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Eurobike Special 2013
CASTELLI
triathlon machines – these are as aerodynamic as we can make them within the rules. We aim to make our S-Series bikes as aero as a road bike can be, even using elements of the P-Series. With the R-Series our take on speed is through lightness; now we incorporate some of the aero thinking from the S-Series too.
Can its scorpion-emblazoned clothing take the sting out of your winter riding?
A
3D knitted body with internal ribbing ensures the Flanders baselayer has a close fit, traps plenty of air for warmth, and enhances wicking. The four-way stretch sleeves are snug, and perforated mesh under the arms accelerates cooling. The Espresso Due jacket is wonderfully comfortable and loaded with features. Its unrestrictive cut benefits from Castelli’s floating shoulder system, a range of closable vents, and sleeves that unzip to accommodate gloves. The high collar, use of Windstopper material and a luxurious fleece lining make this perfect for taking on the worst of winter. The addition of Windstopper X-Fast 2 from below the knee to hip elevates the Sorpasso from being a good cool weather tight to being excellent in biting cold. Such a superb fit without a comfort penalty is no mean feat, and the thicker dual-layer fabric across the front seat pad area provides welcome protection. The tall, zipped ankle grippers are very secure, and the seamless bib straps unobtrusive. The Diluvio gloves have pre-shaped fingers and very long cuffs which are stretchy enough to fit over sleeves and slim enough to slip beneath them. The close fit keeps hands warm and feel is excellent. A Terry wipe extends from the cuff to thumb tip, and the fingers and palm are printed with silicone for grip. At 20cm tall, the Merino Venti socks aim to help keep your feet warm by insulating your lower leg. The neoprene Diluvio overshoes take longer to put on due to their shorter zips, but fit snugly with low-profile ankle cuffs. The brushed lining of the Skully insulates well, and the Head Thingy’s warmth and stretch material mean it can be used as a neck warmer, bandana or headband. www.saddleback.co.uk
MEDIA COVERAGE
BEST JACKET
CP / Felt launched a complete redesign of its aero road frame, the Ar, at this year’s show. Can you tell us about it? Jeff / The original AR changed the way we thought about race bikes. The aerodynamics were superior, but the original design suffered some compromises in stiffness and weight. We always like to build on what we learn, so taking the incredible success of the ultra-stiff, lightweight F-series design raced by [Argos-Shimano rider] marcel Kittel and combining it with our 20-plus years of aero experience in time trial and triathlon allowed us to build the new AR as an all-rounder.
< Cervélo’s high-falutin’ RCA. Its technology has now trickled down to more modestly priced bikes in the company line-up
The Ar is priced from £2000; so what sets the range-topping FrD model apart? FRD or Felt Racing Development, is our approach to a ‘no holds barred’ process. If it takes finding new material, manufacturing processes, or testing to develop the best possible frame, then so be it. I would liken it to the development of Formula 1 racing technology that eventually trickles down to consumers. Take the new AR checkerboard finish – it’s not for aesthetics, it’s the result of a new material and manufacturing process we have incorporated to maximise stiffness and minimise weight. It’s called TeXtreme from Sweden’s Oxeon. It uses a standard intermediate modulus fibre, but processes the tow [the individual strand] in a patented way to achieve a tape [individual layer] with very low areal weight. because the fibres in this tape are extremely aligned there is very little room for excess resin, and this equals lightweight. The thin tapes also allow for crimpless weaving of fabric, providing superior strength over unidirectional materials. bear in mind that the entire frame is not made from TeXtreme, high and ultra high modulus UD fibre is still used. The TeXtreme is simply used to replace a typical +/- off-axis set of plies with a single ply. All of this means that our aero road frame is lighter than the competition. In fact it’s a respectable weight for any frame. The stiffness is also high, with excellent ride characteristics.
“our aero road frame is Lighter than the comPetition. in fact it’s a resPectabLe Weight for any frame”
what’s changed as a result of becoming part of the Pon bicycle Group, Cervélo’s new owner? The goal of making faster bikes through engineering is what Pon wanted, and all our most important engineers are still here – but we weren’t the best at the business side. Fortunately Pon is, which means not only can our bikes be the high quality we expect, but also cheaper. in 2014 you have three models at £2000. How do you feel about getting the brand to a wider public? We’re selling complete bikes in the EU and I’m excited more people will have the chance to ride our bikes. Do disc road bikes factor in Cervélo’s future? We did see a need for improved braking, but we believe that road bikes already have disc brakes – they’re just mounted at the rim, and a bigger rotor means better brakes. This is why we co-developed an aerodynamic hydraulic brake with magura. SRAm’s hydraulic rim brakes are also good. That’s not to say we aren’t investigating disc brakes – we’re Cervélo, it’s what we do!
WE SAY...
Superlative jacket and bib-tights are the stars of Castelli’s winter range
> The 2014 Felt AR: one of the next generation of aero road bikes. Felt claims it is 40 per cent stiffer, lighter and more aero than the ’13
why not make all bikes with TeXtreme? The material costs nearly five times that of standard carbon, and required us to develop a new timeconsuming manufacturing process to take advantage of it. It can take upwards of 10 hours to lay-up a single front triangle – you simply couldn’t make large volume bikes using it. what sets the Ar frame apart from other aero road bikes? because we didn’t only focus on the wind tunnel (though the new AR is better than the old model and when benchmarked against the competition it’s better there too) we were able to put much of our effort into making the AR ride how we like our all-around bikes. That meant improving drivetrain stiffness for perfect power transfer, making sure the front end torsional stiffness is well suited to fast handling, and
“We’ve beaten the comPetition in the Wind tunneL, but We aimed to beat the comPetition Where it’s most imPortant, on the road”
understanding that a race bike needs comfort too. For that we designed a new seatpost. It’s aerodynamic and looks integrated but isn’t – we want the adjustability of a standard setup. It has an internal mechanism that clamps only the walls of the post and frame together, eliminating the common problem of crushing faced by the use of a wedge or perimeter clamp. It’s far more secure, which allowed us to make the walls thinner and more flexible. That means that despite the AR being massively stiff, this new seatpost coupled with the 3T Difflock comfort module contributes to the vertical compliance being nearly equal to that of our Z bikes. So I guess my answer to
you is, we’ve beaten the competition in the wind tunnel, but we aimed to beat the competition where it’s most important, on the road. With the new AR I think we’ve done that too.
if you couldn’t ride a Felt, what bike would you be riding? There are so many great bikes on the market with unique features and qualities, but I’d probably say the old Cervélo Soloist Sl. That frame always had a great balance of aero, stiffness and weight; I like it much better than most of the newer bikes in the market, even though they may be faster in the tunnel. I guess most design is an exercise in compromise, and it’s what you end up giving away that can be the final factor. CYCLING PLUS | November 2013 | 159
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Flanders LS Baselayer £55 ★★★★★ Espresso Due Jacket £230 ★★★★★ Sorpasso WS Bib-tights £160 ★★★★★ Diluvio Deluxe Glove £40 ★★★★★ Venti Sock £17 ★★★★★ Diluvio Shoecover 16 £40 ★★★★★ Viva Thermo Skully £19.99 ★★★★★ Head Thingy £20 ★★★★★
The latest reviews from the media world
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BEST TIGHTS
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BONT ZERO+
CHANGES TO BONT’S redesigned Zero+ shoes include a monocoque chassis that it claims is stiffer and provides a better fit, a new Durolite upper that’s dimpled for an improved aero performance, and a fibre-wire tensioner that replaces the laces. Our test pair (size 45) weigh 500g, and they cost £275. www.saddleback.co.uk
ENVE XC 29in rims. Price: £800 per rim, around £2,100 as built From: Saddleback, saddleback.co.uk Tested: Seven months. Getting to test rarefied kit like this is one of the best bits of my job. In these cases, I also feel the pressure to make sure that I have a decent push at it because there’s a lot of hard-earned money at stake. And, so, just like you expect Clarkson to give that Ferrari some stick (because if you bought one yourself, you probably wouldn’t dare), I’ve been braking hard and late, picking my trademark terrible lines through rocks and running far too little pressure in the name of product testing. After standing back and admiring the rims, I set about fitting them and trying to get out of my depth. First I installed the black, ENVE tubeless rim tape and set about running them tubeless with mixed success. The front went up first go, with a little frantic pumping. The rear was a different matter and after three different tyres and an evening of track-pumping, I threw a tube in it and promptly forgot about it. Maybe I’ll have another go one day, but at least it gave me a chance to try them both tubed and tubeless in the name of pseudo-science. These are the XC rims, with a narrowish 18mm inner profile, which means that a bigger tyre, over 2in or so gets more of a rounded profile but, with a weight of a mere 1,450g a pair, I was happy to make that sacrifice. For heavier/radder riders, the AM rims are the same price and offer a 24mm inner width and a still impressive 1,600g
ROAD TESTED ISSUE 284
Shell out nearly £300 on a pair of shoes and you want to know if they’re worth it. Find out in the February issue of Cycling Plus On sale 7 January 2014
RIDER’S DIGEST
BETTER BIKING BY BOFFINS
SWITCH IT OFF
SUGAR WARNING
TOUGH UP NORTH
Almost one in ten Britons have asked their GPs for sleeping pills according to research by a leading health brand, and 44 per cent of those surveyed said their tablet computers and smartphones had an adverse effect on their sleep – even when switched to silent but with the light on. When you turn off the bedroom light, turn off your devices – completely!
The head of Amsterdam’s health service claims sugar is one of ‘the most dangerous drugs of our time’ and should come with a warning as with tobacco and cigarettes. Paul van der Velpen cited the fact that people who eat protein and carbs stop when they’re full, but sugar’s addictiveness encourages you to carry on eating. He also called for sugar to be taxed.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics claim life expectancy in the UK varies enormously depending on where you live. Deprived areas of London and regions in the north performed worst, while those people in the Home Counties such as Buckinghamshire and Surrey, and affluent areas of the capital, could expect to be healthier for longest.
Corbis
1 CASTELLI Cycling Plus 281 2 FELT INTERVIEW Cycling Plus 281 3 BONT ZERO+ Cycling Plus 281 4 ENVE XC 29 RIMS Singletrack 85 5 FELT AR FRD ProCycling 183 6 FELT IA 220 Triathlon
Can you see a day when designs converge, when aerodynamics, lightness and handling combine? Some companies’ models appear to combine lightness and aero, but these are a compromise. The fastest aero frame requires more surface area, hence more weight, than could be accomplished with a design focused purely on low weight. To get the lightest or the most aero frame, we still need different designs. It seemed obvious that climbers would prefer the lighter R-Series and rouleurs the more aero S-Series – strengthening your strengths. but there’s a twist… Applying analytical modelling of real racing situations, we’ve learned it’s not always that obvious, and sometimes it’s worth considering whether strengthening your weaknesses might make you faster. For example, if you’re a rouleur, you might have no problem riding the echelon on the flats but struggle on steep climbs. Why not choose the R-Series? likewise, the climber who excels on the steepest pitches but sometimes is in danger of getting shelled on the flats might choose the S-Series. A reversal of conventional wisdom might be worth thinking about. Either way, we’ve been making light bikes and aero bikes for years. Our RCA is the lightest production frame – and has a touch of aero – while the Cervélo S5 is the most aero road frame we’ve ever tested, and even lighter than many other brands’ ‘light’ frames. If you ride flatter circuit races we’d say an S, just as we’d recommend S-Series bikes to triathletes for hillier courses or draft-legal events. The P will be quicker over flat or rolling terrain and traditional TT disciplines.
JEFF SoUCEK Felt’s director of research and development
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all-in weight. ENVE’s clever bit is that the spoke holes are moulded in, rather than being drilled into a finished rim, cutting through the carbon layup. With ENVE’s method, the material around the hole is still as strong as the rest of the rim, allowing a higher-tension build. These wheels have been on my main bike since the spring and have been everywhere from the top of Welsh mountains to hot laps of Lee Quarry at the local Brownbacks race series. In that time, I’ve never run more than 25psi, even with tubes and haven’t had a single puncture. I’ve bounced off rocks and done my best to misbehave with these. At all times, the ride has been great; taut without any harshness (albeit on a cushioning suspension bike) and very easy to forget that you’re riding on racing wheels ‘made out of cloth and glue’ as esteemed bicycle journalist Paul Smith puts it… The wheels are still running true and solid and the high tension build helps keep them that way – having seen one of these rims take 800lbs of pull at a single spoke hole before the spoke (not the rim) broke, I’ve no doubt that it can probably take whatever your wheelbuilder can dish out in the name of a tight wheel. You might baulk at the price, although ironically, ENVE is proud it can make these rims in the USA for ‘only’ this much, but that bit is always going to be up to you and your wallet. Overall: It’s hard to justify carbon anything if you can’t afford it, but for arguably your bike’s most important upgrade, these are light and strong in the ultimate expression of Keith’s Law*. They’re race wheels you can run year-round on your trail bike. Chipps. *‘Cheap, light and strong – pick two.’ – Keith Bontrager.
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