This racing bike, aimed at children aged 5 to 7 years, would make a Christmas that wouldn't be forgotten in a hurry.
By Myles McCorry
The second day of Eurobike offers hangovers and more glorious bikes at Europe's biggest trade gathering. The show is an opportunity for the industry to do the larger deals and expose their stock to catch the eye of national distributors.
It is all over hyped, over priced and very distant from going for a spin on your bike. But you just get drawn in.
The atmosphere is constantly like 30km to go in a mountain stage of a Grand Tour. Mr Santini America just bought me a coffee and Marcel Kittel is being interviewed at the table next to me. Honestly dear wife, I am working.
Reynolds RZR 46 Wheelset
Reynolds’ Rzr 46 has been around for a few seasons; essentially copying the technology of the Lightweight and Mavic Ultimate. It boasts 4mm carbon bladed spokes; bonded and pre tensioned to the carbon rim and hub. Here’s the killer: they’re under a kilo for both, at 968grams. But the SLG model is now stiffer for 2015. Very bling if you have€ 50 notes spilling out from under the mattress
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De Rosa Formula
At times, the lines between brands are blurred and they can all bleed into one. With similar production sources, UCI restrictions and aerodynamic realities, all time trial bikes seem to be evolving along very similar profiles. Manufactures are dressing with fancy paint jobs and extra lights to make their model more desirable. The 2015 De Rosa Formula is very nicely painted and very well lit. It is a little behind the leaders of the pack, Scott and Merida, with exposed front brake and cabling. Shimano owned Pro have just launched a nice series of alloy and carbon bars and stems with holes to hide cabling internally.
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XTR Groupset
Only 60 staff are working the Shimano stand. The electric shifting XTR groupset is a design wonder. One shifter can be programmed and works both front and rear mechs automatically. Front shifting stress under load is nonexistent. Mighty.
Bulls Alpine Hawk
This image of the Bulls Alpine Hawk, is their top of the range of over 60 stunning bikes. It’s not much different to the top of the range monoqucoc on the next stand, except the next stand is one tenth the size and it's Eddy Merckx, with seven bikes on show. The image really illustrates the evolution in the cycle trade. The Asian factories are hiring travel agents and marketing people and what they’re producing are not cheap knock offs anymore. In one hall you could buy 20 carbon wheel brands I never knew existed; all using the latest technology, bearings and designs.
Small groups of very polite Chinese will still sell you 100 carbon frames with your own logo. But slightly better presented Chinese operators, with a bought-in European front woman, will offer to sign you up to sell similar frames, wheels, bars, lights and multi tools, for similar money with their own brand. The future is global. The Bulls Alpine Hawk is €4,500 and comes with Dura Ace road disc and Mavic disc kysrium. My head would want the Merckx stickers though.
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