30.3.09

ที่ 10:41

"The real question is, 'Does the design work really work?'. The short answer, “OH YA!” The wide stance and vise like look of the eebrake translates directly into outstanding braking performance. Optimized leverage and modulation is realized through our multiple lever system. Our efficient structure does this all with a minimum weight; less than 200 grams per complete brake set with pads."

- EE Brakes

With the economy in shambles, and people trying to be more conservative with their money, here's a party launching out another 500 dollar brake set to market. Whats wrong with cycling?

The new 5 pivot EE brake is sure to polarize. They are ornately crafted, and on the surface, there seems be be some real work that has been put into them. In this age of KISS (keep it simple, stupid), you may have to like steam locomotives or complicated medieval torture devices to comfortably find pleasure in this creature.

However, for their steep asking price, their website was choke full of marketing hoopla and devoid of useful information. A cautious/intelligent consumer wanting to know how on earth their 'multiple lever system' generates better modulation than what was previously realized is left with little but a colorful picture of an FEA screenshot that's too small and blurry to even understand.

That is a little substandard.

If you want someone to part with their precious coin in your favor, your first rule of thumb is to give them a good reason 'why'!! Words like "bigger", "super stiff", "beefy", "pure awesomeness" etc are a tad bit overdone these days to lure someone to purchase.

So in my honest opinion, you're missing the beat. Since your design is unique, it opens itself to serious scrutiny. I suggest you consider writing a white paper on the brakes and posting it on your website so as to back up bold claims. How do your brakes work and how is modulation enhanced compared to the best dual pivot offerings? I certainly cannot see how. Give us a free body diagram of multiple leverage action. Is the mechanical advantage constant? Is the brake behavior linear or non-linear? Explain briefly the FEA involved. Pictures don't make sense if you can't read them! And if you have testing done, show us some numbers from the setup runs. This is good, and proper engineering practice.

This way, we'll hope to arrive at a conclusion as to what those extra dollars/gram is doing. Are they :

A) Affording one comfort and peace of mind in installation/adjustments and superior performance exactly as promised at the brake end?

OR

B) Just a feeling of psychological advantage of possessing a lightweight product, which is then quickly canceled out by application inconvenience through over-complication?


EE Brake installation must be meticulous and doubles the time required for simpler designs. This reviewer showed a picture of sand and grime in the linkages, and reported a nasty-sounding “crunch” when the brakes were used in wet weather (5 pivot means 3 additional crunches than dual pivot).


FEA snapshot. Good looking but deliverables are zero.

A clipping of the sequence of steps involved in installation. A mechanically disinclined person might need a fair amount of coffee to get through this successfully.

ที่ 10:33

Bjarne Riis's Saxo Bank Cycling Team, which includes Fabian Cancellara, plus Frank and Andy Schleck, switched frameset sponsors from Cervélo to Specialized in 2009 after seven seasons. Now the Danish squad -- which won the 2008 Tour de France -- is switching drivetrains, from Shimano Dura-Ace to SRAM Red, beginning March 28 with the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke and the Criterium International.

According to the detail-oriented Riis, himself winner of the 1996 Tour de France, the entire fleet of team bikes will make the switch to SRAM Red. Riders currently race on Specialized S-Works Tarmac and Roubaix SL2s for the road, and time trial on the S-Works Transition.

“SRAM Red is proven reliable, remains the lightest gruppo available, and delivers perfect ergonomics," he said. "SRAM has demonstrated impressive product development, great quality and intense focus, just like our team. We are looking forward to racing with SRAM."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SRAM Red was launched in the fall of 2007. The 1,926g gruppo retails for US$2,099, and is also the gruppo of choice for Lance Armstrong's Astana team, Linus Gerdemann's Milram team, the Trek-Livestrong U23 team, and Floyd Landis's Team OUCH.

For more information, visit www.sram.com and www.riis-cycling.com.

26.3.09

ที่ 08:50

Armstrong Recovering From Surgery
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is recovering after undergoing surgery this morning to repair his collarbone, which was broken into four pieces in a crash in Spain on Monday. In an article posted on Armstrong's Astana team website, doctor Doug Elenz, the orthopedic surgeon who performed the procedure in Austin, Texas, said it wasn't yet clear when Armstrong would be able to return to racing.

The cyclist himself said Tuesday night that he hadn't ruled out a return in time for the Giro d'Italia in May, with the Tour de France still in his sights. "Normally we see eight to 12 weeks for something like this to heal completely," Elenz said, but added that Armstrong could be back in action before that, depending on his progress.

Elenz and his team repaired the injury with a five-inch stainless steel plate with 12 screws. Armstrong was expected to be back at his home in Austin on Wednesday evening. He is then supposed to rest for a week, after which he can begin aerobic training on a stationary bike.

On the eve of the procedure, the 37-year-old Armstrong said he believed the Giro was "still very doable". "It's a very common cycling injury, so you hear of guys who have raced two weeks later, and guys who have raced two months later," he said.

Johan Bruyneel, manager of Armstrong's Astana team, had already said in Spain that he believed Armstrong could be back in action for the Giro, with the American's prospects of racing in the Tour de France even better. "A broken collarbone in March does not change anything as regards the Tour de France," which starts on July 4, Bruyneel said.

The US cycling legend broke his collarbone when he fell along with several other riders about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the finish line of the first stage of the Tour of Castilla y Leon on Monday.

A cancer survivor who went on to claim a record seven Tour de France crowns, Armstrong ended a three-and-a-half year retirement at the Tour Down Under in Australia in January to launch a comeback aimed at challenging for an eighth Tour de France title.

24.3.09

ที่ 10:18

We just got a press release via email:

WorldCommute.com Establishes First-Ever Green Commuting International Social Network

Web Site Enables Tracking of Carbon Offsets, Social Network, for Global Users

OSAKA, Japan - Embracing the global demand for solutions enabling eco-friendly transportation, CatEye, the leading global manufacturer of bicycle electronics, introduced WorldCommute.com, a not-for-profit, free social-network Web site designed to encourage, promote and track the use of non-motorized transportation around the world. CatEye, through the feature-rich Web site, promotes its core philosophies of environmentalism, personal health, safety, and active enjoyment in a way that engages and encourages average citizens to use non-motorized transportation as a way of life, and to more importantly make a difference in their part of the world.

WorldCommute.com is designed as a truly global interactive social networking platform, offered in six languages, to help track and record the positive contributions made by choosing human-powered efforts over a typical vehicle trip. WorldCommute uses various forms of measurement to encourage users to track and analyze a variety of human powered trips they take - by bike, walk, run, skate, wheelchair, skipping and otherwise - then create a profile to measure the impact on their personal life and the world. WorldCommute users will be able to interact individually and as groups with others and challenge each other to increase their commute participation and ultimately reduce their combined carbon offsets.

To find out more or to register, please visit the World Commute website.

23.3.09

ที่ 06:18

A group of cyclists shed their clothes and rode through Brighton to publicise the World Naked Bike Ride. They pedalled along the Madeira Drive seafront road wearing nothing but woolly hats, gloves and scarves.

Their aim was to promote the main Brighton naked ride on Sunday 14 June, and also to show solidarity with protesters in the southern hemisphere who are holding similar events this month.

The World Naked Bike Ride is an annual event celebrating cycling, protesting against climate change and demonstrating cyclists' vulnerability on the road.

Rides will be held across the UK this summer, with the Brighton event forming the finale to a weekend of naked rides in southern England. Other cities taking part include Southampton, London, Manchester, Sheffield, York, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

Organisers hope to inspire hundreds of people to strip off for Brighton's fourth annual "bare as you dare" demonstration. Last year, 400 people cycled the easy eight-mile route through the city centre.

Nick Sayers, who first brought the ride to Brighton in 2006, said: "The World Naked Bike Ride always gets a great response from crowds of onlookers – with incredulous gazes, smiles and laughter – and greatly boosts cyclists' confidence and feeling of liberation. When it comes to cycling, especially in the buff, there's considerable safety in numbers – more is definitely merrier!"

The event starts at noon with a naked lunch and body painting at The Level park, and finishes with a sea swim and picnic at the naturist beach in Kemp Town. The ride has a carnival atmosphere, with bikes adorned with flags and flowers, music, and bodies painted with slogans.

Planning for the Brighton ride was officially launched on Friday 13 March at a clothing-optional film night. More pre-ride events and a post-ride party are being planned to get more people involved. People are also invited to join the ride's Facebook and Yahoo groups for up-to-date information.

Ride co-organiser Duncan Blinkhorn said: "Cars have become a symbol of over-consumption as we wake up to the threat they pose to life on earth. Our ride calls for less dependence on these unsustainable and dangerous vehicles, and more priority for the cheap and cheerful alternative that is cycling. I'm confident that this year we'll see more bikes and bodies than ever taking over Brighton's streets and joining in the chorus to The Bare Necessities."

About 400 people took part in last year's World Naked Bike Ride event in Brighton

ที่ 06:17

GT’s intriguing Golden Bike series is set to kick off the first leg of competition at next month’s Sea Otter Classic in the US - but one lucky ‘winner’ may have already taken home the prize.

According to GT marketing man Robb Zbierski, one of the company’s specially finished GT Zaskar race bikes was lost in shipping last month – while the shipping label arrived at the intended destination in an envelope, the bike did not. In addition to the flashy gold paint job on the frame, the bike also features a custom gold finish on the Shimano XTR drivetrain, Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels, and Ritchey bar and stem.

Just as was the case with Lance Armstrong’s stolen – and recovered – one-off Trek Equinox time trial bike, Zbierski is hoping the bike’s distinctive appearance will hamper any potential illicit sale and will lead to a quick recovery.

Nonetheless, GT is offering a US$3000 reward for the bike’s return. If you've seen it, drop GT an email at goldenbike@gtbicycles.com.

21.3.09

ที่ 09:00

I think It's best design jersey ever.
Right?

20.3.09

ที่ 09:17

Despite all the reputation that Thomson has in making reliable cycling components, this person's Elite seatpost (popular) broke off at the tip like a chalk piece after a fall. I don't have the information to judge the severity of the fall. What we do know is that the seatpost broke and the user wasn't too happy. The post and head is integral machined so its all one piece.

Compare this to Thomson's marketing literature online. Among several other things, the company happens to generously regard itself as producing the only seatpost in the market incorporating a "bending fuse" against catastrophic failure.

Their website says :

"The Thomson seatpost design incorporates a bending fuse to prevent catastrophic failure. All brand-x seatposts we tested - every one of them - failed in catastrophic failure with the seat and clamp components - and sometimes pieces of the tube and head - flying off in all directions. This type of failure would dump the rider."

And something about impact absorbing clamps :

"Impact absorbing clamps - clamps, head, and assembly will spread and flex on impact to protect seat, rails, seatpost and rider. Easy on seats - allows seat to survive heavy impact loads without bending rails."
The owner of the seatpost, however, had a contrasting experience. He wrote on his blog after the incident :

"Forget the hype! Despite the claim that their seatposts are over "40% stronger" on ultimate strength test than the strongest production seatposts on the market, the Thomson Elite seatpost is not tough enough to withstand even a simple fall. And here's proof of that! This four-year-old post on my GT broke in the upper tube area, which is apparently 'strong enough to withstand 350 foot-lbs of torque', when the bike took a tumble sideways while it was stationary. It didn't "bend slightly" on impact like what the Thomson folks had you believe would happen but just crumbled like a cookie at the top. Actually, the OEM seatpost that I was using before I got the Thomson in a moment of weight-weenie lunacy seemed to take much harder knocks! And it looks like it could take plenty more! So, if you've got an Elite seatpost on your bike, watch out mate! It could be a disaster waiting to happen. "

I'm not sure what went wrong at Thomson's end to cause the seatpost to be brittle, but I'm just going to have to drop this one in the "Marketing Mishaps" section for now. This doesn't mean your Elite seatpost has the same problem. But it won't hurt to be informed. Out of 1000 apples, its likely that 2 end up being bad and that's the nature of manufacturing. When those bad apples that dont meet the standards turn into the customer's hands, that's where the issue reveals its uglier side. If Thomson stands by their word, they should delve into this incident and redress the issue (i.e If they are responsible. Corrosion, or user over tightening cannot be ruled out at this stage).

Take note that the lighter weight Masterpiece seatpost is essentially a machined out Elite.

19.3.09

ที่ 06:18

Tour de France organiser Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced the final teams that will take part in the 2009 race, from 4-26 July.

Professional Continental teams Cervélo TestTeam, Skil-Shimano and Agritubel are on the list, but ProTour team Fuji-Servetto was not invited.

Fuji-Servetto is the 2009 version of Saunier Duval, the 2008 team of Riccardo Riccò and Leonardo Piepoli. Both riders tested positive at the Tour last year for erythropoietin CERA. The team subsequently withdrew from the race.

Cervélo TestTeam is a brand new team but it contains 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, an obvious drawcard for the race and the organisers. The Switzerland-based team joined Dutch Skil Skil-Shimano (with Jonathan Hivert, who finished eighth in ASO's Paris-Nice last week) and French Agritubel (team of French favourite Christophe Moreau).

There will be 20 teams in total for the French Grand Tour. Three Professional Continental teams (listed above) and 17 of the 18 ProTour teams: Milram, Quick Step, Silence-Lotto, Saxo Bank, Caisse d'Epargne, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Garmin-Slipstream, Columbia-Highroad, AG2R La Mondiale, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis, Française des Jeux, Lampre-NGC, Liquigas, Astana, Rabobank and Katusha.

ที่ 06:16

We’ve just returned from a visit to MET’s headquarters in Italy, and managed to score a production version of the company’s long-awaited new road helmet, the Sine Thesis for testing.

According to Matteo Tenni, MET’s product manager, the goal of the £179 Sine Thesis wasn’t simply to create an expensive lightweight helmet, but to “have a very ventilated helmet with very few points of contact between the head and the helmet.”

The key to the new design is the integrated composite exoskeleton (ICE). It's made out of semi-flexible nylon based plastic and MET claims it will help carry air inside and through the helmet, thus keeping the rider’s head cool.

Matteo Tenni says the vents are optimised to draw in as much air across the head as possible, no matter how fast you're going: “The helmet will help to keep the rider’s head cool when riding fast, and also when the rider is climbing at low speed."

MET have done away with the ubiquitous ‘cloth’ or Coolmax helmet padding and have opted for a gel strip/spot padding system, which we can see other helmet manufacturers jumping on very quickly.

The gel-based spotting system reduces the contact between the head and helmet to 20% (compared to 60% on the current Stradivarius road helmet, for example), and doesn’t retain heat so it’s more comfortable to wear too. Unlike cloth-based padding, the gel doesn’t retain sweat either, so no more rides putting back on a soggy, smelly helmet.

At first we wondered about the gel strip which covers the forehead section of the lid - surely the sweat would run down into the riders’ eyes? Nope, once on the head, the strip forms one line which carries sweat around the forehead, away from the eyes.

ที่ 06:13

The Specialized Factory Racing team have announced they are to use Rotor's elliptical chainrings on their mountain bikes this year.

The egg-shaped Q-Rings are said to offer easier climbing, faster acceleration and smoother pedalling, with reduced joint and tendon loads thanks to better muscle strain distribution.

Oval chainrings haven't been seen on mountain bikes since Shimano's ill-fated BioPace rings, which the Japanese firm stopped making in the early Nineties.

But team member and marathon world champion Christoph Sauser has already given the Q-Rings his seal of approval. As we exclusively revealed in November, he has had a set on test for several months.

Sauser said: “I immediately felt the difference in the traction and instantly knew I wanted to use them in competition. This is likely one of the most technologically advanced bicycle components I've ever tested.”

Rotor will supply the team, which also includes Rebecca Rusch, Conrad Stoltz, Lene Byberg and Todd Wells, with special edition red 2x9 Q-Rings (40-27) designed to fit Specialized's S-Works mountain bike crankset.

Specialized's Bobby Behan said: “We’re really excited to work with Rotor this year, and the feedback from all of our athletes has been nothing but positive. They all agree that Q-Rings are a real performance advantage. Between our Epic/Era Brain technology and Rotor’s Q-Ring innovation, we’re in a great position to win this year."

Spanish brand Rotor claim their Q-Rings increase your power by maximising use of the efficient zones of the pedal stroke and reducing the intensity of the “dead” zones.

Riders using the egg-shaped rings have already earned multiple UCI World Championship titles in road, cyclo-cross and duathlon.

17.3.09

ที่ 06:26

Lance Armstrong will return to the first one-day classic of the season, Milan-San Remo, this weekend backed by a largely eastern European contingent of Astana riders.

The seven-time Tour de France champion last competed at San Remo in 2002 and his participation in one of cycling's five one-day "monuments" is likely to prompt huge interest in what will be his return to European roads for the first time since 2005.

On Saturday Armstrong will be flanked by three Kazakhs - Assan Bazayev, Maxim Iglinskiy and Dmitriy Muravyev - one Ukrainian, Yaroslav Popovych, and one Lithuanian in Tomas Vaitkus.

But just what the 37-year-old American's aims are for the race, which regularly approaches the 300km mark, are unknown.

In each of his participations Armstrong has always finished but has never managed to get near the podium. On his first real comeback year, in 1999 - shortly after he had battled cancer - he finished 117th. In 2000 he finished 108th and in 2002 Armstrong finished 44th in the same time as Italian winner Mario Cipollini.

Armstrong is also scheduled to race next week at the Tour of Castilla y Leon in Spain, where he will line up alongside Levi Leipheimer and defending two-time champion Alberto Contador.

Astana team for Milan-San Remo:

Lance Armstrong (USA), Assan Bazayev (Kaz), Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz), Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz), Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Gregory Rast (Swi), Michael Schär (Swi), Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu).