15.8.09

ที่ 06:03

Sneak Peak or Rumor or Lier
This is image of XTR Crankset.
It's not Shimano XTR 07 08 09. May be, It's XTR 2010

5.5.09

ที่ 09:15

Cross-country world champion Christoph Sauser seldom races in the United States, but he made the long trip from South Africa, site of the 2009 UCI World Cup kickoff, to tackle the short track and cross country at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California. That team sponsor Specialized Bicycles sits just up the road in Morgan Hill likely influenced his travel plans.

We took advantage of the opportunity for a quick look at his bike, a Specialized S-Works Epic replete with all the personal touches he’s come to be famous for. The bike is actually a spare, but built to the same spec as the bike he’s been racing this season.

The bike

The heart of Sauser’s bike is the frame that Specialized developed last winter for his run at the 2008 world championships in Livigno, Italy. The S-Works Epic Carbon Disc uses Specialized FACT carbon fiber, the usual oversized press-fit bottom bracket, and a tapered 1-1/8th-to-1.5-inch headset for frame stiffness and torsional rigidity. A Specialized AFR remote mini rear shock with BRAIN inertia valve keeps the rear end moving under control and riding smoothly on sealed cartridge bearing pivots. The fork is a Specialized Future Shock e100, with a standard air spring and rebound adjustment.

Mechanic Benno Wiliet says that the suspension is almost standard issue, the same as every S-Works Epic available to consumers. The only difference is that compression damping is tuned to be a little stiffer.

“The platform is a little bit stiffer for Christoph, Burry (Stander), and Todd (Wells),” he said. “They like a little more platform because they use less pressure, so they get full travel.” Sauser runs 65 psi in the fork and 160 psi in the rear shock, plus or minus 5 psi.

Drivetrain choices

The drivetrain on Sauser’s bike is based on SRAM XO components, but with a few (well, many) modifications. A SRAM XO rear derailleur in new Redwin Red anodized trim moves across a PG-990 XO 11-34 cassette. The chain is a hollow pin PC-991, and the crankset is a Specialized S-Works OS carbon, length 175mm.

Rotor Q-rings are new to Sauser’s bike this year, but have proven to work fine so far, in concert with a SRAM Red road front derailleur. Sauser’s seat tube sports a special road-style braze-on that permits the use of a Red front derailleur, which works well, according to Benno.

“It works nice with the Grip Shift (shifters) because you have the micro-adjust, even if the cage is a little bit smaller. With the micro-adjust you can still adjust it to the right position,” he said.

Pro road riders have been known to use special-edition Red front derailleurs with stainless steel side plates, but Sauser is using a standard titanium version. The only issue is accelerated wear, so Benno has to change the part out more frequently. It’s worth it, says Benno: “55 grams you save just in the derailleur.”

Brakes

The brakes on this Specialized Epic deserve special mention as well. We had the feeling of having stumbled across something new and secret, likely an iteration of SRAM XX (the logos were marked out with black electrical tape). However, the brand is clearly Avid, and the brakes look almost identical to an Elixir CR set in shape and outward appearance. In a few photos, red logos peek out from behind electrical tape on the calipers.

The rotors don’t look anything like current Avid product, hinting at future offerings. A 6-bolt aluminum spider holds what appears to be a standard stainless steel rotor, cut out in G2 CleanSweep fashion. Only three titanium bolts hold the rotors, another effort at shaving every gram.

Wheels, tires and contact points

Sauser rolls on Roval Controle SL disc wheels. This particular bike was fitted with Specialized tires, marked as the SLK in 2.2-inch width. Benno says that Specialized works closely with the team in developing tread patterns, tire casings, and rubber compounds.

“We just got the new Renegade 2.1,” he said. “It’s the same tire and profile as SLK, but new casing, new compound. We did a lot of tire testing over the last year. That’s the latest version.”

Typical tire pressure for Sauser is 28 psi, but with some tires he can go as low as 25. The team uses a blend of Stan’s NoTubes sealant and Specialized’s own Airlock sealant.

Sauser runs Grip Shift shifters on a Syntace Duraflite carbon flat bar, with a Syntace F99 stem in 90mm length. He also uses Tune bar ends. Rounding out the package is an S-Works carbon seatpost and Phenom SL saddle. Pedals are typically Crankbrothers Eggbeater 4Ti while grips are Specialized Sidewinder.

28.4.09

ที่ 09:11

I've just found this image from another site.

It's cool image for specialized fan.
One question. What's model in picture?
Cheer!!!!

25.4.09

ที่ 09:39

	This year at Sea Otter SRAM released its revamped 2010 Force group. After the official product launch Road Bike Action was invited on an exclusive test ride of the new group. When we arrived at the SRAM hotel we found a 2009 Specialized Roubaix SL2 with our name on it (literally). Along with the 2010 Force group, Zipp made it possible for us to test two new products simultaneously and outfitted our test bike with their new 303 wheelset. The most obvious change from the 2009 Force group is the new styling, which borrows heavily from SRAM’s professional Red group. The 2010 Force barrows Red’s bold graphics using a newly designed white Force logo against black carbon. Another visual carry over from Red is that the SRAM logo will be featured on the inside of both crankarms. Exclusive to Force is that all the aluminum parts are anodized with what SRAM is calling Zephyr Silver. The Force brake levers move to unidirectional (UD) carbon, which adds strength and reduces weight. The shift levers remain magnesium and have a much lighter and crisper feel than the previous Force versions. Side by side it was nearly impossible to tell the difference in feel between the Force and higher end Red shifters. Like the brake levers, the crankarms have also moved to unidirectional (UD) carbon. The cranks were stiff and delivered solid power transfer from the pedals. The new white graphics give the cranks a professional look, and are easily mistaken for SRAM Red. Shifting performance was quick and reliable. The quality of shifting was on par with SRAM Red. The rear derailleur never missed a gear and with the new lighter action shifters, the shifting feels faster and more precise. We were particular impressed with the quality of the front shifting, which was super fast and required minimal lever throw. Some of the front derailleur’s performance can be attributed to the use of a steel cage. While this adds a bit of weight over Red’s titanium version, it also adds stiffness. Don’t be surprised to see SRAM sponsored teams running Force front derailleurs. The new Force brakes get a major overhaul and now mirror the top of the line Red brakes in both appearance and performance. The Force brakes offered good modulation and it was easy to tell when the brakes were about lock. This was particular impressive since we were running the new carbon Zipp 303s without carbon specific brake pads. The 2010 SRAM Force is another big step forward for a company that just entered the road market three short years ago. With the redesign and improvements, the 2010 Force feels virtually indistinguishable from Red. Zipp 303 Wheelset The new Zipp 303’s debuted this year during the cobbled classics and were officially launched at Sea Otter. The new Zipp 303s feature several changes over last year’s model. Most Notably the rim width has been increased from 22.4-millimeters to 27.5-millimeters and given an angled braking surface for better modulation. The wider rim is designed to increase lateral stiffness and impact resistance. The new design is also suppose to provide a more forgiving ride. Like the old 303s the new version feature Zipp’s dimple surface design for improved aerodynamics. The new Zipp 303s feature Zipp's new 88 front hub and 188 rear hub. Both hubs are named for their weight in grams and feature a 17-millimeter axle and higher flanges. The hubs are attached to the rims using Sapim CX-ray spokes with external nipples for serviceability. The wheels we rode were outfitted with Zipp's Tangente tubular aero tire, which is now available in a 23-millimeter width. From the side the Zipps appear to look like normal deep section carbon wheels. Its not until you look down on them that width of the rim becomes apparent. The added width required a minor readjustment of the brakes, but otherwise they fit the frame perfectly. First impressions of the Zipp 303s were that they are smooth, fast rolling wheels. They have great acceleration and once going they hold their speed well. In crosswinds the Zipp 303s felt stable and easy to control. Perhaps most impressive aspect of the wheels was the ride quality. The 303s were lateral stiff, but provided a subtle ride. While we were unable to weigh the wheels, we have no reason to dispute Zipp’s claimed weight of 1182-grams for the pair. Even though the Zipp 303s are designed for the cobbles of the Northern Classics, our first impression is that they should not be overlooked as all around aero wheels. The 303s would be ideally suited to a fast century or high mileage rider looking for an aero wheel that is easy to control and smoothes out the road.

ที่ 09:31

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will not face disciplinary proceedings from the French anti-doping agency AFLD.

The AFLD said Friday that it has "decided to take into consideration the athlete's written explanations and, in consequence, not to open a disciplinary procedure against him." It also confirmed that no abnormalities were detected in the urine, blood and hair samples taken during the control.

Armstrong's Astana team spokesman Philippe Maertens confirmed to Cyclingnews that the AFLD met Thursday, and said "the disciplinary commission checked the evidence and explanation from both Lance and the tester and decided not to take the matter further."

Posting on his Twitter account, Armstrong wrote: "the word from the French agency AFLD on the shower gate incident. Case closed, no penalty, all samples clean. Onward."

The AFLD had previously said that Armstrong did not obey the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency's International Standard of Testing, specifically Article 5.4.1, which states that 'the person being subjected to an anti-doping control must remain within the sight of the doping control officer from the time of notification until the sample is collected'.

Armstrong could have faced a suspension from the incident which may have prevented him from racing the Tour de France. With the case closed, he will be free to attempt an eighth career victory in the Tour.

Armstrong is currently training in Aspen, Colorado, in preparation for his first attempt at the Giro d'Italia next month. He is recovering from a fractured collarbone that he sustained in the first stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y Léon.

7.4.09

ที่ 19:58

Not only Ultegra is brand new version from shimano 2010. It's also brand new version of MTB
Group set : Deore 2010

With the Yen to Sterling balance going bonkers and the likes of XTR becoming even more unattainable for many people, the more budget conscious end of Shimano’s product line up is becoming more important. Good job Shimano have just re-vamped their Deore groupset then. It’s not just a spit and polish update either, it’s a full-on overhaul.
Here’s what’s what…

The Deore rear mech is now Shadow flavoured, so you now get increased rock clearance for decreased cost.

Deore has gone a bit more angular and looks quite like Saint and SLX now, all good. As well as cosmetic changes there are some neat technical changes. The brake hoses and gear cables now exit at the same angle for tidier cable routing.

And what you've all been waiting for, hinged brake levers for easy removal, bolts in the same place and both the same size. The brake hinge has a neat fail safe device, so even if your bolt falls out your brake levers will stay on your bars.

If you're one of the ten people who doesn't run singlespeed on your 29er then Shimano has something for you, a 29er specific cassette with matching hubs to cope with the increased torque.

It has to be said some of Shimano's latest disc brakes, whilst being great performers, have been a pain to bleed properly. But no more! Re-designed internals mean trouble free bleeding.

OEM Shimano components are now available in white, so expect to see these cropping up on bikes in your local bike shop soon.

ที่ 09:04

	Last year Shimano launched the new Dura Ace 7900. It was first major update to the group since 2003 and along with several improvements, marked a dramatic change in styling. While the electronic Dura Ace Di2 grabbed most of the headlines, it was the less heralded 7900 that best represents the evolution of the Shimano line. For 2010 Ultegra receives a complete revamp that incorporates many of the innovations that was developed with the Dura Ace 7900 series and drops over 150 grams when compared to Ultegra 6600 and compared to Ultegra SL, sheds nearly 45 grams. The workhorse of the Shimano road line-up, Ultegra 6700 earns even more deserved competition merit as several professional and amateur squads have chosen to use it for training and racing during the 2009 season. Shifters The ST-6700 Dual Control Shift Levers are redesigned to incorporate hidden shift cables and a revised shift mechanism that moves the mass closer to the handlebar, improving handling. Additional improvements are reach adjustment, revised braking pivot point for better braking from the hoods, and carbon fiber brake lever blades. The new shifters maintain “B” level compatibility with Ultegra 6600 series components. Crankset Using technology borrowed from Dura Ace 7900, the FC-6700 Ultegra crank has a new hollow outer chainring for maximum stiffness and positive shifting under power. The new design also reduces incidence of the chain catching on the outer ring when in the smallest front ring and smallest rear cog. The change saves 15-grams over the Ultegra SL crank. Derailleurs Both Front and rear derailleurs (FD-6700 / RD-6700) use wider links to improve performance and shifting under load, while the rear derailleur saves 10-grams over Ultegra SL through the use of an all aluminum pulley cage. Cassette And Chain Over 15 grams are saved with the new cassette and chain (CS-6700 / CN-6700), but the bigger story is the use of an asymmetrical chain, similar to Dura-Ace 7900 to provide more precise shifting. Taking into account the different demands of inward and outward shifts, the inner and outer plates feature different chamfers optimized for the direction of the shift. Brakes The Ultegra BR-6700 brakes have a revised brake arch pivot location for quicker linear response and better controllability, similar to Dura-Ace 7900. The brake silhouette features a lower cable stop for smoother cable routing and less cable friction. Best of all, the new pad compound provides a claimed 100% more stopping power in wet conditions. Wheels A new Ultegra wheelset (WH-6700), weighing in at 1650 grams and Road Tubeless compatible, will round out the new Ultegra group.

2.4.09

ที่ 10:45

	Armstrong at the Astana camp prior to the Tour of California Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong climbed back onto a bicycle on Saturday for the first time since suffering a broken collarbone. Three days after an operation to repair the injury suffered during the Castilla y Leon stage race in Spain, Armstrong mounted a stationary bicycle to begin a new phase of his rehabilitation work as he hopes to recover in time to continue his comeback. "I rode for half an hour on a stationary bike," Armstrong said in a message filed on his Twitter page. Armstrong has returned to his home in Austin, the state capital of Texas, in hopes of getting himself into shape to compete at the Tour of Italy that starts May 9 and in July's Tour de France. Armstrong figures it might take eight to 12 weeks before he might complete a full recovery.

ที่ 10:40

Dario Andriotto's DeRosa King 3 Acqua & Sapone Team Issue
With the #1 plate, gregario di lusso Dario Andriotto had a special honor at Milano-Sanremo. His job was to look after team leader Stefano Garzelli and sprinter Luca Paolini on the road to Sanremo. His DeRosa King 3 has a matte finish clear coat which shows off the completely monocoque 1k weave high modulus Mizuno T-700SC carbon fibre frameset. DeRosa's innovative King 3 features an "integral" seat pillar and internal cable routing. Like all Campy sponsored pro teams, Acqua & Sapone gets Campagnolo Record 11 speed derailleurs, front changer, brake levers and crankset, while Andriotto rolls on Campagnolo Bora Ultra Two wheels equipped with Vittoria CX tubulars. Other details include the Selle San Marco Concor Light saddle,
FSA bars and stem, Look Keo pedals and Elite bottle cages.

Detail of DeRosa King 3 rear triangle with Selle San Marco Concor Light saddle.

Detail of DeRosa King 3 Campagnolo Record 11 speed rear derailleur & cool accent of red dropouts

Close-up of DeRosa King 3 headtube which shows 1k weave high modulus Mizuno T-700SC carbon fibre
and sleek internal cable routing.

Martin Velits Focus Focus Izalco Milram Team Issue
German brand Focus is new to the ProTour in 2009, as Milram changed bike sponsors from Colnago after last season. The Izalco has a semi-sloping geometry with High Modulus UD carbon fibre frameset, that uses
the Focus SSPS (Stable Stiffness Per Size) system of carbon layup and a Carbon Race UD fork. Milram is one of the teams on SRAM Red this season and is also sponsored by Lightweight wheels, here shown in a special Milram team edition with white spokes and hubs with Continental tubulars. FSA supplies the bars, stem and seatpost, while 2007 U23 World Road champ Velits chooses a Fizik Airone saddle in matching Milram colors.

Focus Izalco Team has SRAM Red group and features a smooth transition in rear seatstay to toptube zone.

Light and white with Lightweight Milram team edition Obermayer wheels

Eros Capecchi's Fuji SL-1 Fuji-Servetto Team Issue
Formerly know as Saunier-Duval-Scott, there were a lot of changes for this team during the off-season, which was resurrected as Team Fuji-Servetto for 2009. Eros Capecchi's Fuji Carbon Superlight SL-1 features a C-10 SuperLite Monocoque High Modulus 3K weave carbon fibre front triangle, mated to a C-10 SuperLite High Modulus rear triangle with carbon stays with Energy Transfer Chainstays, and a FC-330 Carbon Monocoque 1 1/8" Carbon fork. Fuji-Servetto. It's SRAM Red again for the drivetrain, with Oval Components handlebars, stem & seatpost, Time pedals, Prologo saddles and Cole Shuriken carbon fibre wheels, Challenge tubular tires and Elite water bottle cages.

Close-up of SRAM Red groupset with detail of Fuji SL-1 Fuji-Servetto Team Issue frameset with 3K carbon fibre weave and a beefy rear wishbone for extra rigidity.

Tom Veeler's Giant TCR Advanced SL Rabobank Team Issue
Giant has replaced Colnago at Rabobank in 2009 and the young, dynamic Dutch outfit is riding the TCR Advanced SL Rabobank Team Issue. The Taiwanese bike colossus has clearly invested much in making the TCR Advanced SL frameset one of the most sophisticated on the market, featuring T800 1K Advanced SL Fusion Composite Frame and Fork, with ISP integrated seatmast. Giant's Advanced SL-grade composite material used in the frameset comes from high-performance carbon raw material made in-house at Giant. This state-of-the-art T800 raw composite material is then woven in Giant's own composite factory (no other major bicycle manufacturers produce their own manufacturers composite material). Giant uses Fusion, their most advanced construction technology which allows Giant to save significant weight over traditional monocoque frame construction to produce the TCR Advanced SL. Veeler's Giant TCR Advanced SL has Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 components, Shimano Dura-Ace carbon fibre wheelset (not low profile wheel up front and C50 high-profile in rear), Shimano's PRO handlebars and stem and a Selle Italia saddle.

Some other key features of the TCR Advanced SL Rabobank Team Issue are the massive rectangular downtube and oversized toptube called Megadrive that Giant says provide breakthrough levels of front-end lateral and torsional steering precision and unprecedented stiffness. Overdrive is Giant's take on the oversized headtube / fork steerer tube / headset zone which offers maximum steering precision without adding weight. Giant uses 1 1/8" top & 1 1/4" bottom headset bearings and a tapered composite steerer tubes for optimal steering stiffness. The TCR Advanced SL has a massive oversize bottom bracket / chainstay area Giant calls Powercore, with a fully integrated, 86mm bottom bracket and asymmetrical chainstays that provide additional stiffness on the driveside and stability on the non-driveside. Topping it all is the trademark Integrated Seatmast (ISP). Giant originated the integrated seatmast design and has a lighter and more aero version on the TCR Advanced SL.

Davide Rebellin's Guerciotti Unico1 DiQuigiovanni Team Issue
Olympic silver medalist Rebellin started his 14th Milano-Sanremo on this Guerciotti Unico1 DiQuigiovanni Team Issue rig, a new model from Guerciotti that uses a custom carbon fibre tubeset from Dedaccai; monocoque with integrated seatmast that is derive from the "Scuro" frameset, made with T700 Toray carbon composite material. Tintin Rebellin is one of the rare riders in the peloton to have Campagnolo Super Record 11 speed. Steering is via DedaElementi's Zero100 Service handlebars and stem, with the sweet dark metal polish finish that goes perfectly with Rebellin's white Guerciotti Unico1.

Rebellin rolls on Ambrosio's XUL tubular wheelset, with 38.5mm rim, Ambrosio Ultralight 20/24 hubs and a claimed weight of 1220g. / pair. Tintin's tush sits atop a Selle Italia Thoorx Team issue, normally used as a mountain bike saddle and his bottles & cages are by Elite.

Yaroslav Popovych's Trek Madone 6.9 Pro Red Astana Team Issue
Introduced in June 2007, Trek Madone quickly went on to win the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana under Astana rider Alberto Contador. Popo's Madone 6.9 Pro Red frameset has Trek's ControlCore technology, which uses a size-specific seat lug / top tube section that increases diameter and stiffness as the frame does, with an ultra wide down tube/bottom bracket design and oversized asymmetric box section chain stays. The Madone 6.9 features an integrated headset, seat mast, integrated bottom bracket, and E2 fork, which make up what Trek calls "total fuselage system". Pro Red means SRAM Red, with it's light, stiff and ergonomic design, solid reliability and sweet shifting has made it a major hit in the pro peloton. Popo's Madone 6.9 Pro Red has Bontrager components throughout, with Aeolus 5.0 tubular wheels, designed by Steve Hed, with Veloflex tubulars re-labled as Hutchinson, Bontrager bars and stem. Saddle is a popular pro favorite, the Selle San Marco Concor Light, here re-branded as Bontrager.

Side view of Popovych's Trek Madone 6.9 Pro Red Astana Team Issue, which shows the sleek tube shapes
Trek calls "total fuselage system".

ที่ 10:39

	Once again, Road Bike Action dives deep into the pro peloton to bring you what’s cool, fresh and fast on two wheels. Like last year, we hit start at Milano-Sanremo on a bright spring Saturday morning to see the new pro rides and found some cool stuff. Check out our in-depth report on the bikes of Milano-Sanremo 2009. Martin Elmiger's BH G4 Ag2r Team Issue Elmiger's BH G4 is considered one of the most advanced framesets around, a monocoque carbon fibre frame that is molded in one piece including the chain and seatstays in high modulus carbon and Nanotechnology resins. BH is a Spanish bike maker who has been in the bike business for many, many years and has created one of the most advanced carbon fibre frames available. FSA provides the crankset, handlebars, stem and seatpost. Saddle & bar tape are from Prologo. Ag2r's Elmiger gets Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate tubular wheels with 40mm rims, but with a more subdued graphic treatment. Ag2r uses Campagnolo Record 10v. derailleur and front changer. Elmiger's BH G4 has Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate tubular wheels with Michelin Service Course tubulars Gianpaolo Cheula's Bianchi 928 SL Barloworld Team Issue Cheula was in the big break at Milano-Sanremo Sauturday aboard his 928 Carbon SL (Superleggera). The 928 SL carbon fibre frameset is made in unidirectional carbon fiber with a unidirectional full carbon fork, and the Barloworld Team Issue features Shimano 7900 derailleur and front changer. FSA provides the crankset, handlebars, stem and seatpost. Fizik's new Antares saddle, in special Barloworld Team Issue livery provides support Cheula's posterior. Hoops are from Fulcrum, Racing Zero's with Vittoria CX tubulars with a special red central tread band. Close-up of Cheula's Bianchi 928 SL Barloworld Team Issue, with Bianchi's tight rear triangle and Fizik's new Antares saddle. Cheula's Bianchi 928 SL Barloworld Team Issue frame profile, with massive rear wishbone and shaped top and down tubes. Sebastian Lang's Canyon Ultimate CF Pro Silence-Lotto Team Issue 29 year old Seb Lang came to Silence-Lotto from the defunct Gerolsteiner squad and was 2006 German TT champion. His Canyon Ultimate CF Pro is a new bike for Silence-Lotto in 2009 and is regarded as one of the most sophisticated bicycles available today. The high-modulus carbon fibre frameset features a double walled hollow bottom bracket shell, square-taper Maximus seat tube with optimized tube diameters and layups. One unique feature of the Canyon Ultimate CF Pro Silence-Lotto Team Issue frame is VCLS (Vertical Comfort Lateral Stiffness) for optimized damping characteristics, while the conical One One Four SL fork with tapered oversized steerer (1 1/2" - 1 1/4") has precise turn-carving steering. Ritchey provides the bars, stem & seatpost, with a Selle Italia Flite Team Issue saddle, Campagnolo Record 11v. groupset and Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL Powertap wheels. Rear view of Sebastian Langs's Canyon Ultimate CF Pro Silence-Lotto Team Issue; note the VCLS (Vertical Comfort Lateral Stiffness) rear triangle with slim chain stays, Ritchey 27.2 seatpost and Tacx Tao bottle cages. Canyon's massive conical headtube, with 1 1/8 X 1 1/4" headtube configuration, Ritchey WCS stem and anatomical carbon fibre handlebars. Sebastian Lang uses an old-school Selle Italia Flite Team Edtion saddle, one of the most popular choices in the peloton, atop a Ritchey WCS carbon fibre seatpost, with unique number mounting.