This multi Ironman-winning Felt is the sleekest at the German Eurobike show but won't pass the UCI 3:1 tube ratio rule.
By Myles McCorry
At Eurobike, Germany
All the buzz at Eurobike is driven towards the development of hydraulic brakes on road bikes and electric bikes. Fantastic we are told, at every stand.....
They are now working and available to the men and women with lots disposable income or odd ideas about parenting.
I am dismissing them.
Electric gears were a fad in my eyes until I tried DI2 and was blown away at the effortless under-pressure changing. But never have I been racing and felt the need for extra braking power.
The modern advance of the dual pivot brake, wholly answers the need for 100kph into a tight hairpin or a daft muppet changing lines in a bunch using only the force and not his open eyes or closed ears.
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Tyres lose adhesion, lock and skid, long before max pulling power is given to the levers. So all the spotlighted road bikes with non UCI {blessed be thy name} hydraulic road bikes (and every exhibitors stand has one) was today ignored.
Instead the search was on for the truly lovely road bike, and associated bits that make riding it smile.
Here’s what we found:
A lot of the De Rosa (above) range are now mass produced but they still have a love for steel and do it very well. The Columbus made 'new classic' is everyone's dream retirement bike.
Campagnolo are following Zipp with an aerodynamic chain set. Although slightly heavier, it is very pretty and saves 'up to 5 watts depending on cadence'.
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The most aerodynamic track bike at the show has to be the Argon18 Electron; 4 sizes, 2 colours.
Carbon wheels are everywhere. Most have gotten easier to handle; better in crosswinds. 3T offers five wheel sets from €2,000 to €3,000. They set themselves apart by placing the exposed spoke head in the rim to bring the rotating weight of the nipple to the centre .
Even in the midst of corporate dollars there is still room for some small scale bling.
My award for innovation goes to this Japanese folding bike. The Brompton eater is also an electric bike that charges direct from the mains AND by pedalling. Love it!
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