Category: Bicycles and Equipment

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Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment Races Tour de France

Bianchi Specialissima (Marco Pantani Edition)

Bianchi Specialissima 2018 Marco Pantani Edition
Bianchi Specialissima 2018 Marco Pantani Edition. In the Summer of 1998, Marco Pantani and Bianchi put in some of the most epic stage race performances of all time to take outstanding wins at both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. It's a feat that only seven riders have ever achieved and that confirmed Il Pirata's place in cycling history and Italian culture.To honor the 20th anniversary of Pantani's spectacular Giro-Tour double, Bianchi has created a 2018 very special commemorative edition of the world-renowned Specialissima ultralight frame and fork.

Bianchi released Marco Pantani edition “Specialissima”, a special bike to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Marco Pantani’s Giro-Tour double. The bike has the iconic celeste-yellow fade paint job, the same color schema of Marco Pantani’s 1998 Bianchi. In 1998, after winning the Giro d’Italia, Pantani rode the yellow and celeste Bianchi Mega Pro XL (serial number H 314-74) in the famous July 27 Grenoble-Le Duex Alpes stage of the 1998 Tour de France. He attacked Jan Ullrich on the Galibier climb and won the stage, taking the race lead. He went on to win the Tour in Paris ahead of 2nd finisher Ullrich and 3rd Bobby Julich.

This was a feat only achieved by seven riders in history: Fausto Coppi (1949, 1952), Jacques Anquetil (1964), Eddy Merckx (1970, 1972, 1974), Bernard Hinault (1982, 1985), Stephen Roche (1987), Miguel Indurain (1992, 1993) and Marco Pantani (1998).

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Bicycles and Equipment

Efneo GTRO Gearbox is now available for purchase

Efneo Gearbox installed on a commuter bike
Efneo Gearbox installed on a commuter bike. It can be installed at any type of bicycle frame designed for a tapered square axle bottom bracket.

Two and a half years ago, I wrote about Efneo Gearbox, an under-development product (actually a 3-speed front gearbox) that replaces a bike’s front derailleur, probably the most disliked part of bicycles. Now it is fully developed, thoroughly tested, and available for purchase.

With a front derailleur, switching the chain between the chainrings in the crankset is an arduous process, and there’s always some risk to drop the chain, especially if the drivetrain is not in perfect condition. Efneo’s GTRO Gearbox targets these problems and aims to make things more effortless, quicker, and smooth while switching the front gear.

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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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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).

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Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment Cyclists and Teams

A special “Purito” Canyon bike for Joaquim Rodríguez

Special Canyon bike for Joaquim "Purito" Rodríguez (featured)
Joaquim Rodríguez's nickname, Purito, Spanish for little cigar, was given in an early season training camp during his first year as a professional with ONCE–Eroski. When some of his teammates stepped up the pace on a small climb, he passed them making a hand gesture appearing to be smoking a cigar, suggesting he was climbing without much effort. The gesture was not welcomed by his teammates, who made him smoke a real cigar as a hazing ritual later in the evening.

After finishing fifth in the Olympic road race in his first Olympic appearance in Rio, Katusha’s Spanish rider Joaquim Rodríguez confirmed that he would retire immediately, rather than continuing to the end of the year. Canyon, the bike supplier of the Russian team produced a special “Purito” Canyon bike for him.

Katusha team announced on their Facebook account that “Amazing bike for a great rider! Unbelievable special edition Canyon bike for Joaquim Purito Rodríguez!”

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Bicycles and Equipment Cyclists and Teams Olympic Games Races Special Bicycles

Van Avermaet’s Golden-Painted BMC bike

Greg Van Avermaet's golden painted BMC Teammachine SLR01 bike
On August 6, 2016, BMC Racing Team's Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet won the gold medal in men's individual road race event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The Swiss bike manufacturer BMC has gifted him a special golden-painted Teammachine-SLR01 bike to honor his success. Photo: BMC Racing Team on Twitter.

On August 6, 2016, BMC Racing Team’s Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet won the gold medal in the men’s individual road race event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The Swiss bike manufacturer has gifted him a special golden-painted BMC Teammachine-SLR01 bike to honor his success.

On their Twitter account, the BMC Racing Team has published this beautiful bike’s photos. Its power meter and fi’zi:k saddle gets some gold touches as well. On the side of the top tube, the colors of the Olympic rings have also been painted. The bike is equipped with the team issue Shimano Dura-Ace C35 wheels and Dura-Ace Di2 groupset.

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