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FEATURES: SEA OTTER TECH: NEW FROM LAGUNA SECA PART 2
Road Bike Action
April 23, 2010
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Road Bike Action continues its look at the new products on display at the 2010 Sea Otter Classic.
Guru Cycles was on hand and were showing their ultra lightweight Photon road bike. The Photon has a frame weight of 747 grams in a 54-centimeter size. It is constructed using hand-wrapped, HS-40 carbon fiber with a 70/30 fiber-to-resin ratio. The seat tube and bottom bracket shell are molded in one piece to maximize stiffness and structural integrity. The frame also uses Compression-molded drop-outs that are integrated into the chain stays. Threaded inserts for bottle cages and front derailleur hanger minimize post-mold bonded surfaces. All Guru cycles are custom made in Canada.
 Topeak has launched several new tools for 2010. One of them is the Mini 20 Pro. The Mini 20 features a full range of Allen keys, flat and Phillips head screwdrivers, a T25 Torx wrench, tire lever and a chain tool. Topeak combines them in a forged alloy body to resist torque.
TRP was showing off their R970 SL magnesium brakes. The R970SL brakes have a lightweight caliper design that maintains the stopping power of a dual pivot design. The R970SLs feature a unique sliding quick release, Swiss Stop brake pads for carbon rims and titanium hardware. They are available in either black or white and weight 225-grams a pair.
Lezyne has introduced the Road Drive CFH Micro Pump. The Road Drive CFH is designed for high-pressure road tires and features a flex hose for hard to reach places. It can also double as a CO2 inflator. The Road Drive CFH comes in a polished aluminum finish with a frame-mounting bracket.
fi’zi:k was showing off new versions of their popular Arione, Antares and Aliante saddles. The new saddles feature the same shape and features as their standard counterparts but include a ergonomically designed center channel to relieve pressure on sensitive areas.
There are a few bike manufactures that claim wood is the bike material of the future. Serrota thinks carbon fiber painted like wood is the way to go. Serrota rolled out this beautifully painted MeiVici AE done up to look like a wood bike. The MeiVici AE features a seat tube angle-specific rear wheel cutout and aero seatpost for maximum aerodynamics and weight savings. The MeiVici AE also features Serotta’s first integrated fork system. The F4’s tapered oversized steerer tube utilizes a 1-1/8-inch upper and 1-1/2-inch lower bearing system. The bike was outfitted with Campagnolo Record components and a retro Brooks saddle.
Kore has been around for a long time and for 2010 is launching a new line of road brakes. The brakes feature a dual pivot design with forged aluminum brake arms. There will be two versions, one with titanium hardware and the other with steel. They will be available in either black or silver. No weights or prices have been released, but expect them to be competitive.
Kore is also entering the road crank market with a set of 6000-series forged aluminum arms mated to 7000-series forged rings. The cranks will be available in standard, compact and cyclocross versions.
 Schwalbe was showing off their Ultremo HT tubulars. The Ultremo HT tubulars are handmade, combining traditional construction methods with Schwalbe’s modern Triple Nano Compound. The tires also use a latex tube that lowers both rolling resistance and puncture susceptibility. The Ultremo HT tubulars feature a 300-tpi casing, weigh 260-grams and are rated for 115-205-psi.
We were unsure of what to make of this full carbon, half recumbent, half chopper setup. Even our resident recumbent expert Philip was at a loss. Don’t look for a test in Road Bike Action any time soon as roadrecumbent.com doesn’t actually produce the Hidalgo. They had sign stating that if you wanted one to contact other manufactures and petition them to make it.
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