February 2nd, 2010 by 
thien
Norco CRR2 Road Bike Pro Review – by Twain Mein
- Size: 58 cm, frame weight 1790 grams (claimed)
- SRAM Rival drivetrain + Force rear derailleur
- Ritchey Pro Logic handlebar, Pro 4-Axis stem, Ritchey Pro 2-bolt seat post
- Mavic Aksium Black wheels (1795 total grams)
- 11-25 rear cassette/compact 50/34 S550 crank (825 grams)
- Vittoria Zaffiro Pro II 700×23 clincher tires (240 grams)
- Fizik Arione white saddle
- White bar tape, cables, seat, and brake covers
- MSRP: $3,236 USD
- 17lb 14oz with Look Keo Carbon Ti pedals
Norco is more known for it’s mountain bikes where they offer an astounding 50 different models. They’ve been making bikes in Canada for over 40 years, and they are branching out into the road bike arena. For 2010, they offer 4 road race bikes, all based on essentially the same frame but with varying component levels. Norco touts three main differentiators for their carbon road frames:
1. EPS Mandrel system “process”. This offers a much stronger and more controlled surface when laying up the carbon in complicated and high stress areas of the frame such as the head tube and BB shell connections. This process eliminates the chance of wrinkling inside the layup or cracking in these areas of the frame thus greatly improving the strength compared to conventional mandrels.
2. HTR- High Toughness Resin is used in all 2010 Norco carbon frames. It is a newly developed resin that is exclusive to our carbon manufacturer. The HTR resin increases the impact resistance by 20% making the frames less prone to damage. It also decreases the amount of resin required and therefore decreases the overall weight of the frame.
3. Thermoplastic Resin. Another new feature that Norco carbon frames feature for 2010 is the use of a thermo plastic mesh laminate in key stress areas inside the frame. This smoothes out THE carbon layering and disperses stress forces WHICH prevents the propagation of small cracks. This new mesh system is designed to work in conjunction with the EPS process.
