Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

2013 Colnago C59 Disc

By thien   May 07, 2012

Colnago’s C59 Disc made its North American debut at this year’s Sea Otter Classic. The C59 Disc is a 2013 model, so what you see displayed here is still in prototype form, including the Formula levers. The C59 will be Colnago’s first fully featured front and rear hydraulic disc brake road bike. Colnago claims it will bring a whole new level of performance and safety to their road bike line.

Formula’s brake levers, built around Shimano’s Di2 drivetrain, looks intriguing. With an elegant shape, it’s still a little rough around the edges in it’s prototype form. Still, the shape and form is quite impressive for a project that only really took off this past fall. Hidden inside the brake hoods are tiny reservoirs for the hydraulic brakes. Unlike, TRP’s Hywire, there is no indication or bulge, making these hoods just as narrow as any other with traditional brakes. Formula says their system, the RR1, should be finalized and in production by the summer. Strictly a Colnago collaboration right now, they should announce an aftermarket version at this year’s Eurobike.

The C59 disc will be spec’d with 140mm diameter discs front and rear (we’re told a 160mm mounting kit will also be available for heavier riders). The system is easy to service, should it ever need servicing – as the system is essentially closed and there are no cables to replace or wear out. The regular maintenance will only consist of checking the brake pads for wear, and replacing them when needed – which is a simple five minute job.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic | Video

Look Cyclocross X-85 Frameset

By thien   May 02, 2012

One of the most anticipated and requested bikes from Look Cycles has always been a true carbon fiber cyclocross bike. Look answered those requests this past fall with the introduction of the X-85. Shown quietly at the fall bike shows, the X-85 was still very much a prototype bike. Prototype no more, the production version was on display at this year’s Sea Otter Classic. Look is returning to cyclocross with a truly avant garde cross frameset. Using Look’s 25 years of experience and “know-how” in carbon technology, the new X-85 is completely hand made in Look’s Nevers, France carbon factory. The frame is constructed of “tube-to-tube” technology and weighs in at a very respectable 1150 grams (size M), and the all carbon disc fork is 550 grams.

The X-85 is built to accomodate standard 160mm rotors with the IS standard mounts, hydraulic or mechanical. To ensure a wide range of wheel options, Look opted to use a standard 135mm rear wheel spacing allowing for most any 29er wheel to be used. Look’s “Mud Evac” chainstays have been designed for optimal mud clearance and seatstays were designed with a carbon composition incorporating flex, ideal for absorbing vibrations. Look has also moved the cable routing from the below the flattened top tube on the prototype to above it, for easy shouldering during cross racing.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

Volagi Debuts Viaje – All Day Comfort in a Disc Brake Steel Road Bike

By thien   April 30, 2012

Volagi took the wraps off, Viaje, the latest addition to Volagi’s lineup of long bow seat stay road bikes at this year’s Sea Otter Classic. Literally translated from Spanish, Viaje means “trip” or “journey”. Journeys don’t always go over paved roads though, so Volagi set to designing a bike that could handle like your road bike, power through rough patches like your cross bike, and fit racks and mounts like your randonneuring bike.

The Viaje is Volagi’s first steel road bike featuring the same Long Bow Seat Stay technology and disc brake compatibility as their Liscio. Offered in both Reynolds 853 and a 525, it’ll allow Volagi to hit very specific price points – $3200 and $2000. One will feature Campagnolo Chorus and the other most likely SRAM’s Apex.

The Viaje answers a lot of questions Volagi’s been asked over the short time they’ve been building bikes. Questions like “will it accept a rack,” and “will it fit cyclocross tires?” On the Viaje, the answer is Yes. The Viaje’s geometry will be very similar to that of the Liscio, the company’s carbon bike designed for performance and long distances. But will allow up to 42c tires, 32 if you choose to run full fenders. Want to run racks, panniers, and a dynamo, you’ll have all the mounts you’ll need.

The Viaje is expected to arrive in final production form in August with a 27.2 seatpost, BB386 BB, and a 135mm spaced rear end.

For more information check out Volagi at www.volagi.com



Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

USE R1 Aero Bar

By thien   April 30, 2012

Steve from Ibex Sports, the North American distrubutor for Ultimate Sports Engineering products shows us the new line from USE. Including the new for 2012 R1 Handlebar, to be used for Triathlons and TTs. Ibex Sports claims the R1 is the most aero bar on the market and claimed weight is just 550 grams. Claimed weight aside, the most significant change from previous USE bars is how the adjustable extensions and pads are mounted on pillars now instead of clamps.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

2012 Sea Otter Classic Cyclocross

By lyne lamoureux   April 27, 2012

A cyclocross race at Sea Otter Classic? In April? Would anyone show up? The answer was yes. Through the fields were small, even tiny for the pro women, it didn’t stop the fans from loudly cheering the racers on.

Using the terrain around the Laguna Seca Lakebed, the course which started and end on the racetrack included a few grassy sections, so-called kitty litter pits with gravel instead of sand and a foray into the expo for a barrier section near the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden.

While the racers at the front were racing hard, many were enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of (very) early racing to simply have fun. The crowd was happy to cooperate with beer hand-ups, dollar hand-ups and even a salad hand-up for Georgia Gould of the Luna team.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

Praxis Works Shows off New Chainring sets and Bolt Kit

By thien   April 27, 2012

Praxis Works the young upstart known for their relatively affordable forged chain rings that work with Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo drivetrains debuted two new exciting products at this years Sea Otter Classic.

Praxis will be shipping a new cold forged semi-compact chainring set in a 52×36 combination as early as this summer. The new chainring is fully engineered to work with the 110 BCD crank standard allowing riders to hammer in the 52, but drop down to a 36 when the grades start to go up. Pricing will remain consistent at $160.00, in line with their current compact offerings.

Also announced and displayed, was the Praxis 7950 Bolt Kit. A common concern among Shimano Dura Ace riders is the awkward aesthetics of a replacement ring on the Shimano 7900 crank. Praxis engineers have come up with a fix to this by developing lightweight caps and bolts that will give the crank a tapered look when using traditional rings on the Shimano cranks. Pricing hasn’t been finalized, but the caps will only be available as part of the packaged kit. The kit will include two chainrings in either a 46×36, 48×36, 50×34, 50×36, or the new 52×36, new bolts, and the caps. The kit should be available later this summer.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

TRP Hywire Road Disc Brake System

By thien   April 27, 2012

Debuting first at the Taipei Cycle Show last month, TRP’s new Hywire fully hydraulic road disc brake system was on display at this years Sea Otter Classic. The Hywire had been in development even before TRP debuted their hybrid Parabox system at last year’s Otter. The new fully hydraulic system adds integrated Di2 shifting and was designed with an integrated master cylinder inside the lever body to actuate the new fully hydraulic brake system that includes new larger pistons both front and rear.

The Hywire system will retail for $599, but won’t be available for retail until this fall. Though the Hywire may be found spec’d on complete bikes as early as this summer.

Dave from TRP gives us a brief overview of the new Hywire System

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic | Video

Yakima Introduces The DoubleDown Ace

By thien   April 24, 2012

Yakima’s new hitch-mounted bike carrier features tool-free installation and integrated locking. The DoubleDown Ace fits squarely in the middle of Yakima’s current lineup, and is available in 5, 4, or 2 bike configurations. As with the rest of Yakima’s DoubleDown family, the DoubleDown Ace is made from powder-coated steel and the bike cradles feature robust, scratch-free plastic. The quick-release arm folds for parking and storage, and the quick-release mast tilts forward for easy rear-of-vehicle access. The DoubleDown is compatible with both 2-inch and 1¼-inch hitch receivers right out of the box.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

ENVE Shows off 3.4, 6.7 clinchers, and 8.9 Tubular Wheelsets

By thien   April 24, 2012

Jason Schiers showed us what’s new from ENVE Composites when we met with him at this years Sea Otter Classic. The Ogden, Utah based company has been busy, releasing two new clinchers this past month, the 3.4 and 6.7 SES wheelsets. The 3.4 Clincher is available now at all ENVE dealers, with the 6.7 expected to ship shortly. Also launched and shown at Sea Otter was the 8.9 Tubular wheelset, a true aero TT wheelset. The 8.9 showcases the molding processes used by ENVE, creating a deep, fast wheelset, that still conforms to their stiffness requirements. A clincher version of the SES 8.9 is scheduled to begin shipping later this year.

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Developing the Smart ENVE System clinchers was more than simply taking the existing SES tubulars and converting them into clinchers. “Because clinchers are structurally unique from tubulars, this project merited a completely separate development cycle to ensure that the laminates were dialed. The end result is a line-up of premium race wheelsets that are durable enough to train on every day,” said ENVE founder Jason Schiers. According to Simon Smart, “the new clincher rims have the same optimized external surfaces as the tubular rims, and it’s a great testament to the ENVE engineers that they were able to surpass the demanding structural requirements of a carbon clincher without compromising the external aerodynamic shape.”

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

ROTOR’s Crank family welcomes a new addition!

By thien   April 23, 2012

ROTOR will add and new mid-range variant to the 3D crank family at Sea Otter; the new 3DF crank. The 3DF offers some of the technological features of the 3D+ at a price point closer to the 3D cranks. It’s 30mm UBB (universal bottom bracket) axle makes it lighter than the 3D crank and compatible with almost every frame on the market: BBright, BB386, BB30, PF30, BB86, ITA, BSA, etc.

The 3DF crank is produced via a combination of forging and CNC machining and uses ROTOR’s Trinity Drilling System, giving the crank an extremely high torsional resistance. This crankset is also available via OEM on countless bikes manufactured by Cervélo, Fuji, Ridley and Time.

  • Road versions: BCD 130mm and Compact BCD 110mm
  • Weight: 532 grams (172.5mm length, BCD 130mm w/out Chainrings)
  • Three crank arm lengths: 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm