Freakride

Shimano XTR 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:03:00 +0000

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

Specialized S-Works Epic Carbon Disc : Sause Weapon in Sea Otter

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:15:00 +0000

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.

New Specialized image : Can't miss

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:11:00 +0000

I've just found this image from another site.

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

2010 SRAM FORCE : Shimano 2010 Enemy

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:39:00 +0000

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.

Tour is a go for Armstrong

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:31:00 +0000

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.

New Shimano 2010 : Deore MTB Enthusiasm

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:58:00 +0000

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.

New Shimano 2010 : Ultegra First look

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:04:00 +0000

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.

Incredible Man : LANCE BACK ON THE BIKE

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:45:00 +0000

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.

Pro Bike (Part 2) : Milan Sanremo 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:40:00 +0000

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".

Pro Bike : MILANO-SANREMO 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:39:00 +0000

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.

EE-yikes : 5 Pivot Brakes, Modulation, Cost

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:41:00 +0000

"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.

Specialized Saxo Bank switches to SRAM Red

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:33:00 +0000

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.

Armstrong Strike Back : Recovering From Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:50:00 +0000

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.

First-Ever Green Commuting Social Network

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:18:00 +0000

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.

Naked riders brave the cold in Brighton

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:18:00 +0000

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

GT golden bike goes 'missing'

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:17:00 +0000

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.

Best Jersey Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0000

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

Thomson Elite Seatpost Failure

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:17:00 +0000

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.

Tour de France 2009 announces 20 teams

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:18:00 +0000

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.

MET Sine Thesis road helmet

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:16:00 +0000

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.

Specialized team to use Rotor Q-Rings

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:13:00 +0000

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.

Lance Armstrong turns to the east for Milan-San Remo

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:26:00 +0000

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).

Armstrong's bike stolen!

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:04:00 +0000

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Lance Armstrong's time-trial bike was stolen from the Team Astana truck during the night before Stage 1 of the Tour of California.

Armstrong rode the bike to a 10th-place finish Saturday in Sacramento during the Tour prologue. The race is his first competitive appearance in his native country since the seven-time Tour de France winner began his cycling comeback last month.

A few hours after the time trial, someone removed four bikes from the Astana truck outside the team hotel in Sacramento. Armstrong's time-trial bike, which was closest to the door because he was delayed by a post-race trip to doping control, was taken along with race bikes belonging to Astana teammates Steve Morabito, Yaroslav Popovych and Janez Brajkovic.

Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens confirmed the theft to The Associated Press after it was reported by Armstrong himself on his Twitter feed. Armstrong later posted a picture of the bike, which has distinctive yellow-and-black wheels and the logo of his Livestrong foundation.

"There is only one like it in the world therefore hard to pawn it off. Reward being offered," Armstrong wrote before jumping on his race bike for the 107-mile ride from Davis to Santa Rosa through a steady rainstorm.

Team Astana manager Johan Bruyneel also mentioned the thefts on his Twitter feed before he began following his riders. The racers all have backup bikes, and two-time defending Tour champion Levi Leipheimer's bike wasn't stolen.

Armstrong won't need his time-trial bike again until Friday in Solvang, where the race holds its second time trial. That segment is crucial to Astana's hopes of winning the overall team title.

Has anybody posted "HOT BIKE FOR SALE" to Sacramento Craigslist yet?

Marzocchi fork recall in US

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Marzocchi have announced a voluntary recall of some of their suspension forks in the US. About 70 of their 888 RC3 and 888 RC3 WC downhill forks are affected.

The Italian company say a hard landing which bottoms out the fork can break the internal piston rod, leaving the fork fully compressed and unable to rebound, and potentially causing the rider to lose control and crash.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission say they have received eight reports of damaged 888 RC3 forks, and one rider claims to have been injured as a result.

The recall affects 2008 forks with date codes beginning with T07D07, T07D08 and T07D09 sold in the US between July and September 2007. The forks are white or black with red and black artwork on the legs. To check your date code, look under the lower crown.

Marzocchi say owners should stop using the forks immediately and return them to the shop where they bought them from for a free repair. The company are warning people not to try to fix their own forks because the legs could "extend violently" and injure them.

For more information, call Marzocchi on 800 227-5579 between 8am and 4pm Pacific time (4pm-12pm GMT), Monday to Friday, email the firm at Techinfo@Marzocchiusa.com or visit www.marzocchi.com.

Shimano unveil new groupsets

noreply@blogger.com (Velo Warrior) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Shimano are poised to launch a new entry-level road groupset and a new Deore series of mountain bike kit. At the Japanese firm's 2009 product launch in Birmingham we were also given a tantalising glimpse of the newest incarnation of Ultegra – but we've been sworn to secrecy on that until later in the year.

The new road groupset is called 2300 and slots in at the bottom of the Shimano hierarchy, just below Sora. The eight-speed group has a smooth, flowing design which makes it looks far more expensive than it is. Prices have yet to be confirmed but it is likely to be found on complete bikes selling for £500-£600.

On show at the launch was a bike decked out with all the 2300 kit. The groupset offers the choice of a double (52-39T) or triple (52-42-30T) chainset, with 170mm or 175mm cranks, spinning on a square taper bottom bracket.

2300 will be available with a double or triple crankset: 2300 will be available with a double or triple crankset

The eight-speed rear derailleur has a 'wide link' design which Shimano say improves rigidity, shifting and durability.

Broken Image: The eight-speed 2300 rear derailleur : the eight-speed 2300 rear derailleur

The Sora-style shifters have been designed for riders who spend most of their time on the hoods. They feature reach adjustment and an optical gear display. The 2300 groupset should be available in July.

The sora-style levers are designed for riders who spend most of their time on the hoods:

2009 Deore

The new Deore is Shimano's 'workhorse' groupset and slots in below SLX. It is available in two versions – mountain bike or trekking/hybrid - and should start to hit the shops in June.

With its classy 'galaxy black' finish and trickle-down features from Shimano's higher end groupsets, you'd be hard pressed to tell it's aimed at the budget conscious.

The shifters and brake levers have been designed to work perfectly together, to the extent that the brake hose and gear cable even exit at the same angle to cut down on cockpit clutter.

Shimano's new deore mountain bike groupset has borrowed features from the company's more expensive ranges: shimano's new deore mountain bike groupset has borrowed features from the company's more expensive ranges

The shifters, which are designed to be fitted inboard of the brake levers, feature two-way release (you can push them in either direction to change gear) and a longer and more comfortable paddle. The optical display is now tilted towards the rider, making it easier to see.

The brake lever now has a radial master cylinder, a tool-less reach adjuster, a more comfortable blade and a hinged clamp for easier removal from your bars – a first for Shimano. The fluid circuit inside the calliper has been redesigned for easier bleeding.

The deore brake calliper has been redesigned internally to make bleeding quicker and easier : the deore brake calliper has been redesigned internally to make bleeding quicker and easier

The Shadow rear derailleur hangs much closer to the frame than the old model, out of the way of rocks. It also boasts a stronger spring for crisper shifts and more direct cable routing.

The deore mech uses the same shadow technology as xtr, xt and slx: the deore mech uses the same shadow technology as xtr, xt and slx

The two-piece chainset has outboard bearings and an integrated bottom bracket, but forgoes Shimano's hollow crank arms in favour of solid ones. It weighs 973g and is available in silver or black.

The deore chainset is available in silver or black: the deore chainset is available in silver or black

Stay tuned for more from the Shimano launch, including two new mountain bike wheelsets, the new LX touring/hybrid groupset, a sneak peak inside the hollow Dura-Ace chainring and a sexy new six-bolt disc rotor.