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 Dauphiné Libéré Photo ©: Sirotti |
Eurobike show
Germany, August 30-September 2, 2007
Eurobike 2007
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Eurobike's inaugural Demo Day was set in the nearby Austrian foothills of Eichenberg, but persistent rain and thoroughly overcast skies literally put a damper on the organizers' parade. Nevertheless, traffic was reasonably brisk as a number of show attendees braved the rapidly forming mud pits (during the occasional breaks in the weather, that is) to sample the latest wares from 69 exhibitors.
The Eurobike organizers clearly have a bit of work to do here, as the venue was decidedly cramped and somewhat difficult to access. Still, for a first-year effort, we would still argue that the Eurobike Demo Day was successful enough to warrant another crack at it next year. The show moves indoors tomorrow, and from what we've heard, there will be plenty on hand to keep things interesting.
Finally! First ride on SRAM's new Red group
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SRAM's new premier-level Red group has been thoroughly hyped up over the past few months, but other than our little firsthand teaser during the Tour de France (where we were able to handle a few select components but weren't able to actually try anything), hype is pretty much all it's been.
SRAM finally offered up the first non-athlete trials of Red the day before Eurobike was set to open its inaugural demo day. Although we were only able to sample Red for a couple of hours, the perpetually undulating terrain combined with a healthy mix of short, steep climbs and fast twisting descents at least offered up an opportunity to provide a thorough (albeit short) shake-down of the group's new features.
According to Road Product Manager Ron Ritzler, "Race testing was huge part of these pieces," which SRAM has reportedly been validating in the field for nearly six months. Naturally, SRAM tapped heavily into its sponsored athletes on both the Saunier Duval-Prodir team, in particularly Gilberto Simoni and David Millar, as well as dominant cyclocross power Marianne Vos (Team DSB-Ballast Nedam).
Having first logged countless hours on Force (SRAM signed on as a Saunier Duval-Prodir sponsor last year), there were apparently plenty of comments on what they the riders liked… and what they didn't. SRAM openly admits that not all of the feedback on Force or early Red prototypes was positive, but engineers wisely incorporated changes in Red in direct response to rider requests.
We'll reserve our final judgment until we've logged more hours on a long-term test group, but things are looking good. After our test spin, we're happy to report that SRAM has also addressed our gripes as well, and while Force was already quite good in its own right, Red is a noticeable improvement, especially in the new Zero Loss-equipped DoubleTap levers.
Shifter throws are markedly shorter, particularly up front, and the new trim position on the large chainring is a welcome modification. The shifter mechanism's audible clicks have a slightly more substantial timbre to them than before as well, and overall shift quality was exceptional, likely due in no small part to the increased rigidity of the new OG-1090 cassette (equipped with just recently coined PowerDome technology) and the new large chainring.
The brake calipers have lost a handful of grams relative to Force thanks to substantially more aggressive machining, but have gained full bearing pivots as well as external centering and spring tension adjustments. Braking power, feel, and modulation were on par with Force.
SRAM also released details on the new carbon crankset, which will continue to utilize an aluminum skeleton but is now lighter (less than 750g including the bottom bracket), more rigid, and offers a slightly narrower Q-factor than Force.
Cost-wise, Ritzler stated that Red would be "significantly more expensive" than Force. At a suggested retail of US$2142, we're inclined to agree. The current Force and Rival groups will carry on wholly unchanged for '08, and pricing is mostly unchanged at US$1428 and US$897 for the complete sets, respectively.
In other news, SRAM has also developed a DoubleTap flat bar road shifter. This is similar in appearance to a current X.0 trigger shifter (but without the release lever) and is similar in operation to its roadgoing cousins. For now, just 2x10 varieties will be offered (exclusively for use on SRAM's road derailleurs), but a 3x9 version for MTB is coming shortly (did someone say 'short track'?).
Felt Bicycles 2008: a surprisingly small company that casts a big shadow
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Felt Bicycles employs a surprisingly small number of bodies (the latest company Christmas card showed just 23 employees at its Irvine headquarters), but company president Bill Duehring must have some sort of cloning program in place (or an army of elves) judging by the impressive volume of products in the Felt quiver.
The top-end F1 road bike carries on mostly unchanged for 2008 with the exception of revised fiber lay-up schedules to yield improved torsional rigidity, and the updated componentry will include Mavic's superb new R-SYS wheelset. Complete bike weight is now just 6.3kg (13.9lb), but the F1 will remain an excellent value with a suggested retail of US$5799.
F1 frameset offerings, however, split in two with the introduction of a stiffer F1 Sprint variant to accompany the standard F1 SL (on which the complete bike is based). The F1 Sprint uses the same outer mold as the SL but incorporates substantially more carbon plies to dramatically increase its stiffness. The added carbon results in a heavier 1285g claimed weight for a 56cm frame, but those looking for that extra solidity likely won't care much; the F1 SL remains squarely in the sub-1kg category with a claimed weight of 900g.
The slightly more upright Z-series family gains a new high-end model with the introduction of the US$4999 Z15. The Z15 incorporates Felt's Ultra Hybrid Carbon construction, which was previously only available on the bare Z1 frameset. The premium component spec will include a Shimano Dura-Ace transmission and brakes (with the exception of an Ultegra cassette), FSA K-Force Light crankset with ceramic MegaExo bottom bracket, and Shimano's new Dura-Ace WH-7850-C24-CL wheelset.
Felt tosses its hat into the high-end women's road market as well with the launch of its FW-series carbon line. Both the FW1 and FW2 frames share Felt's FIT women's-specific geometry but vary in their carbon content; the top-end FW1 uses Felt's Ultra Hybrid Carbon construction while the FW2 utilizes slightly less expensive Ultra-High Modulus Carbon fibers. The FW1 is available only as a frameset, but the US$2899 FW2 is offered as a complete bike which will include reach-adjustable Shimano R700 Dual Control levers, R700 compact crankset, and Dura-Ace derailleurs. Standard 700c wheels are used on the 45, 47, and 50cm models; the 43cm version uses smaller 650c wheels.
On the mountain side, Felt fills in the gap between its 130mm-travel Virtue and 165mm-travel Redemption full-suspension platforms with the new Compulsion. The 145mm-travel Compulsion uses Felt's six-bar Equilink suspension design and a stout hydroformed aluminum frame with a straight seat tube for a wider range of saddle height adjustment. The top-end Compulsion 1 will include Shimano's new Deore XT group (including the beefier WH-M776 wheelset with 20mm thru-axle front hub) and a smattering of cockpit components from Easton. Rock Shox and Fox will handle the front and rear suspension duties, respectively, and suggested retail is a reasonable US$4149.
The innovative Virtue isn't left untouched, either: each chain stay-and-seat stay side is now built from a single carbon fiber assembly. Pared-down aluminum chain stay and seat stay yokes result in even more weight saved, but Felt engineers also insist that the new carbon assembly is heaps stronger than last year's setup.
As a sign of its growing maturity, Felt has also expanded it range of 'alternative' bikes, including flat bar road bikes, fixed gear machines, more casually styled commuters, and heavily stylized cruisers. The uber-cool Curbside features a 7005 aluminum frame matched with a carbon bladed fork and a flip-flop fixed gear/freewheel singlespeed transmission. Flat handlebars and half-clip pedals are flip-flop friendly as well (the ones you wear on the feet, that is), but the light weight and zippy geometry ensure that you'll get to your destination quickly.
The new Pursang, on the other hand, is all about getting there in style, (as Kanye West likes to say, "Drive slow, homey"). Felt designers worked in conjunction with the folks at Vintage Iron to faithfully create a bicycle version of the classic 1970's Bultaco motocross bike, right down to its 24/26" wheels and 'Berm Master' tires, side-mounted number plates, and the fonts on the custom decals. Sorry, the 'BRAAAPPPP!!!' sound isn't included; you'll have to provide that yourself.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Eurobike's home in Friedrichshafen, Germany is situated a stone's throw away from beautiful Lake Contance.
- The inaugural Eurobike Demo Day was held about half an hour away in the foothills of Eichenberg in nearby Austria.
- The Eichenberg setting certainly offered up beautiful scenery and terrain…
- …but nasty weather turned much of the area into a muddy mess.
- SRAM Red was finally available at Eurobike for a brief test around the mountains straddling the Germany/Austria border.
- The new Red DoubleTap levers are lighter and offer more adjustability.
- The new crankset is also outfitted with a trick new graphics package.
- The Red crankset includes a ceramic bottom bracket as stock equipment. The new chainring is aggressively milled to reduce weight but is also substantially stiffer than the Force ring.
- Derailleur housing can now be run on either side of the bar.
- The new OG-1090 PowerDome cassette is arguably the trickest part of the entire kit. It's super light, but constructed of durable steel for long life. Production units are fully press-fit together to create a single unit.
- The solid outer shell of the new PowerDome cassette will take some getting used to.
- Naturally, the back plate of the new OG-1090 cassette is anodized red and covered in eye-catching graphics.
- The Red rear derailleur uses more carbon fiber than Force and is also equipped with ceramic bearings in its pulleys.
- The Red front derailleur uses a full titanium cage assembly to shed heaps of weight as compared to Force.
- The new brake caliper is more aggressively machined to drop a few grams.
- Although only 5-10g lighter than Force , Red adds an external centering adjustment screw…
- …as well as externally adjustable spring tension , both of which were wholly absent in Force.
- Flat bar DoubleTap shifters will soon be available. SRAM will offer versions to work with both its 9-speed MTB and 10-speed road components.
- The Scott Addict served as a worthy test platform for SRAM's new Red group.
- Members of the Saunier Duval-Prodir team provided SRAM with valuable feedback during the group's development.
- SRAM is also introducing its own handlebar tape , to be offered in three different varieties to suit personal tastes for texture and padding.
- SRAMbassador' Greg Herbold heads out to sample Red for himself.
- The Felt F1 receives a new lay-up schedule that supposedly increases torsional rigidity.
- The F1 will continue to represent an excellent value in a top-end road racing machine for 2008.
- Premium component spec will include Shimano's Dura-Ace componentry…
- …and Mavic's new R-SYS wheelset.
- The new Felt F1 Sprint frame is purpose-built with additional carbon plies to yield a more rigid frame.
- Felt moves its Z-Series upscale with the new Z15.
- The Z15 may have a slightly more upright position but still wears premium kit.
- Felt's Z-Series uses somewhat relaxed geometry as compared to its F-Series machines.
- The Z-Series bottom bracket shell bears similar styling and engineering tricks as on the F-Series.
- FSA's K-Force Light crankset comes as standard equipment on the Z15.
- Felt will introduce full-carbon road frames for women for 2008, including the new FW2.
- The FW2 incorporates nearly all of the technology of the company's top-end F1, but with geometry and tubing specifically designed for women.
Images by Felt Bicycles
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
Images by Felt Bicycles
- The higher-end FW1 is available as a frame only , but utilizes Felt's top-end Ultra Hybrid Carbon construction.
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Felt also engineers many of its own components , including the 1.1 carbon road fork…
- …the 1.1 carbon handlebar…
- …and the angle-adjustable 2.1 stem.
- The DA carries on mostly unchanged for 2008 and still casts a striking profile.
- The radical Bayonet front end characterizes the top-end DA TT/Tri bike.
- Computational fluid dynamics is fast becoming an oft-used tool in designing aero frames.
- The DA uses a variety of Zipp components , including the Vuka Aero integrated bar…
- …a Felt-specific ZedTech Z99 rear disc…
- …and a Felt-specific ZedTech Z99 front wheel.
- Hubs are fully dimpled and equipped with ceramic bearings.
- The new Compulsion slots in between the Virtue and Redemption platforms.
- The Compulsion uses Felt's Equilink rear suspension design but offers 5" of travel instead of 4" or 6".
- Felt will make heavy use of Rock Shox forks for 2008.
- The head tube of the new Compulsion is suitably reinforced for heavy duty use.
Images by Felt Bicycles
- The Virtue continues to be available as a frame or complete bike for 2008.
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- A new carbon rear end sheds weight…
- ...but also adds stiffness and strength.
- The updated carbon rear end construction also allows for lighter aluminum chain stay and seat stay yokes.
- The Redemption is Felt's heavier-duty full suspension machine.
- The beefy frame is outfitted with similar stout componentry, but the Redemption is fully intended to be pedaled uphill as well.
- A 1.5"-compatible head tube houses a standard diameter fork, but still reinforces the front end.
- Felt's Equilink technology is adapted to 6" of travel.
- The Nine Solo is a lightweight 29" singlespeed.
- The machined bottom bracket shell uses front-facing eccentric anchor bolts to protect them from impact.
- The chain stay yoke helps keep the back end rigid.
- The Café 8 is ready to head out for errands.
- The matching rear rack increases the Café's utility.
- Of course, some of those errands might involve some coffee…
- In a hurry to make it across town? The Dispatch offers a speedy way to get around, or an excellent way to get a thorough workout.
- The flip-flop fixed/singlespeed drivetrain is simple and efficient.
- Felt's arsenal also includes a full range of flat bar road bikes.
- The new Pursang is a faithful adaptation of the vintage 1970's Bultaco motocross bike.
- This will spark memories for someone, somewhere.
- A drum brake is used up front.
- Nope, you can't put anything in the tank , but that doesn't mean it doesn't look cool.
