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Eurobike show
Friedrichshafen, Germany, September 4-7, 2008
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On show: Eurobike, September 12, 2008
Speed demons from Eurobike
Zipp gets faster still
By Ben Atkins
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Zipp adds a time trial version of its VumaQuad chainset for 2009 called the VumaChrono. According to Zipp, the VumaChrono is nine seconds faster over 40km than the leading competitor, thus apparently making it the fastest chainset in the world. Zipp also claims it's the stiffest chainset in terms of chainring deflection thanks to the spider-less design and unique method of chainring attachment.
Instead of the usual four or five points of contact, the outer ring (which is basically just a hollow circle of teeth) is affixed to the outside of the carbon face with nine small bolts. A separate set of bolts allows for an inner ring, too, implying that it is suitable for track use. Like Zipp's existing VumaQuad, the VumaChrono has a 30mm-diameter bottom bracket spindle. It is specifically designed for use with Zipp's own external thread-in cups, but we anticipate a proper BB30 version as well.
Wheels are the things that Zipp is most associated with and several small improvements have been made to much of its range. The new 188 hubs use larger 17mm-diameter alloy axles and the bearings now have adjustable preload. Naturally, Zipp claims the 188 hubs to be the fastest in the world.
The spoke flange has been increased in size, particularly on the rear, and driveside spokes have been moved outwards slightly to lessen the dish, and thus stiffen and strengthen the rear wheel.
The 808 and 404 rims have benefited from technology originally developed for the 1080, both now having lower-drag toroidal cross sections which are said to save between 2 and 7 watts at 30mph for the 808. The braking surface is now also slightly wider to form a more seamless joint with the tyre, presenting a more even profile to the wind.
All new for 2009 is Zipp's SLSpeed stem. As an all-carbon stem, the SLSpeed has no embedded metal parts and so Zipp was forced to come up with a completely new way of moulding. The faceplate is made from forged titanium, and like Oval Concepts' stems, is held in place by reverse bolts. The single steerer clamp bolt is attached to a floating nut to ensure better alignment when tightened. Claimed weight is 100g for a 100mm stem.
Zipp has also increased its handlebar range with the new Contour SL bar, available in Zipp's short and shallow as well as the increasingly resurgent traditional bend. With a flattened top section, the Contour SL is designed for more all-day comfort and aerodynamics.
Full Speed Ahead for BB30
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FSA is continuing to push the BB30 standard across its range with no fewer than seven different chainsets available throughout the range, including one under its Gravity subsidiary.
Sitting at the top of the BB30 road range is the K-Force Light, similar in most respects to the standard MegaExo version but for a few noticeable differences. Firstly, the BB30 version is lighter - even with the bigger spindle - when the bottom bracket cups and bearings are all included. More importantly though, the BB30 system is stiffer - due to its increased diameter - and also more durable thanks to its larger bearings.
While pedal stance width between both versions is identical, the width at the spindle - what FSA calls the U-factor - is noticeably narrower for greater ankle clearance since the bearings (in this case ceramic) are internally housed in a 68mm-wide bottom bracket shell.
SRAM introduces road wheels
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As expected, SRAM has leveraged its recent ownership of Indianapolis carbon specialist Zipp to launch its own range of wheels based on the latter's lower budget Flash-Point line. The carbon-and-aluminium rims feature Zipp's trademark toroidal cross section but not the dimpled finish associated with the more expensive models.
The cartridge bearing alloy hubs feature alloy freehub bodies as well and stainless steel straight-pull spokes are used all around. The new SRAM wheels come with 40mm, 60mm or 80mm-deep sections and are dubbed S40, S60 and S80, respectively. All are available for clincher tyres only.
SRAM has also launched its own BB30-compatible crankset, in this case an offshoot of its top-end Red groupset. Like the FSA versions, the BB30 Red crank is lighter, stiffer and more durable than its standard sibling while also providing more heel clearance. With the lighter weight crank, total weight of a complete Red package now falls even lighter than before to sub-1900g.
Ultralight German carbon from THM Carbones
By Warren Rossiter
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German carbon ultralight specialist THM Carbones unveiled two brake related prototypes as follow-ups on its Scapula road fork (the lightest all carbon road fork available at a claimed 235g) and Clavicula crankset.
The Fibula brakeset has a claimed weight of 100g per pair (without pads) and although similar in appearance to the Orion from competitor AX Lightness, THM Carbone's stoppers have a built-in linkage to mimic the power of a dual pivot brake while retaining single-pivot weight.
THM Carbones also directly integrated the new Fibula into a special prototype Scapula fork, thus producing what is quite likely the lightest combination out there. Hiding the Fibula brake system inside the fork crown might also yield some aerodynamic advantages with the cleaner overall profile and reduced frontal area. It's probably a mechanic's nightmare though, as pad adjustments look to require removing the brake from the fork (there were no access holes on the prototype).
Turbo boost by Gruber Assist
If you've ever been left behind on the chaingang or struggled to stay with the bunch on a long singletrack grind (and would prefer not to put in any training miles) you might want to consider adding a secret weapon: the Gruber Assist.
The entire system adds about 1900g (4.2lb) but feeds up to 200 watts of power straight to the cranks; simply hit the turbo button hidden in your bar end and off you go, beaming smiles as you pass your riding pals with almost no effort on stiff climbs on a 'standard' bike. The motor and transmission are designed to drop into a 31.6mm seat tube and drive a dedicated bottom bracket based on a Shimano Hollowtech II crank. The Li-ion battery pack drops into a standard saddle bag.
Experienced cyclists are unlikely to embrace the Gruber Assist (after all, it's fairly heavy) but it'd be a great boost for new cyclists and commuters looking for a little help.
Road rigs from Charge
Fixie/singlespeed supremo Charge is now piling head long into geared road bikes with the launch of two retro flavour machines, the Juicer and Skewerr.
The Juicer uses Tange Prestige steel tubes which were somewhat chunky in the prototype form we saw but slated to be more traditionally slimline in production. The Skewer, on the other hand, is built with double-butted Tange Ultimate Titanium tubes arranged in traditional race geometry and dressed in a beautiful highly polished and brushed finish. A dedicated matching Tange all-carbon fork caps off the front end.
From what we can tell, the premium materials and build quality of the Skewer puts it firmly in the court of the major titanium manufacturers such as Litespeed, Lynskey, Merlin etc. But at just £1299 for the frame this particular entry might just set the standard for value in Ti ownership. Our sister publication Cycling Plus will have the world exclusive test of the Skewer very soon.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com
- The Zipp VumaChrono chainset is claimed to be the fastest TT crankset there is.
- The big chainring is held in place by nine screws around the perimeter of the chainset.
- The VumaChrono has a 30mm bottom bracket spindle for extra stiffness.
- Zipp's road-going VumaQuad chainset carries on for 2009.
- The VumaQuad also has a 30mm alloy bottom bracket spindle for stiffness and light weight.
- Zipp's new 188 hubs use bigger 17mm-diameter aluminium axles rolling on nybrid ceramic bearings.
- The rear hub has been given a proper alloy dust cap in place of the old carbon one.
- The drive side spokes have been moved slghtly outwards to strengthen the wheel.
- With Zipp's ZedTech custom program you can choose the colour of the dust caps as well.
- Rim technonogy developed on the 1080 rim has been filtered down to the 808 and the 404.
- The Zipp SLSpeed is an all-new full carbon stem that is even lighter than the SL145.
- The SLSpeed uses a forged titanium faceplate that, of course, is dimpled.
- The SLSpeed has a single clamp bolt that has a floating nut to ensure perfect alignment.
- Like the stems from Oval Concepts Zipp's SLSpeed stem has reverse faceplate bolts.
- Zipp has also been working on its handlebars. The Contour SL is now available with a short/shallow drop…
- … as are the new SL bars which also come in ergo and…
- … the increasingly popular traditional bend.
- All Zipp handlebars are available in ergo bend.
- FSA's K-Force Light is now offered in a BB30-compatible version.
- The larger spindle is stiffer yet the alloy construction makes it lighter, too.
- BB30 has a massive 30mm bottom bracket spindle adding stiffness to the bike's biggest stress point.
- Despite keeping the same pedal stance width as before BB30 allows much more heel clearance at the spindle.
- The centre of the chainring spider has a far lower profile than standard.
- The BB30 K-Force Light has hollow carbon arms for a high stiffness-to-weight ratio.
- BB30 is spread right across the FSA range of chainsets…
- …and also encompasses the off-road line.
- FSA still makes chainsets with standard external bottom brackets.
- SRAM's new BB30-compatible Red chainset is lighter than the standard version and offers more heel clearance.
- The larger spindle is stiffer than the standard version but since it's alloy instead of steel, it's also significantly lighter.
- Another major weight savings is the far simpler cartridge bearing assembly, even though the bearings themselves are bigger.
- For 2009, SRAM is launching its own brand of wheels, based on Zipp's Flash-Point range.
- The new SRAM wheels use the same hubs as Zipp Flash-Point with straight-pull aero spokes by Sapim.
- The S80 wheels have 80mm-deep rim sections and are available with either black or silver hubs and spokes.
- SRAM's S60 wheels have 60mm section rims…
- … and the S40s have 40mm section rims to complete the range.
- The rear hub has radial lacing on the drive side and two-cross on the non-drive side.
- The SRAM graphics look striking on the rims, but the lower budget doesn't allow for a dimpled finish.
- All of SRAM's new wheelsets are compatible with clincher tyres.
Images by Warren Rossiter
- THM-Carbones showed off its new Fibula brakeset which is claimed to weigh under 100g per pair and include a clever linkage mechanism to magnify power.
- THM-Carbones also had a prototype Scapula fork that housed a fully integrated brake calliper within the crown.
- The Gruber Assist offers 200 watts of power at the touch of a button.
- Charge had a new titanium road machine called the Skewer which looks to be among the best values for next season.
- The more traditional Charge Juicer uses double-butted Tange Prestige tubes.
