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By Chris Henry
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CYFAC, a company which boasts more than 40 years of experience building frames for some of the biggest names in cycling, hand-builds all of its frames in La Fuye, France. Chief frame builder Francis Quillon began his career as a promising amateur racer in France, and began building frames for himself and his teammates. As his reputation as a builder spread, Quillon devoted more of his time to building frames for more teams. The CYFAC company began in a little workshop run by Quillon and his wife. CYFAC continues to hand-build all frames on its own premises, and employs the talents of several frame builders, including the brother of former world champion Laurent Brochard.
CYFAC lacks the big budget to sponsor pro teams under its own name, but many of their bikes are ridden in the pro peloton under the guise of another sponsor's name and paint job. This was the case with the French Cofidis team, who rode the frames under the name MBK through 2002. This year, CYFAC provides frames for the MBK-Oktos team. CYFAC frames have been ridden to victory in all three grand tours.
CYFAC offers four production road frames, the Starship, XL8R, Airplane, and Altec 2+, in addition to time trial frames and custom offerings. My test bike was the XL8R "Accelerator". The frame, which features a sloping top tube (5 degree slope), is available in four sizes (S, M, L, XL). The medium size frame provided for the test weighs in at 1,100 grams (2.42 lbs). My complete bike weighed 17.3 pounds (see full build specifications below).
Medium frame size geometry (Measured center to center):
Top tube (actual) - 54.3 cm
Top tube (virtual) - 55.5 cm
Seat tube (actual) - 49.1 cm
Seat tube (virtual) - 54 cm
Seat tube angle - 73 degrees
Head tube angle - 73 degrees
Although I was able to find a comfortable position on the bike relatively quickly, I wonder whether the frame's availability in only four sizes might present a limitation to some buyers. Additionally, the frame is only offered in one stock paint scheme, although CYFAC offers customized painting for all of its frames at additional cost.
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An interesting aspect of the XL8R frame is the placement of three dimples in the tubing on each side of the top and down tubes, close to the welds with the head tube. These dimples create what Columbus calls the "Multishape Damping Effect". This design employs specially shaped tubes and three different diameter punches, or dimples, on both sides of the top and down tubes. The punches are positioned in the zone where vibrations from the fork enter the frame, creating a physical obstacle to the free movement of the vibration waves throughout the length of the tube.
How much the dimples in the XL8R frame really contribute to the dampening of road shock is difficult to judge. Regardless, the frame lives up to the claims of providing a stiff, yet forgiving ride, largely due to the choice of carbon fork and rear stays. The Columbus 'Muscle' rear triangle and fork absorb much of the vibrations and shock that would otherwise transmit directly to the rider in an all aluminum frame. In the rear triangle, both the seat stays and chain stays are flared outward, which helps absorb shock while also increasing stiffness.
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The Columbus Muscle rear stays and full-carbon fork are constructed using 15 layers of overlapping T-700 carbon fibre, covered with another layer of high modulus carbon fibre. The lower portion of the fork blades and the area near the rear dropouts feature a "Ti Mesh Titanium Net", or reticular fabric in titanium. This is designed to further increase the damping effect of high-frequency vibrations, such as those produced by riding over broken pavement.
The Muscle fork has a 45 rake and features a full-carbon steerer and weighs in at just 398 grams. The chain stays feature an s-bend for increased stiffness.
One issue I encountered when I began riding the XL8R was the fact that my heels would occasionally brush the chain stays while pedaling. This happened more with my right heel, and admittedly my cleat position is such that my right foot angles out a bit more than my left. Nonetheless, the position is not radical, and my size 44.5 Sidi shoes would not be considered larger than average. A glance at the s-bend in the chain stays shows that the flare occurs a bit too close to the bottom bracket, though for many riders this may never pose a problem.
Oddly enough, I seemed to adapt to the frame the more I rode it, and after a few rides I did not seem to notice my feet hitting the frame, except perhaps on occasion while grinding up a few steep hills out of the saddle.
My testing conditions for the XL8R were not ideal, coming in the dead of an east coast USA winter. With more favorable weather- and fitness- I would have preferred to put the bike and myself through the paces of some longer rides. As it stood, my average ride was in the hour and a half range, covering an endless series of relatively short, and relatively steep hills.
Although the XL8R is not the lightest bike out there, it performed well when the going got vertical. The stiff frame's response was quick and agile during out of the saddle efforts, but rode comfortably on a variety of surfaces and absorbed road shock nicely. As I grew accustomed to the bike and its handling, a relatively quick process, I began to look forward to the hills, and the responsive feel the bike provided when I looked for a quick kick out of the saddle.
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The XL8R is designed as a stiff, strong bike that will go the distance, ideal for heavier or more powerful riders concerned about too much frame flex. The frame is light, but will not challenge other featherweight frames. Furthermore, the choice of Mavic Open Pro rims for the test bike added another element of dependable performance, if not the lightest product available. For my test I also substituted an Easton EA50 mountain bike seat post for the lighter American Classic post provided with the bike, which was too short to provide proper extension with the frame's sloping top tube.
Rounding out the equipment choices on the test bike were Selle San Marco's ASPide FX saddle, and Deda Magic handlebars and stem. Each of these components was acceptable, though my personal preference would have been to swap the saddle for my trusty Selle Italia Flite, and the bars for a model with more room to grip on the drops. Nonetheless, the bar/stem combo did nothing to sacrifice the stiffness and agility of the frame.
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A two hour ride in the snow wasn't something I had planned as part of the CYFAC review, but that's just what I got when I headed to Washington, DC to ride with a friend. We set out for a simple spin of about 32 miles, but seeing as the snow was already starting to fall before we even set out, the ride was bound to get... interesting. I'm content with the fact that I don't normally ride in the snow, particularly on a road bike in an urban area, so riding in the white stuff is not a skill I can claim to practice. In fact, this particular ride gave me all the practice I care to have.
The snow began to accumulate and stick to the roads around halfway through the ride, and consequently those minor issues such as traction, shifting, and braking were somewhat compromised. All in all, however, the bike performed admirably, even if I would rather have not found out. Pedaling through the snow and slush and on slick pavement was a generally stable prospect aboard the CYFAC, and only at ride's end did the trusty Dura-Ace components begin to succumb to the accumulated slush and begin to miss shifts. Braking power- or lack thereof- was another matter entirely, but that was to be expected.
Overall I was quite pleased with the quality of the CYFAC ride. Though I was unable to test the bike on some longer rides, its performance during the rides I did take certainly inspired enough confidence to make me wish I still had it on hand. The head tube angle of 73 degrees presented a nice combination of responsive steering and smooth, steady handling. Just as a rider's comfortable position on a bike is an important component of efficiency and power output, so too is a comfortable ride and stable bike. To me, the CYFAC provided just the right experience.
Special thanks to Red Lantern Cycles for arranging delivery of the test bike.
Full specification: CYFAC XL8RFrame:
Columbus XL8R aluminum, Columbus Muscle Carbon rear triangle Cranks: Shimano Dura-Ace 172.5mm, 53/39t | RRP (frame only): US$2,425Wheels: Mavic Open Pro Stem:
Deda Magic Pedals: Look PP296 (rider's own) Cyclingnews Rating: |
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