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FEATURES: SEA OTTER REPORT. PART FOUR
April 23, 2011





From everything we could find out - which wasn't much really, Grammo Bici is an Italian frame and component builder getting ready to launch some radical looking new wheels.


The guys at Urbane Innovations had some novel ways to re-use old bike parts. The hangers are made from an alloy rim, spokes and a schrader valve. Each one also includes an inspirational quote etched into it. 
Note the bib-short specific hanger with the two schrader valves to hold the straps in place. 


Muscle stimulation devices have been used for injury recovery for years, but the Marc Pro muscle stimulation device is designed to facilitate muscle recovery and enhance muscle performance. The $650 price tag seems steep, but if it can back up it's claims it won't be long before the racing crowd will be strapping these on post ride.  


The most eye-catching bike at Sea Otter wasn't made out of the latest carbon composite, super alloy, or even titanium. It was, umm, wood. The hard-wood Renovo R3 frame sells for $2,950 and weighs between 4.5-5.5 pounds depending on the size. Renovo claims the hard-wood bikes are the smoothest riding bikes available due to the woods shock absorbing qualities.


If you've ever seen a Stealth Fighter jet pass overhead, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say it's an awe-inspiring feeling. Well, I got the same feeling when I laid eyes upon Reynolds new 91mm RZR wheelset. The deep depth and sharp nose profile help the rear wheel to have better aerodynamic test numbers than a disc wheel according to Reynolds. At $6,000 for the set, it's fitting for them to be shown with Hutchinson's handmade, $500 a set, limited edition tubular tires. These are the same tires that Lance rode to seven Tour de France victories and the first time they've ever been available to the public. While Lance's tires were aged around five years, Hutchinson recommends aging them for a minimum of six months. As they age, the cotton breaker under the tread gets harder and offers better flat prevention. Only 50 pairs will be making there way stateside so you better act fast!


Storck Bicycles are regarded as some of the lightest and most technically advanced bikes coming out of Europe, and with the creation of Storck USA, we should be seeing much more of the German machines. The Absolutist falls in the middle of the Storck line, featuring a sub-1,000 gram frame that can easily be built up to a 15-pound bike. 


Storck's high-end frameset, the Fascenario is one of the most impressive on the market, at around $9,000 for the frame, fork, brakes, and cranks, it should be. Featuring carbon brakes that are cleanly integrated in the seatstays and fork legs makes the Fascenario my pick for frame of the year (so far). If you're not impressed by the hidden brakes, maybe the fact that it could be built up approximately 3-pounds below UCI's minimum weight limit might do it.


The Pro class start the descent down the notorious Cork Screw.
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