VeloNews BicycleBuyersGuide2011

BUYER’S GUIDE
2011 BICYCLE
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92
HOT NEW BIKES
A PERFECT FIT
2011 BUYER’S GUIDE
Learn the new math

FOR ROAD AND MOUNTAIN of bike sizing
THE BEST
POWER METERS
ROAD WHEELS
COMPONENTS
7 HANDMADE,
VOL . 40/NO.3 » DISPLAY UNTIL APRIL 11, 2011
GREAT WAYS
BY ROBOTS
TO LIGHTEN
YOUR BIKE
VOL. 40/NO. 3
DISPLAY UNTIL APRIL 11, 2011
THE IMPEC SHATTERS THE MOLD

SPRING 2011
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TABLE OF CONTENTS: PROLOGUE
Prologue
16 ROLLING IN STYLE
Après-ride clothing for the fashion conscious
18 DIALING YOUR FIT

Use stack and reach to nail your position
20 SITTING IN
With Rich Hincapie of Hincapie Sports
22 LIGHTEN UP!
Suggestions for your inner weight weenie
Features
32 IMPECCABLE?
26 DO IT YOURSELF BIKE BUILDING The BMC impec is the first bike to be
Want to build your own frame? Here’s how. constructed solely by machines. Is this the
way of the future? ON THE COVER:
28 MILITARY GRADE WHEELS The BMC impec, by Brad Kaminski
Easton enlists a body armor specialist 39 RIDING THE ELEMENTS For more photos, visit velonews.com/impec
Today’s bikes consist of a variety of metals,
COURTESY BMC
30 WHAT’S A WARRANTY WORTH? composites and oils. Lennard Zinn examines ON THIS PAGE:
What you must know to get the most of your the different raw materials that make up the The “Stargate,” one of many machines used by
investment. modern bicycle. BMC to create the impec
4 VELONEWS BU Y ER’S GU I DE 2011 W W W.VELONEWS.COM

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The Bikes table of contents: PROLoGUE
road
55
56 pro 72 ENDURANCE
Ride exactly what the top riders
are racing
Tall head tubes and long
wheelbases make for all-day 130
comfort
60 euro
Beautiful bikes from cycling’s 76 custom
homeland Bikes like no other, made to
measure
66 enthusiast
Fantastic bikes that won’t bust 80 aero
your budget A clear advantage for racing
84 time trial
Race against the clock
mountain
89
136 124
The Gear
118 Shimano xtr/XT 130 EMPOWERED
Top-end mountain bike groups A close look at the array of power
from Japan meters on the market
90 cross-country 104 Hardtail 124 sram x9, XO and XX 136 wheels OF CHOICE
For the World Cup or the The ultimate in lightweight, Three flavors of off-road machin- “What wheels would you ride?”
weeknight series efficient performance ery to choose from It’s a question we hear all the
time. Here are our answers.
94 trail 110 enthusiast 128 car & drivetrain
Jack-of-all-trade rigs that won’t Fun bikes that still leave you with Should you equip your road ma-
pigeonhole your riding gas money for adventures chine with SRAM, Shimano or
Campagnolo? Well, just look at
100 all-mountain your vehicle.
Built with big suspension for
burly rides
brad kaminski
VeloNews (ISSN 0161-1798) (USPS 017-730), a publication of Competitor Group, Inc., 1830 North 55th Street, Boulder, CO 80301-2700, is published monthly, plus 3 special issues (Buyer’s Guide, Race & Ride Guide, and the Tour
de France Guide) for a total of 15 issues. Annual subscription $29.95, Canadian remit $53.95 in US funds (includes GST); other international air mail $81.95 in US funds only. For subscription inquiries please call (800) 494-1413
or (760) 291-1562 or email velonews@pcspublink.com. Periodicals Postage Paid at Boulder, Colorado and additional offices. Canada Post International Publications Mail Agreement #40010538. Return undeliverable Canadian ad-
dresses to: Express Messenger International PO Box 25058 London BRC, Ontario, Canada N6C 6A8. GSTR 127573335. Postmaster: Send address changes to VeloNews, PO Box 469060, Escondido, CA 92046-9901. Printed in U.S.A.
6 VELONEWS bu y er’s gu i de 2011 www.velonews.com

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TK.434 IS THE NEXT GENERATION ASSOS S5

3/4 LENGTH SPANDEX BIBKNICKER
NEW
ALWAYS
USE
WE ARE THE SHORTS COMPANY AND AS SUCH, WE NOW ARE PRESENTING AND INTRODUCING,
S5 TECHNOLOGY IN ALL THE REMAINING KNICKERS AND TIGHTS EQUIPMENT. THIS WILL ENABLE THE
NEXT LEVEL OF HIGH PERFORMANCE, TOTAL COMFORT RIDING, DURING THE WINTER SEASON.
WE HAVEN’T JUST PLACED THE _S5 INSERT INTO OUR EXISTING “PLATFORMS”. INSTEAD WE HAVE
RE-ENGINEERED AND RE-DEFINED EVERY TEXTILE, PATTERN, COMPONENT AND DETAIL.
NOW THE FAMILY IS COMPLETE!
USA Canada
WHERE TO BUY? / WWW.ASSOS.COM ASSOS USA Vellend Tech Inc.
T. 1 800 266 4903 info@vellendtech.com
usacontact@assos.com www.vellendtech.com
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OFF THE
FRONT
THE COBRA STRIKES
Rarely are the objects of our desire without personality. Black
Sheep’s Culebra (Spanish for cobra) is a masterpiece of curved
titanium. Black Sheep owner and welder James Bleakley took the
Culebra to the 2010 North American Handmande Bicycle Show.
With its twin top tubes, one-piece bar/stem and flowing curved
titanium fork, the belt-drive singlespeed weighs only 18 pounds.
OWNER: JAKE KIRKPATRICK
PHOTO BY BRAD KAMINSKI
For more, visit velonews.com/blacksheep

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OFF THE FRONT: PROLoGUE
w w w.velonews.com bu y er’s gu i de 2011 VELONEWS 9

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OFF THE
FRONT
“SURPRISE ME”
Those were the instructions given to
Speedvagen’s Sacha White while hand painting
this beautiful cyclocross machine. To complete
the look, paint highlights extend to the one-
piece bar/stem and pinstriped DT Swiss hubs.
This rolling piece of art, rendered in steel, weighs
only 15.5 pounds.
OWNER: PEDER HORNER
PHOTO BY BRAD KAMINSKI
For more, visit velonews.com/speedvagen

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OFF THE FRONT: PROLoGUE

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SIGN IN: PROLoGUE
MEET THE CREW

SIMON THOMPSON
OLYMPIAN
ALI SHANKS
PURSUIT CHAMPION
A
s a former pro mechanic in Europe, Nick Legan
VeloNews Tech Editor Nick Legan
has built and maintained bikes
for the best riders in the world, including
Fabian Cancellara, Christian Vande Velde,
Chris Horner and Andy Schleck. A bit
weary from years spent wrenching on the
road, Nick joined our editorial staff last fall,
just in time to oversee the direction of our
2011 Buyer’s Guide.
After graduating from Indiana
University with a degree in French and
journalism, Nick jumped straight into
wrenching at Boulder’s Pro Peloton bike shop. In 2004 he began a
seven-year stint in the pro peloton ranks, working for, in chronological
order, Ofoto-Lombardi, Health Net-Maxxis, Team CSC, USA Cycling,
Toyota-United, Garmin-Slipstream, and finally RadioShack. (Yes,
including Lance Armstrong’s bike.) He also dialed in bikes for the U.S.
national team at the Beijing Olympics and several world championships.
In the final days of shipping this Buyer’s Guide to the printer, Nick’s
dad Paul stopped into the office. The apple clearly hadn’t fallen far from
the tree. Paul, who lives in Indianapolis, is an avid car racer, with a fleet
of one-off, non-street-legal machines he loves to wrench on and take to
the track. Nick’s brother Joe, who also lives in the land of the Indianapo-
lis 500, is an auto mechanic studying to become a race-team technician.
The whole family clearly enjoys exploring and improving the interface
between man and machine.
Our longtime technical wizard Lennard Zinn put countless hours
into this Buyer’s Guide. Many of you are familiar with Lennard’s work,
but you may not have met the man who comes to nearly every one of
our weekly editorial meetings decked out in Lycra. These meetings typi-
cally run two hours, with several editors crowded around a big wooden
table in a stuffy conference room; if “LZ” gets warm, he’ll take off his
TRAIN HARDER. RECOVER FASTER. jacket or jersey and strip down to his bib shorts and base layer. This
Utilizing 2XU's Elite 50/70 denier circular knit fabric, 2XU isn’t a problem. The primary problem with Lennard is that he knows
cycle compression is engineered to deliver power, durability too much. With a physicist for a father and a brain for math, Lennard’s
and muscle support for the hardest training and race days. stories are often sent in with too much technical detail for a magazine
Maximize your recovery with improved circulation using any article. The pieces you read here have been heavily edited for length. But
of 2XU's graduated compression garments.
rest assured he can back up his claims... exhaustively. Probably while
wearing Lycra.
Discover the complete range of 2XU performance
compression and cycle apparel: www.2XU.com Former VeloNews technical writer-turned-firefighter Zach White test-
ed a number of mountain bike groups for this Buyer’s Guide. With the
courage and physical prowess you’d expect from a firefighter, Zach — a
2008 masters national Super D champion — rides off things most of us
would have a hard time climbing up on our hands and knees.
Cat. 1 road racer (and admitted weight weenie) Caley Fretz recently
graduated from Colorado State and joined the magazine as a technical
writer; he also played a major role in this issue. And I would be remiss
to omit mention of Zack Vestal, our former technical editor who laid the
foundation for the Buyer’s Guide before moving on to work for Mavic.
So those are the main players behind the magazine you’re holding.
brad kaminski
DISTRIBUTED BY DEALER INQUIRIES WEB I can’t think of a better group of mechanics (and fanatics) to guide you
info@sportsmultiplied.com www.sportsmultiplied.com
through the scores of options for bikes and gear ahead of you in 2011.
— Ben Delaney
12 VELONEWS bu y ers gu i de 2011 www.velonews.com

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2XU_VNBG_Prelim.indd 1 12/20/10 10:22 AM
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www.colnago.com
Orgoglio ITALIANO
Colnago’s new monocoque frame takes the technical advances

seen in the highly popular CX-1 to a higher level. The new lamination
technology and materials used in the manufacture of the M10 make
it lighter than the CX-1 and stiffer laterally thanks to a bigger bottom
bracket, but with a little more vertical absorption to provide more
comfort without in any way sacrificing performance. contact@colnago-america.com
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The Journal of Competitive Cycling
®
“Working with Pactimo has Editor in Chief Ben Delaney
been a GREAT experience!” editorial

Managing Editor Neal Rogers
Technical Editor Nick Legan
Danny Van Haute, Director Technical Writers Lennard Zinn, Caley Fretz
Jelly Belly Cycling Team PB Kenda European Correspondent Andrew Hood
Editor at Large John Wilcockson
Reporter Brian Holcombe
Copy Editor Thomas LeCarner
Brad Huff
art
Art Director Mike Reisel
Photo Director Brad Kaminski
Production Manager Heidi Carcella
Artists David Brinton, Patrick O’Grady, Jef Mallett
Photographers Graham Watson, Casey B. Gibson
Interns Lauren Walter, Michawn Rich
v e lonews.com
Editor Steve Frothingham
Content Director Kurt Hoy
Senior Editor Charles Pelkey
Developer Scott Cropper
Editor at Large Patrick O’Grady
Senior Video Producer Steve Godwin
Video Producer Kevin LaClaire
si ngl et r ac k .com
Editor Jamie Bate
Advertising
Vice President, Endemic Sales Kevin Burnette
Boulder, CO
Account Executives Nathan Forbes, Mark Gouge, David Walker
San Diego, CA
Account Executives Lars Finanger, Justin Sands
Ascent Jersey Marketplace Sales Alex Jarman
Production Manager Meghan McElravy | Print Advertising Coordinator Shane Anderson
VeloNews
1830 N. 55th Street Boulder, CO 80301-2700
303-440-0601 | www.velonews.com
Editorial email vnletters@competitorgroup.com
Subscriber Customer Service
U.S. and Canada 800-494-1413 | International 303-245-2162
velonews@pcspublink.com
Director of Audience Development John Francis

Ascent Pro Bib Information Systems Manager Matt Rundall
A p u b l ic at ion of
Chairman David Moross | Chief Executive Officer Peter Englehart

President & Chief Operating Officer Scott Dickey | Chief Financial Officer Steve Gintowt
Executive Vice President, Media Andy Hersam | Senior Vice President, National Sales John Smith
Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing Bouker Pool
Vice President, Digital Media Dan Vaughan
Finest Materials, Finest Senior Vice President, Midwest Region Sales Doug Kaplan
Design, Fastest Delivery Vice President, Western Region Sales David O’Connell
Vice President, Eastern Region Sales Rebecca McKinnon
Custom Team Apparel Vice President, Sales Development Sean Clottu | Vice President, Technology Ben Nowacky
Publishing Assistant Carrie Shollenberger
www.pactimo.com Copyright ©2011 by Competitor Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced in any form
Phone: 800.801.9869 without the written permission of the publisher. Editorial contributions are welcome but a stamped self-addressed
envelope is necessary for the return of all materials. VeloNews is a registered trademark of Competitor Group, Inc.
Member,
Audit Bureau of
Circulations
14 VELONEWS buyer’s guide 2011 www.velonews.com

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LEARN FROM YESTERDAY, LIVE FOR TODAY,

NEVER GIVE UP.
DIAMOND HELMET
CORSA JERSEY AND CORSA BIB
CFS-300 SHOES
76 MONTREAL GLOVES
PATENTED
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bike duds: prologue
DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Stylish threads for the city, not the saddle
You’re an avid cyclist and you want to wear it on your sleeve — literally. But how? Free race
T-shirts can only take you so far. Take your passion for pedaling into the office with these
duds from your favorite bike brands.
Rapha Long Sleeve Shirt: $130 Rapha’s collection of casual wear grows every
year. For this piece, the buttons and stitching are placed to avoid interference with
your shoulder bag. The sleeves are long enough and the shoulders are pleated to
accommodate a reach to the handlebars if you pedal to the office or the café, but
the fit is still trim. Rapha.cc
Pearl Izumi Bartlett jacket:

$120 The Bartlett softshell jacket is
functional for a short pedal out to lunch
but styled for everyday life. A fleecy inside
keeps you cozy, but the tightly knit outer
fabric will keep winter’s bluster at bay. A
tall collar, understated metal trim, and hidden
pockets round out the package. Pearlizumi.com
Oakley Tumbler glasses: $179 Hopefully you’re

one of the lucky ones who doesn’t need corrective lenses.
For those of us who do, dial up the style with Oakley
prescription eyewear. Seven-barrel hinges ensure
durability. The wide stems and contours are made of
lightweight acetate. The frames, which come in two
sizes, are heat adjustable. Oakley.com
Rudy Project Steelium watch: $750

Rudy Project is celebrating its 25th anniversary
with this timepiece, featuring a water
resistant stainless steel case and sapphire
crystal glass. The thermo rubber strap
is comfortable when on the bike, too.
Rudyproject.com
Hincapie Poblado Jeans: $145

There’s no question that $150 jeans are not
for everyone. But if you’re into cool clothes and
you’re a die-hard Big George fan, these are for you.
The Poblado Jeans from Hincapie Sportswear are dyed dark indigo and finished with
double-needle stitching. They’re cut low rise with a straight leg, and the denim has a
touch of stretch for comfort. Hincapiesportswear.com
Dromarti “Black” Storica shoes: $250 Handmade in Italy by

Marresi, these retro-styled Dromarti shoes are like artwork for your feet.
Available in perforated black and classic brown, they’re patterned after
lace-up shoes from cycling’s golden age. They are available in three
different sole styles: Race, with a carbon sole and Look-style cleat
mounting; Sportivo, with mountain bike lugs and SPD
BRAD KAMINSKI
cleat inserts; and the Storica (pictured), which is made

with soft Italian leather uppers for flat pedals or the
street. Dromarti.com

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Photo: Chris Milliman
THE START OF A NEW TRADITION

The service course contains the infrastructure and equipment required to outfit a pro cycling team. But it’s more than a warehouse.
It’s where cycling’s enduring traditions join with the latest breakthroughs in fit, materials, and engineering. | In the service course
facilities of the world’s top teams, Zipp® is synonymous with the highest standards for performance and technology. Now
we’re expanding that reputation with the new Service Course and Service Course SL collections of aluminum bars, stems, and
seatposts designed for professionals like US cyclocross champion Tim Johnson and the Cannondale® Cyclocross Team prepared by
CyclocrossWorld. | Using advanced materials and the strictest precision controls, Service Course components bring classic designs
to new levels of comfort, reliability, performance, and fit – for every rider.
1.800.472.3972
www.zipp.com
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Stack and Reach:

dialing in a new bike
By Lennard Zinn
Y
ou’ve got a bike that fits great and pendicular axes, and the center of the bottom to it, until the tire touches the wall. Secure
you’re getting a new bike and want it bracket is the origin of your coordinate system. the bike; standing the bike upright alongside
to fit the same. Or maybe you just want When the bike is standing on the floor, a table. Measure horizontally from the wall to
to quantify your dialed position. Either way, measure from the floor to the center of the the top center of the head tube and from the
using the “stack and reach” method of an X-Y bottom bracket and from the floor to the top wall to the center of the bottom bracket. The
coordinate system will simplify your task. of the head tube. The difference between difference between these two values is the
You can measure the stack and reach of a these two values is the frame’s stack — or the frame’s reach — or the top of the head tube’s
frame or the components on a bike, but either top of the head tube’s “Y” coordinate relative “X” coordinate relative to the center of the
way the bike needs to be built up to do it. The to the center of the bottom bracket. bottom bracket.
wall and the floor will define your two per- Roll your bike toward a wall, perpendicular Some bike shops have a large adjustable
center of
handlebar
WALL (Y-AXIS)
center line of
head tube where it
intersects with top
HANDLEBAR STACK
of head tube
FRAME STACK
center of
bottom
bracket
FRAME REACH
HANDLEBAR REACH
FLOOR (X-AXIS)
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bike sizing: PROLoGUE
how to set your:

saddle height
When your foot is at the bottom of the stroke and clipped into the pedal, lock your knee
without rocking your hips. Your foot should be level, or the heel should be slightly higher
than the ball of the foot.
saddle setback
Check that the center of rotation of the knee is over the center of rotation of the pedal by
dropping a plumb line from the front of the forward kneecap with cranks horizontal and
forward foot in pedaling position. The line should just touch the end of the crankarm.
handlebar height
This is a subjective measurement requiring either lots of riding experience or a good
fit professional. That said, establish the minimum handlebar height as being the level
where your knees hit your chest when riding in the drops. A decent starting position is
to have the angle of your back be just above 45 degrees when riding on the bar tops and
just below 45 degrees when riding on the tops of the levers.
handlebar reach
This is an even more subjective measurement best done by a professional or by feel after
years of riding experience, but a decent starting point is to have your view of the front
hub obscured by the handlebar when riding on the brake hoods. You will be able to see
the hub ahead of the bar when your hands are in the drops and you will see it behind the
bar when your hands are on the top, adjacent the stem. (Note: This method doesn’t work
for short riders unless they have a small front wheel, since the front end geometry of the
bike is usually lengthened to avoid the toe hitting the front tire in a tight turn.)
T-square that makes taking these measure- the stack and reach of your existing frame.
ments easier (see photo). The base of it lo- And once you get the new frame, you can use
cates on the center of the bottom bracket, and this X-Y coordinate system to ensure that
a bubble level ensures that it is taking vertical your position on the bike is the same as on
and horizontal measurements. your old bike.
You can use this X-Y coordinate system to
quantify the positions of your components as
well. This is a simple way to ensure that all of
your body’s touch points on one bike are set the
same as on another bike. You can call the X-Y
positions of your touch points as simply X and
Y of each, or you can call them “Seat Stack,”
“Seat Reach,” “Bar Stack,” and “Bar Reach.”
It is becoming more common for bike
manufacturers to list the stack and reach as
the geometry specs for their frames. This
makes a lot more sense than simply listing
top frame angles, tube length, seat tube
length, etc., because with sloping top tubes, ...we’ll take care
extended head tubes and seat tubes, and sig-
nificant variations in seat angles, you are not
of the rest.
able to compare apples to apples. With stack
and reach, you can.
brad kaminski
THE LATEST GEAR.

Armed with stack and reach specs, you
THE BEST SERVICE.
can make a more educated conclusion about
whether a given frame will fit you, based on excelsports.com || 1.800.627.6664
www.velonews.com buyer’s guide 2011 VELONEWS 19

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SITTING IN: PROLOGUE
How often do you go to Colombia?

A few times a year, to oversee the production of BMC cloth-
ing, the high-volume pieces. For the BMC team we’ll do 5,000
caps and 5,000 musette bags. All of our custom pieces are
done at the Medellin factory, and custom makes up about 70
to 80 percent of our business. George and I own the factory,
our aunt and uncle operate it, and our cousins work there. In
all there 128 employees, and that’s been growing at 30 percent
a year. We don’t sell product in Colombia, we’re just there to
give back to our community.
Is it true that a major criterion in George’s

selecting a new team (for 2010) was that Hincapie
Sports be the clothing sponsor?
That is true. As our company has grown and George sees an
end to his career, it played a big factor. It makes sense for him
to transition into another life beyond racing. And there’s been
a huge impact on our company in securing a ProTour team,
with a world champion, racing the Tour de France. It’s not
very common to see a U.S. clothing company in the Tour. It’s
really propelled our company to the next level.
How has the BMC sponsorship changed things?

We have two people dedicated to just that program. Last year
we had some kinks to work out, but we have it dialed in for
2011. We know the forecasting on sizes, because most of the
team remains the same. And because we own the manufac-
turing, we have full control. Now the factory has specific rider
patterns. If Marcus Burghardt needs arm warmers 6cm lon-
ger, we can do that. Also, we just hired a VP of Business Devel-
opment to formulate a plan to take us international. Especially
while George is still racing, it’s important to capitalize on that
name and branch out worldwide.
Are you still riding?

I try to stay fit. On my lunch hour I will ride 75 minutes, or run
10km. On the weekend I’ll ride with George for three or four
hours one day, and maybe do a two- or three-hour mountain
bike ride the next. I still jump in some local Cat. 1-2 races, but
SITTING IN WITH just to hang on and get a workout, never at the front.
RICH HINCAPIE
How has Hincapie Sports given back to cycling?
I ran an NRC race called the Michelin Cycling Classic for
years. Hincapie Sports also supports a local Greenville spring
series. It’s a way to give back, and to also keep the races local.
BY NEAL ROGERS Selfishly, I don’t want to have to drive three hours to race. Our
accountants handle the prize money, and our designers work
on the flyers in house. George and I also run the Hincapie De-
T
he second-most famous Hincapie in American cycling is Big George’s older velopment Team. We take on 10 kids every year. That’s where
brother Rich, president of Hincapie Sports. Launched in an attic in 2002 with Craig Lewis and Chris Butler both came from — they were
a focus on produing custom cycling clothing for a few local teams, Hincapie just two kids we found on local training rides. It’s not a big-
Sports is now reaching industry adolescence, with 18 employees based in Greenville, budget development program like Slipstream, but it’s enough
BRAD KAMINSKI
South Carolina. A former elite-level racer himself, the elder Hincapie brother (he that they look good and have bikes, uniforms, shoes and sun-
turned 40 last year) runs the company, which includes regular visits to a manufac- glasses. They ride at a high level and get to train with George,
turing plant in Medellin, Colombia, where the Hincapie family has its roots. and learn a little about what it takes to be a pro.

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lighten up
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By Caley Fretz
W
e’ve all been trounced, at least once, by someone who
just didn’t look the part. The guy with the horribly
squeaky chain, constantly clicking gears, maybe even
a rear rack and some fenders. Riding in the Rocky Moun-
tains, where VeloNews is based, that might have even been 1984
Olympic gold medalist Alexi Grewal that just flew past, decked out in Giro Prolight
helmet 200 g
construction boots. But the rest of you don’t have that excuse.
We have to be honest with ourselves — the machine is a only means to
an end, a final small piece in the massive puzzle of preparation. For all the
technological improvements of the last few years, the formula for a fast bike
racer remains 99-percent racer and 1-percent bike.
But that doesn’t mean buying light equipment, and seeking to drop
weight off the bike and accessories, is a frivolous mission. At the very least, it’s
damn fun, and the placebo effect of riding the lightest and greatest should not
be underrated. At best, it can be the difference between steps of the podium,
or between victor and pack fodder.
So you want to be a weight weenie. Where to start?
Mavic Huez
shoes 195 g
brad kaminski

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lighten up: PROLoGUE

DYNAMIC WEIGHT of rotation, decreases the force required to though they aren’t practical for everyday rid-
When it comes to perceivable benefit per dol- accelerate said object. A light and stiff set of ing. But on race day, you’ll rarely find most top
lar, things that spin will always win out over wheels is noticeable from the first pedal stroke; pros on anything else. Carbon rims (or even
more static components. Reducing a spinning a light frame or seatpost, not so much. whole wheels) are a must for supreme weight
object’s moment of inertia by losing weight, For just a few bucks, inner tubes are there- weeniedom, but can be many times more ex-
particularly at the furthest point from the axis fore a great place to begin your weight-weenie pensive than an aluminum set. If weight is
quest. Ultra light butyl tubes tend to be the of primary concern, but wallet and ambition
most flat prone, but can drop as much as 50 aren’t seeing eye to eye, take a close look at a
3T ARX Pro grams off each wheel compared to a thick, set of hand-built aluminum wheels, which of-
stem 120 g cheap tube. Even better, spring for some latex ten come out lighter and cheaper than factory
tubes, which provide better ride quality while built sets — just make sure your local shop has
maintaining slightly better flat protection and a good builder.
super low weight. For those racing and training on the same
Tires are equally important. In general, ride wheels, carbon clinchers are a viable option.
quality and puncture resistance are the most They add better aerodynamics to relatively low
important factors in selection, but with careful weight, and are perfect for the rider who wants
evaluation (and usually more cash), it’s possi- to ride nice equipment every day, rather than
ble to drop weight while increasing ride quality just on race day.
and maintaining puncture resistance. Look for
light tires that still have some sort of puncture- STATIC WEIGHT
3T Ergonova Team resisting belt, and a high thread count (TPI). Perhaps tires and tubes have been replaced,
carbon handlebar In terms of fighting inertia, wheels them- but a fancy new wheelset just isn’t in the cards.
203 g selves are most important. Tubular wheels will There are plenty of other opportunities to drop
always be lighter than an equivalent clincher, serious weight elsewhere, and often for rela-
tively cheap.
When it comes to weight, component group
Reynolds RZR 46
choice doesn’t matter a whole lot once you get out
Tubular wheelset
900 g (front and rear) of the lowest levels from each manufacturer. The
weight difference between a SRAM Rival and
SRAM Red rear derailleur is 40 grams. Price dif-
ference? About $230. Not worth it, if you’re chas-
ing grams per dollar. Drivetrain choices should
be focused primarily on function; you can’t win
if you don’t make it to the end of the race.
Cockpit, on the other hand, is a great place
to start. Mid-level stock bikes often skimp here
to keep costs low, and on the flipside, carbon
stems tend to be on par or even heavier than
their aluminum counterparts for twice the
cost.
Handlebars should always meet your per-
sonal preference for shape first, and weight
goals second, but can easily be the source of
another quarter-pound reduction. The lightest
bars are carbon, and can come in under 200
grams, but are always costly. For those on a
budget, light aluminum bars can be found in
the 250-260 gram range for well under $100.
Bar tape can vary by as much as 20 grams.
Considering it’s all around the same price, and
you have to replace it anyway, it’s something
no gram-counter should overlook. Traditional
cork tape tends to be the lightest.
WEARABLE WEIGHT
Far more important than bike weight alone
is the collective weight of bike, rider, and

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lighten up: PROLoGUE
accessories. Even if your bike is as light as pos- 3T Ergonova Team carbon grams, they’re light for aluminum and a
sible, there is likely some room for improve- handlebar $300 whopping $5,000 cheaper than the RZRs.
ment either at a personal level (ahem… drop At 203 grams, the Ergonova Team is excep- Plus wide rims offer improved handling, a
the cupcakes) or in the gear you wear. Light tionally competitive with other high-end more comfortable ride, and even lower roll-
clothing, helmets, and shoes can reduce the carbon bars in terms of weight and cost. ing resistance — all due to their ample pro-
weight of your entire package considerably. What we love about this bar is 3T’s choice file. The Ardennes C2 rims are some of the
Plus, unlike bikes, clothing and accessories of shape – a comfortable, flat top, moderate widest available, at 23mm wide and 24mm
are not subject to the UCI weight limit, a pri- 77mm reach, and middle of the road 123mm tall, striking a balance between weight, com-
mary reason you’ll see plenty of pros rocking drop. The bend is perfect, providing a comfort, and mild aerodynamic benefit.
super light gear. fortable place for your hands to rest while
Manufacturers have caught on to this fact also placing them close to the brake and Giro Prolight helmet $200
and have brought to market a number of su- shift levers. Giro’s Prolite weighs just 200 grams, 30-per-
per light wearables. Light helmets reduce neck cent lighter than the company’s flagship Ionos,
strain, and every ounce taken off your shoes Reynolds RZR 46 Tubular and uses a collection of wide elasticized cloth
helps. wheelset $6,000 bands to hold the helmet firmly and comfort-
Here’s a sampling of a few products that will There is a definite law of depreciating re- ably on your noggin. It might just be the most
lighten your load. As for the cupcakes, we can’t turns when it comes to weight savings. comfortable helmet on the market.
help you there. The first few pounds may come cheap; the
last ounces, much less so. At 900 grams Mavic Huez shoes $400
3T ARX Pro stem $90 the RZR 46s are astoundingly light, with At 195 grams, the Huez is a solid 75 grams
The aluminum ARX Pro is around 120 grams an entire front wheel that weighs less than lighter than most other shoes on the market.
in 120mm length, while remaining plenty stiff most rims (370g), while remaining aerody- That’s 75 grams that don’t need to be rotated
thanks to grain-aligned 7075 T6 aluminum. namic thanks to their 46mm rim and air- 90 times per minute for hours on end. Mavic
Clamps are designed to be carbon compatible, foil-shaped carbon spokes. Worth $6,000? includes a stiff full carbon sole and heel cup,
so no need to worry about your precious carbon That’s for the weight weenie within all of super light and breathable uppers, and easy
bar or steerer tube (assuming correct installa- us to decide. For the more pragmatic, a set Velcro strap system for an excellent fit. Beware,
tion, of course.) Available from 70-140mm, in of ultra-versatile Hed Ardennes C2 ($1,050) however, if you need a wide toe box: the Huez
+/- 6˚ and 17˚ angles. may be just the ticket. At just over 1,400 is relatively narrow up front.
Some real-world solutions

Tires and tubes are a relatively cheap upgrade that can drop weight
Continental GP4000 tire $65 Challenge Latex tube
At 229 grams, the GP400 is light but not the lightest. $17 At 84 grams Challenge
What makes it our pick is its 330TPI casing Latex tubes are a few grams
and Vectran puncture strip, adding heavier than the lightest
a super smooth ride and good butyl options, but
puncture resistance to a tend to be far more
relatively light tire. puncture resistant and
have proven to decrease
rolling resistance
as well.
lauren walter

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Engineered from the contact patch up.
Designed from the contact patch up to deliver the best possible per-
formance, RACE series tires yield exceptional levels of longevity and
responsiveness. Lightweight, 126 TPI casings in 23c and 25c for the
RACE A & L deliver the optimum in comfort. RACE L,185g, RACE A,
210g and RACE D, 230g in 23c, provide a weight range for all perfor-
mance requirements. Proprietary casings, Panaracer’s PT protection
combined with specifically engineered tread compounds puts the
RACE series at the front of every ride or peloton. www.panaracer.com
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build your own bike: PROLoGUE
Mike Flanigan of ANT Bicycles

(Holliston, Massachusetts)
Five to six days ($2,950, one student, one
instructor, includes lunch), or six-week
business class ($30,000, one student, one
instructor, includes machines and tooling).
www.antbikemike.wordpress.com
Steve Garn of Brew Bikes

(Creston, North Carolina)
Five days ($1,500, one or two students, one
instructor). www.brewracingframes.com
Tim Sanner of Sanner Cycles

(Austin)
Weekend course ($800 with room/board,
$700 without, two students, one instructor);
also four-day basic lugged class ($850, two stu-
dents, one instructor) or Jigless lugged 10-day
class ($1,600, two students, one instructor).
www.sannercycles.com
TAKE UP THE TORCH

Toby Stanton of Hot Tubes
(Shirley, Massachusetts)
Five days ($2,750, one student, one instructor).
I f the idea of building your own bike frame is more appealing than shelling out big bucks to
a frame manufacturer, the most efficient way to learn is by taking a class from a professional
framebuilder. Most often you will leave the class with a frame in hand.
www.hottubes.com
United Bicycle Institute

Here are 10 courses available in 12 locations around the country. Materials are included in the (Ashland and Portland)
price, but travel, lodging and meals usually are not. Unless otherwise indicated, classes are in Ten days ($2,350-$3,000, eight students, two
steel frame construction . instructors) in chromoly or titanium.
www.bikeschool.com
Bamboo Bike Studio (Brooklyn and San Francisco)
Two- to three-day course on frames with bamboo tubes with fiberglass and carbon Koichi Yamaguchi of Yamaguchi
lugs ($632 with instruction, or kit alone for $495, three students per instructor). Bicycles (Rifle, Colorado)
www.bamboobikestudio.com Ten days ($2,500, three students, one
instructor).
Todd Bertram and Dennis Bushnell of R+E Cycles (Seattle) www.yamaguchibike.com
Classes range from one to three sessions in framebuilding observation or welding or brazing
($300-$1,000, one student, one instructor). www.rodbikes.com
Courtesy United Bicycle Institute
David Bohm of Bohemian Bicycles (Tucson)

Ten days over two weeks ($3,000, one student, one instructor); also offers a three-day welding
and brazing seminar ($600); lodging available. www.framebuildingschool.com
Doug Fattic of Doug Fattic Bicycles (Niles, Michigan)

Eleven days ($1,800, three students, two instructors); also offers a three-day Intro to Brazing,
Filing and Frame Design seminar ($500); and 17-day class that includes painting ($2,400).
www.ukrainebicycletours.com

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A shoe refined, tweeked and tested down to the smallest

detail leaves you free to ride with total confidence.
DMTʼs patented RAM VTR closure system not only facilitates the sock-like precision
fit for which the DMT Prisma is known, but also utilizes a unique lever actuated
mechanism to provide unmatched on-the-bike adjustability. An anatomic heel
counter gently holds the foot in place, preventing slippage, while the micro-
fiber and mesh upper allows the breathability and comfort that Pro Level
cyclists demand. Finished with distinctive Italian styling, the DMT Prisma
truly is the shoe of the most discerning cyclist.
CX CARBON SPEEDPLAY®
CX CARBON SLHC SOLE

The Prismaʼs CX Carbon sole incorporates nine
layers of super light and durable Toray car-
bon in one of the most advanced soles on
the market. Choose either Speedplay
specific or a traditional three-
hole model for your preferred
pedal system.
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how it’s made: PROLoGUE
MILITARY GRADE
We have accidentally damaged more
than a few ultra lightweight mountain
bike wheels over the years. After
riding and racing hard on Easton’s
Havens, however, the carbon wheels
are still true as new. So what gives?
The secret is in the construction,
designed by a man who has held the
highest security clearance the U.S.
government offers. The proof is in
the warranty.
T
o offer a two-year, no-questions-asked
warranty for carbon fiber equipment, a
company must be supremely confident
in its product. And to extend such a warranty
to carbon mountain bike wheels is remark-
able. Easton offers such a warranty on the
new $2,300 Haven Carbons, which are made
like no other wheel in the world. The design
is the joint effort of Easton’s longtime chief
engineer Chuck Taxeira and Easton’s new
recruit Sayeed Syed, a former Westinghouse
composites engineer specializing in military
applications and ballistics.
For the rim construction, Syed and
Taxeria chose a carbon/polyethelyne hybrid fab-
ric —
think ultra-light body armor — as well as
a proprietary resin. At Easton’s EMX facility in
Tijuana, Mexico, each rim is laid up by hand us-
ing composite sheets cut on site. The rims are
heated, cured and sanded before technicians
drill holes for Easton’s patented, threaded eyelet
system, which allows an internally and external-
ly threaded nipple to thread into the rim.
The M1 hubs are hand laced with Sapim
double-butted spokes, attached to the rim us-
ing nipples that thread into both the spoke
and eyelets. The unique threaded eyelets dis-
tribute stress more evenly, allowing a thin-
ner and lighter rim wall. Then the wheels are
acoustically trued. Easton claims this musi-
cal method of assembly brings the wheel
into tension evenly, which allows for higher
tensions than normal; that, in turn, creates a
responsive and laterally stiff wheelset.
The result is a bulletproof 1,450-gram,
UST compatible mountain bike wheel-
set. A 21mm internal rim width makes for
brad kaminski
excellent tire profiles even with big tires. The

wheels come with a standard quick release,
15mm or 20mm Thru-Axle.

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TWO TOURS. ONE BIKE.

SUPERSIX HI-MOD.
To win one Grand Tour in a season is an incredible achievement. We won
two. The Cannondale SuperSix propelled Ivan Basso to victory in the Giro
d’Italia, and then carried Vincenzo Nibali to the top of the podium in the
Vuelta a España. Two great riders, one amazing bike. With features like
the massively oversized BeatBox BB and the precisely shaped Hourglass
rear stays, the Cannondale SuperSix Hi-MOD gives you the edge over
your competition. Create the Perfect Ride. cannondale.com
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WHACK!
Racing can void
a warranty.
VOID?
MAKING SENSE OF By Lennard Zinn
BICYCLE WARRANTIES
T here are many happy cyclists riding around
on bikes they received as warranty replace-
ments. There are also plenty of riders whose
chased new on the Internet from a seller who
was acting as an inventory liquidator for an
out-of-business shop or distributor is covered
a marketing purpose allowing the company to
keep track of its customers with the intent of
selling more of its products. But it also produc-
warranty claims were refused. What makes by warranty — it probably won’t be. es a permanent record at the bike company of
the difference? The third thing to understand is the warran- your purchase of that bike, including the sales
The first thing to understand about a bike ty generally only covers the product. It does not date, the retailer, and the bike’s serial number,
warranty is that it’s a contract between you, the cover assembly, shipping, and whatever else as well as your personal contact information.
original purchaser, and the bicycle company the dealer charges for the warranty service. It will help if you can’t put your hand on that
— not between you and the retailer who sold To ensure that you are covered, make sure receipt when you need it.
you the bike. you have proof that you are the original buyer.
MAKING A CLAIM
GETTY IMAGES (2)
The second thing to understand is that you Keep the original sales receipt, and make sure
must have bought the bike new from an autho- that it lists the bicycle’s serial number on it. It’s Generally, you can’t warranty a defective bike di-
rized dealer of that bike brand. Don’t make the also a good idea to fill out the warranty card rectly to the bike company; you must make your
mistake of thinking that a bike that was pur- that came with the bike. The card of course has warranty claim through any authorized dealer

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WARRANTIES: PROLOGUE
of the brand, though not necessarily the store The term “limited list jumping, acrobatics, stunt riding, off-road
lifetime” refers
where you bought it. The bike shop is caught in use and racing as exclusions that void the war-
the middle, but the warranty is actually only be- ranty. Obviously, companies that sell moun-
to the usable life

tween the company and original buyer. tain bikes expect many of them to be ridden
The first thing to do is to clean the bike up as off-road, and if they sell racing bikes, they ex-
of the product
if you’re trying to sell it. In reality, you are sell- pect many of them to be raced. And jumping
ing it to the company, and you want it to look bikes are generally bought by people who jump
and not the life of

like you’ve taken good care of it. them. Those clauses are written into the war-
Be truthful about what happened. It makes ranty to protect the company from people who
the consumer.
it a lot easier for everybody to figure out what abuse the products. That doesn’t mean that
to do. Warranty personnel are not dummies; your mountain bike won’t be covered if it broke
they’ve heard all kinds of stories and can tell if while riding off-road in a way that could be rea-
you’ve had a front-end collision on the bike, so ward in accepting somewhat spurious claims. sonably defined as normal use for the bike.
don’t waste everybody’s time and your karma Companies are often interested in getting old Extended warranties, like you can purchase
by lying about it. products back to study and use to improve on home appliances, or like the MP3 crash-
Don’t expect to get a new bike immediately, future products. The bad and the good news replacement warranty Mavic sells with its
even if you’re certain you have a legitimate are both valuable to learn from. wheels, are non-existent for bicycles.
warranty claim. Bikes must be sent back be-
fore a warranty can be approved, in general, al- PITFALLS COUNT ON THE DEALER
though occasionally a bike company will agree Don’t place too much significance on the Solving warranties is a big part of a retailer’s
to send a replacement out before receiving the length of the warranty in determining the job. He or she wants your business and will try
damaged one. quality of a given bicycle, especially when to facilitate your claim, even if you did not buy
Although the warranty may say, or at least comparing brands of differing nationality, be- the bike there. The retailer must also often be
give the impression, that a bike has, say, a 10- cause some warranty styles have more to do the bearer of bad tidings but will try to defer
year warranty, rest assured that it is only the with culture than with quality. For instance, that position to the bike company. Everybody
frame and sometimes the fork (if it is branded a five-year warranty is acceptable to European knows that if you buy a bike at a bike swap or
the same as the frame) that is covered for that consumers, whereas Americans raised on the on eBay, where everything is compatible and
entire period. Most bike companies only war- warranty policies of Target or Wal-Mart often has a warranty (wink-wink), you’re on your
ranty the parts on the bike for one year, and expect lifetime warranties. Bianchi, for in- own if the thing breaks. But the dealer will of-
they don’t necessarily stock those parts. If the stance, often offers a 10-year warranty on steel ten choose to call the bike company to get them
bike company does not have the part in stock, and aluminum bikes and a five-year period on to say that rather than give you the bad news he
the dealer is responsible for procuring it and carbon bikes, whereas Trek, Specialized and knows will be coming, in hopes you won’t take
applying for reimbursement from the bike Cannondale often offer limited lifetime war- it out on him.
company. And as with the frame, the warranty ranties. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a More than anything, count on the fact that the
covers only the part, not the shipping and the Trek will last longer than a Bianchi, however. people you are dealing with are generally reason-
labor to remove the old part and install and And it could be argued that a shorter warranty able — and will accept a reasonable claim.
adjust the new one. This generally applies as period is a more reason-
well to purchases of single components not ob- able approach, since ev-
tained as part of a bike. erybody knows that no
Bike warranties never cover wear items like bike lasts forever.
tires, inner tubes, handlebar tape or grips, The term “limited life-
pedal cleats, or saddle covers. You can gener- time” is a catch; it’s a gray
ally expect things like broken saddle rails to be area and refers to the us-
covered within the warranty period, however. able life of the product and
And parts that failed because they were in- not the life of the consum-
stalled incorrectly would generally be covered er. It acknowledges that
as well, either by the bike company or its dealer the item won’t last forever.
that installed them. It also allows some room
Scott Adlfinger, owner and founder of Lou- for negotiation. If it’s been
isville Cyclery in Colorado, says, “I’ve never really mistreated, it allows
seen a company turn down a legitimate war- the company to say that
ranty claim, even if it’s (time-wise) way down the lifetime of that bike
the road, and even if it means accepting some has been surpassed, and USED OR ABUSED?
fishy claims.” Bicycle companies are gener- there will be no warranty
ally interested in maintaining goodwill in replacement coming.
Be truthful when dealing
the market, so they tend to bend over back- Many bike warranties with warranty personnel.
W W W.VELONEWS.COM BU Y ER’S GU I DE 2011 VELONEWS 31
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In a quest to perfect the bicycle, BMC removes

the human element from frame construction
J
ust west of Zurich, the quiet Swiss town ing Company, is surprisingly unimaginative. place specific types of carbon fiber layers (or
of Grenchen sits against the foothills But BMC is doing something that’s never been plies) by hand into molds for curing into fin-
of the Jura Mountains. A hub for the done before in the bike industry — it’s attempt- ished frames. As companies push the weight
Swiss watch industry, Grenchen is home to ing to build frames almost entirely by robot. envelope by using progressively less mate-
famous manufacturers like Breitling, ETA SA BMC’s goals are twofold. One is to elimi- rial, the location and orientation of carbon
(Swatch), Hublot, and Epos. It’s a factory town nate the need for outsourcing and eventually becomes more critical. When placed by hand,
of about 16,000 residents decorated with rows build cost-effective bike frames at home in it’s virtually impossible to guarantee that all
of featureless company apartment buildings. Switzerland. Two, by eliminating the human carbon fiber frames are crafted exactly the
The population surges with inbound factory element, BMC feels that its new frames will same; subtle variation in material placement
workers each morning, and deflates each be more precise, suffer fewer defect-based re- and orientation can dramatically affect the
night in an exodus of red taillights. jects, and eventually be technically superior strength and ride quality of the finished bike.
BMC also calls this town home, and if its to human-made frames. Using robots, BMC is attempting to sidestep
benefactor Andy Rhis has anything to say about The upfront cost is astronomical — at least these inconsistencies. The end product is the
it, the future of bike building begins here. 40 million Swiss francs over four years. To impec (derived from “impeccable”), a 1,790-
courtesy of bmc
For a cutting-edge brand like BMC, which accommodate robotic assembly, entirely new gram frame system, consisting of frame, fork,
has innovated with original frame designs methods of joining frame tubes had to be headset and seatpost and including modern
and a simple, clean aesthetic, the company developed. features like a BB30 bottom bracket, internal
name, which stands for Bicycle Manufactur- In traditional manufacturing, workers headset, tapered head tube and a proprietary

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nesmakingmachinesmakingmachinesmakingmachinesmakingmachines
for improved technical features, like weight,
“The most important thing for now is that stiffness and parts integration, blended with
it is Swiss made; it’s precision, it’s the appealing design. The whole equation, in-
cluding choice of materials and manufactur-
process. And then it’s the product.” ing method, is tempered by cost, and largely
outsourced. With the impec, BMC is on try-
ing to start a revolution.
ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY
Touring the impec factory in Grenchen is
like participating in a staged theater pro-
duction. The show begins at the front door,
which is wide open but draped with black
curtains. Stepping into a darkened atrium,
visitors are greeted with a stylized three-
minute big-screen movie introducing the
impec frame, accompanied by a thunder-
ing soundtrack with Evans narrating. When
the lights come up, a trio of finished impec
frames is on display.
Cameras are forbidden on the factory
floor. There’s a cluster of walled-off work-
stations at the center of the huge room. It’s
strangely quiet.
Building an impec begins with a 12-foot
circular carbon fiber loom, nicknamed “The
Stargate.” At its perimeter are 142 spools of
carbon thread on rotating spindles. Carbon
thread meets in the middle of the machine,
creating a huge, carbon fiber spider web. With
the flick of a switch, a robotic arm whines into
motion, grabs a plastic, tube-shaped mandrel,
and moves it into position at the center of the
loom. The loom clatters to life. As the robot
pushes the mandrel through the center of
the carbon loom and pulls it back out again,
strands are woven over the top of the mandrel
in specific orientations and crossover angles
controlled by a computer program.
When it’s done, another arm swings over
shaped System Integration seatpost. And so instead of being apprehensive about to cut the threads, and the robot places the
“The most important thing for now is that riding a machine completely built by robots, woven tube on a motorized trolley for a short
it is Swiss made; it’s precision, it’s the pro- I was excited to get out on it and try it out. I ride to the next station.
cess,” said BMC marketing head Frank Sch- see it as part of the evolution of the sport, to The rest of the process proceeds in a blur
reiner. “And then it’s the product.” make new equipment perfect. Once I rode it I of mechanized activity. At the next station,
Cadel Evans and George Hincapie rode found it to be responsive, light and stiff. And a robot arm places the tubes into forms for
impec frames at the 2010 Tour de France. I think aesthetically, with the lugs that hold resin transfer molding. After a precise quan-
And though it is constructed to exacting stan- the tubes together, it’s one of the best-looking tity of resin is injected through the carbon,
dards, the impec isn’t particularly remark- bikes out there.” the tubes trundle to station three for curing
able in terms of technical characteristics like BMC’s Schreiner says the impec is just the at a specific temperature and duration. The
weight, stiffness and functionality, despite its first step, as the company has never built its finished tubes don’t require sanding or fin-
unique, almost mechanical aesthetic. own frames before. Until the impec, BMC ish work, but they’re cut to length by a robotic
“When I first signed with the team I went outsourced all frame manufacturing, as arm placing them under a diamond saw.
courtesy of bmc
over to visit the factory,” Hincapie said. “They many bike companies do. “For us it’s the first A frame tube can be woven, saturated with
were just getting the impec project rolling. entry [into frame production], so the launch resin, cured, and cut to length in less than 45
They gave me a description of their vision, was more or less about the factory,” he said. minutes. Up to this point, from raw carbon to
and how they want to revolutionize the sport. Usually, bike designs are driven by a quest finished frame tubing, no human hand has

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touched anything other than an “on” switch. Phonak was riding BMC bikes and the com- investment, but we expect to have return on
The tubes are joined by large lugs that are pany was developing carbon fiber bikes with investment in the next three to five years.”
actually two-halved “shells.” The composite the distinctive industrial design and look Rihs cites the automotive industry as an
shells are machine-made offsite by a Swiss that has come to define the brand. example of success in mechanizing the as-
contractor. Onsite, a 6-axis robot arm paints “We wanted to make our own bicycle for sembly process. “If you go back forty or fifty
the shells before assembly. A mechanized the team, and use the team to promote the years, automated manufacturing was not on a
trolley moves them into the paint booth, then business,” Rihs said. very high degree. They took forever to make,”
into the curing room. A similar process is Of course, association with a pro team can he said. “The guys who really automated at
employed with the frame tubes, which are have its drawbacks. The Floyd Landis doping that time, it was Japan, Toyota. They put this
clear-coated. Once the paint is cured, an au- scandal of the 2006 Tour effectively killed mechanization process very much ahead and
tomated pad printer applies paint rather than the Phonak team; the following year BMC became top quality.”
decals. For this step, a person places the tubes backed Astana but pulled its sponsorship Impec frames will be available in two color
in a holder for printing. after the team exited the Tour in disgrace. schemes (red or matte platinum), five sizes
The final step is assembly. A worker places Following those subsequent Tour debacles and two fits: one with traditional dimen-
the shells into a jig before activating a robot Rihs opted to pull away from the ProTour sions and another with a taller head tube. In
arm with an optical sensor. The robot “sees” and instead put his money into a smaller an industry that largely values handiwork as
the size and shape of the shell then applies a American team, which quickly grew into the a positive to be embraced, not a negative to
specific amount of glue in specific locations BMC Racing Team of Evans, Hincapie and, be removed, the impec is certainly forging
to the interior of each shell. The shells have for 2011, Taylor Phinney. Today, the brand re- a new road. It hasn’t been met entirely with
glue channels to hold the adhesive in place ports annual global sales of 22,000 bicycles resistance, however. The bike won a coveted
when a worker next assembles the frame by with a staff of 60. Eurobike Gold Award for excellence in de-
hand. Tubes and shells are placed one by one Driven by cheap labor, it’s no secret that sign at the September trade show.
and secured for curing. Southeast Asian sourcing and production is “The award was due not just to the prod-
It’s fascinating to watch. But clearly, the fa- a virtual necessity for many bike companies. uct, but to how we made the product,” Sch-
cility is not up to full speed. The machines BMC’s Grenchen headquarters handles sales, neider said.
were each turned on during the tour for dem- marketing, design, customer service and Whether the machine-made product meets
onstration, but were shut down immediately warehousing, but up until the impec came the approval of humans, time well tell. VN
after, and the factory was once again quiet. along, all BMC bikes were built
BMC brand manager Markus Eggimann in Asia.
declined to say how many frames were being “You depend so much on out-
produced. side suppliers,” said Rihs. “As a
“The process is still being refined,” Eggi- tiny little company, you’re on the
mann said. “Being a frame designer and then end of the priority list of these
becoming a frame manufacturer is clearly a manufacturers. Plus, very soon, all
challenge.” the knowhow flows over to some-
body else. So I was like, okay, what
THE ORIGIN OF THE IMPEC are we going to do, are we a bicycle
Owner Andy Rihs is the driving force behind manufacturer or do we just stop?”
the BMC brand, and the impec. A multi-mil- With that, the impec initiative
lionaire businessman, Rihs founded the hear- was born. Rihs looked to his oth-
ing aid business Phonak Hearing Systems, er business, Phonak, for a new
which backed the Phonak cycling team. At manufacturing model. “With
BMC, he’s driven the costly impec initiative. the hearing aid business, we
“I just love bicycling,” Rihs said. “And I had similar problems,” he said.
find that lately in my life, with 40 years in “There, we automated things, we
sport I find that bicycling is the sport that I industrialized things.”
really love to do.” Rihs asserts that by mecha-
BMC has not always been a prominent nizing the bike frame building
company. It originated in 1986 to build and process, he could one day have a
distribute bicycles for Raleigh in Switzer- legitimate, cost-effective factory
land. In 1994, the BMC brand name was in his home country. “I knew
coined and the company became established when bring that technology, we
as one of few Swiss companies manufactur- can make anything— high-end,
ing mountain bikes. Heavy losses at the turn low-end, mid-range — because
brad kaminski
of the century led Rihs, already by then a it’s not a labor-intensive thing,”
board member and partner, to take complete he said. “This is the whole rea-
control of the company in 2001. By 2002, son I invested. It’s an upfront

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ANDREAS KLIER
DE PATERBERG
SORPASSO BIBTIGHT
CASTELLI-CYCLING.COM
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MATERIALS
ALUMINUM
rubber
CARBON FIBER
STEEL
OIL
inside your bike
Modern bicycles and cycling accessories are constructed using
highly refined materials with names we all recognize. But
TITANIUM the sources, and the science, behind those materials are often
overlooked and sometimes misunderstood. In the following pages,
VeloNews technical writer Lennard Zinn examines the materials
photo credit
that keep us rolling.

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Oil
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MATERIALS
T
he bike industry depends
heavily on petroleum-based
products. Oils and greases,
which are not far removed from
their crude-oil origins, are used
as lubricants, damping fluids,
and hydraulic brake fluid. “Petro-
chemicals,” which are chemical
products made from petroleum,
include polyethylene used in wa-
ter bottles and fabrics, synthetic
rubber compounds used in tires,
inner tubes and fluid seals, PAN
fiber that is burned down to cre-
ate carbon fiber, acrylic fabric and
parts, nylon for fabrics, saddle
bases and shoe outsoles, Lorica
and other synthetic leather, poly-
ester, and polyurethane. Polyes-
ter is used in technical fabrics
like CoolMax, powder coating for
metals, and solid plastic parts.
Polyurethane is used in Spandex
(Lycra) fabrics, for elastomer springs in suspension forks All petrochemicals were discovered (and often patented)
and shocks, and powder coating for metals. by someone in a laboratory experimenting with various
All oil has an organic source and is not water-soluble. methods of breaking down and combining organic com-
Oil can be squeezed directly out of plant and animal parts pounds. Polyurethane, for instance, was invented by Otto
(vegetable oil, fish oil, etc.), or it can be “mineral oil,” or Bayer in 1937, partly as a way to make plastics that circum-
petroleum (meaning literally, “rock oil”), which is trapped vented the patents on the polyesters of Wallace Carothers,
istockphoto; courtesy fox
underground in porous rocks and is created on a geologic the brilliant and troubled DuPont organic chemist who in-
time scale (as opposed to a human time scale) from plant vented nylon and neoprene (and who, at age 41, committed
and animal matter deposited on the seafloor. suicide the same year Bayer come up with polyurethane).
The vast array of petrochemicals we use is possible Bike riding would look a lot different without Lycra, the
photo credit
thanks to the ability of the carbon atom to form chemical polyurethane stretch fabric that revolutionized the fit of cy-
bonds with diverse types of atoms, thus creating the chemi- cling clothing, and CoolMax, Lorica and other petrochemi-
cal versatility required by living organisms for metabolism. cal technical fabrics that further enhance cyclists’ comfort.

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MATERIALS
OIL: Polystyrene
A ubiquitous plastic in our industrialized world, polysty-
rene appears in many forms in commercial products and
packaging as well as in bicycle accessories. In its hard
form, it is clear and rigid; color is often added in the
making of items like CD and DVD jewel cases and other
plastic containers, disposable razor handles, and plastic
utensils. It can be rendered more flexible, such as for the
peel-back adhesive tops on yogurt containers. While cy-
clists encounter these products, it is polystyrene’s foam
form to which cyclists are joined at the hip.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a lightweight, rigid,
closed-cell foam formed of small, pressed-together (usu-
ally white) pre-expanded polystyrene beads. Since EPS
damps shock well, cycling helmets, as well as packing
material, are made out of it. Cyclists may also have it in-
side their carbon shoe soles, crankarms and older carbon
rims, where it takes up space without much weight and
separates carbon sections to make a more rigid, box-like
structure.
Manufacturing plants that make bicycle helmets
often also make Styrofoam coolers and packing material,
since the process is the same, although the helmet molds
are more complex. The hard polystyrene beads travel
through tubes all around the factory with air pressure
behind them to send them to the proper mold. Heat and
pressure, often with steam and/or pentane, are used to
expand the beads inside the mold and force them to pack
together and adhere.
Polystyrene creates a disposal problem, however, be-
cause it does not biodegrade for centuries and is resistant
to breakdown by light. EPS foam floats and is so light
that it is easily picked up by the wind. It can be found
istockphoto; brad kaminski
blown against fences and floating in oceans around the

world. While styrene rapidly breaks down in air, evapo-
rates quickly in water and shallow dirt, and can be bro-
ken down by bacteria and microorganisms, polystyrene
can fill the stomachs of animals without breaking down
and can be degraded by water and light into suspected
carcinogens.

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MATERIALS
RUBBER
R
olling on a cushion of air inside rub-
ber tires is one of the wonderful things
about riding a bike. To get that ride, we
owe a debt of gratitude to John Dunlop, who
accidentally left some liquid latex (the pure
liquid that comes from a rubber tree) in a pot
on a stove. In doing so, he discovered vulcani-
zation, the heat process that hardens rubber
and gives it durability and strength. a chemical that’s also synthetically produced.
Rubber used in bicycle tires and inner Butyl rubber, of which most inner tubes are
tubes can be either natural or synthetic. Natu- made, is a synthetic rubber made by combin-
ral rubber comes from latex, a milky sap pro- ing isobutylene and isoprene.
duced by a number of different plants, but not Bicycle tire rubber, whether natural or
all latex is suitable for making into rubber. synthetic, is mixed in large hoppers, and ad-
(Opium, for instance, is dried latex, but would ditional components are added to enhance its
make a lousy tire.) Latex sap is collected by properties. Like a potter wedges clay to mix
“tapping,” a process consisting of cutting the it and eliminate air pockets, giant steel cyl-
bark of a para rubber tree and letting the sap inders knead the rubber by rotating against
run down a metal channel into a bucket, like each other like a swimsuit wringer at a pub-
tapping maple trees. lic pool. The rubber sheets make popping
Natural rubber from trees is called “gum noises as air bubbles in them burst. however, the sticky tread strip is placed onto
rubber,” once purified into polyisoprene; it is The rubber is not only used for the tread the sticky casing. Tubeless tires have addi-
but also for the casing tional strips of rubber laid onto the inside of
to hold the threads to- the casing that will melt into it and make it
gether. A “calender” airtight. The soft and sticky “green” tire goes
machine presses rubber into a tire mold, and high-pressure steam in-
into nylon casing fabric flates a bladder inside the tire and circulates
between giant cylinders. within the metal of the mold as well, melting
Tread strips of the the rubber into the tread contours and simul-
rubber mixture (called taneously vulcanizing it.
the “tread compound,” Inner tubes, whether pure latex or butyl
whose formula is held rubber, are extruded like cannelloni pasta.
close to the chest by Butyl tubes are vulcanized in a mold to hard-
most tire companies) en them as well as to melt the ends together.
are extruded. For hand- Latex tubes are un-vulcanized and the ends
made tubular and “open are lapped over each other and glued togeth-
GETTY IMAGES (2)
tubular” clincher tires, er. Latex tubes tend to be more resistant to

the tread strip is put in pinch flats, taking more of an impact before
a tread mold and vulca- tearing, but they also are more delicate and
nized. For most tires, bleed air slowly.
44 VELONEWS BUYER’S GUIDE 2011 WWW.VELONEWS.COM

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tubeless road tire
DUAL COMPOUND
Two compounds comprised of a hard,
longer lasting center and a softer, BUTYL INNER LINER
gripping shoulder An extra layer of impermeable butyl
rubber that allows for an airtight seal
BEAD CUSHION
An additional layer of rubber around SILKWORM
the bead to increase ride cushion and An exclusive puncture-resistant material
prevent air loss and pinch flats applied under the tread as a breaker layer
Racers Rejoice! The Maxxis Padrone Tubeless Road racing tire is made airtight by an impermeable butyl inner
liner and bead cushion. A dual compound tread configuration ensures the tire has excellent treadwear and low
rolling resistance, while providing superb cornering grip in all conditions. The ride quality must
truly be felt firsthand to be appreciated. Our technology sets us apart.
Please contact your local dealer for more information, or visit us at maxxis.com
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MATERIALS
TITANIUM
resistant to corrosion. cles and components simply don’t rust.
Named for the Titans of Titanium is not brittle either; it can be
Greek mythology, the tensile stretched around twice as far as steel and
strength of some common four times as far as aluminum before being
titanium alloys approaches permanently deformed. This gives titanium
that of high-strength steels frames survivability in crashes, since they
and far exceeds that of alumi- will be far more likely than others to spring
num, without being brittle. back after impact.
Perhaps more importantly, ti- Finally, the ride of a titanium bike is gen-
tanium, like steel and unlike erally smooth, because a frame designer can
aluminum and magnesium, choose thin tube diameters and wall thick-
has a fatigue limit, meaning nesses to provide a supple ride without sacri-
that if the stresses are kept be- ficing longevity.
low that amount, it will never Due to titanium’s ability to stretch and
fail from fatigue. It’s a high return to its original shape, drawing it into
fatigue limit at that, thanks to tubing demands bigger and more powerful
its high tensile strength. machines than those required to draw steel
T
he fourth most abundant metal (behind The Young’s modulus (stiffness index) tubing. Welding requires enclosure in an in-
aluminum, iron and magnesium) and of titanium is around half that of steel, but ert-gas atmosphere, and weld contamination
ninth of the nine elements that account so is its density. Titanium’s density is high must further be prevented through careful
for over 99 percent of the mass of the earth’s enough that tubes cannot be made as stiff for cleaning. Machining titanium requires ex-
GETTY IMAGES; BRAD KAMINSKI
crust, titanium is hardly “unobtanium,” de- the same weight as aluminum or magnesium tremely sharp tools and specific speeds and
spite its reputation. However, getting titani- ones, because heavier walls are required to lubricants; copper-laden lubricants are used
um out of the earth and turning it into bicycle prevent buckling with large diameter. on titanium threads, and it is not recommend-
parts takes a vast amount of energy. The anticorrosive properties of titanium are ed to thread titanium parts into each other.
Part of titanium’s mythical appeal lies in extraordinary. Nuclear submarines are made Titanium excels for bicycle frame tubing
the fact that its strength-to-weight ratio ex- of it so they won’t corrode in caustic marine and dropouts as well as for lightweight bolts,
ceeds any other metal, and that it is highly environments, and unpainted titanium bicy- axles and saddle rails.

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Winning isn’t everything

Team Jamis / Sutter Home’s Luis Amaran
Photo ©: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

wins Stage 2 at 2010 Tour of the Gila
2011 Jamis Xenith SL
It’s the will to win that’s the thing. And NRC leading teams Jamis/Sutter Home robbing gram out of frame weight and assures that every single ultra-high modulus
Presented by Colavita and Colavita/Baci Presented by Cooking Light clearly have fiber has been fully compressed, flattened and aligned for the stiffest, strongest,
the will. It doesn’t hurt that they also have the bike. Some Pros are saddled with fastest possible ride. The asymmetrical chainstays, tri-oval SST top and down tubes,
“have to” machines, bikes they’re obligated to ride. Not ours – we give them the tapered head tube and BB30 shell are additional advantages that yield results
Xenith SL, a bike every other pro is eyeing covetously, and the points Luis Amaran we see on podiums and hear in the clink of medals and trophies race after race.
and Catherine Cheatley are racking up this year show why. The advantage is almost The fact is, if winning isn’t everything, then there shouldn’t be a finish line.
unsportsmanlike. Our Near Net Molding technology squeezes every performance- Because once it’s there, the Xenith SL is going to cross it first.
www.jamisbikes.com
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MATERIALS
ALUMINUM
A
luminum is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and
silicon) and the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. It is
also the most abundant metal in a modern bicycle, due to its low
density, its ease of extrusion, casting, drawing, forging and machining,
its ability to be alloyed to achieve high strength, and its ability to resist
corrosion.
The major aluminum ore, bauxite, was first discovered near the vil-
lage of Le Baux en Provence, France, in 1821. The Bayer process, using
heat, pressure and sodium hydroxide, converts bauxite to aluminum
oxide, and the Hall-Heroult hydrolysis process, using electricity and
synthetic sodium aluminum fluoride, converts it to aluminum, all at an
extremely high energy cost. Recycled aluminum, produced by melting
aluminum scrap, requires only 5 percent as much energy, although up
to 15 percent of it is lost as ash.
Aluminum alloys are distinguished generally with a number indicat-
ing the percentages of alloying elements (6061, 7075, 7005, 2024, etc.)
and a temper condition (T4, T6, etc.) indicating what cold working, heat
treatment and aging processes it has undergone. In the bicycle industry,
some alloys are also distinguished by name, like scandium, which is
actually the name of an alloying element in the aluminum.
Aluminum has only one third the stiffness of steel, but it works as
frame and rim material because of its low density; doubling a tube’s
diameter increases its stiffness by a factor of eight, but the low density
keeps overall weight low despite the additional metal. Because it will
ultimately fail from fatigue, aluminum parts are generally overbuilt.
Increasing thickness and adding gussets spreads the load (and also pro-
vides a more lively feel), and taking care with aging processes mini-
mizes stress corrosion failure.
Aluminum is extruded from billet like pasta into tubing for frames,
handlebars, rims and roof-rack trays and can later be drawn, swaged,
bent and hydroformed. It is cast or forged (pounded into shape) from
wire into cranks, stems, seatposts, spokes and parts for headsets,
shocks, pedals, brakes, derailleurs, hubs and bottom brackets, among
others. It is stamped from sheet into chainrings, and it is machined
to finalize and optimize the shape of a part. After welding and form-
getty images; john pierce/photosport international; jake orness

ing, aluminum alloys and metal matrix composites generally need to be
heat-treated or at least artificially aged to regain their original strength.
Aluminum parts are generally anodized, painted or powder-coated for
protection.

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MATERIALS
STEEL
D
ue to its high strength and availability, steel has been used longer for building
bicycle frames and components than any other material except wood. Steel is
primarily iron, the fourth most abundant element and second most abundant
metal in the earth’s crust.
To make steel, iron is separated from elements such as hematite and magnetite, and then
it is alloyed (mixed together while molten) with trace amounts of other elements to increase
some of its mechanical properties, like tensile strength. Chrome-moly (CrMo) steel is used
in quality steel bike frames, and the term refers to a range of steel alloys.
Steel is strong and stiff but is also denser than other common frame materials. Its high
density doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that a steel frame will be heavy. That’s because,
while it has twice the density of titanium and three times that of aluminum, it also has
twice the stiffness of titanium and three times that of aluminum. So why are aluminum
frames generally so much stiffer than steel frames? Because stiffness of a tube increases
as the cube of its diameter, while mass increases in proportion to its diameter. Make a tube
twice as big in diameter, with the same wall thickness (thin relative to its diameter), and
its weight will approximately double while its stiffness will go up by a factor of eight. If you
were to make a big-diameter steel tube really thin, it would be stiff, but it could buckle eas-
ily, because its wall thickness would be too thin relative to its diameter.
GETTY IMAGES; BRIAN VERNOR
With alloying, the ultimate strength of steel tubes, or how much force per square inch it
can take in tension before breaking, can be very high. This in turn gives it a high fatigue
limit, which is the level of stress that it can be cycled at infinitely without breaking, thus
resulting in a long-lasting frame — as long as it doesn’t rust.
Steel lends itself to being made into frames and forks because it can be welded, brazed
and silver-soldered, as well as bonded. Due in part to its high strength and affordability,
steel is used in bolts all over the bike.

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MATERIALS
CARBON
FIBER
T
hought of as an exotic space-shuttle
composite just a decade ago, carbon
fiber is now used in almost every bicycle
component, from frames and components to
helmets and shoe soles. Carbon fibers are made
of carbon, the ubiquitous element that forms
coal, graphite and diamond and is part of every
organic chemical and every life form on earth.
Carbon is the fourth most abundant element
in the universe and the second most abundant
element in the human body.
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber, also the source
material for acrylic fiber, is made into carbon fi-
ber by heating it to extreme temperatures, burn-
ing away essentially everything except carbon. lowed by the letter K designates how many thou-
The resulting 5-8 micron (millionths of a meter) sands of fibers are in a strand of the yarn (as in
thick fibers are a tenth the thickness of a human “3K,” for 3,000 fibers per strand). Woven fabric
hair and made of carbon atoms strongly bonded often comprises the top layer for aesthetic pur-
together in microscopic crystals aligned parallel poses, but most carbon fibers in a bicycle part in- on it or bend it sideways. However, in a carbon-
to the fiber’s axis. Strong and stiff, the fibers have stead come in flat sheets of tightly packed paral- fiber tire bead, you don’t want strength in tension
a stiffness index of 33 million pounds per square lel fibers pre-impregnated with epoxy resin stuck alone, so orienting fibers at angles and gluing
inch (MSI) and a rough surface. Expensive pro- to backing paper. Precisely cut pieces (plies) are them together with resin allows the plies to work
cessing can strip off this outer surface to reveal a stacked, or laid up, atop one another at opposing together, opposing forces from all directions.
thinner, smoother “Intermediate Modulus” (IM) angles (usually 45 degrees), to resist forces from Subjecting the laminate to high pressure and
fiber that packs tighter with other fibers for high- different directions. Unlike metals, carbon fiber heat in a mold pushes out air and excess resin.
GETTY IMAGES; JAKE ORNESS
er stiffness per unit area. A costlier processing plies within the laminate structure can be orient- Well-engineered carbon composite parts have
can create “High Modulus” (HM) carbon fibers, ed to create a composite structure that can be stiff high stiffness and strength, low density and high
which boasts a Young’s modulus stiffness of 42 in one direction and more flexible in another. fatigue life but low elongation — they cannot
MSI to 55 MSI or more. Indeed, plies must be laid up at angles, be- stretch or bend much before they break. Failures
Common-modulus fibers are bundled togeth- cause carbon fiber, like thread, is strong if you come from not properly engineering the direc-
er into yarn and woven into fabric. A number fol- pull on it but far weaker if you push lengthwise tions and types of fibers to deal with the loads.

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power to push the pace

to break away
to accelerate
to climb
to win
to-weight ratio
to make them suffer
to drop them all
to be your best
performance is all about power
Training with power is the proven way to break through

fitness plateaus and achieve better results. Because CTS
coaching and power training go hand-in-hand, we’re
offering an unbeatable deal on the new PowerTap SL+.
Sign up with CTS today and get our 12-month, no
interest PowerTap Payment Plan.
sign up today at trainright.com

Inspiring and empowering
the athlete in Every Body
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“Hills Hurt...
Couches Kill!”
equip yourself this winter
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ROAD BIKES
ROAD BIKES
PRO
Ride exactly what the
top riders are racing 56
EUROPEAN
Beautiful bikes from
cycling’s homeland 60
ENTHUSIAST
Fantastic bikes that won’t
bust your budget 66
ENDURANCE
Tall head tubes and long wheelbases
make for all-day comfort 72
CUSTOM
Bikes like no other,
made to measure 76
AERO
A clear advantage for racing 80
ISTOCKPHOTO
TIME TRIAL
Race against the clock 84

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pro: ROAD
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spindle can be made from aluminum for

light weight. The chainstays are asymmetri-
cal, flaring wider on the left to further resist
pedaling forces. Up top, the head tube fits
internal bearings tapering 1.125 to 1.375-inches
to fit the custom fork. The R5 is Cervélo’s
flagship road bike, but the technology has
already trickled down into the less expen-
sive R3 for 2011. And if you want something
even lighter, the $10,000 R5ca is handbuilt
in California with the smallest amount of
material possible.
Frame Description Full carbon Squoval,
Smartwall tubing, BBright tapered head tube
Fork Description Cervélo FK30 SL, tapered
steerer with 1.375-inch crown
Component Highlights SRAM Red group
with ROTOR 3D+ BBright crankset, Ful-
crum Racing 7 wheels, 3T ARX Team stem
and Ergonova LTD handlebar, 3T Dorico
Cervélo R5 $4,900 (frameset and internal and oversized systems into a new LTD seatpost and fi’zi:k Arione saddle with
crank, $6,600 as shown with SRAM Red) standard called BBright. It uses a 30mm alu- carbon rails
We chose Cervélo’s new R5 because it minum BB spindle from BB30 with a wider Sizes 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
packs loads of unique engineering into a shell similar to Trek’s BB90. This allows Weight Not available from Cervélo
lightweight package. The bottom bracket the down tube, seat tube and chainstays all Warranty Limited lifetime for the original
combines the stiffness and light weight of to be wider for stiffness, yet the oversized owner
Trek Madone 6.7 SSL $6,820

This year’s 6-Series SSL bikes are built with
a new carbon material called HexMC and
they shed about 50 grams. But they retain
all the advanced engineering that made
them noteworthy last year: Trek’s internal
BB90 bottom bracket, E2 tapered head tube
and internal cable management system that
is easily convertible to hide Shimano Di2
wires. Better yet, the bike can be customized
with components, graphics and fit. Choose
traditional H1 fit if you like a low handlebar
position and H2 if you want the bars a little
higher but don’t want a stack of spacers un-
der your stem. Your bike will ride the same
either way, since frame angles stay the same
no matter what size or head tube height you
pick.
Frame Description OCLV SSL carbon, E2
head tube, BB90 bottom bracket, internal
cable routing, DuoTrap computer compatible 7900 group, Bontrager Race X Lite wheels, Weight 14.7 pounds
Fork Description Bontrager XXX Lite, full Race X Lite stem, handlebar, seatmast cap, Warranty Limited lifetime on frame for
carbon with E2 asymmetrical steerer and Affinity saddle original owner, 2 years on Bontrager com-
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm ponents, 1 year on paint and all other parts

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Specialized S-Works Amira $7,700

pro: road
The S-Works Amira could be the most advanced race bike ever made spe-
cifically for women. All of Specialized’s signature technologies are baked
in and it’s built up with top-shelf bits. The FACT IS 10r carbon frame has
race geometry with a carbon layup tailored for women. The tapered head
tube adds front-end stiffness and the Specialized FACT carbon crankset EDITOR’S
PICK
with removable carbon chainring spider and ceramic bearings is made for
pure efficiency. Cap it off with the deep section Roval Rapide SL 45 carbon
wheels and a women’s SL ergonomic bar, and the Amira is ready to rip.
Frame Description S-Works FACT 10r carbon, FACT IS construction,
tapered 1.125 to 1.375-inch head tube, compact women’s race geometry,
and oversized internal BB
Fork Description S-Works full monocoque carbon, 1.125 to 1.375-inch
tapered steerer
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 group, Specialized Sizes 44, 48, 51, 54, 56cm
S-Works FACT carbon crank, Roval Rapide SL 45 wheels, S-Works 3D Weight 14.7 pounds
forged stem, Specialized women’s SL carbon bar, S-Works FACT carbon Warranty Lifetime on frame and fork, 1 year on parts against
seatpost and Body Geometry Ruby Gel saddle manufacturing defects
has a BB30 bottom bracket and Cannondale’s own superlight Hollowgram

SL cranks, available in standard or compact chainring size, or with an SRM
powermeter. The frame’s carbon plies are race-tuned with a massive down
tube and slender hourglass seatstays. It’s built with matching radius carbon
overwraps on the BB shell and chainstays, a design that eliminates the ex-
tra material of lugs and maximizes rigidity.
Frame Description Cannondale SuperSix high modulus unidirec-
tional carbon fiber with BB30 bottom bracket and 1.125 to 1.5-inch
tapered head tube
Fork Description SuperSix Hi-MOD monocoque full carbon fork, 1.125 to
1.5-inch tapered steerer
Component Highlights Campagnolo Super Record group, Cannondale
Hollowgram SL cranks, Mavic Cosmic Carbone SR wheels, FSA OS-99
stem and K-Force Light Nano K carbon compact bar, FSA K-Force carbon
Cannondale SuperSix Hi-MOD Team $9,100 seatpost and fi’zi:k Antares saddle
How can you argue with the bike that won two grand tours in 2010? The Sizes 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 63cm
same bike that Ivan Basso used to win the Giro d’Italia and Vincenzo Nibali Weight 14.7 pounds
rode to victory at the Vuelta a España is available to you in 2011. Naturally, it Warranty Limited lifetime
Felt F1 $12,500
Felt completely overhauled its F-series road bikes for 2011, with new tube
shapes, BB30 bottom brackets and tapered head tubes. The top of the line
F1 frame weighs 100 grams less than last year’s model, yet gains in stiff-
ness. New molding techniques yield precise internal shapes. Additional
details include internal Di2 wire routing that’s convertible for mechanical
cable stops and internal aluminum bearing seats in the tapered head tube.
The top flight F1 mimics what the Garmin-Transitions team raced in 2010,
with a complete Shimano Di2 group and Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate
wheels. Felt’s engineering and tube shapes extend through the range to the
F5, a high-value $2,000 carbon racer for the weekend warrior.
Frame Description Felt Road UHC Ultimate + Nano DMC carbon fiber
w/ 1KP external weave, InsideOut Internal Molding Process, carbon BB30
Shell, Di2 internal cable routing, carbon fiber dropouts & 7075 CNC ma- Carbone Ultimate wheels, Felt Devox 7075 3D forged aluminum stem and
chined replaceable derailleur hanger UHC Advanced DMC VS carbon bar, Felt UHC carbon seatpost and Devox
Fork Description Felt UHC Ultimate + Nano 100% carbon fiber mono- Team Issue saddle
coque w/ 1KP external weave; TaperControl carbon 1.125 to 1.5-inch tapered Sizes 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
steerer tube, integrated aluminum crown race Weight 13.3 pounds
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group, Mavic Cosmic Warranty Limited lifetime

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pro: road
internal bottom bracket, tapered head tube, and integrated seatmast, the
equation equals pure race performance. The oversized MegaDrive down
tube adds outstanding rigidity to the compact, sloping top tube frame
geometry. The Advanced SL 2 comes with the ultralight SRAM Red
group and DT Swiss Tricon wheels, but you can get this bike built with
everything from pricey Shimano Di2 on down to Ultegra-level spec.
Frame Description Giant Advanced SL-Grade composite, integrated
seatmast
Fork Description Giant Advanced SL-Grade composite, full composite
OverDrive steerer
Component Highlights SRAM Red group, Giant limited edition DT
Swiss Tricon R1450 wheels, Giant Contact stem and handlebar, fi’zi:k
Giant TCR Advanced SL 2 $6,300 Arione CX saddle
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Giant’s TCR Advanced SL remains one of Sizes XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL
the best professional grade bikes in the world. The company’s carbon Weight 15.4 pounds
program is as sophisticated as they come. With built-in features like an Warranty Lifetime on frameset, 1 year on paint and components
Fuji Altamira 1.0 $6,750

Although somewhat of a sleeper brand in the USA, sold only at Per-
formance Bicycle shops, Fuji continues to impress with competitive
frame designs. On the heels of last year’s semi-aero SST frame plat-
form (raced with great success by the Footon-Servetto team) comes the
new and lightweight Altamira design. The Altamira brings everything
you would hope to see in a premium road frame — a tapered head
tube, internal press-in bottom bracket, slender seatstays and a massive
down tube. This is the light, all-around race bike in Fuji’s line. Look
for the new bike to continue on the roads of Europe under the new
Team Geox.
Frame Description High modulus D6 carbon fiber with integrated
head tube and 1.5-inch lower bearing, IST (Integrated Seat Tube), over-
sized BB86 bottom bracket shell, carbon dropouts with replaceable
derailleur hanger wheels, Oval R-900 carbon alloy stem and R-920 carbon stem, Oval
Fork Description FC-330 carbon monocoque w/tapered carbon steer- R-900 carbon seatpost and SR-900 Sweep saddle with carbon rails
er and carbon drop out Sizes 44, 47, 50, 53, 55, 58cm
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 group with Oval Weight 15.6 pounds
RB-900 CNC alloy dual pivot brakes, Oval W-945 carbon clincher Warranty Lifetime on frame and fork
Addict. It’s one of the lightest production frames you can find at
under 800 grams, aided no doubt by IMP carbon construction in-
cluding full carbon dropouts, cable stops and front derailleur tab.
The geometry is race inspired with a long top tube and short head
tube. For 2011, the Addict platform gets a standard seatpost instead
of the integrated mast, making it easier to travel with. The Addict RC
is Scott’s top of the line, but you can get all the technology at a frac-
tion of the price in the SRAM Red-equipped R15.
Frame Description Scott Addict HMF-Net carbon, IMP carbon mold-
ing construction, Shimano press fit BB86, integrated carbon dropouts
Fork Description HMF-Net carbon, 1.125-inch carbon steerer,
carbon dropouts
Component Highlights SRAM Red group, Mavic Ksyrium Elite
wheels, Ritchey WCS 4-axis stem and WCS Logic curve handlebar,
Ritchey Carbon Pro seatpost and Scott Road Pro SL saddle
Scott Addict R15 $4,700 Sizes 47, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
Scott Bicycles is working on a new road platform, the F01 Project, for Weight 15.2 pounds
its team riders, but they’ve never been held back by the race-proven Warranty 5 years
58 VELONEWS bu y e r’s gu ide 2011 www.velonews.com

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euro: ROAD
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carbon fork. The HeadFit 3 headset system

separates headset bearing preload from stem
placement, so you can change stems without
needing to readjust the headset. The swoop-
ing, integrated E-Post seatmast carries for-
ward from previous models, but the adjust-
able, oval-shaped C-stem is new. The entire
frame is molded as one piece with carbon
dropouts, internal cable routing, and a car-
bon front derailleur tab. The bike of choice
for Team Cofidis, the new 695 is also avail-
able in a Super Rigid (SR) version for riders
demanding extra stiffness.
Frame Description HM 110 ultra light, high
modulus monocoque carbon, integrated ZED
2 crankset and E-Post seatmast, oversized
HeadFit 3 headset
Fork Description Look HSC-7 monocoque
carbon with carbon dropouts and 1.5–inch
Look 695 I-Pack $5,999 two chainring bolt patterns to fit either crown
We love Look’s radical 695 because it pushes standard or compact rings, and moveable Component Highlights Available as an Inte-
the envelope of nearly every element of road pedal thread inserts to alter effective crank gration Package (I-Pack) module with ZED 2
bike design. The bottom bracket shell is a length from 170 to 175mm. The tapered head crankset, C-Stem, HSC-7 fork, E-post seatmast
massive 65mm in diameter, housing inter- tube houses a pair of internal headset bear- Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
nal bearings and Look’s own ZED 2 all-car- ings (1.125-inch upper, 1.5-inch lower) sup- Weight 2,390 grams for complete I-Pack
bon, one-piece crankset. The crank sports porting the massive, sub-300 gram HSC-7 Warranty 5 years, 1 year paint and finish
Colnago C59 Italia $5,499

(frameset)
It took four years for Colnago to develop
their new custom carbon fiber race bike.
It’s designed, built and painted in Italy with
classic Master cloverleaf-shaped tubing. In-
ternal ribs in the top and down tubes maxi-
mize stiffness in concert with squared seat
and chain stays. The bike is built in the same
style as the EPS family with lug-to-tube con-
struction, so Colnago can easily offer a wide
range of stock sizes plus custom frames.
Frame Description Torayca high modulus
carbon fiber tubes and lugs
Fork Description Colnago C59 full carbon,
signature straight fork
Component Highlights Available as a
frame and fork only
Sizes Custom sizing plus stock sloping top
tube sizes 42, 45, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56cm
Weight 950 grams (frame only)
Warranty 2 years

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Time NXR Instinct $4,000

euro: road
(frame, fork, headset, seatmast)
The NXR Instinct brings the French company’s Ulteam technology to a
more affordable level. Perfect for a gran fondo or long races, the NXR front
triangle is molded in a single monobloc piece with extra Vectran fibers
for vibration damping. Then this front end is joined to the same racy, stiff
seat and chainstays that are used for the Ulteam frames. The bike is made
with carbon fiber that’s woven in-house, and Time’s unique Resin Transfer
Molding process for saturating the carbon with resin and curing it. Among
the first to use an oversized lower headset bearing, Time bikes now get
BB30 bottom brackets for 2011. Time frame modules include frame, fork,
seatpost and stem. Complete bikes with custom build kits are new for 2011.
Frame Description Time RTM monobloc front triangle with added Vi-
braser vibration damping Vectran fibers and Nanostrength resin, RXR Ul-
team chain and seat stays, Translink integrated seatmast with CMT saddle Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, FSA SL-K stem and Wing Pro compact bar,
cradle, two-position front derailleur mount and BB30 bottom bracket fi’zi:k Arione saddle, Time I-Clic Carbone pedals
Fork Description Full carbon SAFE+2 with Kevlar reinforced steerer tube Sizes XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL
and CMT dropouts, Quickset headset with multi-diameter bearings Weight 15.37 pounds
Component Highlights SRAM Red group with BB30 compact crank, Warranty Lifetime
BH Cristal Ultegra $4,000

The 2011 BH Cristal is a new world-class race bike for women. It’s based
on the proven BH G5 form and features, but tuned for women. Like the
G5, the Cristal is built from Toray carbon fiber with geometry derived
from fit data and input from riders and customers. Signature BH de- EDITOR’S
PICK
tails abound, like the adjustable aerodynamic seatpost, curved seatstays,
carbon dropouts and cable stops, and cable-concealing channel on the
underside of the down tube. The Cristal gets a tapered steerer and BB30
bottom bracket for stiffness. For 2011, it’s also offered in the U.S. with
SRAM Red, Shimano Dura-Ace, and Shimano 105 build kits.
Frame Description Toray, Mitsubishi Formula One grade carbon fiber,
monocoque construction with tapered head tube, oversized BB30 bot-
tom bracket and chainstays with Shimano adapter cup, slotted carbon
cable guides, carbon front derailleur mount
Fork Description Enve composites full carbon 1.125 to 1.5-inch tapered
steerer Sizes 51, 53, 55 (note BH frame sizes are based on top tube length. Seat
Component Highlights Shimano Ultegra group, Mavic Ksyrium Equipe tube lengths are 45, 47 and 50)
wheels, FSA OS-150 stem and Omega Compact bars, BH G5 superlight mi- Weight 16.4 pounds
cro-adjust carbon post and San Marco Ischia Glamour Arrowhead saddle Warranty Lifetime on frame and fork
Eddy Merckx EMX-7 $6,200 (frame, fork, headset,

seatmast)
The new EMX-7 from Eddy Merckx is the ultimate race bike from this
storied company. It has all the top features you’d want, like an aero
seatmast, tapered head tube with smoothly integrated aero fork, and
oversized bottom bracket. All the tube profiles are streamlined for fast
work in the wind and the cables are routed internally for a clean look.
For 2011, the EMX-7 will be available in a Quick Step team edition and
a limited Eddy Merckx Anniversary edition. Only 200 of these num-
bered frames honoring both Merckx’s 65th birthday and his 525 race
victories will be made.
Frame Description 62HM1K Pitch-Based carbon fiber, aero tube
shapes, tapered head tube, internal cable routing
Fork Description Integrated Aero fork design with 1.125 to 1.5-inch wheels, FSA bar and stem)
tapered steerer tube, monocoque carbon fiber Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 cm
Component Highlights Sold in the USA as frame and fork only Weight 1,160 grams (size 54cm frame)
(shown here with Campagnolo Super Record Titanium group, FFWD Warranty Lifetime

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EURO: ROAD
Izalco Team, raced at the ProTour level, down to this bike, the alumi-
num Culebro. Even though it’s relatively inexpensive, it retains great
design features like a carbon fiber fork, tapered steerer tube and BB30
bottom bracket. Built from lightweight, triple-butted aluminum, the
frame geometry mimics race-oriented angles found in more expensive
machines.
Frame Description Focus triple-butted, hydroformed 7000-series
aluminum
Fork Description Focus carbon, 1.125 to 1.375-inch tapered steerer
Component Highlights Shimano Ultegra group with compact crank-
set, DT Swiss R1900 wheels, FSA OS 190 stem and Vero handlebar,
Focus Culebro 1.0 $2,100 FSA SL-280 seatpost and Concept EX saddle
A sweet European bike doesn’t have to break your budget. Check out Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm
German-made Focus bikes for a full line of top-flight models in ev- Weight 17 pounds
ery price range. They run the gamut from the high end, carbon fiber Warranty Lifetime on frame and fork
single bike frame bearing his name, but the company is still very
much family owned. Most of the bikes are still made in Italy, including
the classic steel Corum. It’s a modern take on De Rosa’s lugged frames
of old, using 18MCDV6 alloy and artisan TIG welding to achieve light
weight in a range of 30 stock sizes. (You can get one in custom sizing,
too.) In the slightest nod to current fashion, a 1.125-inch carbon fork
turns on internal headset bearings. De Rosa’s attention to detail and
finish quality round out the timeless Corum frame package.
Frame Description 18MCCV6 steel alloy, TIG-welded with integrated
headset
Fork Description Mizuno carbon fiber
Component Highlights frame and fork only
Sizes Fifteen standard sizes, 48 through 62cm, and fifteen sloping
top tube sizes 44 through 57, plus custom
De Rosa Corum $2,475 (frame and fork) Weight 1,500 grams
Legendary Italian framebuilder Ugo De Rosa no longer builds every Warranty 2 years
tube gets a deeper aero profi le with a cut out for the rear wheel, and the
seat post (available for standard rails or Selle Italia Monolink saddles)
is teardrop shaped. The Size Specific Nerve carbon rib enveloping the
entire frame gets a new shape for even more stiffness and the rear
stays are “twisted” in shape to help attenuate road vibration. Finally,
the cable routing is optimized for Gore Ride On systems. Orcas are
available in either Gold or Silver level frame construction and several
component spec options.
Frame Description Orbea Orca Gold, 70-percent M40J Toray,
30-percent M30S high-mod carbon, modular monocoque construction
Fork Description Orbea Orca Gold full carbon monocoque
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group, Mavic Cos-
mic Carbone SLR wheels, Orbea Carbon Pro stem and Orbea Wing
Orbea Orca Gold Di2 $11,275 carbon bar, Orbea Orca Gold Monolink seatpost and Selle Italia SLR
Since its inception, the Orbea Orca has defined design excellence. This Monolink saddle
latest iteration, refined with the goal of improving aerodynamics, is Sizes 48, 51, 53, 55, 57, and 60cm in men’s version, 47, 49, 51, and 53cm
no different. The company claims 14-percent less aerodynamic drag in women’s version
over the 2010 model, a gain achieved by bringing the seatstays and Weight 15.5 pounds
fork blades closer together. Further, the head tube is narrower, the seat Warranty Lifetime for original owner

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Experienced. Passionate. Innovative. Meet the Team Behind the Bike.
We are engineers, artisans, and professionals with decades of industry

experience. Never satisfied with the status quo, our passion fuels a
commitment to innovation, year after year. Together, we ensure each
Seven delivers the custom fit, performance, handling, and features you
want. Come discover what our team can create for you.
One Bike. Yours.

www.sevencycles.com telephone 617.923.7774 email info@sevencycles.com
THE LEMOND REVOLUTION

™
WITH DIRECT DRIVE

Technology that makes roller-based trainers obsolete.
lemondrevolution.com
The official bike trainer of Team Garmin-Cervelo

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REVISED 10.19.10 - JOB#: LEM003-Revolution Print Ad | Client: LeMond Fitness | VeloNews Magazine, half-page horizontal, full color, no bleed | Issue: Jan2011 Gift Guide
TRIM SIZE: 7.583” x 4.854”
worldmags HAMMERQUIST STUDIOS: sydney@hammerquistnebeker.com, 425.285.3363
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euro: road
BMC racemachine RM01 $5,000 (available as a Storck Fascenario 0.6 $9,900 (frame, fork, cranks,
frameset for $2,850) headset, brakes)
New for 2011, the BMC racemachine incorporates many of the de- Marcus Storck’s reputation for radical designs is strengthened even
sign features pioneered with the flagship teammachine introduced further by the Fascenario 0.6. Like the pioneering Aero 2 time trial
last year. The racemachine’s overall shape is similar, but with thicker bike last year, it’s got ultralight carbon brake arms integrated with the
seatstays and stouter construction, it’s made to be extra stiff for rac- fork and rear stays. Viewed from the side, the bike actually looks like
ing. The Tuned Compliance Concept frame shapes popularized on it’s missing brakes. The linear pull arms are hidden in a sleek design,
the teammachine appear in the racemachine’s fork and proprietary and betrayed only by cable entry points at the sides. Like the brakes,
seatpost, as does the Integrated Skeleton Concept seat cluster, angu- Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 wires are hidden from view to complete the
lar frame tubing, tapered head tube, and BB30 bottom bracket. Even package. Unidirectional carbon construction and Storck’s Power
with the more robust frame build, the racemachine is only 90 grams Arms SL crankset with integrated bottom bracket help keep the weight
heavier than it’s more costly cousin. astonishingly low.
Frame Description Full carbon with oversized BB, Integrated Skel- Frame Description Storck unidirectional carbon built with Vacuum
eton Concept seat cluster, squared chainstays Void Control process, integrated 1.125-inch headset, integrated bottom
Fork Description Full carbon with 3K weave and tapered 1.125 to 1.25- bracket for Power Arms SL cranks, integrated carbon fiber brake arms
inch steerer with oversized chainstays, rear entry dropouts with replaceable derail-
Component Highlights SRAM Red group with BB30 cranks and leur hanger
SRAM Force brakes, Easton EA70 wheels, Easton EA70 stem and Fork Description Storck Scapula F carbon with integrated brake caliper
EC70 bar, BMC seatpost and Selle Italia SL XC saddle Component Highlights Sold as a fuselage only
Sizes 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, 60cm Sizes 47, 51, 55, 57, 59cm
Weight 14.5 pounds Weight 1,750 grams (complete fuselage including frame, fork, cranks,
Warranty 5 years if registered online headset, and brakes)
Warranty 3 years
the Dama Bianca series is made to honor women who love riding. Ge-
ometries and other details are designed around women’s distinctive
EDITOR’S
PICK needs, but the bikes are pure Bianchi performance. The C2C Dama
Bianca models offer a more relaxed and upright ride. A slightly lon-
ger wheelbase and longer chainstays provide a more stable ride, while
Bianchi’s BAT and K-Vid frame design features provide added shock
absorption.
Frame Description Infinito Carbon K-Vid with Kevlar insert
Fork Description Bianchi 1.125-inch FF35 K-Vid full carbon with Kev-
lar
Component Highlights Shimano 105 group with FSA Gossamer Pro
MegaExo compact crank, Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels, FSA OS-190LX
Bianchi Infinito Dama 105 $2,700 stem and Wing compact handlebar, FSA SL-K carbon seatpost and
Bianchi’s $10,000 Oltre road racing bike is a masterpiece, but we’re fi’zi:k Vesta saddle
also impressed with the new Dama Bianca models. In Bianchi history, Sizes 44, 47, 50, 53cm
the original la dama bianca (“lady in white”) was an elegant compan- Weight 16.5 pounds (53cm)
ion to Il Campionissimo, Fausto Coppi, in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, Warranty 5 years limited on frame, 1 year on parts

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695
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No words can describe what you’ll feel. Only three digits.
695. Integration with a Purpose.

To answer the demands of all hard core racers and enthusiasts, we
designed the new 695 with a level of integration that hasn’t been seen
before. The 695 offers an unequalled ride with the integration of the ZED
2 Crankset, C-Stem, Head Fit 3 headset, HSC 7 fork, and the E-Post.
Unrivalled stiffness to weight, light weight, adjustability & precision
handling all integrated the 695.
worldmags www.lookcycle.com/695
enthusiast: ROAD
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Ultegra brakes and wheels to keep the price

surprisingly attainable. Considering that the
silky Di2 shifting and drivetrain alone could
set you back around $4,000, we consider the
complete bike to be a deal.
Frame Description Felt Classic UHC Ad-
vanced MMC carbon fiber frame w/ 3KP
weave, InsideOut internal molding process,
Di2 external cable routing, forged aluminum
dropouts and 7075 CNC-machined replace-
able derailleur hanger
Fork Description Felt UHC Advanced car-
bon fiber monocoque w/ 3KP weave, 1 piece
carbon
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace
Di2 group with compact crank and Ultegra
brakes, Shimano RS80 wheels, Felt Devox
7050 aluminum 3D forged stem and UHC
Felt Z2 $6,500 change for 2011 — it still offers a more re- Advanced carbon fiber DMC VS bar, Felt
Granted, $6,500 for a bicycle is a lot of money. laxed, upright ride position compared to the UHC performance carbon fiber seatpost and
But in this group, Felt’s Z2 gets our Editors’ long and low cockpit in Felt’s F-Series. It’s D2 anatomic road saddle
Pick prize because it offers Shimano Di2 still a sub-1,000 gram frame made from Felt Sizes 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
electronic shifting for less money than any UHC Advanced carbon fiber. But the genius Weight 15.16 pounds
other bike we’ve found. The Z2 frame doesn’t is in blending a Dura-Ace Di2 group with Warranty Limited lifetime
Trek Madone 5.5 $3,720

Trek does many things well, but the Wiscon-
sin company really excels at bringing top-
level technology to bikes at every price point.
From the flagship, $9,000 Madone 6.9 SSL,
to the sub-$2,000 3-Series Madones, key
pieces of engineering trickle through the
line to offer the best bang for your buck. In
the Madone 5.5, you can enjoy Trek’s famous
Pro-Tour-caliber carbon performance at a
great price. It’s a race-ready bike for weekend
warriors and aspiring pros alike. Key features
like the E2 tapered head tube, BB90 internal
bottom bracket, internal cable routing and
DuoTrap computer compatibility set this rig
apart. It’s made from Trek’s TCT carbon fiber
and sports a carbon fork with an aluminum
steerer tube. A taller head tube, part of Trek’s
H2 geometry package, makes for comfortable Fork Description Bontrager Race X Lite w/ Affinity 2 saddle
handlebar height. E2 aluminum steerer, carbon crown and legs Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm
Frame Description Trek 5-Series TCT car- Component Highlights SRAM Force group, Weight 15.8 pounds
bon, E2 head tube, BB90 internal bottom Bontrager Race Lite wheels, Bontrager Race Warranty Limited lifetime on frame for
bracket, internal cable routing, DuoTrap X Lite stem and Race X Lite VR-C bars, Bon- original owner, 2 years on Bontrager compo-
compatible trager ride-tuned carbon seatmast cap and nents, 1 year on paint and all other parts

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enthusiast: road
Masi Evoluzione Apex $1,850
With the Evoluzione frame platform, Masi completely overhauled its line
of carbon bikes for 2011. The new frames sport the Total Overdrive Sys-
tem, a stout combination of tapered head tube, BB30 bottom bracket, and
oversized chainstays and down tube. Torayca carbon fiber and carbon
dropouts help keep weight to the bare minimum as well, making these
the lightest bikes Masi has ever built. Add the SRAM Apex group with
WiFli ultra-low gearing, and you’ll be conquering hills like never before.
Frame Description Masi MMC modular monocoque frame
Fork Description Masi Elite/RS tapered carbon fork with 7075 alloy
steerer
Component Highlights SRAM Apex group and FSA Gossamer Pro
BB30 cranks, Mavic CXP22 rims with Formula sealed bearing hubs,
Ritchey Comp 4-axis stem and alloy handlebar, Ritchey comp seatpost
and Masi SLR saddle
Sizes 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62cm
Weight 17.6 pounds
Warranty Limited lifetime
Jamis Xenith Elite Femme $4,500

Jamis’ Xenith Elite and Xenith Elite Femme are the new additions to
the Xenith family of race bikes. They have the same geometry as the
Xenith SL and Xenith Team, rendered in high modulus carbon with
Jamis’ Dyad Elite fiber lay-up. The result is solid pedaling efficiency for EDITOR’S
PICK
quick acceleration, but without the price tag of top-tier road machines,
and only a few ounces more heft. A SRAM Red drivetrain, American
Classic’s slick 420 wheels and a Ritchey Pro cockpit mean business —
this is a bike that will more than hold its own, whether your beat is the
local crit, district championships, or a weekend club ride.
Frame Description Full high modulus carbon fiber, Dyad Elite lay-up,
tri-oval shaped top and down tubes with SST tubing diameters, 1.125 to
1.5-inch head tube, BB30 bottom bracket, asymmetrical chainstays, twin
seatstays, forged one-piece dropouts with replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork Description Jamis Xenith Team high modulus carbon fiber, 1.5- Logic II handlebar, Ritchey Pro carbon seatpost and Selle San Marco
inch hollow formed crown, monocoque one-piece forming technology, Aspide Glamour Arrowhead saddle
carbon dropouts with stainless axle interfaces Sizes 44, 48, 51, 54cm
Component Highlights SRAM Red group with Force front derailleur, Weight 15.5 pounds
American Classic 420 Aero 3 wheels, Ritchey Pro 4-axis stem and Pro Warranty Lifetime on frameset for original owner, 1 year for parts
Raleigh International $6,000

Based on the popularity of last year’s trend-busting, lugged steel Re-
cord Ace, Raleigh takes the premium steel production bike concept to
a new level this season. The new International is built from premium
lugged Reynolds 853 butted chromoly tubing with a flat crown lugged
Reynolds 853 steel fork out front. Except for a few nods to modern
spec, like a full Dura-Ace group and 1.125-inch headset, the bike is pure
retro from head to toe, down to the threaded bottom bracket and ex-
ternal cable routing. The lugs are even chromed. If you want a classic
performer for long rides and the incomparable feel of genuine steel,
look no further.
Frame Description Lugged Reynolds 853 butted chromoly
Fork Description Flat crown lugged Reynolds 853
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace group, Shimano Dura-
Ace WH7850 wheels, FSA OS-99 CSI stem and K-Force carbon com- Sizes 53, 55, 57, 59cm
pact bar, FSA K-Force Light seatpost and Selle San Marco Regal E Weight 18 pounds
Carbon FX saddle Warranty Limited lifetime on frameset

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enthusiast: road
Cielo Cycles Sportif $1,900 (frame and fork)
If you’re looking for a sweet steel bike, there are plenty of small custom builders that will cre-
ate a masterpiece sized just for you. But if you’re not sure where to start and want to simplify
the process, check out Cielo. The Sportif is a classically modern road bike with time-proven
geometry and materials. Frame angles are aimed at stable handling and comfort over the long
ride. But this is no “comfort” road bike either; it’ll haul if you’ve got the horsepower. The tig-welded
True Temper OX Platinum steel frame is finished with details like machined head tube collars, fork
crown, and dropouts. Both the frame and fork are designed to be used with medium reach (57mm)
caliper brakes and can accommodate comfortable width tires and fenders. Fender eyelets are available as
an option on this readymade classic.
Frame Description TIG-welded True Temper OX Platinum, stainless steel rear dropouts, seatstay caps,
rear brake insert and head tube rings
Fork Description Deda steel fork blades with custom machined fork crown, stainless steel fork tips
Component Highlights Frame and fork only
Sizes Fourteen men’s sizes, 49 through 62cm; women’s sizes 43, 47, 49cm
Weight 3.9 pounds (frame), 1.7 pounds (fork uncut)
Warranty 5 years on craftsmanship and 1 year on materials
spanning courses from the cobbles of Flanders to the cols of the Tour
de France. In designing the bike, Specialized incorporates the high-
end features that are now virtually standard on most road bikes: a ta-
pered head tube, race-caliber geometry passed down from the flagship
Tarmac SL3, and full carbon fork. But they add a dose of love in the
materials department with proven FACT 8r carbon fiber.
Frame Description Specialized FACT 8r carbon, FACT IS construc-
tion, compact race design, 1.5-inch lower HS bearing, threaded BB
Fork Description Specialized FACT carbon full monocoque, over-
sized race for 1.5-inch bearing
Component Highlights Shimano Ultegra group with compact crank,
Fulcrum Racing 6 wheels, Specialized Comp-Set stem and Ergo 2014
alloy handlebar, Specialized Pro FACT carbon seatpost and Body Ge-
ometry Romin Comp saddle
Specialized Tarmac Comp Sizes 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
Compact Ultegra $3,000 Weight 17.9 pounds
The Tarmac SL2 frame from Specialized has a race-bred heritage Warranty Limited lifetime
2011, this standout road bike gets even better. We like the Cronus WSD. It
incorporates the ultra-stiff FCC (Fisher Control Column) front end with
wide fork blades, tall hub flanges, and E2 tapered head tube. It also com-
bines the BB90 internal bottom bracket pioneered in the Trek road line and
the hidden fender mounts born with the original Cronus. The whole pack-
EDITOR’S
PICK age is made for women with a taller head tube and shorter stem.
Frame Description Monocoque carbon fiber, E2 integrated headset, BB90
bottom bracket, hidden fender mounts
Fork Description Bontrager carbon FCC with 1.125 to 1.5-inch E2 tapered
steerer, wide stance carbon legs and integrated Speed Trap computer mount
Component Highlights Shimano 105 group with Shimano FR600
compact cranks, Tektro R540 brakes, Bontrager Race FCC wheels with
tall hub flanges and 25mm axle end caps, Bontrager Race Lite stem and
Race Anatomic-C handlebar, Bontrager carbon seatpost and Affinity 2
Trek Gary Fisher Collection Cronus WSD WSD saddle
$2,620 Sizes 45, 47, 50, 52, 54cm
In mid-2010, Trek folded Gary Fisher-branded bikes into Trek’s own range. Weight 16.5 pounds
Now the Cronus platform is part of the Trek Gary Fisher Collection; but for Warranty Limited lifetime on frameset, 2 years on components

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enthusiast: road
Razor Edge Design concept incorporates top and down tubes that over-
lap at the head tube. These tubes are square as they meet the head tube,
but they morph into rounded shapes as they flow rearward and around
the seat tube. Finally, slender stays at the back of the bike combined with
the Smooth Rear Design dropout concept help absorb road vibration.
Frame Description Custom monocoque carbon — 10-percent 46 Ton,
40-percent unidirectional MR60H, 50-percent unidirectional T-700SC
Fork Description Monocoque carbon
Component Highlights Shimano Ultegra group with FSA SL-K Light
cranks with custom Wilier graphics, Fulcrum R5 wheels (Ritchey car-
bon wheels shown not U.S. spec), FSA SL-K stem and Wing Pro handle-
Wilier Triestina Gran Turismo $3,400 bar with Wilier graphics, FSA SL-K seatpost
Wilier Triestina built the new Gran Turismo to offer a comfortable, Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
all-day bike at a more affordable price while maintaining the flagship Weight 1,150 grams (frame), 360 grams (fork)
Cento’s lightweight performance. To enhance torsional stiffness, the Warranty 5 year limited for original owner
by using a new 6069 alloy with extensive shaping to optimize stiff-

ness and strength. The top tube is massive where it meets the head
tube, then turns down at the seat tube. Slender seat and chain stays
are shaped and butted to flex vertically for ride comfort, but they lose
their former hourglass shape to add lateral stiffness. CAAD10 frames
come with an all-new tapered steerer carbon fork with forward offset
dropouts to add vibration absorption up front. It’s a sophisticated pack-
age for metal fans.
Frame Description CAAD10 SmartFormed 6069 alloy, SAVE stays,
BB30 bottom bracket, externally machined tapered head tube
Fork Description CAAD10 full carbon, tapered 1.125 to 1.25-inch steer-
er, forward offset carbon dropouts
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 shifters and rear
derailleur with Ultegra front derailleur and FSA SL-K Light carbon
Cannondale CAAD10 Dura-Ace $3,200 BB30 crank, Shimano Ultegra brakes and RS80 wheels, Cannondale
Cannondale aluminum frames have been famous for years for their C2 stem and handlebar, Cannondale C2 UD carbon seatpost and fi’zi:k
lightweight, quality construction, and outstanding ride. In 2011, the Arione saddle
Connecticut-based company turns the metal up to 11 with the all-new Sizes 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 63cm
CAAD10 frame and fork. The top-end Dura-Ace spec anodized frame Weight 15.8 pounds
weighs just 1,150 grams in a size 56cm. Cannondale achieved this feat Warranty Limited lifetime
elements for optimum performance. Naturally the fork steerer is ta-

pered for stiffness and the BB30 bottom bracket allows the lightest,
stiffest cranks to be used. What you don’t see is that the bottom brack-
et shell and chainstays are molded as one piece to maximize rigidity
and weight savings. Likewise, the top tube, head tube, and down tube
are molded as a single unit to minimize material overlap and add ac-
curacy to the front end. Internal brake and shifter cable routing just
ices the cake.
Frame Description Aerus Conquest T800 high modulus carbon with
tapered head tube and BB30 bottom bracket
Fork Description Aerus Conquest C4X full carbon fork
Component Highlights SRAM Force group, HED Bastogne C2
wheels, Aerus 2014 alloy stem and Aerus C4 Carbon Pro bars, Aerus
C4 Aero Carbon Pro seatpost and Prologo Nago Scratch Pro saddle
Blue Axino $4,600 Sizes XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL
Blue Competition Cycles has a new, lightweight bike for 2011 dubbed Weight 995 grams (frame only)
the Axino. It’s a race-caliber road bike built with modern design Warranty Lifetime
70 VELONEWS bu y er’s gu ide 2011 www.velonews.com

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EVO
EVOLVE
WWW.PRIMALCUSTOM.COM
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cobblestones of Europe to prove it. Sure you could get a race-proven Spe-
cialized Roubaix in Pro or Expert trim for a lot less money. But put sim-
ply, Specialized sets the bar with their S-Works Roubaix SL3 frame. The
FACT IS 11r carbon frame weighs less than 1,000 grams, yet is stiffer
than last year’s Roubaix due to the modular frame construction. It has
revised Zertz elastomer damping inserts to help dim road chatter. And
Shimano’s Dura-Ace carbon tubeless-ready wheels offer another level of
supple ride quality. There’s also a Dura-Ace Di2 option for a little more
money. C’mon, you’re worth it!
Frame Description S-Works Roubaix FACT 11r carbon, FACT IS con-
struction, Cobra 1.125 to 1.375-inch head tube, compact race design w/
Zertz inserts, internal cable routing, carbon oversized bottom bracket
Fork Description S-Works FACT carbon full monocoque w/ Zertz inserts
Specialized S-Works Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 group with Special-
Roubaix SL3 Dura-Ace $7,700 ized SL FACT carbon compact cranks, Shimano Dura-Ace WH 7850
From the company that practically invented the category of endurance- wheels, S-Works 3D forged alloy stem and SL carbon handlebar, S-Works
oriented road bikes, this might be the ultimate in do-it-all, all-day bike. FACT carbon seatpost and Body Geometry Avatar Team saddle
Although it’s technically classified as an endurance bike, Specialized Sizes 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
has made the newest relaxed-geometry Roubaix into one of the most Weight 15.14 pounds
raceable bikes in its class. The company has multiple victories on the Warranty Limited lifetime
sacrifice in performance. An elastomer vibration damper in the seatstays

helps tune out road noise, but the lightweight monocoque carbon front tri-
angle is built for speed. It has a tapered head tube with carbon headset
bearing seats, an oversized bottom bracket shell for stiffness, and relaxed
geometry to go the distance. Plus it’s finished with internal cable routing.
In addition to stock spec, select Lapierre models can now be customized
online if you want to build a dream bike.
Frame Description Sensium 400 CP carbon HM monocoque
Fork Description Lapierre carbon, tapered alloy steerer tube
Component Highlights SRAM Force group with compact crankset, Ful-
crum Racing 5 wheels, Control Tech Estro stem and Viento Ergo handlebar,
Control Tech MPost seatpost and Ponza Power Microfeel saddle
Sizes 46, 49, 52, 55, 58cm
Lapierre Sensium 400 $3,150 Weight 17 pounds
Lighter for 2011, the Lapierre Sensium promises a comfortable ride with no Warranty 5 years
Stevens Ventoux $2,500 (frame and fork)

This year will be the second in the USA for German company Stevens,
courtesy of the folks at Sinclair Imports. Until now, they’ve been known
mostly as Katie Compton’s cyclocross sponsor, but the new Ventoux frame
could bring the brand into its own spotlight. It’s built to combine top-class
stiffness with a taller head tube for all-day comfort. To chase stiffness,
Stevens built the bike around a wide, press-fit BB86 bottom bracket and a
flared, asymmetrical seat tube. Up front, the fork steerer, riding on internal
bearings, tapers from 1.125 to 1.5-inch. Out back, the fat chain stays add ri-
gidity with slender seatstays to keep road noise minimized. Finished with
sleek internal cable routing, this bike looks like a race-worthy bike for the
committed long-distance rider.
Frame Description UD carbon HMF superlight
Fork Description Full carbon SL UD with tapered steerer
Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm
Weight 1,005 grams
Warranty 2 years

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Giant Avail Advanced 1 $3,100

Giant’s relaxed-geometry endurance bikes are avail-
able for both men and women. The women’s Avail
models come in multiple component specification
options, including premium Shimano Dura-Ace,
but the Ultegra model is almost half the price. The
swooping lines of Giant’s Advanced-grade frameset
EDITOR’S
PICK are nice to look at, but function matters most. The
lightweight, stiff and ride-tuned materials are me-
ticulously engineered to increase comfort, es-
pecially over the long haul. Avail Advanced
blends performance and compliance, and
it’s all designed specifically for women.
Frame Description Giant
Advanced-grade composite
Fork Description Advanced-grade
composite, full composite OverDrive
steerer
Component Highlights Shimano
Ultegra group with compact crankset,
DT Swiss Tricon R1800 wheels, Giant
Contact stem and handlebar, Giant
Vector seatpost and fi’zi:k Vesta saddle
Sizes XS, S, M
Weight 16.2 pounds
Dropped
them
downstream!
74 #10000 GBW_VeloNews_419x120,75_us_road_nov.indd
VELONEWS 1
bu y er’s gu ide 2011 www.velonews.com
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endurance: road
Pinarello KOBH 60.1 $5,500 (frameset,
$6,600 for Di2-ready frame, including wiring)
Here’s a comfortable all-day bike with exotic European heritage.
The new KOBH 60.1 frame was created in collaboration with
the Sky pro team to challenge the cobbled classics of northern
Europe. It leverages technologies introduced with the Dogma
60.1, like asymmetric frame tubes to maintain rigidity in the
face of powerful pedal strokes. Compared to the Dogma, the
frame angles are about one degree slacker. The seatstays
are slender and curved, and tire clearance is improved to
accommodate fat rubber. Finally, a longer wheelbase
adds stability and reduces vertical stiffness for great-
er absorption capacity on bumpy stretches. Yet Pin-
arello built this premium bike to maintain lateral
stiffness for responsiveness in sprints and curves.
Frame Description Torayca 60HM1K carbon fi-
ber with Century Ride rear stays, monocoque con-
struction
Fork Description Onda FPK1 with 60HM1K car-
bon, 1.125 to 1.25-inch tapered steerer
Component Highlights frameset and seatpost only
Sizes 45, 48, 51.5, 54, 56, 57, 58cm
Weight 1,020 grams (size 54cm frame)
Warranty 1 year on finish, 2 years on manufacturing (can be
extended to 3 years by registering online)
You focus on riding and we’ll focus on you.

It’s on days like this you really find out why you ride. Thanks to the outstanding weather protection and
temperature management of GORE BIKE WEAR™ clothing you were able to get out in the adverse conditions
to test the bounderies of speed and control. We fuse 25 years of experience with the high-tech function
of GORE-TEX®, WINDSTOPPER® and GORE® Selected fabrics to bring you clothing and accessories that
you can trust. All engineered using intelligent ergonomics and material placement to further enhance your
comfort and performance. Now you’re free to train whenever and wherever you choose.
Check out our autumn/winter 2010 collections at www.gorebikewear.com
© 2010 W.L. Gore & Associates GmbH. GORE BIKE WEAR, GORE-TEX, WINDSTOPPER, GORE and designs are trademarks of W.L. Gore & Associates
w w w.velonews.com bu y er’s gu i de11.08.2010 8:20:51 Uhr

2011 VELONEWS 75
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custom: ROAD
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that their sponsors couldn’t provide. Now, the

shop builds bikes for everyday customers, ei-
ther stock or sized to order, from a spectrum
of materials (steel, aluminum, titanium,
and carbon fiber). If you’re not sure of your
measurements, the highly detailed Cyfac
Postural System provides a proper anatomi-
cal fit formula for your new custom bike. The
flagship carbon fiber ABSOLU is made with
tube-to-tube construction, an integrated aero
seatmast, and whatever modern features (like
BB30, tapered steerer, and Di2 wire routing)
you can dream up.
Frame Description IM t800H carbon fiber
tubes joined with carbon-kevlar tube-to-tube
construction, tunable ride characteristics for
custom builds, BB30, tapered steerer, Di2
routing available
Fork Description Forknox 3C carbon fiber,
tapered steerer tube available
Component Highlights frame and fork only
Cyfac ABSOLU $5,000 But this small shop in La Fuye, France should Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL in stock sizes, custom
(for standard geometry, $6,900 for custom) find its way onto your list if you’re looking for sizing available
Pondering the wide range of options avail- something that is truly one of a kind. At one Weight 2.4 pounds
able for a custom bike, Cyfac might not be time, Cyfac built private label bikes for profes- Warranty 3 years on manufacturing and
the first builder to drift across your mind. sional riders seeking sublime race machines materials for original owner
Eriksen $3,050 (frame only)

Built in Steamboats Springs, Colorado, Kent
Eriksen’s bicycles are showpieces. They are
the archetype for clean, functional titanium
welds and aesthetics. The process starts with
a phone call. (Amazing isn’t it? Real human
contact!) Each frame is fully custom, geom-
etry, tubing and decals inclusive. Once you
have decided on a frame and discussed your
options, Eriksen sends a CAD drawing for
final review before proceeding. After your
approval of the design, it’s full steam ahead.
Each frame is built using American-made
3/2.5 titanium. Eriksen offers paint from
Spectrum, but covering up their handiwork
seems sacrilegious. All their decals are color
matched for Chris King headsets and hubs.
Don’t forget to ask about their seatposts as
well, also color-matched.
Frame Description custom titanium, inte-
grated seatpost, bladed seat tube, oversized
1-inch chainstays
Fork Description Enve recommended (2.0 Campagnolo, Shimano, or SRAM Red Sizes Full custom
for $475, 1.0 for $675) (shown), DT Tricon 1450 clincher wheels, Enve Weight 14.2 pounds (as shown)
Component Highlights Customer spec, stem and bar, Ritchey WCS Streem saddle Warranty Lifetime for original owner

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Photon
Winner of Bicycling Magazine’s
2010 Dream Bike of the Year award.
Find out what’s new for 2011

www.gurucycles.com
customfit@gurucycles.com 877 755 4878
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custom: road
Guru Photon $5,300 (frame with Enve fork)
If this super lightweight custom carbon frame doesn’t illicit severe bike
lust from you, have your pulse checked. Guru uses military grade HS-
40 carbon fiber to produce an almost ridiculously light frameset. Made in
Quebec, Canada, Guru offers custom paint and decals as well as custom
geometry. Guru’s Web site claims that “less is much more!” Their display
bike at Interbike weighed in at 12 pounds. Enough said.
Frame Description Full custom, military-grade HS-40 carbon
Fork Description Enve 1.125-inch carbon fiber
Component Highlights Customer spec
Sizes Custom
Weight 750 grams for 54cm frame with integrated seatmast
Warranty Lifetime for the original owner, 1 year on paint, graphics
and fork
personal specs. Designed from the ground up for custom geometry,

Z1s can be customized by 1mm and .1-degree increments to fulfill any
custom design from 47cm to 65+cm. Custom carbon fiber lug lay-up
along with five tube set choices allow the Z1 to be optimized for indi-
vidual riders. Parlee offers a fixed wheel option for track use or fixed
wheel road riding, as well as updated geometry and additional stock
and custom sizes, including an option for 650c wheels. Z1s can be
built with semi-sloping geometry up to 3 degrees. Optional upgrades
include the super light SL tube set, the extra stiff XL tube set, the X
woven tube set and the compliant CL tube set.
Frame Description Choice of five carbon fiber custom tube sets.
Tube-to-tube lugged construction with proprietary molding technol-
ogy. Molded carbon fiber cable stops, front derailleur hanger, and wa-
ter bottle mounts. Titanium hardware and dropouts. Di2 and BB30
configurations available.
Fork Description ENVE Composites 1.0
Parlee Z1 $6,500 (frame and fork) Component Highlights A variety of configurations available from
Amid the constant clamor of new bikes from builders large and small, Campagnolo, SRAM, and Shimano
it’s easy to overlook time-tested models that remain relevant over the Sizes 15 stock sizes plus fully custom sizing
years. Parlee’s Z5 is their lightest, latest, and greatest, but the origi- Weight 1.8 – 2.68 pounds, depending on custom build
nal Z1 is a modern day classic rendered in carbon fiber to your own Warranty Lifetime
welded road racing bike built to have the classic feel of steel with the
lighter weight and stiffness of modern machines. The material has ex-
tremely high fatigue resistance when welded. Plus, in addition to cus-
tom geometry and exquisite welds, Indy Fab builders select appropriate
tubing sizes just for you. Options include singlespeed or track dropouts,
custom paint, and 650c wheel sizes for smaller riders. It’s a race worthy,
corrosion resistant and shiny steel frame like no other.
Frame Description Oversized, size-specific Columbus XCr seamless
butted stainless steel tubing with head tube and down tube gussets, ma-
chined 17-4 dropouts, sterling silver headbadge and custom machined
bottom bracket
Fork Description Edge carbon 1.125-inch steerer
Component Highlights Frame and fork
Independent Fabrication SSR $3,850 Sizes Custom
(frame and fork) Weight Varies with build
The legendary New England builders at Independent Fabrication chose Warranty Lifetime to original owner on craftsmanship, 5 years on
Columbus XCr seamless, stainless steel tubing for the SSR. It’s a TIG- materials

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Why 35?
51.5% Greater Rigidity

Low Weight
Improved Control
Visit www.trentacinque.net for full details
www.dedaelementi.com
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aero: ROAD
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as little material as possible. The result

is a bike that’s about 100 grams
lighter than last year’s version.
Also new for 2011 is external
cable routing for simplic-
ity and added stiffness.
But all of the original,
sleek frame shapes of
Litespeed’s Aerologic
design, including the
water bottle shroud
and tear dropped head
and seat tubes return.
Litespeed says the design
is good for a 16-percent
more efficient ride, and
even better, the Archon frame
design is available in a range of
prices down to the complete C3 bike
for just $3,200.
content to use shared molds, simply crank- Frame Description Reactive Pressure Mold-
Litespeed Archon C1R ing out carbon copies. Rather, Litespeed en- ing carbon construction, integrated seatmast,
$3,200 (frameset) gineers created a graceful line of streamlined aerodynamic profile frame design, BB30
Although the Litespeed name is almost in- road frames in the Archon series. The flagship Fork Description full carbon Litespeed
delibly linked to cycling’s wonder metal of Archon C1 from 2010 gets even further ahead Component Highlights frame only
bygone days, titanium, the company has re- of the pack this season. Now dubbed the C1R, Sizes S, M, M/L, L, XL
mained current and now engineers carbon it’s built with Reactive Pressure Molding to Weight 1,000 grams for the frame
fiber with the best of them. And they’re not extract as much stiffness and strength from Warranty Limited lifetime
fully custom MeiVici SE road model. Engineered with aerodynamic

features and customization options, the MeiVici AE features a seat
tube angle-specific rear wheel cut out and an innovative aero seatpost
for maximum aerodynamics and weight savings. The MeiVici geom-
etry is 100-percent custom, so you can have your aero bike made to
measure for road racing, triathlon, or anything in between.
Frame Description Serotta Composites custom carbon fiber
Fork Description Serotta F4 integrated fork with tapered 1.125 to 1.5-
inch steerer
Serotta MeiVici AE $8,700 (frameset) Sizes Custom
Serotta’s exotic MeiVici AE offers effective aerodynamics coupled with Weight Varies with frame size and component choice
the special ride quality and handling characteristics of the company’s Warranty Lifetime

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AERO: ROAD
Ridley Noah RS $3,500 R-Surface paint

The new Noah RS inherits Ridley’s unique R-Flow technology and Fork Description 4ZA Sphinx full modulus carbon fiber monocoque
race-proven geometry but at a more affordable price. Slotted R-Flow with R-Flow
jet foils in the fork legs direct airflow away from the wheel and R-Sur- Component Highlights SRAM Force group, Fulcrum Racing 5
face textured paint on the leading edges of frame tubes helps increase wheels, Deda RHM01 stem and handlebar, Ridley 4AZ aero carbon
smooth, laminar airflow. In contrast to the original Noah, the RS seatpost and 4ZA saddle
comes with a standard adjustable seatpost — a boon for frequent trav- Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
elers. All the cable routing is still internal for optimal aerodynamics. Weight 16.5 pounds
Frame Description 30 and 24 ton high modulus carbon fiber with Warranty 5 years
Kestrel RT-1000 Dura-Ace

$5,400
Most of us can barely remember, but Kestrel
bikes pioneered the carbon fiber revolution
way back in the 1990s, before the wonder ma-
terial was trendy. Now they specialize in aero-
dynamic frames for road and triathlon. The
new Kestrel RT series bikes blend subtle aero-
dynamic frame shapes with a more upright
riding position for long-distance comfort. A
tapered head tube adds front-end stiffness to
this quick yet comfortable carbon machine.
Frame Description Monocoque 800K high
modulus carbon fiber frame and fork, modu-
lar monocoque construction
Fork Description 800K full carbon with
1.125 to 1.5-inch tapered steerer.
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace
group with Oval R900 brakes, Oval W945
carbon clincher wheels, Oval R900 stem and
R920 handlebar, Kestrel Aero carbon seat-
post with Ritchey clamp system and Oval
SR700 saddle
Sizes 48, 51, 53, 56, 59, 62cm
Weight 16.5 pounds
Warranty Lifetime on frame and fork

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RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF PAIN

Driving. Never drafting. Always attacking. Pounding the cobbles. Pushing through cold wind and rain. Riding to the breaking point—but
never breaking. These are the hard men of Flanders. This is their bike.
Ridley Excalibur Flandrien

Complete Bike MSRP: $3,195
www.ridley-bikes.com
www.thefastestbikeintheworld.com
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and head tube sport a super-narrow profile,

yet the fork legs are widened to accommodate
smooth airflow through the fork crown. For
triathletes, the optional aerodynamic Speed
Box and Draft Box accessory containers can
keep your food, fluids, and spare supplies
hidden from the wind. And Trek’s integrated
aerodynamic stem and handlebar with fully
internal cable routing offer a massive range
of adjustment for perfect fit.
Frame Description OCLV2 Carbon, KVF
(Kammtail Virtual Foil) tube design, SC
Speed Box & DuoTrap compatible, includes
SC Draft Box
Fork Description Bontrager Speed Concept,
OCLV2 Carbon, KVF leg design, integrated
brake and stem
Component Highlights SRAM Force group
with 900 TT shifters and Bontrager XXX Lite
aero brake levers, Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 ACC
wheels, Bontrager Speed Concept integrated
stem and handlebar, Bontrager Speed Con-
Trek Speed Concept 9.8 KVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) truncated air- cept seatpost and fi’zi:k Arione Tri2 saddle
$7,100 foil tube shapes, everything about the exten- Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
Trek’s Speed Concept triathlon and time trial sively integrated fuselage screams “speed.” Weight 18 pounds
frame platform is probably the most revolu- The brakes are built into the frame and fork, Warranty Limited lifetime on frameset,
tionary aero bike ever built. Starting with the completely hidden from the wind. The fork 2 years on components
Felt DA $12,499
The 2011 Felt DA is already race proven by the
likes of David Millar and triathlete Terenzo
Bozzone. The frame is made with UHC
Ultimate+Nano carbon fiber material shaped
through extensive Computational Fluid Dy-
namics engineering and real-world testing.
Felt says it’s 14% more aerodynamic and 13%
stiffer than the last-generation DA. It’s also
optimized for Shimano Di2 electronic shift-
ing, with internal cable routing and an inte-
grated battery mount. Details abound on this
bike, like flares in the frame tube shapes on
the trailing edges of the seatpost and seat
tube to trick the wind into flowing smoothly
off the bike. The new DA is certain to be a hot
ride for speed freaks.
Frame Description Felt Aero TT/Tri UHC
Ultimate+Nano MMC carbon fiber frame w/
1KP weave, InsideOut internal molding pro- 19mm bearing compression device fiber base bar, Felt Aero UHC Ultimate+Nano
cess, Di2 optimized internal cable routing Component Highlights Shimano Dura- bladed monocoque seatpost and Prologo
Fork Description Felt Bayonet III UHC Ulti- Ace Di2 group with TRP brakes, Zipp 808 Nago TTR saddle
mate + Nano MMC carbon fiber monocoque front and 1080 rear wheels, Felt Bayonet III Sizes 51, 54, 56, 58cm
design w/ 1KP Weave, 1 piece carbon blades, CNC machined aluminum stem and Devox Weight 16.7 pounds
dropouts, crown and external steerer w/ Felt Bayonet UHC Ultimate+Nano MMC carbon Warranty Limited lifetime

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time trial: road
system deflects vertically to absorb road shock while maintaining

lateral stiffness. Unlike the nervous, twitchy handling of some aero
EDITOR’S
frames, the Slice’s geometry is designed to provide stable and confi-
PICK dence-inspiring handling while in the aero position, allowing you to
relax and focus on your ride. Plus, the Slice Women’s bike is now avail-
able in a size 47cm with 650c wheels, to fit more riders.
Frame Description Slice Women’s full carbon, SAVE stays and BB30
bottom bracket
Fork Description Slice full carbon
Component Highlights SRAM Rival group with RTC shifters and
FSA Trimax Pro cranks, Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels, 3T ARX Pro
Cannondale Slice Women’s 4 Rival $3,300 stem and Aura carbon base bar, Cannondale Slice aero carbon seatpost
The Slice helped Liquigas teammates Ivan Basso and Vincenzo with 2-position head and Prologo Kappa Dea saddle
Nibali win grand tours and triathlete Chrissie Wellington set a course Sizes 47, 51, 54cm
record in the Hawaii Ironman world championships. In addition to Weight 18.5 pounds
the sleek aero profile tubes, the SAVE rear stay micro suspension Warranty Limited lifetime
and 2009. If their results are any indicator, this is a super fast time
trial bike. Built using IMP5 construction, the entire frame, except
the seatstays, is built as one, complex structure. The Shelter127 con-
cept alludes to the amount of wheel wrap the frame achieves in its
pursuit of aerodynamic perfection. One of its best features is the
Ritchey seatpost head. So often, time trial seatposts are a dizzyingly
complex affair. With the Ritchey head, the Scott easily adjusts from
an effective 79 to 73 degrees. Sensibly, Scott engineers also included
two bottle cage mounts.
Frame Description Plasma 2, IMP5 carbon construction, integrated
seat tube
Fork Description Plasma 2, full carbon integrated
Component Highlights Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical group with
bar-end shifters and Profile QSC brake levers, Shimano WH-RS10
wheels, Profile O-Zero basebar and T2+ aerobar, Ritchey seatmast
Scott Plasma 10 $4,700 head, fi’zi:k Arione Tri 2 saddle
Trickle down at its best gives the public access to top-tier bicycle Sizes 47, 49, 52, 54, 56cm
technology, just a few years after the pros. The Scott Plasma 10 fea- Weight 19.2 pounds
tures the same frameset that Columbia-HTC riders raced in 2008 Warranty 5 years
CableStop and Cervélo’s TT/Tri geometry with a two-position seat-

post. With a taller head tube than the P3, the P2 will fit people who
don’t regularly bend themselves into a pretzel and motor along at
50kph for an hour. But that doesn’t mean it’s a slow bike. Several
pro triathletes prefer the P2 over the P3. Interestingly, the 2011 P2
has actually gone down $400 in price this year for the base model.
Frame Description Cervélo TrueAero carbon fiber, internal gear
and rear brake cable routing
Fork Description 3T Pro Funda fork
Component Highlights Shimano Ultegra group, FSA Gossamer
Pro brakes, Vision levers, FSA Gossamer crank and bb, Shimano
R500 wheels, Vision Alloy stem, base bar and aero bar, fi’zi:k Arione
Cervélo P2 $2,400 Tri 3 saddle
Cervélo’s lineage can be traced from one fast aero bike to another Sizes 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
— the Canadian brand introduced aero-profiled road bikes to the Weight Not available from Cervélo
industry. The P2 uses TrueAero tubing, mechanic-friendy Internal Warranty Limited lifetime for the original owner

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You count the switchbacks. We’ll count everything else.
Add Joule to any Ant+ PowerTap and create the ultimate training tool. Joule precisely measures power like never before. It’s reliable, easy to
TM TM
use and comes with the popular PowerAgent software. The road is your lab, Joule and PowerTap help you get better, faster. Visit cycleops.com
TM
Saris Cycling Group Madison, WI 800.783.7257
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©2010 Kurt Manufacturing Co.
Accurate Indoor
OFFICIAL TRAINER
Power Training!
learn more at: kurtkinetic.com
mindbodymachine.
Rock and Roll Road Machine Kinetic Magnetic Cyclone
No trainer brings everything together like the feel and road-like

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MOUNTAIN BIKES
MOUNTAIN BIKES
CROSS-COUNTRY HARDTAIL
For the World Cup or the weeknight series 90 The ultimate in lightweight,
efficient performance 104
TRAIL
Jack-of-all-trade rigs that won’t ENTHUSIAST
pigeonhole your riding 94 Fun bikes that still leave you with
gas money for adventures 110
ALL MOUNTAIN
ANNE KELLER
Built for burly rides with big suspension 100

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cross-country: mountain
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platform for competitive XC bliss. Blended with

Roval carbon wheels, ceramic BB bearings and
SRAM XX rings on Specialized’s carbon crank,
and a 12x142mm rear hub for stiffness, you have
EDITOR’S
PICK a world-dominating bike.
Frame Description FACT 11m carbon front tri-
angle with FACT IS construction and 29-inch
geometry, FACT carbon seatstays with carbon
non-drive dropout and chainstays, tapered
head tube, PF-30 BB30 bottom bracket with ce-
ramic bearings, 142mm rear drop-outs, sealed
cartridge bearing pivots, replaceable derailleur
hanger, Fox/Specialized remote Mini-Brain in-
ertia valve with Brain Fade adjust, 100mm travel
Fork Description Custom Specialized/Rock-
Shox Reba S29 with Brain, 1.5 to 1.125-inch car-
bon steerer, RockShox Reba lower legs, Brain
Fade damping, external rebound adjuster,
100mm travel
Component Highlights SRAM XX group with
Specialized S-Works is the first full-suspension bike to win a world Specialized S-Works carbon crank and XX chain
Epic 29er $9,400 championship. The company partnered with Fox rings, Roval Control SL carbon disc wheels,
Just a couple of years ago, a 22-pound full-sus- to develop the FlowControl Mini Brain shock Syntace F109 stem and S-Works XC Carbon flat
pension 29er might have been deemed impossi- with Brain Fade inertia valve, air spring, and handlebar, S-Works carbon seatpost and BG
ble. But Specialized has done it with the S-Works adjustable rebound. Up front, the custom Spe- Phenom Expert saddle
Epic 29er, the bike Todd Wells used to capture cialized/RockShox Reba S29 Brain fork features Sizes S, M, L, XL
a national championship. Built on Specialized’s a carbon, tapered steerer/crown with rebound Weight 21.5 pounds
proven Epic suspension platform, the S-Works and Brain Fade adjustments to dial in the perfect Warranty Limited lifetime
Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SSL $7,650

Trek’s already impressive Top Fuel cross-country
bike gets a few upgrades for the new season. The
head tube is now tapered to fit an oversized 1.5-
inch lower headset bearing. All the cable rout-
ing, including the brake hose, is now internal.
Plus, the bike loses a little more weight with new
OCLV carbon chainstays. All the original sus-
pension design features that made it a top per-
former in the first place come back for an encore
performance. The Full Floater shock mount and
ABP rear pivot give this bike supple, compliant
suspension, yet it’s built for accurate handling
and aggressive racing applications.
Frame Description OCLV Mountain Carbon
main frame, OCLV Carbon seatstay and chain-
stay, Net Molded E2 tapered head tube, BB90
bottom bracket with Precision Fit Sockets, in- Fork Description Fox F-Series Remote RL w/Fit rise bar, Bontrager Race XXX Lite seatpost and
ternal cable routing, no-cut off-road seatmast, cartridge, air spring, rebound, remote lockout, Evoke 4 saddle
ABP Race, Full Floater, magnesium EVO rocker E2 tapered steerer, 100mm travel Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5
Link, oversized pivot bearings, Fox Float RP-2 Component Highlights Shimano XTR group, Weight 21.5 pounds
rear shock, “race tuned” with boost valve, remote Bontrager Race XXX Lite Disc wheels, Bontrager Warranty Limited lifetime on frameset, 2 years
lockout, ProPedal, rebound, 100mm travel Race XXX Lite stem and Race X Lite carbon low on components

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Cannnondale Scalpel 3 $3,950
For 2011, Cannondale’s Scalpel gains stiffness and loses weight with
new BallisTec carbon construction. It has tougher resin to repel rock
strikes that could fracture lesser materials. Built in combination with
Cannondale’s pivotless suspension design, the frame, including the
rear shock, is astonishingly light at just 1,580 grams. The zero pivot
design allows chainstays and seatstays to flex along one path providing
a supple 80mm of travel. There are no bearings or bushings to add
weight or lateral flex. When the bike is assembled with a Lefty inte-
grated fork, BB30 bottom bracket, and Si stem and fork steerer combi-
nation, the package is one of the lightest and stiffest around.
Frame Description Scalpel, BallisTec Hi-MOD full carbon, Zero
Pivot, BB30, 1.5-inch Si head tube, FOX RP2 Belleville rear shock,
80mm travel
Fork Description Lefty Speed PBR, OPI, Solo Air, 100mm travel bar, fi’zi:k Cyrano seatpost and Tundra 2 saddle
Component Highlights Shimano SLX group with XT rear derailleur, Sizes S, M, L, XL
FSA Afterburner 386 BB30 cranks, Avid Elixir R brakes, custom DT Weight 22.5 pounds
Swiss XCR 1.7 wheels, Cannondale OPI adjustable stem and C2 riser Warranty Limited lifetime
Trek Gary Fisher Collection

Superfly 100 $4,720
Gary Fisher’s original Superfly rocked the cross-country world when it
debuted in 2009. Never before had we seen so much suspension tech-
nology built into an ultra-light, carbon fiber 29er race bike. For PICK
2011,
EDITOR’S
the Gary Fisher Collection is now rolled into the Trek family and the
bike gets even better. A guard under the down tube protects against
rock impact and the suspension swing link is rendered in carbon fiber.
The Superfly 100 is built on the same OCLV frame and ABP suspen-
sion as the more expensive Superfly 100 Elite, but smart component
spec brings the price below five grand.
Frame Description OCLV Mountain Carbon co-molded main frame
and rear swingarm, G2 Geometry, E2 head tube, ABP, topswing car-
bon link, Fox Float RP2, custom “race tuned,” 2-position ProPedal,
external rebound, 110mm travel trager Race X Lite stem and Race Lite Big Sweep handlebar, Bontrager
Fork Description Fox F29 RL w/E2 steerer, custom G2 geometry, Rhythm Elite seatpost and Evoke 2 saddle
51mm offset crown, lockout force adjustment, 100mm travel Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 19, 21, 23
Component Highlights SRAM X9 group with Avid Elixir R brakes Weight 24 pounds
and Shimano M552 cranks, Bontrager Race Lite FCC disc wheels, Bon- Warranty Limited lifetime on frameset, 2 years on components
Rocky Mountain Element

Team RSL $7,000
The new Rocky Mountain Element RSL is born from the needs of World
Cup competitor Geoff Kabush. The new bike drops over 600 grams of
frame weight compared to Rocky’s 2010 XC bike. It’s made from 40-ton
carbon with SmoothWall construction, which keeps the inner surfaces
as clean as the outer with zero superfluous material. Titanium hardware
on the ABC (Angular Bushing Concept) pivots also helps reduce weight.
But despite the weight savings, the new bike is stiffer and more accurate
with a tapered head tube and internal 92mm bottom bracket. For rac-
ing, check out the Element RSL in Team spec for full XTR trim, or if you
want a trail bike check out the Rocky Mountain Element MSL.
Frame Description RMB FORM C13 Hi Mod Carbon Smoothwall
monocoque, Fox Float RP23 custom-valved rear shock, 100 mm travel carbon seatpost and fi’zi:k Tundra saddle
Fork Description Fox 32 F100 RLC FIT Remote, 100mm travel Sizes 15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20.5
Component Highlights Shimano XTR group, DT Swiss XR 1450 Weight 21.5 pounds
wheels, Race Face Deus SL stem and Next SL bar, Race Face Next SL Warranty 5 years on frame

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sag point for bob-free pedaling performance. Felt’s new internal mold-
ing process helps shave weight in the main frame by keeping the interi-
or shapes smooth and precise. The Edict Elite costs $9,000 with SRAM
XX and Mavic wheels, but we dig the Pro version at a privateer’s price.
Frame Description Felt Edict Carbon XC series UHC Ultimate+Nano
carbon fiber, Felt Active Stay Technology (FAST) suspension, Inside-
Out internally optimized molding process, tapered head tube, modular
monocoque construction, Fox Float RP23 with Boost Valve, custom valv-
ing, 100mm travel
Fork Description Fox F32 100 Fit Remote lockout, tapered steerer,
100mm travel
Felt Edict Pro $5,500 Component Highlights Shimano Deore XT group, Shimano Deore XT
The Edict frame design is new from the ground up for 2011. Several M775 wheels, Felt MTB oversized 3D forged stem and MTB XC butted
years in the making, it’s the result of Felt engineer Mike Duscharme’s aluminum riser bar, Felt alloy seatpost and Felt mountain design saddle
desire to build a no-nonsense, thoroughbred race machine. The FAST Sizes S, M, L, XL
rear suspension relies on a pivotless rear triangle and rocker link to de- Weight 23.6 pounds
liver 100mm of suspension. The swingarm is tuned to sit into the bike’s Warranty Lifetime
pro Kelli Emmett for the most technical cross-country races, the all-
new Anthem X1 W features four inches of supple Maestro Suspension
travel, a PressFit bottom bracket for pedaling stiffness and an incred-
ibly responsive ALUXX SL aluminum frame. Up front, it’s all business
EDITOR’S with a Fox F100RL fork featuring a 15QR thru-axle and tapered steerer.
PICK
Women’s-specific race geometry ensures a balanced ride no matter
how fast or how long you go.
Frame Description ALUXX SL-Grade aluminum, Maestro suspen-
sion, Fox Float RP2 rear shock with Boost Valve, 100mm travel
Fork Description Fox F100 RL with 15QR thru-axle and tapered steer-
er, 100mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano Deore XT group with SLX front de-
railleur and Avid Elixir R brakes, Giant P-XC-2 rims and Tracker hubs,
Giant Connect SL stem and Connect SL low rise handlebar, Giant Con-
Giant Anthem X1 W $2,750 nect SL seatpost and fi’zi:k Vesta saddle
Giant’s Anthem X Advanced SL carbon bikes feature World Cup- Sizes XS, S, M
proven frame and suspension design, plus extremely low weight and Weight 26.4 pounds
stiffness. Now there’s an Anthem built for women. The choice of Giant Warranty Limited lifetime
suspension design, which soaks up bumps in a smooth, controlled man-

ner that inspires confidence. The new Mach 4 has a 92mm BB shell for
internal bearings, a reinforced carbon fiber lower dw-link with double-
row sealed bearings, a high-modulus carbon fiber upper link and a one-
piece rear triangle. But keep in mind, Pivot designers made the bike to
perform not just on race courses, but on real trails as well. And with a
Pivot pedigree, we have no reason to doubt.
Frame Description Hydroformed 6061 triple-butted aluminum frame
construction with a Fox RP23 Boost Valve shock featuring 100mm of
travel. Includes a high-modulus carbon fiber rocker and lightweight car-
bon lower dw-link
Fork Description FOX F100RLC Fit tapered, 15mm QR, 100mm travel
Component Highlights SRAM XO drivetrain and brakes; DT Swiss
TRICON 1700 wheels, FSA SL-K stem, FSA SL-K carbon riser bar; FSA
Pivot Mach 4 XO $5,199 SL-K carbon seatpost, WTB Rocket V Race saddle.
Pivot’s Mach 4 improves for 2011. It loses over a half-pound of weight Sizes XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL
compared to the 2010 model, yet it’s stiffer for even more accuracy on Weight 23.1 pounds
the trail. Pivot bikes rely on Dave Weagle’s efficient yet supple dw-link Warranty 3 years on frame

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trail: mountain
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opens, instantly enlarging the air can for a

more linear, plush end stroke. As a result, the
EX pedals like a cross-country racer but sucks
up bumps like the versatile trail bike it is. For
2011, the EX gets ABP convert rear dropouts
so you can choose to use either a standard
9mm quick release, or stiffen up the back end
even more with a 142x12mm thru axle.
Frame Description OCLV Mountain Carbon
frame, E2 tapered head tube, OCLV carbon
seatstay w/ alloy chainstay, magnesium EVO
link, Fox RP-23 Pro-Pedal rear shock, 120mm
travel
Fork Description Fox 32 F-series Fit RL, alloy
E2 tapered steerer, 15 QR thru axle, 120mm
travel
Component Highlights Shimano XT
10-speed group, DT Swiss M 1800 wheels
with 15mm front and 142x12mm rear hubs,
Trek Fuel EX 9.8 $4,720 from the Fox DRCV rear shock. DRCV stands Bontrager Race X Lite carbon riser bars, Race
The Fuel EX off-road platform from Trek is for Dual Rate Control Valve, a Fox rear shock X Lite stem, Bontrager Rhythm post, Bon-
one of the Wisconsin company’s most popu- design proprietary to Trek. In the shock’s ear- trager Evoke 3 saddle
lar. And why wouldn’t it be? The suspension ly stroke, the air chamber is about half-sized Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5
blends awesome small bump sensitivity from to keep the bike sitting up in its travel and be- Weight 24.8 pounds
the ABP rear pivot and Full Floater shock having more like a short-travel frame. But as Warranty Limited lifetime on frameset, 2
mount with bottomless big hit performance the shock cycles deeper into its travel, a valve years on components
Specialized Stumpjumper
FSR Expert Carbon $4,400
Specialized’s Stumpjumper FSR trail bikes
get better every year, and that’s saying a lot
for a platform that’s been great for many
years. The FACT 9m carbon front triangle
and alloy rear stays make for an exception-
ally light but very stiff chassis. Fox and Spe-
cialized team up successfully on the Brain
rear shock, and the new Fox Talas RL two-
position adjustable travel fork promises
plush versatility up front. This is an excep-
tionally capable bike that offers stable, cross-
country-bike pedaling and nearly all-moun-
tain performance all in one package.
Frame Description FACT 9m carbon front
triangle, FACT IS construction, tapered head Fork Description Fox 140 TALAS RL, air Avid Elixir CR SL brakes, Roval Control Trail
tube, oversized bottom bracket, M5 alumi- spring, tapered alloy steerer, rebound adjust- AL wheels, Specialized XC stem and XC low
num rear triangle, sealed cartridge bearing ment and lockout, standard dropouts, 140- rise alloy bar, butted alloy seatpost and Spe-
pivots, replaceable derailleur hanger, Special- 110mm travel cialized Body Geometry Henge Comp saddle
ized/Fox Brain rear shock w/ remote Trail Component Highlights SRAM X9 shifters, Sizes S, M, L, XL
Tune inertia valve, Brain Fade and rebound XO rear derailleur, X7 front derailleur and Weight 26.4 pounds
adjustment, 140mm travel custom SRAM carbon S-2200 double crank, Warranty Limited lifetime

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trail: mountain
Cannondale Lexi 1 $3,000
The Cannondale Lexi’s seat tube, BB shell, and swingarm pivot are 3D
forged as one piece to eliminate excess material and add strength to
the backbone of this sweet trail bike. Instead of just a lowered shock
mount, the Lexi gets a completely different linkage to preserve the EDITOR’S
PICK
refined shock performance and leverage ratio built into the RZ One
Twenty family. And of course, there’s a lightweight Lefty Ultra PBR
fork up front and BB30 bottom bracket down below.
Frame Description Cannondale SmartFormed Alloy, BB30 bot-
tom bracket, 1.5-inch Si head tube, RockShox Monarch T3 rear shock,
120mm travel
Fork Description Lefty Ultra PBR, OPI, Solo Air, 120mm travel
Component Highlights SRAM X7 shifters and front derailleur, X9
rear derailleur, FSA Comet 386 BB30 cranks, and Hayes Stroker Trail
Carbon SL brakes, DT Swiss 1.7 rims and Lefty SL hubs, Cannondale
OPI adjustable stem and C2 riser bar, Cannondale C2 seatpost and
Prologo Vertigo Max Dea saddle Weight 29 pounds
Sizes P (petite), S, M Warranty Limited lifetime
Niner R.I.P. 9 $1,800 (frame only)

If you want to dip a toe in the big-wheeled water, but you’re not sure
where to start, turn to the originals. Niner builds nothing but 29ers,
so you’d expect them to know a thing or two. The award-winning
R.I.P. is one of their originals and remains popular today. It’s the do-
EDITOR’S
PICK
everything machine in the line, with 4.5 inches of Niner’s lauded CVA
suspension travel. With durable, high-grade sealed bearing pivots, a
tapered head tube, hydroformed top and down tubes, and geometry
built for 120mm-travel suspension forks, it’s made to rip singletrack
with the best of ’em.
Frame Description Hydroformed T6-6061 aluminum with 9 custom
forged parts, custom-valved Fox RP23 shock, 115mm travel
Fork Description Frame only (120mm travel forks recommended)
Component Highlights Frame only
Sizes S, M, L, XL
Weight 7.5 pounds with shock
Warranty 2 years
Jamis Dakar Sixfifty B2 $4,600

Can’t decide between a bike with 26-inch wheels or a 29er? Don’t. Take the
middle path and ride a bike with in-between-sized wheels. Jamis is one of
few companies bravely supporting the 650b wheel size. Drawbacks include
limited wheel, tire, and fork choice, but the benefits include lighter, more
nimble handling compared to 29ers. Still based on Jamis’s XCT trail bike
platform, this year’s Sixfifty gets a major upgrade out back with new mp4
suspension. Its asymmetric chainstays and 135x12mm Maxle thru-axle bol-
ster lateral rigidity, keeping the rear tire planted and tracking as you take
maximum advantage of the wickedly rigid front triangle and a stout 1.125 to
1.5-inch tapered head tube.
Frame Description Kinesium alloy main triangle, asymmetrical chain-
stays with 12x135mm thru-axle dropouts, mp4 linkage design, cartridge
bearing pivots, Rock Shox Monarch RT high volume shock, 130mm travel
Fork Description White Brothers Loop, 32mm stanchions, magnesium rear, Ritchey Pro 4-Axis 44 stem and Pro Rizer, crankbrothers joplin 4R
cast lower, tapered steerer, 1.5-inch crown, QtapeR15 axle system, Aura seatpost with remote and WTB Vigo Team carbon saddle
Damper, rebound control, air spring, 130mm travel Sizes 13, 15, 17, 19, 21
Component Highlights SRAM XO group with Avid XO brakes, American Weight 28.75 pounds
Classic 650b XC wheels with 20mm thru axle front and 12x135 Maxle lite Warranty 5 years on frame, 1 year on parts

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trail: mountain
minum Blur LT. Build it up however you want, for lighter cross-country
duty or bigger all-mountain efforts. There are no weight restrictions or
fork travel limits to worry about. Santa Cruz’s Next Generation Virtual
Pivot Point suspension delivers efficient pedaling with no sacrifice in
suppleness. Sophisticated carbon manufacturing, continuous layers of
material at the joints, and precise molding control yields accurate shapes
both inside and out for maximum frame strength with minimal weight.
Frame Description Carbon fiber front triangle featuring proprietary
one-piece lay-up process, carbon fiber rear triangle, carbon fiber upper
link, patented VPP suspension with 140mm travel
Fork Description Fox 32 TALAS RLC, as pictured. There are several
fork options available for all Santa Cruz models
Component Highlights SRAM XO, Formula The One brakes, DT
Santa Cruz Blur LT carbon $6,222 ($2,499 frame EX500 rims with DT 240 rear hub and Chub front hub, Thomson stem,
with RP23 shock) Easton Haven bar, Thomson Elite post, WTB Devo SLT saddle
The Santa Cruz Blur LT carbon is one of those bikes that just makes Sizes S, M, L, XL
you wonder how they do it. Santa Cruz says it’s a pound lighter and Weight 26.5 pounds as pictured
several orders of magnitude stronger and stiffer than the original, alu- Warranty 2 year limited for the original owner
Tomac Supermatic 120 1 $6,399

($2,399 frame and rear shock only)
Despite the legendary John Tomac name on these fine frames, Tomac
remains a small brand. But if they keep cranking out sweet rides like the
Supermatic 120, that’s sure to change. The new rig delivers 120mm of
travel in a super stiff, 5-pound (frame with shock) carbon fiber package.
It’s got a tapered head tube and the front triangle is made from high-
modulus carbon fiber with size-specific layups. Oversized aluminum
shafts through the pivots are engineered to eliminate flex and pivot slop
for the most precise ride possible.
Frame Description Hi Modulus carbon fiber, Fox RP23 shock, 120mm travel
Fork Description Fox Float RL 120mm, tapered steerer, 15mm axle
Component Highlights Shimano XTR cranks and derailleurs, SRAM
XO brakes, crankbrothers cobalt wheelset, Thomson Elite stem, Easton
EC90 carbon bar, Thomson Elite post, fi’zi:k Tundra 2 saddle
Sizes S, M, L, XL
Weight 24.5 pounds (5 pounds, frame w/ shock)
killer carbon fiber trail bike for women. Scott’s IMP4 carbon frame technol-
ogy makes the bike extremely light and stiff, while the Equalizer2 shock
allows the rider to choose between three separate travel settings via the
handlebar mounted TwinLoc lever.
EDITOR’S Frame Description Genius Carbon Mainframe with IMP4 technology,
PICK
HMF NET, and alloy 6061 double-butted swingarm with replaceable hang-
er, sealed aircraft bearings, Scott Equalizer rear shock with sag indicator,
dual rebound adjuster, and Twinloc remote travel adjuster, 95-150mm travel
150mm rear travel
Fork Description RockShox Revelation RL Dual Position, air spring, lock-
out, rebound adjustable, 120-150mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano SLX group with XT rear derailleur and
cranks, Avid Elixir R brakes, DT Swiss XR 35 wheels, Scott MC Pro stem
Scott Genius Contessa $4,200 and Pilot 20 Pro handlebar, Scott RC seatpost and fi’zi:k Vitesse Sport saddle
Contessa is a no-compromise group of products for serious female cyclists. Sizes S, M, L
The Genius is an adjustable travel full-suspension bike designed to handle Weight 27 pounds
any trail, any time. Combine the two, and you have the Contessa Genius, a Warranty 3 years

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trail: mountain
EDITOR’S
PICK
Trek Fisher Collection Rumblefish II Felt Virtue Expert $6,000

$3,780 At the top of the updated Virtue line of trail bikes, Felt mixes high-end
29er trail bikes are coming and the Rumblefish is ahead of the curve. carbon fiber with their adjustable travel rear suspension design, and
It features 120 and 110mm of travel, front and rear, respectively. Trek the result is impressive. Redesigned for 2011, the all-new Virtue Team
uses a dual-chamber DRCV shock that behaves similarly to a coil- features cutting-edge carbon engineering technologies and Equil-
spring shock without the weight. ABP Convert dropouts isolate brak- ink suspension travel — which can be adjusted to either 120mm or
ing forces from suspension action and allows the use of a 142x12mm 130mm to master all types of terrain. The new frame, made with UHC
thru axle on the rear. The suspension, combined with 29er wheels Advanced carbon fiber, has a ControlTaper tapered head tube for im-
and 2.25-inch tires, smoothes out the roughest trail. If all-day adven- proved front-end stiffness, plus updated, more stable geometry. With
ture revs you up more than the local short track series, check out the SRAM XO components and Mavic Crossmax ST wheels, this is Felt’s
Rumblefish. lightest, fastest Virtue ever.
Frame Description 6011 hydroformed aluminum mainframe and Frame Description Felt UHC Advanced carbon fiber main frame,
stays, G2 29er Geometry, DRCV shock mount, E2 tapered head tube, dynamic monocoque construction, 1-piece carbon rear triangle includ-
ABP dropouts, Fox Float RP23 shock with ProPedal and external re- ing dropouts, tapered head tube, RockShox Monarch RT3 rear shock,
bound, 110mm travel 120-130mm travel
Fork Description Fox F120 RLC 29er w/ E2 tapered steerer, G2 geom- Fork Description RockShox SID RLT, remote lockout, with tapered
etry, 51mm offset, 15mm thru axle, 120mm travel 1.125 to 1.5-inch alloy steerer, 120mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano XT/XTR 10 speed group, Avid Elix- Component Highlights SRAM XO group, Mavic Crossmax ST wheels,
ir R brakes, Bontrager FCC 15mm front thru axle/142x12mm rear thru Felt MTB oversized 3D forged stem and Devox RXC carbon handlebar,
axle hubs, Bontrager Duster Disc 29 rims, Bontrager Rhythm stem, Felt carbon seatpost and Felt Mountain Design saddle
Race Lite low riser bar, Rhythm Pro post, Evoke 3 saddle Sizes S, M, L, XL
Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 19, 21, 23 Weight 27.3 pounds
Weight 27.95 pounds Warranty Lifetime
Warranty Lifetime on mainframe, 3 years on swing arms and
Bontrager parts
group and DT Swiss Tricon wheelset. The Advanced SL composite

frame remains one of the best available, as does the efficient Maestro
suspension and Fox rear shock. It’s a bike on which you could easily
race cross-country in the morning and then switch to Super D in the
afternoon.
Frame Description Giant Advanced SL-Grade Composite, Maestro
suspension, oversized bottom bracket and tapered steerer, Fox Float
RP23 with Boost Valve rear shock, 120mm travel
Fork Description Fox 32 Talas FIT RLC w/ 15QR thru axle and tapered
steerer, 120-140mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano XTR group, custom Giant limited
edition DT Swiss Tricon XM 1550 tubeless-ready wheels, Giant Contact
SLR composite stem and low rise handlebar, Giant Contact SLR com-
Giant Trance X Advanced SL 0 $8,400 posite seatpost and fi’zi:k Gobi saddle
Why does this bike make our Buyer’s Guide year after year? Because we Sizes S, M, L, XL
continue to believe that it’s one of the best, most versatile trail bikes Weight 25.4 pounds
available. For 2011 it doesn’t change much except to gain a new XTR Warranty Limited lifetime

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all mountain: mountain
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Cannondale Jekyll
Ultimate $8,000 flex and linkage play with massive pivot axles Fork Description Fox 32 Talas RLC FIT, 15QR
Completely new for 2011, the Jekyll promises running across the frame. The frame itself is thru axle, 1.5-inch steerer, 150mm travel
to live up to its dualistic namesake with ad- rendered in Cannondale’s BallisTec impact re- Component Highlights SRAM XX group
justable travel, remarkably light weight, and sistant carbon, keeping it light and snappy for with Cannondale Hollowgram SL crankset
huge pivots that span the width of the frame climbs yet durable for descents. It’s truly built and XO front derailleur, Avid Elixir XO brakes,
for stiffness. The impressively engineered Fox to be a two-in-one superbike. The Jekyll Ulti- crankbrothers cobalt wheels 15mm front and
DYAD RT2 rear shock uses two different air mate is built with top spec, but this burly bike 142x12mm rear, Syntace Force 1.5 stem and
chambers and fluid reservoirs to provide ac- will be available in a range of parts picks. Vector Carbon riser bar, RockShox Reverb
curate shock rates in either the 90mm travel Frame Description Jekyll BallisTec Hi-MOD seatpost and fi’zi:k Tundra 2 saddle
Elevate mode or the 150mm travel Flow mode. Carbon, BB30 bottom bracket, ISCG03 chain Sizes S, M, L, XL
Jekyll’s 5-part ECS-TC (Enhanced Center guide mounts, 1.5-inch Si head tube, Fox DYAD Weight 25.4 pounds
Stiffness-Torsion Control) system eliminates RT2 dual shock 90-150mm travel Warranty Limited lifetime

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Trek Remedy 9 $4,200 E2 tapered head tube, magnesium EVO Link, oversized pivot bearings,
Trek’s Remedy trail bikes are generally regarded as some of the most ped- ISCG03 mounts, replaceable derailleur hanger, Fox Float RP23, “trail
al-friendly machines in the 6-inch travel world. Ross Schnell’s success tuned” w/Trek DRCV, boost valve, ProPedal, rebound, 150mm travel
in multiple all-mountain races testifies to the Remedy’s versatility. The Fork Description Fox 32 Talas Fit RLC w/air spring, low speed compres-
DRCV rear shock helps keep the bike sitting up in its travel for climb- sion, lockout, rebound, alloy E2 tapered steerer, 15QR, 120-150mm travel
ing, but it seamlessly flows into plush, bottomless big-hit performance Component Highlights Shimano Deore XT group with Avid Elixir CR
when the trail points down. Combined with ABP Convert rear dropouts, brakes, DT Swiss M1800 wheels, Bontrager Rhythm stem and Race Lite
which allow you to run either a standard 9mm quick release or a larger low rise bar, Bontrager Rhythm Elite seatpost and Evoke 2 saddle
142x12mm thru axle, it’s a remarkably versatile bike. We like the alumi- Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5
num Remedy 9 for rugged durability and a reasonable price tag. Weight 28 pounds
Frame Description Alpha Red Aluminum w/ABP Convert, Full Floater, Warranty Limited lifetime on frameset, 2 years on components
Orbea Rallon 30 $4,499

Orbea has pulled something special out of the bag with the Rallon 30. Using 12
cartridge bearings throughout its rear suspension and a radically hydroformed
aluminum frame, the Rallon’s frame is impressive. Details like interchange-
able dropouts keep future options open for different rear axle systems. The
XT component group and wheels are a smart spec for a bike made to
handle some abuse after a long climb.
Frame Description Hydroformed and butted aluminum with
sealed bearings at all pivots including shock mount for the
Fox RP23 XV, 150mm travel
Fork Description Fox TALAS 32 RLC, 15mm thru axle
Component Highlights Shimano XT group, Formula RX
brakes, Shimano XT wheels, Orbea bar, stem and post,
Selle Italia SL T1 saddle
Sizes XS, S, M, L
Weight 7.5 pounds medium frame with shock
Warranty Lifetime

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Ibis Mojo HD $4,999
In 2005 Ibis launched the Mojo. Thanks to its low weight and long
travel, it redefined how we viewed trail bikes. With the Mojo HD, Ibis
has taken it up a notch. At 160mm rear wheel travel, the Mojo HD
offers 20mm more travel than other Mojos. The tapered head tube
and the use of large bearings in the dw-link rear suspension keep the
Mojo HD stiff laterally. Ibis includes cable routing for adjust-
able seatposts, and room for 2.5-inch tires.
Frame Description Carbon Fiber Monocoque,
Fox RP23 shock, 160mm travel (140mm with
HD 140 option)
Fork Description Fox TALAS 36 RLC
tapered steerer, 160/120 travel
Component Highlights Shimano XT
group, Formula The One FR brakes,
Ibis/Stan’s Flow wheels (20mm front
thru axle, 12x135mm rear thru axle), Ibis
3D forged stem, Ibis DH bar, Ibis post,
WTB Rocket V saddle
Sizes S, M, L, XL
Weight 28.5 pounds (6.3 pounds for size
large frame with shock)
Warranty 3 years, with liberal no-fault crash
replacement after 3 years
Yeti 575 25th anniversary edition $4,500

($3,000 frame and fork)
If you are a Yeti fan, this bike is not to be missed. But hurry; there
are only 250 of these numbered 575 frames available. In addition
to the classic colors, this bike sports upgrades for 2011. The head
tube is now tapered, with a 1.5-inch lower headset bearing. The rear
triangle is new, with massive box-section chainstays, and the main
pivot junction are redesigned for added tire clearance, stiffness and
strength. A direct mount front derailleur is new, as are ISCG chain
guide mounts and cable stops for a dropper seatpost. Yeti’s dis-
tinctive hydro-formed aluminum main frame returns, as
do the interchangeable rear dropouts, but the geometry
is tweaked for more aggressive trail riding. The new
575 is ready to go big.
Frame Description Custom butted and hydro-
formed 7005 aluminum tubeset, oversized alloy
chainstays with internal cable routing, carbon
fiber seatstays with FlexPivot technology, direct
mount front derailleur, ISCG mounts and tapered
head tube, Fox RP23 shock
Fork Description Fox 32 Float RLC with custom tur-
quoise lowers and crown, 150mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano XT 10 speed group,
Chris King headset and bb (turquoise), DT Swiss X1600
wheels (15mm front thru-axle, 142x12mm rear thru-axle), Thomson
X4 stem, Easton Monkey Lite bar, Thomson Elite post, WTB Yeti
Devo custom 25th anniversary saddle
Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
Weight 7.2 pounds for frame, 27.5 pounds complete
Warranty 5 years, limited

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DT SWISS TRICON
®
WHEEL SYSTEM
Two piece hub
The two piece
flange and hub
shell design keeps
the bearing seat
free of tension.
This allows the
bearings to spin
as smoothly as
possible.
Star Ratchet
Thanks to the
proven DT Swiss
Ratchet System ®
the hubs can
easily be
converted to
different axle
standards
and rotors.
Straight double
threaded spokes
This spoke
connection is
considerably
stronger as it
is playfree on
both ends and
therefore subject
to smaller peak
loads.
Open Crowfoot
Spoke pattern
with combined
radial and
crossed spokes
for high stiffness
and perfect
transmission
of torques.
Torx nipples
Thanks to the
Torx design the
truing tool has
a better grip
on the nipple.
Rim insert
The spoke inserts
are supported on
two sides in the
rim creating a big
contact surface.
The rim can be
designed lighter,
is airtight
and tubeless
compatible.
Concave rim
profile
The concave
shaped sidewalls
counteract the
expansion force
induced by tire
pressure and
spoke pull.
Tubeless
For more information check out www.dtswiss.com

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hardtail: mountain
worldmags
a press fit BB92 bottom bracket shell and a

tapered head tube to add torsional rigidity up
EDITOR’S front. But to retain ride comfort, Scott built
PICK
SDS (Shock Damping System) rear stays into
the Scale. Pioneered on the CR1 road bike, the
SDS seat and chain stays offer additional ride
comfort to this rigid race machine. Not ready
for a 29er? The Scale is still available as a 26er.
Frame Description Scale 29 carbon, IMP3
technology, HMX Net fiber, tapered head tube,
carbon dropouts with replaceable derailleur
hanger and SDS rear stays
Fork Description Fox 32 F29 FIT remote lock-
out, tapered steerer, 15QR thru axle, 100mm
travel
Component Highlights SRAM XX group, DT
Swiss XR 29 wheels, Ritchey WCS 4-axis 44
Scott Scale 29 RC $6,300 than last year’s Scale. How’d they do it? The stem and WCS carbon flat bar, Ritchey WCS
The best of Scott Bicycle’s carbon molding top, head, and down tubes are molded as one carbon seatpost and Selle Italia SLR Team Edi-
technology is leveraged in the new Scale 29er piece, by way of Scott’s IMP3 (Integrated Mold- tion saddle
to keep the frame as light and stiff as possible. ing Process). With IMP molding, less mate- Sizes M, L, XL
In fact, Scott says it’s the lightest 29er frame in rial can be used with no loss of strength. It’s Weight 21.15 pounds
the world at 949 grams, yet 20-percent stiffer combined with oversized frame tubes meeting Warranty 3 years
EDITOR’S
PICK
design you could desire. A BB30 bottom
bracket permits large tube interfaces for max-
imum stiffness. The oversized head tube ac-
commodates a zero-stack headset, and com-
bined with a subtle curve in the down tube,
offers great fork crown clearance. Formed
chainstays in the rear triangle add tire clear-
ance, and slim 6/4 titanium seatstays add to
the light, responsive ride feel.
Frame Description TIG-welded seamless,
butted 3/2.5 titanium with 6/4 seatstays,
BB30 bottom bracket, oversized 44mm head
tube
Fork Description Customer’s spec, 80mm
recommended
Component Highlights Customer’s spec
Moots MootoX RSL the new MootoX RSL. It’s the latest, lightest, Sizes 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, plus custom sizing
$3,495 (frame only) and stiffest 29er race bike, rendered in butt- Weight 3.5 pounds (frame only, 18 inch)
Every Moots titanium bike is built by hand ed, seamless 3/2.5 titanium from this iconic Warranty Lifetime warranty on craftsman-
in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, including builder. It sports every ounce of cutting-edge ship and materials

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Focus Raven 2.0 $6,400

The Raven race bike from Focus won a Eurobike Gold award in
2009, and happily for hardtail fans, it didn’t change for 2011. The
Raven wears many of the features that make its carbon roadie
cousin, the Izalco, so popular. Internal cable routing through struc-
tural tunnels in the frame adds stiffness. The elbow bend above the
dropouts adds ride comfort. A tapered head tube keeps
the front end on line, and the BB30 bottom bracket
is light and stiff.
Frame Description High modulus carbon
fiber monocoque frame with internal
cable routing for brake and gear cables
Fork Description Fox 32F Fit Remote
with 15QR, 100mm travel
Component Highlights Shima-
no XTR group, DT Swiss XR 1450
wheels, 3T XIDA Team stem and ARX
alloy bar, 3T Doric carbon seatpost and
fi’zi:k Tundra 2 saddle
Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
Weight 20 pounds
Warranty Lifetime
BMC teamelite TE01 $2,450

(frame, $4,500 complete with SRAM XO)
Hardtail mountain bikes with 26-inch wheels are increasingly
marginalized given the growing popularity of 29ers, but that
hasn’t stopped BMC from building a new, carbon fiber race-ready
machine. Leveraging design elements and knowledge gained
from the teammachine SLR01 road racing frame, the new teamel-
ite tips the scales at 1,100 grams in a size medium. It’s built with
the same stepped profile TCC (Tuned Compliance
Concept) frame shapes in the seatstays and
seatpost to help damp trail vibration.
In contrast to many modern bikes,
BMC sticks with a straight 1.125-
inch head tube and threaded
bottom bracket, but the angu-
lar frame shapes and targeted
use of high-grade carbon
keep the frame ultra-stiff.
Frame Description BMC iSC
carbon with Tuned Compli-
ance Concept
Fork Description FOX F100
FIT RL, 100mm travel
Component Highlights SRAM XO
group, Easton EA90 XC wheels, Easton
EA70 stem and handlebar, BMC teamelite 01
carbon seatpost with TCC, Selle Italia SL-XC saddle
Sizes S, M, L
Weight 2.4 pounds frame, 19.8 pounds complete
Warranty 3 years on frame after online registration

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hardtail: mountain
Lynskey Pro29 $2,495 (frame only)
The Pro29 has been radically updated for 2011. The integrated head-
set-style head tube is dramatically larger than the 2010 model. It now
accommodates tapered forks as well as standard 1.125-inch forks. The
EDITOR’S
PICK down tube has grown in diameter from 1.75 to 2 inches. The bottom
bracket shell is wider, now 73mm. A chainstay yoke increases rear tire,
chainring and crankarm clearance. All this adds up to significantly
increased lateral stiffness as well as improving the over-
all functionality of the frame. Standard satin finish
is included with the base frame price. A mill
finish is available for $150 and the pictured
brushed finish is $300.
Frame Description Custom 3/2.5 tita-
nium, 2-inch Helix down tube and top
tube, sliding dropouts and plate-style
chain stay/bb junction
Fork Description RockShox Reba
100mm travel
Component Highlights SRAM XX,
Stan’s ZTR wheels, FSA bar and stem,
Lynskey Ti post, Selle Italia SL saddle
Sizes S, M, L, Xl
Weight 3.75 pounds frame only
Warranty Lifetime for original owner
Seven Sola IMX SL $3,995 (frame only)

Mary McConneloug has raced Seven mountain bikes to four
national titles and in two Olympic Games. The Sola IMX
SL uses carbon fiber top and seat tubes and double-butted
titanium elsewhere to create a top-of-the-line mountain bike
frame. Seven also offers full titanium and steel frames. After
a lengthy discussion with each customer, Seven
helps decide on full custom geometry, ride
quality particulars, frame add-ons and
finishes. You are guaranteed to get
exactly the mountain bike you’ve
always wanted from the folks in
Watertown, Massachusetts.
Frame Description Custom
carbon fiber and double
butted titanium
Fork Description
Customer spec
Component Highlights
Customer spec
Sizes Custom
Weight 3 pounds (frame)
Warranty Limited lifetime for
original owner

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hardtail: mountain
Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er 2 $4,249

If you can only own one mountain bike, you could do a lot worse than
Cannondale’s Flash Carbon 29er. It’s ready for the start line of any
cross- country or short-track race, at under 22 pounds. Cannondale’s
EDITOR’S
PICK Lefty fork is both visually stunning and capable. The wide carbon
top tube blends directly into the seat stays for better lat-
eral rigidity. At the same time, the flattened SAVE
chain stays provide vertical compliance, up to
7 millimeters.
Frame Description Flash 29er BallisTec
carbon, SAVE rear stays, BB30, 1.5-inch Si
head tube
Fork Description Lefty 29er Carbon
PBR, 90mm, Solo Air
Component Highlights SRAM X9
group, Avid Elixir CR carbon brakes,
Stan’s ZTR Arch rims on Lefty front hub
and Sun Dirty Flea rear hub, Cannondale
stem, Truvativ Stylo WC flat bar, Flash car-
bon post, Prologo X10 CroMo saddle
Sizes M, L, XL
Weight 21.9 pounds
Breezer Cloud 9 LTD $5,899 ($1,799 for frame)

Joe Breeze is back where he started. Credited by some for building the
first modern mountain bike (1977), he is clearly a founding father of
EDITOR’S
the sport. Lately his passion has been in utility, commuter bicycles, but
PICK with the Cloud 9 LTD he shows that he hasn’t lost his love of trail rid-
ing. No corners are cut with this cross-country 29er. Car-
bon frame? Check. Rock Shox Reba? Check. Brand
new XTR 20-speed? Check. He even gets WTB
(founded by other members of mountain bike
royalty) in the mix. If you’re tired of the big
brands that everyone is riding, check out
the Breezer.
Frame Description High modulus car-
bon fiber, Joe Breeze D’Fusion shaped
tubeset, tapered head tube, BB92 bot-
tom bracket
Fork Description Rock Shox Reba RLT
29er, tapered steerer, remote lockout,
100mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano XTR
20-speed group, WTB Stryker TCS 29er tube-
less wheels, Oval M800 carbon bar, stem and
seatpost, WTB Silverado Team custom saddle
Sizes 17, 18.5, 19.5, 21
Weight 1,200 grams for frame
Warranty Lifetime for the original owner

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AIR 9 CARBON: VISIT A DEMO DEALER

TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THE MAGAZINES
CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT.
DEMO A NINER
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY AT ONE OF OUR DEMO DEALERS.
Reviews from around the FOR ADDRESSES AND A LIST OF BIKES AT EACH LOCATION,
world for all our bikes.
Check them out on VISIT WWW.NINERBIKES.COM/VN
Ninerbikes.com OR SEARCH “NINER BIKES” ON FACEBOOK.
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enthusiast: mountain
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EDITOR’S
PICK
lightweight FluidForm ALUXX SL frameset,
confident geometry and Maestro Suspension.
With the added benefits of 29-inch wheels,
the all-new Anthem X 29er could be Giant’s
most versatile cross-country bike.
Frame Description Giant ALUXX SL-Grade
aluminum, 4-inch Maestro suspension, Fox
Float RP23 shock with Boost Valve, 100mm
travel
Fork Description Fox F29 FIT RLC (Giant
LTD Edition) w/ 15QR thru axle and tapered
steerer, 100mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano Deore XT
group, Avid Elixir CR brakes, Giant P-XC29
rims on Giant Tracker hubs, Giant Contact
Giant Anthem X 29er quickness and agility of the Anthem X design stem and Contact flat bar, Giant Contact seat-
$3,675 gets the big-wheel boost. It was developed post and fi’zi:k Tundra 2 saddle
With the explosive popularity of big wheels, with the help of Giant cross-country pros and Sizes S, M, L, XL
this bike has been one of the most anticipat- raced to victory at the Sea Otter Classic Su- Weight 26.2 pounds
ed new models from Giant in 2011. Now the per D and the Downieville Classic. It sports a Warranty Limited lifetime
Salsa Spearfish $2,250

($1,000 frame/rear shock)
Even with the 29er craze peaking over the
last few years, the idea of a lightweight,
dual-suspension 29er rendered in PICK alloy
EDITOR’S
remained elusive. Now, though, an alumi-

num wagon-wheeled rig that doesn’t break
the bank or the scale is attainable — the
Salsa Spearfish. An XL frame and shock
weighs in at just under six pounds. With a
judicious build, a sub-26-pound bike can
be had. The Spearfish uses a simple, but ef-
fective single pivot and dog bone link. With
the rear pivot taken out of the suspension
design, there is one less set of bearings
and other assorted bits. The Spearfish is
designed to run a 100mm tapered fork and
a press-fit BB30 bottom bracket. The frame
can accommodate 2×10 and 3×9 drivetrains
and will fit up to a 2.25-inch tire. You get all Shox Monarch R air shock, 80mm rear travel hole hubs, Salsa Pro Moto stem and Pro Moto
that with a RockShox Reba fork and Mon- Fork Description RockShox Reba RL 29er, 11-degree flat bar, FSA SL-280 seatpost and
arch shock, SRAM X7/X9 drivetrain and 100mm WTB Silverado saddle
Stan’s Arch 29er tubeless-ready wheels for Component Highlights SRAM X9 group Sizes S, M, L, XL
$2,250 with X7 cranks and SRAM Elixir 5 disc Weight 28 pounds
Frame Description EV6 Aluminum, Rock- brakes, Stan’s Arch 29er rims on Formula 32- Warranty 5 years

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RALEIGH AMERICA MODEL YEAR 2011: STEEL ROAD
REYNOLDS 853. DURA-ACE.
THE RETURN OF THE PURE STEEL ROAD BIKE
RALEIGHUSA.COM
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same time, with more chain growth in the new design, chain tension
keeps the swingarm pulled down for less pedal bob.
Frame Description Norco MU9 aluminum with ceramic pivot bear-
ings, micro link, and ART suspension system, RockShox Monarch R
rear shock, 100mm travel
Fork Description RockShox SID RLT, 20mm Maxle Lite, 100mm
travel
Norco Phaser 2 $2,665 Component Highlights Shimano SLX group with XT rear derailleur,
Norco has a new suspension platform called A.R.T. (Advanced Ride Sun EQ21 rims on Sun Dirty Flea hubs, Norco MTB Lite stem and SL
Technology). Engineers refined pivot placement in an effort to simul- alloy flat bar, Norco Lite seatpost and WTB Silverado Race SL saddle
taneously get better pedaling efficiency and improved bump compli- Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
ance. Now the rear axle swings a little more rearward as the suspen- Weight 24.7 pounds
sion compresses, allowing the wheel to track terrain better. At the Warranty 5 years
EDITOR’S
PICK
saddle, Kona Lisa grips, and a narrower women’s-specific handlebar.

Frame Description Kona Race Light Scandium Butted tubeset, Walk-
ing Beam 4-Bar linkage suspension, Fox Float RP2 shock
Fork Description RockShox Recon Gold TK Solo-Air 100mm travel
Kona Hei Hei Lisa $2,700 Component Highlights Shimano SLX/XT group, Avid Elixir 5 brakes,
It’s the female counterpart to Kona’s Hei Hei 100 and is designed spe- Mavic Crossride wheels, Kona XC bar/stem, Kona Double Clamp post,
cifically for the needs and fit of the female body. New for 2011, Kona WTB Speed SHE Sport SE saddle
has given the bike more standover and ride characteristics focused on Sizes 15, 16, 17, 18
making it lighter, quicker and more nimble. The Hei Hei Lisa comes Weight 27 pounds
with lockout levers for front and rear suspension, WTB Speed She Warranty Limited lifetime on frame, 1 year on parts
travel fork, SRAM drivetrain and hydraulic brakes for less than $1,500 is
impressive. Yes it’s a bit heavy, but the 29er wheels and crisp shifting will
keep it fun on the trail. Haro isn’t the biggest name in mountain biking,
but the Flightline 29 Expert is a great bike for those on a budget.
EDITOR’S Frame Description Flightline 29er 6061 aluminum hardtail with in-
PICK
tegrated headset
Fork Description RockShox Recon SoloAir 80mm travel with Turn-
key lockout
Component Highlights SRAM X9 9-speed rear derailleur/shifters
with Truvativ Firex 3.0 GXP 44/323/22 cranks, Avid Elixer 5 hydraulic
disc brakes, WTB Laser Disc 29 rims laced to Pivit alloy sealed hubs,
Ritchey Pro 4-Axis stem, Ritchey Comp riser bar, Ritchey Comp V2
seatpost, WTB Rocket V Comp saddle
Haro Flightline 29 expert $1,415 Sizes 16, 18, 20
With the Flightline 29 Expert, Haro offers a great entry-level hartail that’s Weight 29.5 pounds
extremely capable. A 6000 series aluminum frame, a Rock Shox 80mm Warranty Limited lifetime

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5W
worldmags
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suspension motion completely isolated from chain force for supple,

active suspension in all conditions.
Frame Description Hydroformed 6061-T6 aluminum frame In-
dependent Drivetrain suspension system, replaceable derailleur hang-
er, Fox Float RP23 Boost Valve rear shock, 100mm travel
Fork Description Fox 32F RL FIT damper, 120mm travel
Component Highlights Shimano SLX group with SRAM S1400
cranks, SRAM X7 front derailleur, Shimano XTR rear derailleur, and
GT Sensor 1 $3,200 Formula RX brakes, DT Swiss X430 rims on All Terra sealed bearing
GT is heading in a new direction for 2011: straight out the door and hubs, Syncros AM stem and crankbrothers cobalt 2 riser bar, crank-
onto the trails. Most of the GT line costs less than it has in the past, brothers cobalt2 seatpost and WTB Silverado Race SL saddle
but the tried and true frame designs haven’t lost their mettle. The Sen- Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
sor line of trail bikes is led by the 1.0, a nice blend of performance Weight 30.3 pounds
and durability. GT’s Independent Drivetrain suspension keeps the Warranty 5 years
decouples suspension actuation from drivetrain and braking forces to

keep wheel travel independent and active. With a smart parts pick and
custom tuned RockShox fork, it’s a quality rig for rough terrain.
Frame Description M4 alloy, double ORE down tube, DMD
front derailleur mount, sealed cartridge bearing pivots, bolt-on cable
guides, replaceable hanger, Fox RP2 rear shock, 150mm travel
Fork Description Custom RockShox Sektor RL, Motion Control
damper, Solo Air, alloy steerer, rebound adjuster, 20mm Maxle Lite
axle, 150mm travel
Component Highlights SRAM X5 shifters with X9 rear derail-
leur and Shimano M660 front derailleur, Truvative GXP2 2.1 cranks
and Avid Elixir 5 R-SL brakes, Pitch disc rims on Specialized Hi Lo
disc hubs, Specialized XC stem and all-mountain low rise handlebar,
Specialized Pitch Pro $2,200 alloy seatpost and Specialized BG Enduro saddle
Looking for a big hit bike that won’t inflict a big hit to your budget? The Sizes S, M, L, XL
Specialized Pitch Pro could be just the ticket. It offers 150mm of tunable Weight 29.7 pounds
travel from the FSR rear suspension design. Strategic pivot placement Warranty Limited lifetime
head tube for point and shoot steering control and 140mm of suspen-
sion delivered through a new “Y” Link design that narrows the linkage
width by 67%. Marin’s new XM geometry is designed to increase de-
scending stability while positioning the rider for better climbing. For
$3,500 you get a lot of bike for your money.
Frame Description 6066 aluminum, hydroformed mainframe
and swingarm, Quad-Link 2.0 suspension, 140mm travel, tapered
head tube, modular dropouts
Fork Description Fox 32 Float RL Fit, 140mm travel, tapered
steerer, compression lockout, rebound adjustment and air spring pre-
load, 15mm thru axle
Component Highlights Shimano XT derailleurs and shifters,
Avid Elixir R brakes, SUNRingle Black Flag Expert wheels, Easton
EA70 Monkey bar, FSA OS150 stem, FSA SL-250 post, WTB Silverado
Marin Mount Vision XM8 $3,499 Comp saddle
With an all-new frameset and redesigned Quad Link 2.0 suspension Sizes XS, S, M, L
system, Marin has kept the new Mount Vision XM series updated for Weight 28.1 pounds
today’s trail riders. For 2011 the XM8 uses a tapered 1.125 to 1.5-inch Warranty 5 years

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Once you see it, you won’t be able to keep your hands off it. Edge® 800 —
the first touchscreen GPS bike computer with maps, ascent/descent, wireless
speed/cadence1, heart rate1, power2 and more. It’s rugged and waterproof,
yet responds to the tap of a gloved hand. www.garmin.com/intosports
Follow the leader.
NASDAQ GRMN ©2011 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

1
When paired with sensors; included with some models, sold separately for others.
2
When paired with a third-party ANT+™ power meter.
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COMPONENTS
PIECES OF
THE PUZZLE
MOUNTAIN BIKE GROUPS
SHIMANO XTR 118
SHIMANO XT 122
SRAM X0 124
SRAM X9 125
SRAM XX 126
ROAD BIKE GROUPS

Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo’s
offerings, broken down by price,
weight and your choice of vehicle 128
POWER METERS
Four choices, plus computers
and visions of the future 130
WHEELS
Our picks for every category,
from an everyday tubeless set
to a dream pair of hoops 136
GETTY IMAGES

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xtr: components
Complete XTr trail group

$2,500
By Zach White
2011 Shimano XTR

O
n a wet, cool summer morning in 1991, doing our best to beat the same group into last year’s XTR. The Race brakes are lighter,
Dave Weins casually leaned his bike up the ground over the last several months, our saving 40 grams and increasing power by 10
against the race registration building opinion hasn’t really changed, save a couple percent over last year’s XTR.
at Mt. Crested Butte and walked inside, of minor hiccups. Race wheels have 19mm scandium rims
allowing me — then a skinny, wide-eyed and weigh 1,480 grams in a 9mm quick re-
junior — enough time to burn a memory XTR Race vs. Trail lease version. The Trail wheels are stouter with
into my brain: one of the first glimpses of an A new twist on the XTR group for 2011 is the wider 21mm rims, and 15mm front and either
original XTR group. division between the Trail and Race groups. 9mm quick release or 142x12mm rear thru ax-
Two decades later, Shimano seems to have The differences are, as you’d expect, a balance les. They tip the scales at 1,700 grams.
tipped its hat to M900 of old in the new 2011 of weight and performance. Racers want to Shimano is also offering Race and Trail ped-
XTR. Not that XTR has ever been anything save every gram they can, while trail riders pre- als, the latter with a large platform surround-
less than impressive overall, but the elegance fer better braking and a lower range of gears ing the engagement mechanism; we tested the
and class of that first group slowly faded into even at the cost of extra weight. Trail group.
fashion-free function with each passing re- With that in mind, Shimano offers Race
vamp. So when something new and shiny is double-ring cranks in 42-30 and 40-28 rings. Drivetrain
unveiled from Shimano’s dirt flagship, it’s easy Trail cranks are offered in traditional triple ring With the introduction of Dyna-Sys to XTR, in
to see a bit of nostalgia in its reflection. arrangement of 42-32-24 and double ring 38-26 combination with the new XTR-specific direc-
We reported last year from the XTR me- combinations. tional 10-speed chain, this year’s drivetrain
brad kaminski
dia camp with nothing but praise from the Brakes get different treatments with the is noticeably smoother and quieter than last
one weekend we spent on the 3x10 version Trail levers offering more power, adjustability year. The Dyna-Sys gear ratios pay off with
with the Trail wheels and brakes. And after and heat management at the same weight as less abrupt cadence changes between gear

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xtr: components
XTR trail
brake lever
XTR 10-speed rear

cassette and XTR vivid index
derailleur shifter system
selections. At the same time, XTR keeps a bail- to skip-shift in both directions. outer face now polished, and the logo finally
out gear even the most lackadaisical climbers Shimano uses an aluminum pulley plate on moved out of harm’s way, gone are the sad days
will appreciate, by way of a 36-tooth rear cog the spoke side of the derailleur cage to add a bit of systematically tarnishing some of the nic-
paired with the 24-tooth ring up front. of protection from the spokes. We had the mis- est and most expensive cranks many of us will
Speaking of that 36, it’s now easier to fortune of randomly bending one while coast- ever own, one RPM at a time. The crank ends,
stay away from the small ring with so much ing down a mildly technical trail. It was hard however, are still dark anodized, and show
range in the back. In addition, staying in the to say what happened, and Shimano essentially dings, scrapes and gouges as clearly as in prior
42-tooth big ring is more common, thanks to gave us the “never seen that before” answer typ- years. But the good news is that XTR cranks
28-tooth and 32-tooth cogs at the ready, before ical of a PR department. But, best guess is that still seem to be as stiff and indestructible as
getting completely cross-shifted. there was just enough space for the chain be- ever, so take comfort in knowing that the big-
Once past the new, rather noticable “click” of tween the bottom pulley and cage, and during gest risk of catching a crank while spastically
the Vivid Index shifter, lever action is notably suspension compression the aluminum plate spinning through a rock garden at 120 rpm
lighter than before, even after multiple sloppy was no match for the wedged chain, bending is having your friends laugh at you, and not
rides and accompanying hose-downs. Part of it up towards the spokes. Luckily, it bent back bending a crank arm.
the improvement certainly comes from straight- into place, finishing the ride with only minor
er cable routing between the housing stop and performance reduction. Shimano was able to Braking
pinch bolt on the rear derailleur, as well as a repair the original derailleur with a new plate, The XTR Trail brakes offer true, one-finger
longer housing stop arm, designed to increase and there hasn’t been an issue since. braking on even the biggest descents. Modu-
the mechanical advantage of the derailleur lation is fantastic, ergonomics are great, and
Crankset
brad kaminski (3)
spring. The beefed up click in the shifter not reach adjustments are a breeze. Extremely
only creates a more positive shift feedback, but Over the years, the dark, anodized finish of consistent braking is generated in the combi-
definitely reduces the frequency of overshifting XTR cranks has provided a storied record of nation of the floating Ice-Tec rotors, radiated
into a harder gear with XTR’s trademark ability every shoe-rubbing pedal stroke. With the brake pads, triple-layered brake housing, and

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xt: components
XTR 980 spd pedal
powerful Servo levers. However, one annoyance better at shedding East Coast mud.
was a hesitant pad retraction on our rear caliper
after extensive use, which caused a few seconds Wheels
of squeal after releasing the lever. Our best guess With multiple axle-deep creek crossings,
is that a piston or seal is expanding from exces- big drops and more poor line choices than
sive heat, thus slowing down pad retraction. a drunk frat boy on ladies’ night, the XTR
Trail wheels could still practically be sold
Pedals as “like new” with a clear conscious. Yet,
Basically, if you like SPDs, you’ll love the they’re light enough to offer a nice, respon-
new 980s. You’ll find a huge improvement sive ride, and the crisp, frictionless freehub
in the shoe contact area, in what amounts to never even gave a hint of trouble. The 21mm
a slightly lighter and stronger package. They rims are wide enough to solidly house 2.4-
worked well in the Rockies’ version of sloppy inch trail tires, and mounting them tube-
conditions, but we did hear a rumor on the less is relatively painless with ample depth xtr trail brake fins
race circuit that last year’s pedals work a bit inside the rim for tight tire beads. and ice-tec rotor
SHIMANO XT
F or 2011, Shimano’s venerable XT group gains an extra gear, receiving
the company’s latest Dyna-Sys treatment, while maintaining a triple
crankset. Styling remains the same as the 9-speed XT group, allowing
partial adopters to mix-and-match without ruining aesthetics. The re-
sult is an excellent everyman drivetrain, achieving a wide gear spread
while improving shifting both front and rear.
Chainring tooth count has been tightened up, with the big ring
dropped to a 42 tooth from a 44 and the granny upped to a 24 from
22. At the same time, the cassette has been widened to a maximum
of 11-36, from 11-34. Because of the extra gear, cadence jumps between
cogs remains similar. Complete XT
The new 10-speed rear derailleur has a shorter cage, thanks to the group $1,425
decreased chain wrap requirements of the whole system, and has been
made stiffer as well. Right shifter cable pull is a bit tighter than before, We reversed the chain to get a better feel for the effects of the Dyna-Sys
and shifts feel more like XTR than last year’s 9-speed XT. engineering, and were astounded at how awful the system shifted, regard-
Shimano developed a mountain bike specific Dyna-Sys directional less of how much time we spent tuning. Pretty impressive technology.
chain for their dirt groups, which, when mated with new tooth pro- The super wide gear range available with a triple crankset and 11-36
brad kaminski (3)
files on the cassette and chainrings, makes for buttery smooth shifting. cassette was overkill for much of our riding. We still see double (and
The outer plates of the Dyna-Sys chains are designed to be picked up even single) fronts as the wave of the future, and would love to have
by the chainrings, while the inner plates are designed to be picked up the option of a 40/28 or 38/26 double crankset with the new XT group.
by the cassette teeth, making shifts under load much more predictable. — Caley Fretz

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+ Nack Rail + 165 gr.
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capabilities instantly makes For the money, and the
the Dash a direct competitor innovative way it (iPro)
to Garmin's computers, and calculates power, I remain
puts it ahead of offerings thoroughly impressed.
from SRM and Powertap. – VeloNews
– NY Velocity
iBikeSports.com
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Complete sram XO
group $1,900
pletely sold. Leaving behind a standard triple

to ride the XO double up front was definitely
noteworthy. But later switching back to a triple
was just shy of painful. Like many, my fear
of not having a granny gear was the biggest
prejudice, which was pleasantly relieved by a
36-tooth cog in the back, and a 26-tooth ring
up front. The 2x10 system also flawlessly cross-
gears, allowing the full range of all 20 com-
binations.
SRAM’s front shifting works incredibly
well. CNC aluminum chainrings are linked
together via a larger diameter spider, which
helps with shift speed and precision. In addi-
tion, the four chainring-to-spider interfaces
are improved with more surface area to hold
everything tightly together.
While the speed and accuracy of the front
end shifting is impressive, the chain had a ten-
dency to occasionally jump off the big ring, at
least on rougher trails. We eventually found a
bent Power Link plate after looking into the is-
sue. Retention drastically improved with a new
chain, but the jumpy chain issue still exists
through the rough stuff. When slowing speeds
down through rougher sections, however, the
problem almost entirely disappeared.
While the 10-speed Power Link looks exactly
like the old ones, it is nothing close to the tool-
free SRAM Power Links we’re familiar. It took
a trio of tools, swearing, and bloody knuckles
to both break and connect the new version.
Only later did we learn of Park’s Power Link
tool.
2011 XO shifters still offer the usual SRAM
feel with very crisp, short-throw shifting. The
bonus this year, however, comes with the Match-
By maker system, which cleans up handlebar com-
Zach White ponents quite nicely, especially when remote
SRAM XO
lockouts or a Reverb drop-post remote is used.
Set up is a bit tedious if you don’t get it right the
first time, as the system works in layers, so be
careful. It is still worth the sacrifice for handle-
bar cleanliness, however. SRAM is also pushing
Torx fasteners, as everything but the shift lever
adjustment and the shifter dust cap fastener uses
a T25. Our dust cap fasteners loosened up a cou-
ple of times, which initially caused a mysterious
M
ore often than not, when we review actual durability. rattle, until we figured it out.
newly released gear, the time we With SRAM’s 2011 XO, however, we’ve been
spend on the product itself is limited riding an entire group since last May, allowing Cranks
to a few weeks at best before having to go to us to ride and race it for months, in a multitude The XO cranks offer exceptional power trans-
print. So while we usually just get an idea of of regions in varying conditions. fer efficiency. The carbon arms also held up
how a gizmo works in its newest and most di- impressively well to being bashed up against
aled condition, it’s rare to have anything long Drivetrain the usual trail pitfalls, with only a few cos-
enough to truly ride it into the ground for The new XO group is my first long-term metic dings and scrapes as a result. The only
months on end to get an idea of a product’s experience with a 2x10 system, and I am com- disappointment is how poorly the clear coat

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x9: components
X0 or X9? 2011 Sram X0 2x10

crank (l) X9 (r)
2011 Sram X0 front

brake caliper D escribed by SRAM as “The working man’s group,” X9 is the less-expensive ($1,150), less car-
bon-laden version of XO that boasts basically the same performance at only a slight weight
penalty. There are also “only” three color choices in the X9 group, verses the XO palate of four.
held up. The ankle rubs happened to line up
almost perfectly with the XO logo, which am- Drivetrain Front and rear derailleur performance is the same as XO. X9 offers
plified the aesthetic issue. the same short/medium/long cage options on the rear, and the same mounting and pull
We encountered one mechanical issue with options on the front. Slight variations in materials has the X9 rear derailleur weigh in at
our cranks. The dust cap thread pitch on the 14-grams heavier, and the front derailleurs are the same as far as we can tell.
non-drive crank is the same drive/thread di- Shifters weigh exactly the same and have almost all the same technology and feel, but the
rection as the crank arm bolt, which makes X9 doesn’t get the same adjustable lever option as XO. X9 is also sticking with Allen key
removal of the crank difficult. The dust cap fasteners for 2011, but we’re guessing it won’t be long until SRAM trickles the Torx fasten-
backs out with the crank bolt instead of acting ers down to X9.
as a contact point for the bolt to push the crank
off with. We ended up drilling two small holes Cranks The biggest penny-pincher variation between the two groups is with the X9
in the dust cap so we could hold it against the cranks. The hollow-forged aluminum cranks are still plenty stiff and durable, and weight
crank bolt with spanner pliers, but that kind variation is actually negligible, so really you’re just missing the bling that comes with the
of modification shouldn’t have to be made to carbon XO cranks. The X9 chainrings aren’t CNC machined, either, but they do have the
simply remove a set of stock cranks. It might same X-Glide technology as the XO rings. Bottom brackets seem to be exactly the same, too.
also help to Loctite the caps before installing
the cranks. Brakes One spot where X9 gets the same carbon treatment as XO is in the brake
levers. Unfortunately, X9 brakes still come in at around 50-grams heavier than the XO
Brakes brakes. But performance is essentially the same, and with the X9 carbon levers, they at
The XO hydraulic brakes are great. After least look light.
miles and months of riding, they work as
well as the day we got them. Modulation is Cassette X9 gets the PG-1070 cassette with semi-spidered design. The XO gets
brad kaminski (2); courtesy Sram (2)
outstanding, power is more than enough the XG-1080, which uses individual stamped steel cogs that are held together with steel
with one finger, and disc squeal is minimal. pins. The result is a cassette weighing in at almost 100 grams heavier than the XO. The X9
Tool-free contact point adjustment gets cassette is also a bit more susceptible to clogging with mud as the semi-spider construction
a new feel with detents , which is a nice isn’t nearly as permeable as the non-spidered XO. Both use PowerGlide technology and the
touch, too, although the housing still has a X9 cassette still offers an 11-32 option in addition to the 11-36.
tendency to twist up.
All in all, the XO group is a well-priced, rela- Chain There is no difference between the X9/1070 chain and the XO/1090 chain.
tively lightweight performance package that is Both use hollow, chrome-hardened pins, weigh in at 257-grams, and come with the Power-
built to last. Lock connecting link.

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xx: components
A long-term relationship with

SRAM XX hits the one-year mark
J udging a parts kit, a pair of wheels, or a
bicycle is like developing a relationship: it
starts with first impressions, and then we try
up. With a narrow chain
line, cross-chain gear
combinations perform
to foster a long-term connection. If our first superbly and expand the
outings with a product bloom into a lasting usable gearing range
and happy bond, we want to tell you about it. while eliminating redun-
We try to spend as much time as possible rid- dancies. We spent sur-
ing products for many miles in an array of con- prising amounts of time
ditions. If something could fail prematurely, we in the big ring, avoiding
want it to happen before writing a review. But chain slap and spreading
if we ride too many miles and wait too long wear across the larger
before reporting, the review arrives too late. cogs.
Our readers, riding buddies and training pals On the other hand, the
can’t benefit from our experiences and make range of usable gearing
informed decisions. is marginally narrower
That’s why we took the plunge early last — the easiest XX gear
Complete SRAM XX group $2,400
April and reported on SRAM’s revolutionary isn’t quite as easy as what
XX component group on singletrack.com, af- you might find on a com-
ter just a couple months of dating. Back then, peting 3x9 or 3x10 set up. It’ll bring grief to feel at the XX shifters is a little chunkier and
we’d only managed 40 hours on the exotic new less- fit riders, and it’s why SRAM offers both gear changes under power command just a little
2x10 parts kit, but waiting any longer to spread traditional 3-chainring and 2-chainring crank more attention. Shimano’s chain and cogs feel
the good news didn’t make sense. Those of options in the new XO and X9 kits. quieter and more composed under both high-
you itching for our heady falling-in-love gos- In a design package called X-Glide, SRAM torque, grinding pedaling loads and clattering,
sip would have been stymied while we pedaled carefully engineered the two chainring sizes, high-speed run outs alike.
away all summer. tooth shapes, and shifting ramps to optimize But for long-term serviceability and good-
To complete the story, we’re back with a final front shifting. Thanks to the oversized bolt cir- old, up-for-anything, rugged American muscle
report on SRAM XX. We know more about XX’s cle diameter and wide profile, the outer chain- car-style spunk, SRAM delivers. In both cross-
personality than we did before. It’s not perfect, ring is exceptionally stiff. It’s the best front country races and five-hour trail rides, XX has
but who is? Any substantive doubts we might shifting we’ve ever experienced from SRAM proven to be a reliable long-term partner.
have harbored about SRAM’s super light XX and it hasn’t degraded over time.
brakes, carbon fiber crankset with X-Glide dou- Out back, the ultra-light steel 10-speed cog- So what’s the best way
ble chainrings, and hollowed-out carbon-tinged set remains robust. As you’d expect with any to judge a parts kit?
shifters and derailleurs have vanished. Put sim- shifting system, we’ve had to replace cables Over a year ago, when I first bolted brand new
ply, it’s a great parts kit and there’s not much to and housing once or twice to maintain optimal SRAM XX parts to my Trek Fuel EX 9.8, my
complain about. performance. The chain and cogs have proven wife was just my girlfriend. In the time that
plenty durable over time. I’ve been riding the parts, we got engaged, and
Key features of XX Early on, we had to bleed the brakes and then got married.
For starters, XX is light — just over 2,200 pulled a fair amount of air from the master Before we tied the knot back in June, I dug
grams, depending on bottom bracket choice. cylinders in the levers. In such a compact and XX enough to buy her a complete kit for her
Of course, next you’ll note the substanial price lightweight system, a perfect bleed is key to own bike. It sliced a pound from her Top Fuel
tag, which averages $2,400 for a complete kit. good performance, and it’s not always easy to 9.9, though admittedly at the expense of her
Of course, what really turned heads more get on the first try. An extended, all-mountain previously oft-used 22-tooth chainring. She
than anything last spring was the cog count — style downhill will tax these featherweight and I both rode and raced the XX groups with-
XX incorporated the first complete, dedicated binders, but most cross-country riders will be out problems all summer.
2x10 drivetrain ever built for mountain bikes. perfectly content with SRAM’s XX stoppers. Now we’re heading into spring. My own XX
Elite racers had demanded it, but could average Admittedly, compared to our first impressions group is still going strong. The XX parts I put
riders pedal it? of Shimano’s new XTR group in August, the on her bike nearly a year ago are still on her
brad kaminski
The answer of course depends on who you SRAM drivetrain feels marginally less refined. bike and holding up fine. She’s not once be-
ask. Racers and trained athletes rave about As good as SRAM’s package is, the buttery feel moaned the lack of a granny gear.
the simplicity and efficiency of the 2x10 set of Shimano’s best efforts is hard to beat. Lever And we’re still married. — ZACK VESTAL

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STRENGTH IN SIMPLICITY
THE NEW TITANIUM VAMOOTS RSL

CHECK I T O U T AT MOOTS.COM
E S T. 1981 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, C O HANDBUILT TITANIUM BIKES R O A D M O U N TA I N C R O S S C U S T O M
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2011 Road Groups

tire brake lever is pushed inwardly to shift to
larger cogs and chainrings and a small lever
behind the brake lever is used to shift to small-
er cogs and chainrings. The STI aesthetic is
D
ecisions, decisions. In cycling there are al- and carbon construction. very minimalist compared to Campagnolo’s
ways options, especially when it comes to Though the smallest player in the compo- extravagance, though recently Shimano has
component manufacturers. Campagnolo, nent game, Campagnolo is the only manu- begun using carbon composites in its compo-
Shimano and SRAM all produce quality parts, facturer currently producing 11-speed groups. nents, something Campagnolo pioneered.
but the approach each takes is a bit different. The Italian brand also sets itself apart by en- SRAM is the newcomer to the bunch. With
Founded in Italy in 1933, Campagnolo first couraging repairs on its components, instead very good products and savvy marketing, over
launched its Ergo Power shifters in 1992. of replacing entire items. Campy devotees love the past five years SRAM has quickly captured
Aside from some styling cues — and evolv- this serviceability and claim that Campagnolo a large piece of the cycling component pie. The
ing from eight to 11 speed — Ergo Power is parts last much longer as a result. Chicago-based manufacturer made its first big
essentially the same today. The Italian manu- Japanese company Shimano was the up- mark in the mountain bike world in the late
facturer uses a lever behind the brake lever start to Campagnolo’s long success, making 1980s with its Grip Shift shifters and derail-
to shift to larger cogs and chainrings and a its mark in 1990 with STI (Shimano Total leurs. Since then SRAM has developed four
small thumb button on the inside of the shift- Integration) shifters, the first company to suc- road groups. SRAM Double Tap shifters use
er body for shifts in the other direction. Like cessfully pair braking and shifting in one han- the same lever behind the brake lever to shift
the name implies, ergonomics are important dlebar-mounted lever. By the end of the 90s both up and down the cassette and crank. With
to its design. The latest generation of shifters Shimano dominated the cycling marketplace. the Red group, SRAM was the first to produce
typifies Italian styling flair with its big curves Unlike Campagnolo, with Shimano the en- a group under two kilograms in weight.
SRAM groups* Campagnolo groups* Shimano groups*

Red GXP Super Record Di2
$2,231 $3,090 $4,680
1,875 grams 2,108 grams
1,933 grams
force GXP Record DURA-ACE

$1,335 $2,400 $2,690
2,107 grams 1,973 grams 2,045 grams
rival GXP Chorus

$1,036 $1,755 Ultegra
2,200 grams 2,096 grams $1,500
2,313 grams
apex GXP Athena 105

$770 $1,275 $951
2,415 grams 2,272 grams 2,506 grams
* price and weight listed for each complete group, including shifters, crank, bottom bracket, derailleurs, chain and brakes

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road groups: components
Car and Drivetrain

1986 Toyota Land Cruiser = Tesla = shimano Di2 2010 Subaru Outback =
SRAM Apex Road is a relative term for you. If the sheer amount of technology Shimano Dura-Ace
Your “road” bike has fenders and 28mm tires on involved in your car was the deciding Your new Subaru was a safe bet. All-wheel
it. When you think of an epic ride, the steeper factor in your purchase, then your drive and room for the family, or toys, make it a
the better. SRAM Apex, with its compact cranks bike needs the latest from Shimano. sensible choice. Likewise, investing in Dura-Ace
and 11x32 cassette, is made for you. It’s geared low Like Tesla, Di2 has changed what we is never a bad choice. It may not be the lightest
enough that you can tow your Land Cruiser if it thought was possible from electronics. group, or the sexiest. But it will consistently
breaks down. Tesla made electric cars sexy. Di2 deliver good performance.
showed that electric shifting could
Your mom’s Caprice = not only work, but work better than My bike is my car = Shimano 105
SRAM Rival You’re either 17 and living anything else on the market. If you’re carrying groceries in your ’cross bike’s
at home or you’re Jeremy Powers. Either way, panniers, Shimano’s venerable 105 is up to the
SRAM Rival is the group for you. (Okay workload. The latest 105 shifters hide the cables,
Jeremy rides Red, but if he had to pay so when you install your lights and bell,
for it, he’d buy Rival) The latest the bar won’t look cluttered. If you
Rival group gets the job done, want to upgrade to 10 speed, 105
plain and simple. is a great option.
If your head
Audi wagon = spins when you think 1970s Fiat =
SRAM Red of all the road component Campagnolo
The silver A4 wagon Athena
in your driveway decisions out there, here’s an If you love all
shows an appreciation of easy way to decide what parts things Italian,
the finer things in life. are best for you. Walk out to but your wallet isn’t
Your bike needs from Gucci, Campagnolo
wherever your vehicle is parked.
to be lighter than Athena is for you. Eleven-
your buddy’s. Take a good look, and fix the speed shifting and a
Carbon wheels are on image of your car squarely classy, polished silver finish
the horizon. It’s okay, we in your mind. Then come make Athena a good-
all want a lighter bike. looking group for
back and check out this
Go ahead, Red won’t those on a budget.
disappoint. handy table. And if you’re driving
a 1970s Fiat, you need the left-
Mini Cooper S = over money for tow-truck fees.
Campagnolo Record
Your car has a checkered flag Honda Civic =
on the roof. Your bike weighs Shimano Ultegra
less than the UCI weight minimum of 6.8 The student loan bill is still coming every month.
kilos, and you love to brag about it. You will You pack up the Civic most weekends for a local
own a custom frame at some point in your race or group ride. Ultegra gives Dura-Ace quality
life. It’s important to have fun, but you need to Ferrari of any kind = shifting and braking with a small weight penalty.
look good doing it. Imagine it now, a Pegoretti Campagnolo You might lust after something fancier, but
with Campagnolo Record on the roof of your Super Record Ultegra gets the job done until you move up the
Mini. Bliss. Money is not a going concern for you. corporate ladder.
Quality and style are, though, and Su-
Land Rover = per Record has both in spades. The Mini van = SRAM Force
Campagnolo Chorus latest offering from Campagnolo may You signed up for a gran fondo later this year
The sophisticated intellectual in you admires the need a finer hand to tune it, but so does and the beater in the garage isn’t going to cut it.
understated class of a British vehicle. You aren’t the injection on your Ferrari. Mainte- But your daughter will need braces soon. SRAM
looking for flash, but refined quality strikes a nance is something you pay to have Force is where you should look. It has the same
chord with you. Campagnolo’s Chorus is not for performed. You expect the best of your shifting and braking quality as Red, without the
the budget-conscious. It doesn’t scream expensive machine on every outing. sticker shock. You still get carbon cranks, and the
either. This is the thinking man’s group. understated graphics are more your style anyway.
129
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power meters: components
YOU, EMPOWERED
Four solid
power meters
By Caley Fretz
CycleOps PowerTap – Power for

the masses
A power meter’s ability to quantify workload

in real time has fundamentally altered the
way cyclists train. No more guessing about in-
Riders need to learn how to use the numbers,
or hire a coach who does.
If you’re shopping for a power meter, budget
There’s a reason you see a lot of PowerTaps
around. CycleOps has developed an accu-
rate, versatile and budget-friendly system,
creases in fitness, no more wildly overblown in a few extra bucks and pick up Hunter Allen spreading the power-meter love beyond the
first intervals wrecking the rest of the set. With and Andrew Coggan’s “Training and Racing super geeky, wealthy and sponsored. Pow-
a power meter, you can see the precise amount with a Power Meter” (VeloPress). It’s worth the erTap systems start at less than $600 for a
of work you’re doing in any given second, mea- small investment. wired version.
sured in watts. Most top pros train with power, Also take a close look at software options. The CycleOps system uses strain gauges
and as more options enter the market and pric- TrainingPeaks WKO+ software is the industry in the rear hub to measure torque. ANT+
es drop, more and more recreational riders are leader, with myriad possibilities for analysis, wireless versions range from $850 for the
jumping on the bandwagon. planning and tracking. Open-source software 583-gram Elite+ model to $1,850 for the new
Golden Cheetah offers many of the same fea- 402-gram SLC+. CycleOps also makes SL+
What’s a watt? tures for free. CycleOps’ own PowerAgent soft- level track and mountain hubs for $1,500 and
Simply put, power is torque multiplied by an- ware is also free and offers some of the same $1,700, respectively.
gular velocity. In cycling, that translates into features as TrainingPeaks and GoldenCheetah CycleOps makes two ANT+ head units,
pressure on the pedals times cadence. Power in an easy-to-use interface. the simple Cervo and the information-
is used to overcome the forces of gravity, wind, packed Joule. The Cervo provides the usual
inertia and friction. The Options cycling functions — speed, distance, time,
Most power meters measure torque, either Crank-based systems are expensive and diffi- etc. — plus average, max and current watts.
in the crankset, hub or pedals, and use that cult to transfer between bikes, but they are ac- The Joule’s customizable dashboard allows
figure to calculate power in watts. Another curate and durable. Hub-based power meters easy access to 18 different metrics, includ-
method is to start with the other side of the bring the cost down, but obviously limit rear ing a few in real time that used to require
equation, adding up all the forces opposing wheel choice. Power meters that don’t measure downloading data, such as analysis and his-
forward motion and working backwards to power directly are a bit less accurate, but are so torical comparison. A few metrics in that last
calculate power. much cheaper that the occasional inaccuracies category include Normalized Power, which
may be overlooked. weights harder efforts in its calculation of
Train by power, not just with power Besides the meter itself, consider the head average wattage, and Training Stress Score,
Training by power rather than with power is unit (the computer that presents and records which quantifies workload using Normalized
not a superfluous distinction. Unlike a fast data). Most meters come with a head unit, but Power, user-added threshold power and ride
set of wheels or lighter bike, simply putting a more and more are ANT+ Sport compatible, time.
power meter on your bike and staring at the meaning you can use them with a Garmin or PowerTaps come with fairly robust soft-
numbers isn’t going to make you any faster. another third-party head unit. ware, for both PC and Mac.

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FOLLOW
US ON
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MtBorah_VNBG_Prelim.indd 1 12/16/10 2:31 PM
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POWER METERS: COMPONENTS
SRM POWERMETER – THE GOLD

STANDARD QUARQ CINQO – CRANK-BASED FOR (SLIGHTLY) LESS
Ulrich Schoberer developed and patented the first on-bike power mea- Only available since 2008, the CinQo has already made a splash as a
surement device in 1987, a crank-based system dubbed the SRM (Scho- solid crank-based system with a lower price tag than SRM. The Cervélo
berer Rad Messtechnik, roughly translated as Schoberer’s bicycle mea- TestTeam used the system on the international stage last year.
surement technology). Today, pro riders and coaches consider SRM the Similar to SRM, Quarq measures torque with strain gauges built
gold standard for its accuracy and trustworthy service. With that quality into a spider. Unlike SRM, Quarq doesn’t make its own head unit,
and history comes a hefty price tag; complete wireless systems (includ- so you have to use another ANT+ option. Accuracy is a claimed +/-
ing the PowerControl head unit) start at about $2,900. 2 percent, on par with SRM. Also unlike SRM, the CinQo is only
An SRM measures power between the crank and chainrings using available on cranks with removable spiders. That means cranks from
strain-gauge strips in a specially designed spider. As force is applied to Shimano, Campagnolo, or any other crank with a one-piece spider
the pedals, these strain gauges deflect, allowing the device to measure and crankarm can’t be retrofitted with a Quarq system. But it also
torque. means that anyone who already owns an approved two-piece crank
With SRM, you have several crank options, including standard can simply send it in to be turned into a power meter, for $1,500. The
(130bcd) and compact (110bcd) road cranks from Shimano, FSA, SRAM, Cannondale Hollowgram and Specialized FACT carbon cranks fall
Rotor, Specialized and Cannondale. SRM also has a few triple moun- into that category, while the FSA SL-K Light, SRAM S975, and Rotor
tain-bike cranks from FSA and Cannondale, plus doubles from FSA, 3D cranks are available as pre-built units for $1,800-$2,200, depend-
Cannondale and SRAM coming this spring. Prices range from about ing on crank model.
$2,900 to $3,900 with SRM’s PowerControl head unit, and $1,000 less Currently, Quarq only offers road cranks with standard and compact
without. New SRMs are ANT+ wireless, meaning they are compatible spiders. But a prototype mountain double built around a SRAM XO
with other head units. crank was spotted at Interbike.

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A historic year to race the

World’s Toughest Hillclimb!
In 2011, the Mt. Washington

Auto Road is celebrating
its 150th anniversary.
Don’t miss your chance
to write your name in
the history books.
Registration is Open!
www.NewtonsRevenge.com
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power meters: components
iBike – Budget friendly

The iBike has a different approach to power measurement. Rather than measure torque, it calcu-
lates power based on the forces working against a rider — wind resistance, speed, gravity, rider and
bike weight, and rolling resistance. By taking the mathematical scenic route where other companies
hopped straight on the strain-gauge highway, iBike is producing the cheapest and lightest power
meter on the market, starting at $250.
The design is slightly less accurate than direct-measure systems. The two key dynamic measure-
ments of wind drag and rolling resistance are measured using a roll-down test, and become fixed
numbers in the iBike’s real-time calculations. Both can vary with a change in road surface or riding
position, effecting accuracy. However, since the tests are done in your standard riding position, on
normal roads, these pre-set numbers produce accurate results the majority of the time.
Head Units
Garmin makes a number of ANT+ head units that work with SRM, Quarq, and PowerTap, in-
cluding the venerable 705, the brand new 800 and the cycling-specific 500. Specialized has an
ANT+ head unit coming out soon as well, called the SpeedZone, that will be the smallest unit
to date while retaining the ability to calibrate most power meters and download data.
iBike’s most recent development is a head unit that encases an iPhone or iPod Touch called the
iDash. The waterproof box that contains your iPhone can receive an ANT+ signal from any com-
patible power meter, or use iBike’s own power measurement. iDash retails for $450 with an extra
battery.
iDash
Coming Soon
The ideal power meter would be one than can be easily transferred between bikes, combin-
ing the versatility of a PowerTap with the ability to run light race wheels as with an SRM. The
answer, according to the companies working with prototypes right now, is to build power mea-
surement into pedals.
For over a year MetriGear has had working prototypes of their pedal spindle-based sys-
tem, dubbed the Vector and last seen built around a Speedplay pedal; however the company
has missed several deadlines in bringing the system to market. Their acquisition by Garmin
should hasten that process, and we expect to see an ANT+ pedal-based meter on shelves some-
time this year. MetriGear had been shooting for a price range under $1,000 before their acqui-
sition; whether Garmin can stick to that number remains to be seen.
LOOK and Polar teamed up to create a pedal-based meter. Retail price is expected to be
nearly $2,000, and the meter won’t be ANT+ compatible, instead sticking to a proprietary wire-
less technology used by Polar. Given the price and lack of head unit choice, the LOOK/Polar
collaboration is unlikely to have the same effect on the market as a potentially much cheaper
Garmin/MetriGear unit. Claimed availability is this spring.
Taking a completely different approach, Irish company Brim Brothers has a working pro-
totype of a cleat-based meter, which uses “piezoceramic” sensors in a replaceable cleat, and
straps the rest of the sensors and microchip to the top of the shoe. When VeloNews spoke with
Brim Brothers at Interbike they refused to set a release date but did say they were shooting
for 2011 production.
Garmin 800
User-
Measurement Claimed ANT+
Power Meter Weight replaceable Price
Location Accuracy sport
battery?
iBike Original Power Meters Head unit 62g +/- 3% yes yes $250-$850
PowerTap + series Hub 402g-583g +/- 1.5% yes yes $850-$1,850
PowerTap wired Hub 576g +/- 1.5% no yes $600
SRM Power Meter Crank 806g (w/ FSA SL-K) +/- 2% yes no $1,950-$3,050*
Quarq CinQo Saturn Crank 808g (w/ FSA SL-K) +/- 2% yes yes $1,900-$2,170*
* with cranks

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VolerVeloBuyers2011:VolerVeloBuyers2011 12/20/10 11:52 AM Page 1
Ride to win, ride in comfort

Photo by Doug Highland
Check out the all new

Voler.com
800-371-2856
USA Made: Handcrafted in California
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THIS IS HOW
WE ROLL
A n editorial mantra here at the VeloNews office is “what would you tell your friends?” This list
of wheels is exactly what we do tell our friends when they ask for wheel-buying advice. If a
new bike isn’t in the cards for you this year, consider new wheels. Wheels and tires, more than
anything else, can drastically change how your bike handles. Whether you’re looking for a racier
set of hoops or a pair of wheels that can handle year-round training, we’ve got you covered.
YEAR-ROUND RACING Zipp 303 $2,285

This is Cancellara’s wheel of choice for Paris-Roubaix, and the wheelset Ka- the 303 is a good investment. The super wide 25mm rim bed makes for a
tie Compton used for her seventh national cyclocross title. The Zipp 303 is huge gluing surface. Its wide toroidal rim is designed to absorb impact and
strong enough for ’cross yet fast enough for time trialing. If you race on the minimize the risk of rim damage. The 1,206-gram wheelset is exception-
road during the summer and spend your fall pedaling through the muck, ally light. The price is high, but so is the performance.

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editors’ wheel picks: components
BUDGET TUBULAR
Neuvation R Tubular $620
If you’re ready to give tubulars a try, but don’t
want to break the bank in the process, Neuva-
tion has the wheel for you. These 1,480-gram
aluminum tubular wheels are perfect for road
racing and ’cross. Because they are alumi-
num, there is no need to hassle with chang-
ing brake pads. We like the crossed spokes on
the front and rear and the aluminum braking
surfaces are great.
ALL-ROUNDER Mavic
Ksyrium Elite Silver $650
The Ksyrium has always been a great all-
around wheelset for day-in, day-out riding.
The Ksyrium Elite Silver is no exception. At
1,550 grams, they’re reasonably light and yet
strong enough to be used by the Garmin-
Cervélo team for training. If you’re looking
for bang for your buck, stick with the Silver
— the Black pair cost an additional $25.
ALL-ROUNDER TUBELESS
Shimano Ultegra
WH-6700 tubeless $650
Shimano hubs have a huge following in the
tech world of cycling. Many claim that car-
tridge bearings are the pinnacle of wheel
technology. In truth, they are simply the
cheapest way to make a hub. These wheels are
typical trickle-down technology. For $650,
they are simply fantastic. Their 1,652-gram
weight and tubeless-ready rims make them a
great training wheel and race-worthy if you’re
not ready to commit to carbon wheels. Set
them up tubeless with Hutchinson tires and
you’ll think you’re riding tubulars. They also
offer exceptional braking performance from
machined brake tracks and their shallow pro-
file means crosswinds will never bother you.

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REAL WORLD UPGRADE
DT Swiss RR 1450 Mon
Chasseral $1,000
If a long ride in the mountains suits you more
than the local criterium race, aluminum rims
will serve your needs well. DT Swiss has a
long history of producing top-notch hubs and
spokes. In recent years they’ve begun produc-
ing complete wheels and the results are fan-
tastic. The RR 1450 wheelset is an aluminum
clincher set that weighs — you guessed it —
1,450 grams. The hubs and spokes are exactly
what you’d expect from the Swiss manufac-
turer, reliable and light. The machined brak-
ing surface is exceptional. Available in black
or white, to complement your bike.
CARBON TUBULAR
Mavic Cosmic Carbone
Ultimate $3,600
Carbon is the name of the game here — car-
bon rims, carbon hubs, carbon spokes. The
latest subtle gray graphics look tough on the
matte black carbon. If you’re lining up with
these wheels, you’d better have the legs to
back them up; the CCU’s are looking for a
fight. They are extremely light at 1,185 grams
with a 40mm profile. For 2011, Mavic is sell-
ing the wheels paired with their own Yksion
tubulars (unglued).
CARBON CLINCHER
Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 $2,700
At 1,606 grams these are not the lightest
wheels on the market. But the braking is bet-
ter than most carbon clinchers and the hubs
are Swiss made. Most importantly, the ride
quality of these wheels is amazingly smooth
for a deep-section aero wheel. Unlike most
carbon clinchers, Bontrager uses the same
shallow-section rim for all its wheels and
adds different depth fairings depending on
the model. This keeps the wheel comfortable
and aero. The 5.0 is the shallowest of the aero
wheels and Bontrager’s best all-rounder.

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BLUE
IS
GREEN
LONG-LASTING TOOLS FOR YOUR EARTH-FRIENDLY PASSION.
© 2010 Park Tool Co.

® The color BLUE is a registered trademark and trade dress of Park Tool Co.
www.parktool.com
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Wheels we lust for —

road
Fulcrum Racing Light XLR
$3,220
There is something special about Italian
carbon fiber. Visions of 12-cylinder Ferraris
and Ducati Moto GP bikes come to mind.
Like their motorsport brethren, Fulcrum
highlights their wheels in red. These climb-
ing wheels look great and the CULT ceramic
bearings are exceptional. You know this is the
wheel for you if 1,226 grams of Italian perfec-
tion for $3,220 seems like a deal.
WHEELS WE LUST FOR —

MOUNTAIN
Enve XC carbon 29er
wheels with DT240 hubs
$2,914
At 1,424 grams these clincher 29er wheels are
the stuff of dreams. Carbon is the perfect ma-
terial for disc-brake-equipped bicycles. Large
mountain bike tires protect the rim and over-
heating the carbon rim is never a concern.
Enve has a great reputation, and Brian Lopes
is their off-road tester. These wheels are made
to last, made for lust.
CROSS-COUNTRY
RACE WHEEL
Stan’s ZTR Podium MMX
$950
Stan’s NoTubes wheels are renowned for
their low weight and relative affordability.
Their unique rim design helps prevent the
dreaded “burp” associated with many tube-
less systems. Pros buy their rims and lace
them to sponsor’s hubs. The Olympic line of
rims has earned the name thanks to many
appearances at the Games. The Podium
MMX wheels weigh 1,243 grams and use
American Classic hubs and DT Revolution
spokes. If the Podium MMX wheelset is too
light for you, custom wheels are available on
the NoTubes Web site.

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The Official Pain Reliever of:

The Breakaway Sprint
The aches and pains may pick up on the last leg of your ride. But you don’t
quit, because riding is what you love. You know it won’t be long before all
your aches and pains will be forgotten – while your accomplishment remains.
When you apply the COLD THERAPY of Perform Pain Reliever to your skin,
you’ll put the pain on ice without going to the freezer – and without aspirin or Available
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BIOFREEZE® and PERFORM® are registered trademarks of The Hygenic Corporation. ©2010 Hygenic Corporation. All rights reserved.
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VELOMARKET ACCESSORIES
Prescription
Cycling Eyewear
®
1-888-831-5817
www.bicyclerx.com
FREE CATALOG OF ALL MAJOR BRANDS
GHISALLO
Beech Wood Rims
Morizumi Spoke Cutters
biodegradable • strong • extra large • keep your bike looking and working like new!
wheelfanatyk.com
SWEEPSTAKES RULES
www.velonews.com
1. No purchase necessary. To enter without ordering, send a single

entry on an index card to: VeloNews Specialized Sweepstakes, 9477
Waples St., Ste. 150, San Diego, CA 92121, with your name, address
www.veloshine.com and phone number. This sweepstakes is sponsored by Competitor
Group, Inc., 9477 Waples St., Ste. 150, San Diego, CA 92121.
FRAME BUILDERS 2. All entries must be received and postmarked by Apr 15, 2011.
VeloNews is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, il-
VLS.0007 > 2.25x1" Ad.indd 1 10/12/10 10:55:49 AM legible or postage-due mail.
3. One entry per person will be eligible for the drawing.
4. One winner will be selected no later than May 15, 2011 from among
all eligible entries received. Winner selection will take place under
the supervision of VeloNews, whose decisions are final. Each entrant
consents to transfer all information contained in the completed entry
form to other companies.
5. The odds of winning are determined by the total number of eligible
entries received. Taxes, where applicable, are the sole responsibility of
the winner.
6. Potential winners will be notified by mail, telephone or e-mail.
Potential winners must follow the directions contained in any of the
correspondence and return all forms correctly completed within 7
days if the date of correspondence. Non-compliance will result in
disqualification and the naming of an alternate winner. A timeline for
prize fulfillment will be provided to the winner (may take up to 90
days or more).
3600 7. There is no cash exchange for this prize.
8. Employees of Competitor Group, Inc., Specialized or anyone affili-
ated are not eligible. Sweepstakes subject to all federal, state and local
tax laws and void where prohibited by law.
9. For the name of the winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope
and letter of request to: VeloNews Specialized Sweepstakes, 9477
Waples St., Ste. 150, San Diego, CA 92121.

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ACCESSORIES continued
»
E-COMMERCE / WEB

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AT THE BACK
In The Trenches
conceived notion of why the new ‘whizbang component’
is great, and I’m happy to argue with you if you disagree.”
I really don’t get this mentality. Bicycles are wonderful,
simple machines that offer so much, so why be the per-
son making it feel like I’m in the trenches, fighting for my
life? Bicycles are both efficient transporters and wonder-
ful escape vehicles. They don’t have to be carbon fiber or
expensive, complicated or competitive to do their job. And
the people that ride them don’t have to be that way either.
Don’t get me wrong; I admire beautiful, exotic bicycles.
Few things are more satisfying than assembling a De Rosa
or Colnago with Campy SuperRecord, complete with a
beautiful tubular wheelset (ideally hand built by me), made
specifically for the rider. It’s like assembling a Ducati for
Casey Stoner. But unlike Casey, you still gotta pedal the
bike. Going up your local climb can make a child of any of
us, complete with whimpering and pain.
Remember, your bike exists to get you there. It should
disappear beneath you. The objective is the ride, not the
bike. A $15,000 bicycle won’t get you there much more
quickly than a $10,000 bike, which won’t get you there
much more quickly than a $5,000 bike. Making it work
everyday is my job, pedaling it is yours. There are no guar-
antees, no promises made.
So when you go into your local bike shop and want to talk
about this wonderful thing called a bicycle, remember, it
has different meanings to different people — a tool, a toy, a
means of transportation — but for everyone, it’s a self-pro-
pelled vehicle, not some mystical material or technology.
And also remember to be good to that guy who owns the
shop, the one who always seems to have that worried look
on his face. He likely faces low margins and slow times of
year, and has to deal with hassles like missed shipments
By Peter Chisholm and mispriced invoices. He’s probably just trying to keep
the lights on, and to have a place where he and a few others
L
ike many bike shop owners, I sometimes view working in retail as be- can congregate around that beautiful machine called a bi-
ing “in the trenches.” It’s not the mud, blood, death and suffering of the cycle. So take care of him like he’s trying to take care of you.
trenches of the Great War, but sometimes it dishes out its own brand of In spite of the countless hours on my tired feet, in spite
blood loss and suffering. of those who think spending more will make them better,
Most days, working in bicycle service and sales is all about problem solv- and in spite of some bizarre new designs and the occasion-
illustration by david brinton www.brintoni.com
ing. The keys to success are having the item the customer is looking for in al unreliable and expensive piece of equipment, I love to
stock (or, if not, selling them what you do have), and fixing what is broken ride. And I love to make that bicycle — any bicycle — work,
so they can participate in our beautiful pastime. Bike shops that are success- so that you too can enjoy this wonderful, simple, elegant
ful identify their market segment, and then aggressively pursue that market machine.
segment. They try to be the experts, whether it is in service, custom wheel So please, don’t force me in into the trenches. This is the
design, price, selection, or whatever a particular shop’s focus may be. Bike best and worst job there is at the same time. But I’ll still
shops that try to be everything to every cyclist often fail in all areas. A “pro” come to work tomorrow. Hell, I’ll probably ride in.
shop shouldn’t sell cruisers, just like a BMX shop shouldn’t bother trying to
repair Campagnolo Ergo levers. Peter Chisholm is the owner of Vecchio’s Bicicletteria in
The occasional day in the shop is made interesting with odd conversations, Boulder, Colorado, specializing in service, repair and hand-
mixed messages, and at its worst, downright angry people. Every once in a built wheels. He’s worked on race machines belonging to pros
while, a potential customer will come in with an agenda. It’s either “I’m gon- like Andy Hampsten, Davis Phinney, Christian Vande Velde
na stump the bike shop guy,” or something along the lines of “I have a pre- and Chris Wherry.

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Faster rolling: lighter weight carbon

fiber laminate
Better aerodynamics: Swirl Lip Generator ™
Improved braking, better heat resistance:

CTg brake track, paired with
new Cryo Blue brake pads
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1:1 INTERFACE
© 2011 Pearl Izumi PEARLIZUMI.COM
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BUYER’S GUIDE

Learn the new math

THE IMPEC SHATTERS THE MOLD

TABLE OF CONTENTS: PROLOGUE

18 DIALING YOUR FIT

4 VELONEWS BU Y ER’S GU I DE 2011 W W W.VELONEWS.COM

The Bikes table of contents: PROLoGUE

6 VELONEWS bu y er’s gu i de 2011 www.velonews.com

TK.434 IS THE NEXT GENERATION ASSOS S5

OWNER: JAKE KIRKPATRICK

PHOTO BY BRAD KAMINSKI

For more, visit velonews.com/blacksheep

8 VELONEWS BU Y ER’S GU I DE 2011 W W W.VELONEWS.COM

OFF THE FRONT: PROLoGUE

w w w.velonews.com bu y er’s gu i de 2011 VELONEWS 9

OWNER: PEDER HORNER

PHOTO BY BRAD KAMINSKI

For more, visit velonews.com/speedvagen

10 VELONEWS BU Y ER’S GU I DE 2011 W W W.VELONEWS.COM

OFF THE FRONT: PROLoGUE

w w w.velonews.com bu y er’s gu i de 2011 VELONEWS 11

SIGN IN: PROLoGUE

MEET THE CREW

12 VELONEWS bu y ers gu i de 2011 www.velonews.com

Colnago’s new monocoque frame takes the technical advances

“Working with Pactimo has Editor in Chief Ben Delaney

been a GREAT experience!” editorial

Director of Audience Development John Francis

Chairman David Moross | Chief Executive Officer Peter Englehart

14 VELONEWS buyer’s guide 2011 www.velonews.com

LEARN FROM YESTERDAY, LIVE FOR TODAY,

bike duds: prologue

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Pearl Izumi Bartlett jacket:

Oakley Tumbler glasses: $179 Hopefully you’re

Rudy Project Steelium watch: $750

Hincapie Poblado Jeans: $145

Dromarti “Black” Storica shoes: $250 Handmade in Italy by

cleat inserts; and the Storica (pictured), which is made

16 VELONEWS bu y ers gu i de 2011 www.velonews.com

THE START OF A NEW TRADITION

Stack and Reach:

bike sizing: PROLoGUE

how to set your:

THE LATEST GEAR.

www.velonews.com buyer’s guide 2011 VELONEWS 19

SITTING IN: PROLOGUE

How often do you go to Colombia?

Is it true that a major criterion in George’s

How has the BMC sponsorship changed things?

Are you still riding?

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lighten up: PROLoGUE

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lighten up: PROLoGUE

Some real-world solutions

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Engineered from the contact patch up.

build your own bike: PROLoGUE

Mike Flanigan of ANT Bicycles

Steve Garn of Brew Bikes

Tim Sanner of Sanner Cycles