Zipp unveils new drop bars

Zipp Speed Weaponry is releasing all new drop bars to meet the needs of the most demanding racers on earth. Building on its’ 20-year pedigree in carbon layup and design, Zipp has created some of the lightest, strongest and stiffest bars on earth in the SL, the SLC2 and the Contour SL. Completely redesigned graphics aren’t the only thing that set these bars apart. Zipp’s drop bars exceed the highest standards in strength and stiffness, passing EFBe testing with flying colors while setting new standards in comfort and ergonomics.

SL – Super Light. Super Stiff.
The all new SL is the lightest and stiffest handlebar to pass the EFBe Laboratory’s top performance racing standard. No more wet-noodle flex in your lightweight bar. Weight: 165 grams. Drops: EB (ergo bend) (90 reach, 150 drop); TB (traditional bend) (87.5 reach, 130 drop), SS (short shallow) (84.5 reach, 128 drop).

SLC2 – The Do Everything Bar.
Massively stiff and capable of handling serious torque, 60% of this bar has a 31.8 diameter. It’s the perfect bar for massive sprinters or mounting VukaClips. Weight: 185 grams. Drops: EB (90 reach, 150 drop); TB (87.5 reach, 130 drop), SS (84.5 reach, 128 drop).

Contour SL – The Stage Racer’s Bar.
Comfort, ergonomics, stiffness and aerodynamics rolled into one. The airfoil top is not just aerodynamic but it also makes it the most comfortable bar Zipp has ever designed. Weight: 185 grams. Drops: TB (87.5 reach, 130 drop), SS (84.5 reach, 128 drop).

All bars are available in 40, 42, 44, or 46 cm (o-o); 31.8 clamp diameter

RockShox rolls out all new Reba

The popular RockShox Reba suspension fork is new and improved. First, Reba rolls out an entirely new chassis. As seen on several other RockShox forks, Reba now features Power Bulges that add stiffness, durability, and consistency to the chassis. The magnesium lowers now utilize a post disc brake mount. The hollow crown is forged of a proprietary AL66 TV material, providing light weight with increased stiffness and strength. Upper tubes are constructed from 32mm, 7000 series straight wall aluminum tubes and then completed with a low friction anodized finish.
All Reba models are available for both 26” and 29” wheels. Both wheel sizes will also offer either a standard QR, or the all new Maxle Lite option based on the existing 20×110mm thru axle standard. With available travel from 80 to 120mm, Reba provides both wheel sizes with the options they need for XC and Trail riding.
All Reba models receive a brand new damper. Reba SL and Reba Race get a fresh new Motion Control, while Reba Team is upgraded to a BlackBox Motion Control damper. The new BlackBox Motion Control damper is built upon the foundation of the original Motion Control. It features a titanium spring tube as well as Dual Flow compression and rebound. External adjustments are detented. Crown adjust forks utilize a carbon fiber compression knob, while forks using a remote have a new ‘Nip-Tuck’ spool that hides excess cable for a cleaner look. All Reba forks will feature a significantly revamped Dual Air system. Improvements are focused on further reducing friction, while providing a more linear spring rate. Dual Air gives riders the ability to independently adjustable positive and negative air spring chambers. The result is a very light and highly tunable spring system.

What’s New?
• All new chassis for 26” and 29”
• Standard QR or new Maxle Lite 20×110mm thru axle option
• Power Bulges
• New Motion Control in SL and Race
• New BlackBox Motion Control in Team
• New Dual Air system
• Post disc brake mount
• Travel increased to 120mm
• Hollow crown in all models
• Detented controls on Team

Suggested Retail Price (USD)
• Reba SL 26” $475
• Reba SL 29er $504
• Reba Race 26” $509
• Reba Race 29er w/Pushloc $607
• Reba Team 26” $656
• Reba Team 26” w/Maxle Lite & Pushloc $741
• Reba Team 29er $686
• Reba Team 29er w/Maxle Lite $701

Lightweight BlingBling

Those wheels were made for Mario Cipollini. He was supposed to ride them in Milano-SanRemo but obviously he wasn´t a member of that squad on the raceday and Rock & Racing was not allowed to start…

More Lightweight Individual Design on CarbonSports Forum.

Campy Record Red Ergopower

SPECIAL ERGOPOWER CONTROLS IN A LIMITED SERIES

Special Ergopower controls made for the professional teams are to be sold in a limited series. There will be 600 pairs and they will only be sold as complete Record groupsets with the same specifications as those of the racing teams: 39/53 crankset and 11-23 or 12-25 sprocket set.

Even though the peculiarities of these special Ergopower controls are in clear contrast to what the market has been asking for in recent years (softer and lighter actuating force), the demand has been conspicuous. It would in fact appear that some cyclists wish to feel the same sensations that professionals get when they are on their bicycles and want sharper and sonorous shifting.

The Record groupsets with special Ergopower controls will be available starting from mid March and at the same price as the standard Record groupset.

Swisspower Mountainbike Team

Athletes of Swisspower Mountainbiketeam get ready for the racing season

It’s already a habit and almost a second home for Thomas Frischknecht, Nino Schurter, Florian Vogel and other riders of the team, who stay in Massa Vecchia in Tuscany (IT) for two weeks at the beginning of the racing season for their training camp. A huge network of awesome bike trails and endless roads that are in excellent shape offers the best training possibilities for the riders.

This will be the first time the riders get on their new equipment for the upcoming season. The Spark, Scale and Addict are the weapons the riders use for the daily training and competition. The new designs, even more dynamic in white and yellow, match the carbon frames. The Scale, the fastest and one of the lightest bikes on the World Cup circuit, is still considered the rocket of the team. To be well-protected, the team will wear the Fuga helmet for a second season. Thanks to 27 ventilation holes, the riders can remain cool-headed about their competitors during the races.

After the camp, riders split up into different groups for more season preparations. Florian Vogel and Nino Schurter went directly to Croatia for a road race while Frischi is looking forward to the Cape Epic in South Africa with Tom Ritchey.

Spark

- Spark IMPTM carbon technology (HMXTM NETTM fibres)
- integrated seat post
- Tracloc lever system (0/80/110mm travel)
- SCDS Scott carbon dropout system
- Ritchey WCS
- SRAM
- DT Swiss
- complete bike weight 9.8 kg

For more information please visit: Spark

Scale

- Spark CR1 carbon technology (HMXTM fibres)
- integrated seat post
- SDS Shock dampening system
- Ritchey WCS
- SRAM
- DT Swiss
- complete bike weight 8.6 kg

For more information please visit: Scale

Fuga
- Shell Construction In Mold Technology
- Venting 27 vents
- Fit system m.a.s.
- Magneto System
- Fuga Magneto Visor

For more information please visit: Fuga

The Team

Team members, from left to right:
Patrick Gallati, JĂźrg Graf, Nino Schurter, Matthias Rupp, Thomas Frischknecht, Till Marx, Florian Vogel, Richard Njuhauser (mechanic), Andi Seeli (team manager), Thomas Hess (Massage)

source: scottusa.com

Bianchi D2 CRONO CARBON

The Barloworld team will use this model in the individual time trial of the fifth stage at Tirreno-Adriatico

The Barloworld team at Tirreno-Adriatico has faced Sunday’s individual time trial from Macerata to Recanati (stage five, 26 km) in the saddle of their brand-new Bianchi D2 Crono Carbon.
The latest generation of the Bianchi D2 Crono frame is made of high-modulus carbon fibre nanotechnology. The project for this new frame centered around the geometry, the aerodynamics and the research for ultimate rigidity: the quintessential features for this kind of frame.

The seat tube has an angle of 76° and a unique “multiposition” seat post. The head tube has reduced dimensions and is designed so that the rider can obtain an “extreme” but perfect position. The top tube has been reduced in dimensions, too, and positioned low to decrease air flow. These characteristics make this frame perfect for time trials.
A special care has been devoted to the chain stays which are oversized and perforated to ensure better aerodynamics and maximal rigidity; in fact, the perforations enlarge the surface of the stays and make them more rigid.
The horizontal rear drop-outs are built to minimize the distance between the rear wheel and the seat tube, reducing the turbulence between the lenticular rear wheel and the oversize seat tube.
The weight of the frame is amazing: 1,35 kg, which is extremely light for an aerodynamic frame.
The Super Aero full carbon forks, in high-modulus carbon fibres using nanotechnology is designed to exploit aerodynamic and fluid air motion technology, vital elements for top-class performances. The carbon blades are straight and winged, oversized at the top for a perfect synergy with the head tube and the down tube. The final weight is 450 g.
Moreover, the Bianchi D2 Crono Carbon bicycles have an appealing design that will attract attention for sure.

Shimano with new wheelsets

New wheel set makes carbon clincher technology available for more people
Shimano introduces a new road racing clincher wheel set WH-RS80-C24-CL with an equal rim construction as the successful Dura-Ace WH-7850-C24-CL wheel set that was introduced last year. Both wheel sets feature an ultra thin and lightweight aluminum rim reinforced with carbon layers. The result is considerable weight saving and more comfortable ride characteristics. This new wheel set has been developed with an Ultegra level freehub that is compatible with 8, 9 and 10-speed cassettes. The wheels feature a wide flange hub design and an offset rim for increased rigidity and power transmission. The hubs have been developed using Shimano’s proven cup and cone bearings that are known for their great durability and adjustability. The rims have been provided with a rim wear indicator. Weight: 1521 g per set.
Availability in the market: July 2008


Tubeless
Shimano is introducing a new Dura-Ace tubeless wheelset that is more than 100 grams lighter than the current one due to the use of an ultra thin aluminum rim reinforced with carbon layers. Besides saving weight, this technology also ensures an incredible comfortable ride. This wheelset WH-7850-C24-TL has been developed with a titanium freehub body with quick engagement mechanism. It has a wide flange hub and an offset rim to increase rigidity. Weight will be 1400g for a set. Shimano introduces this tubeless technology also at a medium range level. WH-RS60-C24-TL is a tubeless wheel set that features the same rim as the Dura-Ace version but with an Ultegra level hub and freehub that is compatible with 8, 9 and 10-speed cassettes. The hubs have been developed using Shimano’s proven cup and cone bearings that are known for their great durability and adjustability. Weight: 1590 g per set. Both tubeless wheel sets feature a wide flange hub design and offset rim for increased rigidity and power transfer. All Shimano tubeless wheel sets can be used for normal clincher tires as well.
Availability in the market: July 2008

50mm Carbon Clincher
Shimano is also introducing a 50 mm high profile carbon-aluminum composite clincher Dura-Ace wheelset WH-7850-C50-CL. It combines Pro Tour performance with the convenience of clincher tires. It has a titanium freehub body with quick engagement mechanism plus a wide flange hub and offset rim for increased rigidity. It has been developed with Shimano’s cup and cone bearings and the rim carries a rim wear indicator. Weight: 1700 g per set.
Availability in the market: Already available

Carbon Sports North America Launched

Carbon Sports, the high-end manufacturer of lightweight wheels, has founded Carbon Sports North America. Carbon Sports North American is based in Ottawa, and its operational structure includes secure bonded warehousing in upstate New York.

David Bell, chief executive officer of Carbon Sports North America, said, “The fact that we are actually part of Carbon Sports Germany enables us to focus exclusively on the representation and distribution of Carbon Sports products in all of North America. We are able to provide the quality of service with our very high-end products which the public is well entitled.”

Bell said that “by having a dedicated North American company, we are able to drastically reduce this waiting period by maintaining a substantial inventory, which will effectively eliminate the current seven months other countries are forced to wait.”

source: Bicycle Retailer

Astana to ride SRAM RED

Johan Bruyneel’s newly re-formed team rides SRAM’s new road group

In what might be the biggest ‘leap’ in cycling for 2008, the newly reformed team Astana, now lead by current Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (ESP), American Champion Levi Leipheimer, and Team Director and 8x Tour de France mastermind Johan Bruyneel, will be powered by SRAM road componentry.
Team Astana will be exclusively riding and racing the World’s lightest 1928 gram SRAM RED road gruppo, just introduced this past
September at Eurobike. While RED was launched as the most ergonomically refi ned and technologically advanced road group in the
world, with numerous effi ciencies and features, it was the weight story that caught Bruyneel’s attention. “SRAM has proven itself at the highest levels of cycling, but having the lightest gruppo in the World with RED, along with all the function and features, is a real advantage. They are making serious impressions in the road market and we would not consider partnering with them if it wouldn’t benefit this team (Astana) and put us in a position to win.” Astana General Manager Johan Bruyneel. SRAM’s Global Marketing Director, David Zimberoff, traveled to Astana’s Team headquarters in early November to finalize the three year agreement.
“Johan’s proven leadership and legacy of success was the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate the pure advantages of our road drivetrain and, most specifi cally, RED. Prior to the agreement we had Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer testride RED groupsets and they gave enthusiastic thumbs up. That is the type of verifi cation that excites us at SRAM and we are truly looking forward to 2008,” stated David Zimberoff.

AX-Lightness Orion SL

The brandnew AX-Lightness Orion SL Brake. The first pics now on Light-Bikes.

AX-Lightness Orion SL with Carbon-springs, BTP Brakepads and Aluminium-Bolts for Powercordz.

Orion SL without Brakepads:

The “normal” AX Orion:

RockShox SID – the rebirth of blue

Global Media launch for new SID in Moab (USA) Roc Dazur (France) and Australia
10 years ago, the blue RockShox SID fork took over the colour domination from yellow Judy’s. Becoming the most successful fork ever, with countless world Championships and Olympic medals, it was time for RockShox to elevate the SID platform to a new performance level for the next decade: stiffer, longer travel, improved adjustability, lowest possible weight without performance sacrifi ces. On October 13th and 14th, journalists from around the globe fl ew in the USA to test ride the new RockShox SID. Mixed teams of journalists, SRAM staff and SRAM athletes competed in the 24 hour race of Moab (Utah, USA), enjoying fi rst hand RockShox SID experience.

The event was held on a challenging 24 km loop course in the Utah desert. A mixture of rough technical sections alongside deep sandy stretches proved the perfect testing track for the new SID. Along with 1,400 other racers and approximately 2,500 apectators, SRAM fielded four teams in the event. Each team was racing on bikes fully built using the new SID, SRAM X.0, RockShox Monarch, Avid Juicy Ultimate, and Truvativ Noir components.
To complete the amazing riding experience, SRAM’s 24 hour base camp provided full service: SRAM WorldCup truck for professional technical service, food and massage tents and a big fire place to keep everybody warm…
On the same weekend, at the famous Roc D’Azur event (France) and Australia, editors had the same chance to get fi rst test rides on SID. After 24 hours of racing it was hard for us to take the forks back from the editors’ bikes. You will see stories all around the globe in print and web. The best way to summarize this rebirth of blue are the statements editors left with us after the events: “Amazing fork!”, “Great experience!”, “SRAM team is on top of things, professional, different and fun!”, “I never ate so well in
my life” The production of the new SID fork will start in February 2008, so stay tuned.
Find all the news about the 2008 RockShox SID on www.superlightintegrateddesign.com

1998 RS SID


10 years of SID!

AX-Lightness Uranos handlebar

Still kind of fresh out of the press: the rumor has actually already been circulating for a while, however it is just now that we are finally able to disclose some info on AX-Lightness’ latest baby: their URANOS road handlebar.
The bar is going to come in widths of 400, 420, 440mm - eventually with a 460mm version to follow as well. As announced in AX’s SL series thread the bar will be available in two different versions: stock version and SL version which utilizes a different type of carbon and is optimized to the specific rider weight. The stock version is going to weight 125-130g, the SL version can go as low as 110g! At first glance the shape seems to resemble the one of Schmolke’s bars, however AX prides themselves in having been concentrating on having an anatomically as ideal position as possible. The top section of the bar has a drop of 5mm and comes with a slight inwards bend. Towards the ends of the drops the bar slightly turns to the outside.
Price (for the stock version) will be around 550-600Eur and thus in direct competition to Schmolke’s TLO bar, with AX’ SL series probably even topping these. The first produced SL bar they built came in at 111g for a 400mm width, which currently is the only width they build - other still to follow.

The bars are not available yet, but it is hoped for them to still hit the market before X-Mas. Prices as said 550-600Eur for the stock version and the SL one being “more expensive”.

Thanks to Nils for the Pics, taken at EICMA in Milano.

New Pics…

Extralite Ultrahub SX

New Fronthub for Roadbikes from Extralite: Extralite UltraHub SX

Weight: 49gr.

Material: special 7075TX.

Bearings: 2RS sealed cartdrige.

Micro-Tuner: quickest bearing preload system.

Finishing: “hart coat” sides, black anodized body.

Graphics: laser etched.

Option: Hybrid ceramic bearings.

Dimensions for wheel building: Avaiable drillings 16 - 18 - 20 - 24

Center to flange: int. 37mm

Spoke drilling diameter: 28mm

Spoke hole diameter: 2,5mm

Radial lacing is allowed on interal flange side and only with D/B spokes (central section equivalent to Ø 1.5mm).

Micro-tuner allows an easy and quick bearing preload adjustment, no-tools required!

Flanges recive our new special treatments (military standard) to handle radial lacing stress.

To minimize torsional static forces flanges self-align under spoke lacing tension.

As every Extralite products UltraHubs exceede UNI/DIN Safety standards. Safety tests simulate a very strong 90kg (200lb) rider output.

Price: 149€

3T Adds new Fork Range

3T announced that is has expanded its product range with an ultra performing fork range called “FUNDA”. The range is co-developed with premier experts on fork aerodynamics. “Combining this expertise with the New 3T’s in depth knowledge in carbon lay up for superior strength and lateral stiffness has resulted in a truly innovative solution”, comments RenĂŠ Wiertz, new CEO of the New 3T.

“Instead of regular fork’s blades, we designed a distinctly different (asymmetric) airfoil for the blade where it is near the rim, and a symmetric shape further down where it is not affected by the wheel. Together, it forms a package that will slingshot you to the front of the pack. The FUNDA range is another clear statement of the New 3T’s ambition to bring well engineered, and truly innovative products to market”, says RenĂŠ Wiertz.
The full carbon FUNDA fork range is available in the TEAM version, weighting 300 grams, and in the PRO version, weighting 360 grams. It comes in a wide range of rakes, so you can find the perfect fork for any steering geometry and bike type. The FUNDA range is available for shipping from February 2008 onwards.

source: BikeEurope

Reynolds Recalls Bicycle Forks

Reynolds are recalling their US-manufactured UL road forks with 43 mm and 50 mm rakes (serial numbers 09100 through 10403) as “the fork tips could separate from the fork legs, causing the wheel to come loose from the fork while riding”. About 330 units included in custom 2007 bicycle frame kits from Independent Fabrication, Litespeed, Lynskey Performance Designs LLC., Merlin, Parlee, Rock Lobster, Spectrum Cycles, Strong Frames and Vicious Cycles are involved. They were reportedly sold in the US from October 2006 through May 2007 for about $500.

more on cpsc.gov and reynolds website

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