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Tech letters for May 29, 2002
Edited by John Stevenson
Confounded by carbon fiber? Need to sound off about superlight stuff? Tech letters is the forum for your gear-related questions and opinions. We'll attempt to answer all questions that don't require a PhD in astrophysics or industrial espionage.
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A bunch of new subjects todays, kicking off with some interesting responses from Specialized and Cannondale on the subject of whether a pro (Mario Cipollini in this case) actually rides the bikes he's nominally sponsored to ride.
Over the next few days, we'll also have responses to subjects raised in the last tech letters page. There were rather a lot of them...
Contents
Is that really an S-Works?
Bike mechanic courses
Excell Tubing
Record compatible splined bottom bracket
Squeaky Pedals
Statistics
Tubulars
Shoe set-up
Aluminum steerer tube failure
Vetta frames
Is that really an S-Works?
I always heard that when Cipo rode for Saeco, he wasn't riding Cannondales but a DeRosa with Saeco/Cannondale decals. I was watching the zebra train on one of the sprint finishes in the Giro and something was apparent. The S-Works frame that Specialized makes has a slanted top tube. When I saw all those riders in a line and then the camera hit Cipo, you could see that there was a definite difference in the top tube slope on his bike compared to the rest of the team. His was almost flat. I'm just wondering if maybe that DeRosa has new decals now.
Andrew Gilbert
Monroe, USA
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
Cannondale's reply
First of all the "DeRosa" rumour is true! Well, in the sense that when in 1996 we were working hard at breaking ground in Italy, opening up the factual monopoly of Italian and French bike suppliers, we were faced with a very stiff headwind if not to say some less then fair business practices. I remember having lunch during our negotiation with Mr. Zappella (Saeco's president), the then team manager, Scott and others while several Italian frame manufacturers called Mr. Zappella asking him to stay away from "the Americans" and using all kinds of doubtful practices including money offers.
When this failed, all kind of rumours were started including the above about DeRosa, which seemed logical in as far as the Cipo frame we brought home to take measurements from was actually made by DeRosa while wearing other stickers...
True also that it took us a few weeks to convince Cipo that summer (before we actually sponsored the team) to test ride one of ours frames (so far he ONLY rode covered DeRosas in his career) but once he did he never looked back, as a matter of fact he was the one who helped us to convince the team manager and Mr. Zappella. He never rode a frame before that was so stiff and responsive while still taking away 1.5kg in weight that first year (1997). Once the insiders realised that Cipo's frame really WAS a Cannondale, (show me a "PowerPyramid" down-tube at that time not made by Cannondale - remember that at that time nobody really was making aluminium racing frames or was just beginning) the next defence was to spread the rumour that these frames will break, an assumption probably based on seeing those other few existing aluminium frames breaking on a weekly basis...
Since then three things happened:
1. Cipo rode a Cannondale to victory in all the defining moments in his career (winning Tour stages in all yellow, winning the fastest Tour stage ever, holding the record of a poker of stages in four consecutive days etc., etc.)
2. Saeco never broke a frame (that did not fall from a rack or be hit by a car) since 1997. Feel free to ask Beppe Archetti, the team head mechanic as well as the Italian's national team head mechanic, he will also be able to tell you how many other frames he's seen breaking.
3. Every other major global manufacturer entered and opened doors to sponsor a professional team.
As far as proving the above, I can suggest two things:
1. Go visit Cipo's home with the yellow, pink, fuchsia, green, white, golden, airbrushed, stars & stripes, etc., etc., etc. bikes, and check for yourself, or.
2. Contact one of the lucky people who bought a Cipo bike through our web auction and have them confirm that there is Bedford PA aluminium under the paint, all handmade in USA!
Beppo Hilfiker
CannondaleAnd from Specialized
Super Mario's bike is indeed a Specialized S-Works E5 Road. About half of the Acqua & Sapone squad rides stock S-Works frames. The other half of the team receives the same bikes, but built with custom frame geometry.
Cipollini has very exacting preferences about his frame geometry, so we build his bike to his specs. Also, Cipo is relatively tall. As the frame sizes increase, the relative slope of the top tube decreases. These two factors combined (Cipo's geometry preference & large frame size) yield a frame for Cipo that has a noticably less sloped top tube.
I trust that this clarifies the matter. If you have further questions, feel free to drop me a line.
Another thing to note is that Specialized works with A&S riders to test prototypes of future production bikes. Throughout the season, keen observers make catch glimpses of new products that have yet to be delivered to the marketplace.
Sean J. McLaughlin
Global Marketing
Specialized Bicycle Components
Bike Mechanic courses
Just a quick question. Where if possible can Iattend a bike mechanic's course? Does such a course exist? I live outside of London on the Buckinghamshire/Berkshire border.
This information would be much appreciated.
Enrico Tambellini
enrico_tambellini@talk21.com
Excell Tubing
I have a Lemond bike, about 10 years old. It uses Excell Tubing from France, and hand made in Italy. On the seat tube decal it says Excell GLX, but I was told its Excell Podium tubing. Nevertheless, its actually very light for a steel frame, and ten years on, still in very good condition. Has anyone else come across this tubing? Anyone else using such bikes? Where do I get more info on Excell? Any pros ridden on Excell? Thanks, I am kinda curious about this.
Rajvinder Singh
Singapore
Record-compatible splined bottom bracket
Do you fellas know if anyone (FSA perhaps?) makes a splined bottom bracket/crankset that is compatible with Campy's Record 10 speed group?
Vince Smith
Squeaky Pedals
Can you please tell me how to stop Look pedals squeaking?
Jason Bird
Statistics
I'm a student at the University of Western Australia and I'm currently doing a course in statistical analysis. I have to do an assignment in which I analyse a set of data. The type of data can be anything I like so I thought I might do something about comparing pro cyclists' physical attributes or the dimensions of their bikes.
Do you know where I could find this sort of data? I've been looking on the various pro teams websites but only some of them give this sort of stuff and its usually insufficient or inconsistent.
Please respond to me at: dlavery@hutchison.com.au
Thanks for your help.
David Lavery
Tubulars
I just glued up my new Ritchey tubulars to a pair of Ksyrium SL wheels. I then had to wonder why I need a valve extender. Why haven't tubulars keep up with wheel design. Most people that use tubulars, use them to race. Most race wheels are a high profile rim design. It would be convenient if the valve stem was long enough when airing tires, to not need an extender and be able to close the valve stem without a dental instrument. Or remove a well glued tire if you need to fix a leaking valve core.
Steve
Shoe set-up
How do you set yourself up, when fitting new red Look cleats to your new bike shoes? I know the pedal axle must be under the ball of the foot, but where do you go from there?
Brett Hill
Aluminum steerer tube failure in some carbon forks
Can anyone out there shed any light on any design or quality issues/concerns which might lead to aluminum steerer tube failure in carbon fiber forks of with that construction. The failure of my fork, from a reputable company, was catastrophic: it seems to occurred where the aluminum steerer (male) is bonded to the aluminum (fem.) section just above the fork crown. The steerer tube itself seems to have cracked and then come out of the bond. The aluminum to aluminum bond of steerer tube to crown seems to be fairly common in mid-end forks, however I wonder if are there perhaps issues with aluminum steerer tube quality that racing/ consumers should be aware of? Maybe this is a common occurrence?
John McGill
Washington, DC
Vetta frames
Can anyone tell me about Vetta frames? I have come across an Altec one. It is labelled "Vetta " with another decal saying "Giovanni Ferruccio Antonio 3 Generazioni di telaisti " the head tube is labelled "TV (something illegible - looks like a signature) Vetta.
It looks well made with the quality of the welds and is super stiff to ride. Not an awful lot of information on the web site (www.vetta.it)
Michael
Sydney, Australia
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