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Eurobike show
Friedrichshafen, Germany, September 4-7, 2008
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On show: Eurobike, September 10, 2008
More top-end road racers from Eurobike
By Ben Atkins
Canyon returns to the top
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Canyon will return to the ProTour - or whatever it will be known as next year - with the Belgian Silence-Lotto team after taking over sponsorship from Ridley. The German company's last top-level sponsorship deal with the ill-fated Unibet.com team clearly didn't go as planned (though it undoubtedly netted both parties lots of publicity) but is surely looking for better fortune this time around with a two-pronged assault on the Grand Tours and the classics.
Canyons have long been known for being very stiff, often with the effect of making the ride a little harsh on the rider. With the new Ultimate CF SLX though, the German company feels that it has come up with the perfect blend of stiffness and comfort. By studying the way the vertical forces work on the frame - while in movement rather than statically like others - Canyon claims to have increased compliance by 200 percent without compromising lateral stiffness.
A sub-300g fork and details like a CNC-machined seatpost clamp that uses a titanium bolt gives a claimed weight of under 1200g for a frame and fork. Despite this though, Canyon claims that the CF SLX is tough enough for Leif Hoste's tilt at the Tour of Flanders as well as Cadel Evans' next run at the Tour de France.
Now if they can just make it heavy enough...
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Any true Tour contender needs a fast time trial bike to mount a serious challenge and to that end Canyon presents the all-new Speedmax CF PRO. Equipped with the usual array of aerodynamic features like teardrop shaped tubes, internally routed cables and a seat tube cut-out that wraps around the rear wheel, Canyon feels that the Speedmax is just the tool for the job. Another feature common to many time trial bikes out there is an adjustable seat clamp that can move the saddle fore and aft to enable it to appeal to triathletes as well as conform to UCI regulations.
Focus hits the ProTour
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German company Focus joins the peloton at its most elite level for the first time next year, providing the frames to the Milram team of sprint legend Erik Zabel. Rather cheekily, there were a number of Milram liveried bikes on display in various areas of the Eurobike show while the team's contract with Colnago still has a few months to run.
The team will be riding the top of the range Izalco Extreme carbon frame which features Focus' Stable Stiffness Per Size (SSPS) system. In simple terms, SPSS puts more material into larger size frames and less into smaller ones, a rather logical approach that an increasing number of companies have adopted. The end result says Focus, is that larger riders get the stronger and stiffer frames they need and smaller riders don't end up paying an unnecessary penalty in weight and ride harshness.
The Izalco Extreme main departure from the ordinary Izalco frame in that it has an integrated seatpost. Both frames are full unidirectional carbon fibre modular monocoques built around what looks like a well-reinforced bottom bracket area. The frame is fitted with a pair of 3T carbon fibre Funda Pro forks complete with carbon dropouts.
The Milram team bike will be fitted with a SRAM Red groupset, FSA bars and stem (and seatpost as the display sample was a standard Izalco), a fi'zi:k Arione saddle and CarbonSports Lightweight wheels.
For time trials, Focus will provide Milram with the Izalco Chrono. However, in reality, the Izalco Chrono is a re-badged frame from Swiss specialist builder Andy Walser - something that is very popular both within the German peloton and among other notable riders.
Museeuw moves forward with flax
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Museeuw Bikes won an iF Product Design Award at last year's Eurobike show thanks to its innovative use of flax fibres in the construction of its frames. For 2009, the Belgian legend's marquee is introducing new models as well as making changes to its flagship frames.
The MF-1 sits at the head of the Museeuw fleet. Made with a front triangle of 50 percent carbon and 50 percent flax fibres, Museeuw has responded to customer feedback about the lack of visible flax below the clear coat by switching the fibres so that the carbon is now on the inside and the flax outside. On top of this, the flax proportion has been increased further by the addition of 50 percent flax fibres to the seat stays, which are now also tipped with full carbon dropouts.
More visible than the fibre layup though is the addition of an extended seat tube on the MF-1, promising lighter weight but also more comfort right up to the saddle. We've had a previous generation MF-1 on long term test, so look out for that soon.
The previously three-model Museuw line-up has been boosted by the addition of two new value-minded models. The MC-7 and Gran Fondo frames owe their lower prices by the use of far less flax fibre than the others in the range (hence the "MC" moniker standing for Museeuw Carbon, rather than "MF" for Museeuw Flax). Both have integrated seat posts and are aimed at the enthusiast with a lower budget who still wants the kudos of flax fibre in their bike.
Museeuw Bikes has also introduced a range of wheels after previously experiencing problems with production. The top two pairs, the MF-39 and MF-25 (with 39mm and 25mm sections respectively) are made with the same 50/50 flax/carbon material as the MF-1 frame and MF-9 forks. These are strictly for tubulars only but there are two sets of carbon/aluminium hoops for those who prefer clinchers.
Photography
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Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com
- The new Canyon Ultimate CF SLX will be the team bike for Silence-Lotto in 2009.
- The Ultimate CF SLX is claimed to be substantially lighter than the CF but is still built around the stiffness of the bottom bracket area which is double walled for extra rigidity.
- The chain stays are designed to transfer the maximum power to the rear end.
- Certain areas of the frame though are designed to provide a little lateral comfort.
- The top tube is very flat where it joins the head tube to allow a little vertical flex.
- Canyon collected its frame data while the bike was in motion to work out the best was to make a stiff frame that's also comfortable.
- A breakdown of the different tubes and their various wall thicknesses.
- The Canyon Speedmax CF PRO will be Cadel Evans' new time trial weapon as he hopes to go one better in next years's Tour.
- The aero section seat tube has a huge cutout to accommodate the rear wheel.
- From the front the Speedmax bears the usual narrow profile.
- The Speedmax has an adjustable seat post to keep things tri-friendly and still UCI-legal.
- The legs of the Speedmax fork supposedly mimic airfoil sections used in aircraft.
- Unlike most of the tubes that have to cheat the wind the top tube presents virtually no frontal area so it's slim and ovalised to allow a little comfort.
- The Ultimate FS PRO is Canyon's second string frame; it's almost as light as the CF SLX, but supposedly not quite as compliant.
- For 2009, the Milram team will ride bikes made by German company Focus.
- Milram will be riding the Izalco Extreme version which differs from the one pictured…
- … with its integrated seatpost which Focus says makes things lighter and stiffer.
- The Izalco is built around what looks to be a well reinforced bottom bracket area.
- Unlike many bikes that have been introduced lately the Focus Izalco doesn't have a tapered steerer tube.
- Focus uses different amounts of material for different sizes in order to achieve the desired ride characteristics for each rider.
- The Izalco is fitted with 3T's Funda Pro forks.
- Milram will use SRAM Red to turn its Lightweight wheels next season.
- The Izalco Chrono is Focus' top time trial frame…
- … but it is actually a rebranded frame from Swiss bike builder Walser - an historically popular move amongst the German teams.
- Walser frames are notoriously invisible to the wind with their distinctly narrow design.
- The Focus Izalco Chrono in Team Milram livery - a bit cheeky as Colnago still has almost four months left in its deal with the German team.
- Focus also makes 'cross bikes. This top-end model is the Mares Team.
- The Museeuw MF-1 still tops the Belgian legend's range but now uses more flax for 2009.
- The flax fibre weave is now on the outside of the MF-1's tubes to make it more visible and the frame now has an integrated seatpost.
- New to the Museeuw range is the MC-7 which contains a lesser quantity of flax fibre and a lower price.
- The MC-7 is available in the usual array of finishes, including those that show off the carbon/flax fibre weave.
- Also new for Museeuw is the Gran Fondo, an entry level frame with less flax, which is reflected in the price.
- You can clearly see the undirectional flax fibres beneath the clearcoat of this MF-5.
- After a lot of development Museeuw can now present a range of carbon/flax wheels, with either a 39mm-deep section…
- … or 25mm-deep rims. All are built up with Endo hubs and Sapim spokes.
- Despite being painted white you can still see the flax fibre through the graphics.
- The carbon/flax wheels are only available in tubular version but Museeuw also makes some carbon-and-aluminium rims for use with clinchers.
