Cyclingnews Tech Probikes

Pro bike: Robbie McEwen’s Scott Foil

Daniel Benson — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:29:08 GMT

After 1 7 years of getting paid to race a bicycle , Robbie McEwen bowed out on Sunday at the conclusion of the Amgen Tour of California . Here is a look at the set-up of his Scott Foil, which, like the man himself, is fairly straightforward. Scott first showed prototypes of the Foil in 2010 with HTC-Columbia at the Tour de France. It was dubbed ‘FO1’ at the team. Scott continued to work with its sponsored athletes until 2011 to refine the design. Today, there are seven Foil models, ranging ...

Pro bike: Rory Sutherland’s NeilPryde Diablo

Peter Hymas — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:48:00 GMT

Having established a beachhead in the UK, NeilPryde is now making a push into the US market, and the company signed UnitedHealthcare to race its bikes for the 2012 season. UnitedHealthcare team leader Rory Sutherland recently won the overall title at the SRAM Tour of the Gila , and last week finished 13th overall at the Amgen Tour of California . Click on the gallery for a detailed look at his NeilPryde Diablo, dressed up in SRAM Red 2012 components, ENVE Smart System wheels and a Ritchey cockpit. ...

Pro bike: Dave Zabriskie’s Cervélo R5 VWD

Daniel Benson — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:44:28 GMT

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar Garmin-Barricuda ’s time-trial ace David Zabriskie moved into the leader’s jersey at the Amgen Tour of California thanks to his skills against the clock on the new Cervélo P5, but he’s racing the remainder of the event on a Cervélo R5 RWD. There are a few notable things about Zabriskie ’s road rig: custom frame modifications, and — as befits a champion time trialists — time-trial chain rings and a time-trial ...

Pro bike: Andrew Talansky’s Cervélo P5

Peter Hymas — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:41 GMT

Garmin-Barracuda ’s Andrew Talansky got the attention of the racing world in late April, when he finished less than a second behind Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins in the final time trial of the Tour de Romandie . That performance earned him second place on the stage, second overall in the race and the Best Young Rider award. It also earned him a new ride. At the Amgen Tour of California , Talansky’s Cervélo P4 from Romandie was hanging on the team rack, but inside the team truck ...

Pro Bike: Peter Sagan’s Cannondale SuperSix EVO

Daniel Benson — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:22:44 GMT

This article first appeared on Bikeradar Slovak speedster Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) won the first and second stages of the Amgen Tour of California aboard a Cannondale SuperSix EVO Team with custom geometry. Although the expense of carbon molds has made custom geometry cost-prohibitive for some companies, Cannondale had created a “54x58” mold for former Liquigas rider Daniele Bennati. Now used by Sagan, the frame size features a 54cm seat tube with a relatively long 58cm top ...

Pro Bike: Jens Voigt’s Trek Madone

Daniel Benson — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:22:02 GMT

For the 2012 Amgen Tour of California , Trek puts the always popular Jens Voigt on a custom Madone adorned with many of his funny sayings. Although the quotes like “Shut up legs!” came straight from the affable German’s mouth, the graphics came from Trek’s Creative Design Studio and the Trek Race Shop. “I was thrilled when Trek said they wanted to do a bike for me,” said Voigt . “We went back and forth about the theme and I talked a lot about the way I approach ...

Pro bike: Chris Horner's Trek Madone 6.9 SSL

Daniel Benson — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:40:38 GMT

This article first appeared on Bikeradar Chris Horner has never been overly concerned with what professionals are “supposed to do”. And at age 40, the RadioShack-Nissan rider who started the 2012 Amgen Tour of California Sunday as the defending champion isn’t about to change his style. On the eve of arguably the biggest race in America, riding on one of the world’s biggest professional cycling teams, Horner’s Trek Madone looked more like the rig of one of the fans cruising ...

Tom Boonen's new Specialized Roubaix SL4

Daniel Benson — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:07:19 GMT

Tom Boonen , Sylvain Chavanel , and other members of Omega Pharma-QuickStep will tackle the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix aboard a new bike from team sponsor Specialized. It doesn't officially have a name yet but past convention tells us this will be the next-generation S-Works Roubaix SL4. Specialized wouldn't divulge details of the new bike, as it's still in the final stages of development. Per UCI rules, bikes not only have to meet the governing body's testing process but it also "has to be presented ...

Pro bike: Tom Boonen's Omega Pharma-QuickStep Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4

Peter Hymas — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:06:39 GMT

Tom Boonen ( Omega Pharma-QuickStep ) returned to the limelight this past weekend – in a good way – taking impressive victories at the E3 Prijs-Vlaanderen and Gent-Wevelgem . Boonen likely isn't the only one smiling, though, as the victories also mean fresh bragging rights for his long-time bike sponsor, Specialized. Boonen has been swapping between both of Specialized's flagship S-Works road chassis – the aero McLaren Venge and the lighter and stiffer Tarmac SL4 – and he's ...

Pro bike: Rebecca Rusch's Specialized Fate Carbon 29

Peter Hymas — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:05:42 GMT

Mountain bike endurance racing specialist Rebecca Rusch (Specialized) took her latest victory in the duo category with Nat Ross at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo aboard Specialized's new women's-specific Fate carbon fiber 29er hardtail. According to the 'Queen of Pain', the light overall weight, comfortable ride quality, and fast rolling wheels and tires were just the thing for conquering the Arizona desert. "What I have available to me for bikes with Specialized is the pick of the litter, which ...

Pro bike: Thomas Dekker's Garmin-Barracuda Cervélo S5

Peter Hymas — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:52:41 GMT

Dutch climbing and time trial specialist Thomas Dekker has a long road ahead of him after serving a two-year suspension for EPO. Garmin-Barracuda directeur sportif Jonathan Vaughters has given the fallen rider a second chance , however, and Dekker is hoping his new team-issue Cervélo S5 will help him prove his worth this coming season. The Cervélo S5 strikes a distinctive profile what with its wild array of teardrop forms, hard edges, and unusual angles. In addition to the aero cross-sections ...

Pro bike: Specialized CruX for Zdeněk Štybar

Daniel Benson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:43:53 GMT

This appeared on Bikeradar This weekend Zdeněk Štybar ( Omega Pharma-Quick-Step ) is hoping to complete a hat trick, going for three world championship cyclo-cross titles in as many years, and he'll be doing so on a bike that he's only been racing for a month. The Czech racer already owns six world championship medals – he took two world titles as a U23 rider, plus bronze (2008), silver (2009) and two golds (2010, 2011) in the elite category – and has spent the past four seasons ...

Pro bike: Danny Hart's Giant Factory Off-Road Team Giant Glory

Sue George — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:58:30 GMT

Downhill world champion Danny Hart hasn't sat on his actual race bike since he whipped into the finishing area in Champery, Switzerland, in September. Instead, it's been flying the Giant flag at expos all around the world since then. The bike Hart had prepared for the UK National Champs is almost identical though, and that's the one that you see here. Custom geometry Hart started the year on a standard large Giant Glory frameset, but changed to a medium early on. "The large fitted me well, ...

Pro bike: Denis Menchov's Katusha Canyon Aeroad CF

Peter Hymas — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:28:43 GMT

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar Former Giro d'Italia winner Denis Menchov returns to his Russian roots for the 2012 season after just a single year with the ill-fated Geox-TMC squad but he'll do so on bikes from German company Canyon instead of his previous Fuji . Menchov will likely have any number of Canyon's road and time trial bikes at his disposal this year but for now, his primary machine is the Aeroad CF – the same chassis that Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) rode ...

Pro bike: Katie Compton’s Rabobank Giant TCX Advanced SL

Peter Hymas — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:08:33 GMT

Katie Compton made the jump from her small private program last year to Giant's massive, Rabobank-sponsored Dutch off-road team. The switch hasn't been without challenge, but it hasn't slowed America's queen of 'cross, who notched up her eighth consecutive national championship title this past weekend at Badger Prairie Park near Madison, Wisconsin. The American racer rode to a solo victory in the opening round of the 2011/12 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup season, and she's followed that performance with ...

RadioShack-Nissan's Trek machines for 2012

Daniel Benson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:24:13 GMT

This article first appeared on Bikeradar Trek Bicycle Corporation sponsored both the Leopard Trek and RadioShack teams last year so it's no surprise that when the two teams merged during the off-season that the Wisconsin company would carry on in that role for 2012. Indeed, returning Leopard Trek riders will essentially have to make no adjustments whatsoever as aside from cosmetics, virtually every piece of equipment is carried over from the 2011 season. Anchoring the entire package is Trek's top-end ...

ProBike: Jonathan Page’s Planet Bike Blue Norcross SL

Daniel Benson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:55:43 GMT

This article first appeared on Bikeradar . Jonathan Page is America’s European cyclo-cross stalwart . In Belgium, where he lives with his wife and three kids, the sport is all business, the courses are extreme and the racing is cut throat. His Blue Competition Cycles Norcross SL race bikes reflect the environment they’re used in—they’re built practically and to excel in the worst conditions. Page brought three Norcross SL bikes, from Belgium, to Wisconsin for the 2012 US ...

First look: Project 1t4i team Felt bikes for 2012

Daniel Benson — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:27:22 GMT

This article first appeared on Bikeradar Project 1t4i – formerly known as Skil-Shimano – announced Felt as its bike sponsor back in September but we now have a first look at actual team bikes and livery, along with a more complete look at some of the rest of the equipment the riders will use in 2012 and beyond. Light-and-stiff Felt F1s for the road… Project 1t4i riders will have their choice of Felt's F-Series or AR carbon machines on the road but at least for now, they're sticking ...

Pro bike: Todd Wells' Specialized CruX E5 OSBB

Peter Hymas — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:27:42 GMT

Todd Wells told Cyclingnews earlier this year that he wasn't at all upset about not getting a custom stars-and-stripes bike to celebrate his status as US national cross-country champion. He arrived at late October's back -to- back UCI cyclo-cross races in Boulder, Colorado with his Specialized CruX bikes sporting stock livery – only they were far from stock beneath the paint. For starters, Wells' alloy CruX has custom geometry to suit his lanky 1.88m (6ft 2in) build. The rear end is essentially ...

Pro bike: Geoff Kabush's Rocky Mountain Solo Carbon prototype

Peter Hymas — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:39:09 GMT

Geoff Kabush (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) arrived at last Saturday and Sunday's UCI races in Boulder, Colorado with a new carbon fiber 'cross chassis currently unlisted in the Rocky Mountain catalog. According to team head mechanic Gary Wolff, Rocky Mountain supplied a few of these frames just for Kabush and might turn them into a production item but for now, they're team-issue only. Kabush's frame features most of the features common to modern 'cross chassis these days: a tapered front end, internal ...

Pro bike: Jeremy Powers' Focus Mares

Peter Hymas — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:11:52 GMT

Dressed in matte black (with hints of gloss), cream logos and pink accents, the Rapha-Focus Mares is the most dapper bike on the US cyclo-cross circuit. But it isn't just here to look good, it's also winning races under new team leader Jeremy Powers, who says its low, stout stance suits him. As his Behind The Barriers mini-series has shown us, J-Pow is a little bit different, and we know he likes to get down – Owwwooooo! Cyclingnews headed to the Rapha-Focus team service course in Loveland, ...

Pro bike: Ben Berden's Stoemper Ronny

Peter Hymas — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:29:29 GMT

Ben Berden is a traditionally schooled Belgian cyclo-crosser. Businesses from his home country, including brewers Ops Ale and Chaos Bike Shop, have joined forces with Oregon-based custom bike builders Stoemper and other US brands including the resurrected Clement Tires to bring him to the US to race a full domestic season. The idea was brewed with the help of David Alvarez, former marketing manager for Ridley Bikes, who now owns half of Stoemper. He's an American, an ex-pat of sorts who lives in ...

Pro bike: Georgia Gould's Orbea Alma

Peter Hymas — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:23:15 GMT

Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) has bucked the trend of cross-country racers switching to 29in wheels, with great success. She's taken two consecutive US national cross-country titles (and one short track title) on her straightforward, 26in-wheeled Orbea Alma. It's not to say she hasn't tried riding with big wheels, but they haven't yet struck her as the be-all and end-all. "I rode them last year at the Mellow Johnny's Classic in Texas," said Gould. "Mostly it was because everyone else ...

Pro bike: Jeremiah Bishop's Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er

Peter Hymas — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:27:40 GMT

Lightweight bikes are nothing new at the top ranks of the sport but Jeremiah Bishop's (Cannondale Factory Team) Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er surprised even us, weighing in at an astounding 8.23kg (18.14lb) – lighter than some Paris-Roubaix machines we've profiled in the past and just the thing for the US cross-country national championship's climbing-intensive course in Sun Valley, Idaho. Bishop's feathery steed is built around Cannondale's ultralight Flash Carbon 29er hardtail, which boasts ...

Pro Bike: Andy Fenn's Dolan Ares

Peter Hymas — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 05:05:32 GMT

21-year-old Brit Andy Fenn won a bronze medal in the under 23 men's road race at the 2011 world championships, capping off an impressive first year as a professional cyclist. A former member of the British Cycling Academy, Fenn excels on track and road with many junior and under 23 titles to his name, including the 2008 junior Paris-Roubaix and 2010 U23 national championship. His first year with An Post-Sean Kelly has seen him start to find his feet in the pro peloton, and although so much has changed ...