Author: M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer, a former road racing cyclist (at the amateur level), and a science enthusiast. Also an animal lover! I write about cycling on this website, cycling-passion.com. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. Please consider supporting me on Patreon.

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History and Legends Cycling and Music, Cinema, Art

48 Tornanti di Notte: Downhill from Stelvio, in the night, with no hands, no brakes!

Passo dello Stelvio (Stelvio Pass)
At an elevation of 2,757 m (9,045 ft) above sea level, Passo dello Stelvio (English: the Stelvio Pass) is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps, just 13 m (43 ft) below France's Col de l'Iseran (2,770 m /9,088 ft). The Stelvio first featured in the Giro d'Italia in 1953, and Fausto Coppi was the first atop it (Coppi also won the stage and the 1953 Giro). It is also the highest point of Cima Coppi, the summit with highest altitude reached by cyclists during the Giro d'Italia, which was established in 1965, five years after the death of the "Il Campionissimo" (champion of champions) Fausto Coppi.

This is the story of the last record attempt of Giuliano Calore, a racing cyclist, world champion of extreme cycling, holder of 13 records, and won 98 medals. He was born in Padova (north-east Italy) in 1938. The movie is titled “48 Tornanti di Notte” (48 Hairpin Bends at Night) tells about his most impressive challenge so far: descending from the Stelvio Pass – at an altitude of 2758 m – at night, with all of its 48 hairpin turns, on a bike with no handlebars or brakes, illuminated only by a torch and moonlight.

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Categories
Paris-Roubaix Classics Cyclists and Teams Races

Greg Van Avermaet wins Paris-Roubaix 2017 with a record average speed

Greg Van Avermaet wins Paris Roubaix 2017
BMC Racing Team's Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet wins Paris Roubaix 2017 edition with a record average speed of 45.129 kph (28.042 mph). A super-fast opening two hours helped him to break the record previously held by Peter Post (45.204 kph/28.088 mph in 1964).

Greg Van Avermaet, BMC Racing Team’s Belgian rider won Paris-Roubaix 2017, the 115th edition of the “Queen of the classics” with a record average speed of 45.129 kph (28.042 mph). Avermaet broke Peter Post’s record of 45.204 kph (28.088 mph) which was set in 1964.

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Classic/Retro bicycles Bicycles and Equipment

Vintage Carbon Nonsense and Marketplace

Look KG56 Génération 4 Composite Road Bike 1990
Look KG56 Génération 4 Composite Road Bike. This model is the 1990 Look KG56 Génération 4, the first composite frame that was sold at the same price level as regular top steel frames. After years of testing Look finally felt secure to enter the mass market with this piece that was built from 60% unidirectional carbon fiber and 40% glass fiber. The lugged construction proved pretty safe and opened the door to the composite world for many amateur riders. Photo: lfgss.com

Last week, Facebook offered me an interesting group named “Vintage Carbon Nonsense and Marketplace”. It is an interesting group, dedicated to the ’80s and ’90s carbon bikes.

Carbon-fiber frames have a longer history than most people think. According to Wikipedia, the American bike producer Kestrel produced the world’s very first all-carbon bicycle frame in 1986. But before then, there were hybrid designs, like carbon fiber tubes bonded to titanium or aluminum lugs.

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Bicycles and Equipment

How Bicycle Wheels are Made

Easton wheels production
From the "about-us" section of Easton web site: "Born in 1984, with a lineage spanning almost a century, Easton Cycling is a company steeped in creative thinking and innovation. Since the creation of Easton Sports by James D. Easton in 1922, the over-arching ethos has been one of performance without compromise. A mindset that continues as strongly today as it did then. Every decision, every design, every component is chosen for its performance gain. Easton Cycling is a world leader in cutting-edge composite utilization, spearheading the use of Carbon Nanotube Technology in cycling components. Our design team includes PhD’s and every resource is afforded to them to produce everything to be the best it can be. Every production material is studied at a molecular level. Coupled with our long history of Aluminum innovation, we have a product line that exudes perfection. With continued dedication to excellence, success has come at the highest level. Wheels that have won the Tour De France, the UCI Mountain Bike DH World Championship and almost every discipline in between. When you purchase an Easton Cycling product, you know it’s backed by a company that wants you to win."

How bicycle wheels are made: here’s a nice video showing the construction of Fulcrum Racing Zero aluminum bicycle wheels. It’s too good, almost mesmerizing.

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Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment

Colnago Ottanta5

Colnago Ottanta5
Ernesto Colnago celebrates his 85th birthday with a special edition bike: Ottanta5. Ottanta means "eighty" in Italian, so the meaning of the bike is "85". The bike will be available in a limited edition of only 85 pieces. The bike is handmade in Italy, as a special edition Colnago should be.

Ernesto Colnago celebrates his 85th birthday with a special edition bike: Ottanta5. Ottanta means “eighty” in Italian, so the meaning of the bike is “85”. The bike will be available in a limited edition of only 85 pieces.

The bike is handmade in Italy, as a special edition Colnago should be.

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Categories
History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Koblet-Coppi battle, Giro d’Italia 1953

Fausto Coppi and Hugo Koblet, Giro d’Italia 1953
Fausto Coppi and Hugo Koblet, Giro d’Italia 1953. Hugo Koblet, "Pédaleur de charme", and Fausto Coppi, "Il Campionissimo", two post-war era giants. They were good friends, until the Giro d’Italia 1953 edition. After that Giro, they would never speak to each other again. But, what happened?

Hugo Koblet, “Pédaleur de charme“, and Fausto Coppi, “Il Campionissimo”, two post-war era giants. They were good friends, until the Giro d’Italia 1953 edition. After that Giro, they would never speak to each other again. But, what happened?

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Categories
Hour Record Cycling Records

Aged 105, Robert Marchand sets a new hour record

Robert Marchand Hour Record ride (January 2017)
The evergreen French cyclist Robert Marchand, during his record-setting ride. Robert Marchand sets a new hour record The evergreen French cyclist Robert Marchand, during his record-setting ride. Marchand holds the hour record for 100+ age category. To give you an idea of what that distance means, three years ago at the same velodrome, he completed 110 laps in the track in an hour when setting his world record in 2014. After setting the record, Marchand said that he "could have done better, but missed a sign showing 10 minutes to go. Otherwise I would have gone faster, I would have posted a better time. I'm now waiting for a rival."

This afternoon (on January 4, 2017) 105-year-old French cyclist Robert Marchand set the hour record for the category created especially for him by the UCI (105+). At the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome near Paris, managed to complete 22.547 kilometers in an hour! He fell just short of his 2014 record of 26.927 kilometers but what a phenomenal achievement!

A huge crowd cheered Marchand during his record-setting on trackside. He carried number 105 on his back.

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Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment Cyclists and Teams

Peter Sagan’s new S-Works Venge

Peter Sagan's Specialized S-Works Venge 2017-bike
Peter Sagan's Specialized S-Works Venge 2017. The new bike is equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Roval wheels. Sagan will be racing for Bora-Hansgrohe in the 2017 season. The Slovakian rider has signed a three-year deal with the German team, after the folding of his previous team (Tinkoff). The photo was taken during Bora-Hansgrohe team conference.

Today, twice UCI World Champion Peter Sagan published his new bike’s photo on his Twitter account: a custom Specialized S-Works Venge.

Sagan’s new bike is equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Roval wheels. On the top tube, near the junction point with the seat post, his name, the flag of Slovakia, and the colors of his rainbow jersey, which he will continue to wear next year, printed.

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Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment

Bike of the day: Basso Diamante SV Black & White

Basso Diamante SV Black and White
A black and white Basso Diamante SV: Dura-Ace groupset, Corima S+ wheels, 3T handlebar, and Astute Skycarb VT saddle. This bike is assembled by Veloholic Cycles, a local bike shop in Vancouver, Canada. Basso Diamante SV is designed for the aerodynamic position lovers. The air penetration is improved by designing new tube shapes, and reactivity by making a straight blade front fork. The new new system is applied with double pivot brake fixing. The bike introduces the “3B-BASSO” (patented) clamp system. The seat clamping is totally masked and invisible on the frame. Not only nice to look at but also technically innovative.Getting way ahead of the usual clamp-ring/screw holding the seat post, or the extra bulking knot on the frame to house the seat screw; The 3B-BASSO (pat.) triple point fixing becomes a solid structure between seat-post and seat-tube. This system is slim, invisible and strong. In addition to all of this the extra rubber gusset in connection with the 3B-BASSO (pat.) has an anti vibration function which anyone can appreciate on rough surface roads. See more photos on Veleholic Cycles Facebook page.

Here is the bike of the day: a black and white Basso Diamante SV, an Italian Beauty. This bike is assembled by Veloholic Cycles, a local bike shop in Vancouver, Canada.

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Cyclists and Teams Bicycles and Equipment

Astana will ride Argon 18 Bikes

Astana Argon 18 bike and kit
Kazakh team Astana will ride Argon 18 bikes in 2017, instead of Specialized. The UCI WorldTour team will also switching the components and drivetrain sponsor: they'll use FSA drivetrain and Kazakh team Astana will ride Argon 18 bikes in 2017, instead of Specialized. The UCI WorldTour team will also switching the components and drivetrain sponsor: they'll use FSA gears and Vision wheels and components (they were using Campagnolo drivetrain). The team riders will first use Dura Ace Di2 groupset in the beginning of the season, but then gradually will switch to FSA's new WE electronic gears. Astana signed three year deal with the Montreal-based bike producer. The team also revealed their new kit - Turquoise-Black in color with a few yellow touch, produced by Giordana, the Italian Cycling Apparel.. The team announced on their facebook page: "The new look of Astana Pro Team in 2017: you can start to get used to it! " Photo: Astana Facebook Page

Kazakh team Astana will ride Argon 18 bikes in 2017, instead of Specialized. The UCI WorldTour team will also be switching the components and drivetrain sponsor: they’ll use FSA gears and Vision wheels and components (they were using Campagnolo drivetrain).

Continue reading “Astana will ride Argon 18 Bikes”