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FEATURES: A LOOK AT THE BIKES OF THE UNITEDHEALTHCARE P/B MAXXIS TEAM
Philip Booth
February 17, 2010
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(Photo: Jonathan Devich)
For 2010, the former OUCH team has become UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis. With the
team making their official debut over the weekend in Scottsdale,
Arizona, Road Bike Action traveled to the high desert to take a close
look at the team’s 2010 arsenal of Kuota bikes. Kuota, who sponsored
the team in 2009, will be supplying the team with its full range of
carbon racing bikes. The majority of the team will be on Kouta KOMs
with some of the larger riders and sprinters aboard the Kuota K.U.L.T..
For time trials and prologues, the team will ride Kuota’s popular
Kueen-K time trial bikes.
Kuota’s KOM frame features a monocoque front triangle that is constructed using a differential lamination process including 3k4h high impact weave and Kuota’s nanotech carbon fiber matrix. Kuota completes the KOM with their Super Drive (1-1/4”) head tube, which is outfitted with a Cane Creek internal headset. All of this results in a sub 900-gram frameset.
The cockpit on the team bikes is supplied by Ritchey, who provides the team with WCS stems, handlebars and seatposts. What is surprising is that the team is running aluminum Ritchey WCS parts instead of the top of the line carbon versions. Even though carbon parts might save a few extra grams, the team bikes are already close to the UCI weight limit and the riders and mechanics appreciate the extra durability of aluminum. For 2010 the team has switched from fi'zi:k bar tape to SRAM.
Cateye is one of the team’s sponsors and provided the team with custom pink and white Strada computers that feature custom UnitedHealthcare graphics.
The UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis team is sponsored by SRAM, which provides the team with Red components. As was the trend last year, several of the team bikes featured Red front derailleurs with the titanium cage replaced with a steal version from SRAM’s Force group. The team is also using K-Edge chain guides to prevent unwanted chain drop. Speedplay pedals round out the drivetrain.
In case anyone forgot who was sponsoring the team, all they need to do is look at the chainstays. The graphics on the team bikes are clean and well done.
For the 2010 season the team switched from Mavic wheels to Edge, with team riders having a choice of 25, 45 or 65-millimeter deep rims. The Edge wheels of the UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis team use sealed bearing, Chris King hubs that are anodized grey.
The majority of the team is running Maxxis Re-Fuse clincher tires, but like the Edge wheels riders can choose to ride other models within the Maxxis line.
The team bikes are rounded out with white and black fi'zi:k Arione saddles. While most riders were on Ariones they have the option of running other saddles in the fi'zi:k line.
The K.U.L.T features a monocoque frame with a semi-integrated seatmast. The semi-integrated design allows for a reversible seatpost that allows the K.U.L.T to be used for short distance time trials or prologues were the team will not have time trial bikes. The K.U.L.T also features a BB30 bottom bracket, one-piece carbon dropouts and internal cable routing.
The K.U.L.T feature asymmetrical chainstays that are designed to be laterally stiff yet offer a degree of vertical compliance to take the edge off long days in the saddle.
The Kueen-K is named for the road in Hawaii where Kuota rider Norman Stadler demolished the competition in the bike leg of the Ironman. The frame uses aerodynamic profiled tubes and optimized fiber orientation for efficient power transfer.
Ritchey provides the WCS Carbon Interval TT base bar that is combined to Pro Alloy TT S-Bend extensions. The SRAM Red drivetrain is mated to SRAM Return to Center Shifters.
The front brake on the Kueen-K is reverse mounted to keep it from interfering with the leading edge of the bicycle. The rest of the cables are run internally to further reduce drag.
The down tube on the Kueen-K features an aero profile that is right on the UCI limit. An Arundel aero bottle helps cheat the wind.
For time trials the team uses fi'zi:k Ares saddles, which features a short nose. This allows riders to run a more forward saddle position without running afoul of the UCI guidelines.
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