Zipp also displayed a number of new carbon handlebars, including a full-on TT/Tri setup and a carbon clip-on. The Vuka Aero incorporates a carbon base bar with a carbon extension and incorporates a unique collet arrangement to adjust the extension length. In addition, the collets are drilled off-center to allow for a bit of height and width adjustment to the extensions relative to the base bar without having to tilt anything off-axis. The Vuka Clip also uses the unique collet arrangement but without the offset drilling.
Easton forks out for 'cross season
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Easton is introducing a cyclocross version of its EC90SLX carbon fork just in time for 'cross season. Dubbed the EC90X, this new fork should be out in November with a sub-500g weight. Easton is also delving further into the off-road area for '06. The new Havoc seatpost incorporates unique flip-flop cradles to accommodate both 7mm and 8mm diameter rails. New MTB wheelset offerings include the new XC One disc wheelset using their trademark Twin Thread Technology spoke design in a 24h setup weighing just 1590g for the pair. The Havoc AM is a freeride/all-mountain wheelset and uses 28 straight-pull spokes front and rear paired to their new AM Disc rim. Both wheelset incorporate standard six-bolt disc mounts and aluminum freehub bodies, and the Havoc front wheel is convertible from standard quick-release to 20mm through-axle.
Never fear, Easton hasn't forgotten the pavement crowd and showed off a prototype TT/Tri bar that was as-yet unnamed at the time of the show. The new bar utilises a one-piece bonded carbon fibre base bar and extension for ultralight weight. Neat details include very clean internal cable routing and a super-aero profile, but it wasn't clear if there would be any way to adjust the length of the extensions. Either way, it sure looked cool.
Ibis flies again
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Geeez! Scot Nicol has dug Ibis out of the grave in grand fashion with some killer new bikes. Ibis was once renowned for their steel bikes, but the new Ibis jumps headfirst into the technology pool with a 5.8lb carbon fibre full-suspension frame with 5.5" (140mm) of rear wheel travel and a full carbon fibre road frame. Nicol utilised Dave Weagle's renowned DW-Link suspension system to make the new Mojo Carbon actually work well and enlisted the help of Roxy Lo, a designer for Pottery Barn, to make it pretty. Pretty it certainly is, and at US$1899 retail, it's actually not a bad deal, either. As Nicol puts it, "our company philosophy is to make bikes that WE would buy in the store. I guess we're a company of tight wads."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Yup, it’s the actual one that he used, including 36h conventional-spoked wheels with monster-sized tubulars.
- The name says it all... somehow I get the feeling that it just wouldn’t quite have the same effect if I were to have “Huang” emblazoned on the down tube of my bike.
- The ATAC line has been updated with improved inboard seals to fight against dirt and water.
- Time’s new AXS crankset weighs as little as 598g complete, yet still uses a tremendously-reinforced spider for efficient power transfer.
- Time chose to mount the AXS crankset bearings wholly within the bottom bracket shell for a narrower Q-factor. The wide, double-row bearings are said to improve bearing longevity over more common single-row varieties.
- The RXR has some seriously complex shapes going on in the bottom bracket area, presumably for improved aerodynamics.
- ...ditto for the RXR head tube.
- I know it sounds cliche but yes, the new RXR does look fast standing still.
- The VXRS Ulteam incorporates carbon matrix composite for a variety of little bits that used to be aluminum, saving over 125g over the standard VXRS. The “Translink” extended seat tube saves a bit of weight over a conventional setup, but also allegedly improves chassis rigidity as well.
- Zipp’s 303 rim has received a number of changes for 2006. The new rim is both wider and deeper for better aerodynamics, yet still tips the scales at just 285g. New dimpled surface improves airflow as well.
- Zipp’s new 185 bottom bracket uses a 6/4 titanium spindle and super wide roller bearings to better distribute loads. This should improve bearing life but also increase drivetrain rigidity.
- Zipp will offer two lower-cost carbon-rimmed clincher wheelsets for 2006. The Flashpoint 40 uses a 40mm deep rim while the Flashpoint 60 uses, you guessed it, a 60mm deep rim.
- Unique collet clamping arrangement is clean-looking and secure. Offset drilling allows for a bit of height and width adjustment to the extensions without tilting.
- The new VukaAero is a little hard to see from here...but it's there, believe me
- VukaAero forearm pad width is also adjustable for a custom-tuned fit.
- The VukaClip also uses the collet clamping setup, but without the offset drilling. Extensions use the now-popular “chicane” style bend for better power delivery.
- Easton’s Havoc seatpost uses a novel flip-flop head design to better accommodate the newer crop of thick-railed freeride/all-mountain saddles.
- Easton put together the Havoc AM for a somewhat more “aggressive” rider. Put these on your bike and go “grrrrrr”.
- The new Easton bar incorporates super clean internal cable routing.
- Easton showed off a prototype TT/Tri bar this year at Interbike. The one-piece bonded carbon fibre design sure looked fast, but it doesn’t look like there is any provision for adjusting the extension length
- Easton’s XC One hubs use aluminum freehub bodies, low-drag asymmetrical seals, and standard six-bolt disc mounts.
- The XC One is a lightweight disc-only XC wheelset incorporating Easton’s trademark Twin Thread Technology.
- This Ibis Mojo would not have been seen 10 years ago…
- The new Ibis Mojo Carbon uses Dave Weagle’s acclaimed DW-Link rear suspension system to allow for 5.5” (140mm) of rear wheel travel that allegedly pedals, brakes, and absorbs bumps exactly as you think a bicycle should.
- They say that engineers make things that work but are ugly, and industrial designers make pretty things that don’t work. Well, combine the two and this is what you get.
- This one doesn’t look half bad, either!
- Giant has done away with the “shock basket” design of last year’s Maestro bikes. The new pierced downtube arrangement is reported to be stiffer, stronger, and more fatigue-resistant than before without adding any weight.
- Not to knock the guys at Tektro or anything, but come on, you guys couldn’t find something cooler to use than this?
- One of the best things about Interbike is all of the pro bikes that are on display. Two guesses who this one belongs to…
