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Eurobike show
Germany, August 31-September 3, 2007
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Part 12 - September 24:
Eurobike coverage draws to a close
By Tim Maloney
With this we wrap up our coverage of the 2007 Eurobike trade show, but that doesn't mean we'll leave you pining for more new gear! The Interbike trade show kicks off today in Las Vegas, NV, and we'll bring you daily coverage straight from the showroom floor. See you tomorrow!
High style and top technology from Dedaelementi
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Italian bicycle products firm Deda actually encompasses three separate business units: Dedaelementi for componentry, Dedatre for tires, and Dedacciai for bicycle tubing. For 2008, component arm Dedaelementi adds a 3D-forged aluminum Zero100 seatpost to the Zero100 stem it introduced last season (both available in the attractive 'dark metal polish' finish) as well as a new Superzero monocoque carbon post claimed to weigh just 166g with a setback two-bolt micro-adjusting head. Up front, the new Phazer Racing carbon road handlebar will likely appeal to more than just Star Trek fans with its unique anatomical shape..
Tubing division Dedacciai has shifted heavily into carbon in recent years and adds the high-modulus Ribelle frame kit to its lineup for 2008. Ribelle boasts an integrated head tube and seat mast, and complete frameset weights are said to be approximately 1.45kg with the matching carbon fork. Even with carbon fibre's seeming dominance, Dedacciai still devotes some attention to titanium with its new K19 titanium tubeset, augmented by its 'ABT' drawing technique and special heat treatment.
Selle Italia: at the forefront in saddle technology
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As usual, the Italian saddle manufacturer had some cool prototypes on display at this year's Eurobike show in addition to plenty of new production models. Originally shown as a prototype, Selle Italia's wild new Optima saddle is purpose-built for rides against the clock with its integrated bottle cage and forward position. Consumers will be able to get one soon enough, but the Optima has already been ridden to a win at the World Duathlon Championships and may also be on Norman Stadler's new Kuota Kueen-K bike at Ironman.
Selle Italia offers its own take on the single saddle rail concept with its Monolink prototype, which features the intriguing Esatech composite rail that trims up to 20% of the weight off of a conventionally railed saddle. The Monolink is still just a prototype for now, but the Italian firm is considering bringing this model to market in 2008.
For 2008, Selle Italia also taps into the SoCal style of legendary motocross and mountain bike style maven Troy Lee, who adds his unique touch to three models, including the new Shiver TLD mountain bike model. For those seeking a more subtle look, the company's Team Edition saddles with their white covers and single red stripes will now be available to the public directly through Selle Italia's web site.
Castelli: the 'scorpion' strikes again
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Steve Smith and his team at Castelli clearly take cycling seriously. After they packed up at the Eurobike show, he and a few other co-workers rode back from Germany over the Alps back home to Italy, covering almost 500km in two days.
With winter just around the corner, Castelli's new top-end 170 BP/M winter jacket features a new fabric for maximum wind resistance and breathability, an expanding zipper that allows for an extra layer, and a flip-up collar to protect the neck. "Our 170 BP/M jacket is designed for high intensity winter workouts," explained Smith. "[It's] a lighter weight fabric with excellent moisture transport."
The Saunier Duval-Prodir team marked Castelli's return to top level sponsorship last year and the team will continue to be Castelli-clad next season as well. Among the items to be worn by the boys in yellow are Castelli's innovative Free bib shorts with its minimalist cut and performance fabrics, and the aerodynamic Split Due jersey with wrinkle-reducing Velocity fabric and BLC dimpled panels for better aerodynamics.
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Getting it there safely with SciCon
Italian bicycle transportation specialist SciCon has updated its incredible Aerotech Evolution hardshell case for 2008 with new, more protective internal foam padding and a new black finish. The new-for-2008 Atlas is so-named for its bigger-than-life size and robust strength. Developed in cooperation with ProTour teams, triathletes, and mountain bikers in mind, the Atlas is claimed to accommodate any frame size and is equipped with two large side pockets for two pairs of wheels and extra gear.
Giant Bicycles: something for everyone
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Giant has a huge array of bikes to satisfy the needs of nearly any rider, from its race-winning TCR Advanced carbon fibre road machines to fun kid's bikes. One market segment where Giant is particularly well established (especially in Europe) is the city bike. A winner of the Eurobike Innovation award, Giant's new CityStorm is a city bike in the vanguard of a new generation of functional and well styled rides that continue to become ever more coherent with today's skyrocketing fuel prices and urban congestion. The CityStorm has integrated panniers with handles for shopping or work, and an integrated halogen headlight for visibility.
Speaking of Giant's TCR Advanced, Giant's Andy Woolny and Tom Davies hinted to Cyclingnews that there was an all-new carbon fibre road bike in development, likely to be presented this winter at the T-Mobile team presentation.
Lightweight wheels live up to their name
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Stephen Beherns and his team at Lightweight cooked up some brilliant new products for 2008 from their home base in Eurobike's backyard of Friedrichshafen. The Standard IIIC is Lightweight's first ever all-carbon clincher, and careful engineered yields a claimed weight of just 1080g per pair. That figure comes at a serious price, though, as the Standard IIIC commands an astronomical cost of €3400 per pair.
Lightweight's carbon-spoked models enter their third generation with new 100% carbon fibre spokes that are claimed to be 30% stiffer then the previous version. The so-equipped Ventoux climbing wheels are back for 2008 and weigh a feathery 950g per pair; an alternate version with DT Swiss spokes is marginally heavier at 1020g.
Making an appearance after a first peek a few years ago, Lightweight's rear derailleur will finally be available in 2008 and will weigh a staggering 120g with a unique carbon cage, CNC machined pulleys, and minimalist construction. Version to fit both Shimano and Campagnolo will be offered.
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Ullrich stands behind X Bionic
Whatever your opinion may be, Jan Ullrich is still a major star in his home country and he made an appearance at this year's Eurobike show as an official endorser of Lowa's new X Bionic cycling wear. X Bionic is a new range of clothing designed for Lowa by Swiss clothing technology firm X-Technology, who specializes in climate, endurance, stress and strain regulating, high-performance gear. The new line will include cycling kit, underwear, and accessories such as socks.
De Marchi Sport: continuing to clothe discerning cyclists
Italian high-end cycling clothing company De Marchi caps its 2008 range with its new Contour EVO jersey. The back of the new jersey features De Marchi's new Contour Body Framing System, which includes a laser-cut, thermo-welded, and non-elastic frame that acts as a rear 'spine' to provide stability and structure to the garment. The body of the Contour EVO is made from De Marchi's Dry3 Next fabric for optimal moisture transfer supplemented with SPS mesh armpit inserts for extra ventilation. The matching Contour EVO Bib Short features a new EVO IDS Elastic Interface Technology pad for maximum comfort and performance.
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De Marchi also introduced its 2.0 range at Eurobike, a selection of stylish, avant-garde cycle wear that includes the lightweight and stylish 2.0 Tech Vest made from nylon 6/6 fabric for easy packability. The more casual Maglificio collection celebrates De Marchi's sixty years of experience, highlighted by the Italia Track Jacket in merino wool and attractive tone on tone styling.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com
- Italian component maker Dedaelementi adds a 3D forged Zero100 seatpost in attractive Dark Metal Polish to its Zero100 range of stems for '08.
- Cool new carbon from Dedaelementi , with Phazer Racing handlebars, Forza stem, and new SuperZero monocoque carbon seatpost.
- Deda's tubing arm Dedacciai showed this new K19 Titanium tubeset that uses its A.B.T. drawing technology and special heat treatment.
- Ribelle is Dedacciai's new high-modulus carbon tubeset that includes an integrated head tube and seatmast. Claimed weight is 1.45kg including the matching fork.
- The Ribelle frameset is graced with elegant Italian curves.
- Already ridden to a win at the World Duathlon Championship , Selle Italia's new multisport-specific Optima saddle has a special integrated bottle cage.
- All new at Eurobike, Selle Italia's Monolink prototype saddle features the Esatech single rail concept that is claimed to weigh 20% less than a conventional saddle.
- Selle Italia's Flex prototype turns the saddle 'rails' into a 'C-Wing' suspension system with a new anatomical cutout in the saddle shell.
- Southern California's Troy Lee brings some zing to three Selle Italia models for 2008, including the new Shiver TLB mountain bike model.
- Pro tested in 2007, Selle Italia will make its Team Edition saddles available to the public in 2008.
- The new Castelli 170 Jacket offers up style and performance.
- Castelli's Free Bib shorts offer minimal restrictions to riding fast and are used by the Saunier Duval-Prodir team.
- The Split Due jersey from Castelli uses Velocity fabric for a trim fit and BLC dimpled panels for better aerodynamics.
- Castelli has an extensive range of high quality, high performance 'Made In Italy' socks for 2008.
- Sci'Con's Aerotech Evolution is a update of the already excellent Aerotech hardshell case, with new internal foam padding and restyled black color.
- All new from Sci'Con, the Atlas case was developed with ProTour teams, works with "any frame size", and has side pockets for two pairs of wheels.
- Sci'Con's new Atlas case has room for two pairs of wheels or extra gear.
- A winner of the Eurobike Innovation award , Giant's new CityStorm is in the vanguard of a new generation of functional and well styled city bikes.
- Giant's new CityStorm has integrated panniers with handles for shopping or work.
- The friendly front end of Giant's new CityStorm , with integrated halogen headlight.
- Giant's Andy Woolny and Tom Davies discuss Giant's new carbon fibre road bike, due to be presented next January at the T-Mobile team presentation.
- All new from Lightweight is the Standard IIIC , and C is for clincher, Lightweight's first. Weight: 1080g/pair; price: €3,400/pair!
- Lightweight's Ventoux wheels are back and the superlight climbing wheels weigh 950g/pair, while the version with DT Spokes is 1020g/pair.
- The third generation of Lightweight wheels features new spokes made from 100% carbon fibre, claimed to be 30% stiffer then the previous generation.
- Lightweight's Shimano and Campagnolog-compatible RD (rear derailleur) is shown at 106 grams, but production models will be 120g.
- Jan Ullrich was a hit at the Eurobike show with his new endorsement of Lowa's X Bionic cyclingwear.
- Say Kase! Jan Ullrich and a happy fan.
- De Marchi does it again with its Contour EVO jersey and its Contour Body Framing System, a laser-cut, thermo-welded frame of non-elastic fabric as a rear spine for stability.
- De Marchi's Contour EVO Bib Short has a new EVO IDS Elastic Interface Technology pad for maximum comfort and performance.
- The De Marchi Contour EVO jersey uses Dry3 Next fabric for optimal moisture transfer and SPS armpit ventilation inserts.
- De Marchi introduced its avant-garde 2.0 range at Eurobike . The nylon 6/6 Tech Vest is light and packs easily and has loads of style.
- De Marchi's Maglificio collection celebrates its 60 years of experience. Shown here is the Italia Track Jacket in merino wool and attractive tone on tone styling.
