The racing at Sea Otter was top draw with plenty of action on and around the famed Laguna Seca racetrack. The RealCyclist.com Pro Cycling team put on a clinic over the weekend, scoring three wins out of the four events and protecting leader's jersey-clad Francisco Mancebo during the final day's circuit race (above). In addition, industry stalwarts and newcomers alike were out peddling their wares to the masses - here's another dose of the coolest new bits seen at this year's Otter.
With the Giro d'Italia set to begin with a team time trial in Torino on May 7, this maglia rosa-inspired pink number from Cuore Italiano certainly caught RBA's attention. The Italian brand is new to the North American market, but their bold designs should appeal to fans of Italian cycling. Made in Italy by clothing manufacturer Pissei, the jerseys and bibs feature a European cut, and the company also produces a variety of accessories, including gloves, cycling caps, and shoe covers.
My father taught me the value of a dollar long ago, so the bikes at the Fezzari booth definitely caught my eye. The Utah-based brand has a direct-to-consumer business model, enabling them to sell their wares directly to the customer at low, low prices. All the frames are made in Taiwan and assembled in their Utah headquarters, including their entry-level Catania. This aluminum road bike features a mixed drivetrain of Shimano 105 and Ultegra, an FSA Gossamer crank, Fezzari's own components, and sells for $1179.
Redline is one of the leaders in the cyclocross market and their new Conquest Carbon model should keep them there. With features including a BB30 bottom bracket and tapered headtube, the Conquest Carbon should be available in July, just in time for 'crossers to prep it of the start of the season, and will come in two build options: Team ($3499) and Pro ($2499). The conquest carbon comes standard with cantilever brakes, but rear disc mounts readies it for the future.
Based in my hometown of Orange, California, Riivo Footwear offers cyclists one of the most customized shoes in the world. They start with a plaster cast of your foot, then form a "positive" sculpture of your foot from the cast, and then build your shoe around that positive. Speed-skaters have been utilizing this process for a long time, and you can too - just be prepared to shell out $850. Pick your jaw up off the floor and note that Riivo is hoping to bring the price down in the near future.
Riivo's end-product is one the most custom shoes on the market. In addition to providing an impeccable fit, Riivo also incorporates any and all design elements the customer wants, including mesh panels, velcro or ratcheting straps, and a triathlon-style upper. For now, though, the only available colors are black, white and silver. And check out the outsole - that's how carbon fiber ought to look!
How about some good ol' fashion engineering skills? Spot Brand bicycles were on full display at Sea Otter with a variety of rides utilizing Gate's carbon belt drive. The split rear dropout on this Mod Single-Speed cyclocross bike had a beautiful and functional design that enables the rider to remove the Gates belt. With the help of Wayne Lumpkin, Gates and Spot are pushing belt drive technology to further heights and the best words that describe the belt drive ride are "super smooth."
Bay Area-based Volagi Cycles has burst on to the scene with a very clear mission: "change the perception of of endurance cycling... and redefine performance for the endurance cyclist." They're poised to do just that with their Liscio model, a carbon fiber road bike that comes standard with disc brakes, and it's available in three build options: Rival ($2895), Ultegra ($3595), Dura-Ace ($4495).
How sweet is Volagi's placement of the Avid rear brake caliper? It's nestled between the non-driveside chain and seat stays, and it truly gives the bike a polished look. Other features on the Volagi Liscio include ultra-compliant seat stays and internal cable routing.
This is why bike racing is so special - during the final day's circuit race, these two gladiators were trading punches in a sprint to the finish line. And in less than a second, Raul Cancado of Team Passion Bikes bested Bissel's Andy Jacques-Maynes. While Cancado reveled in the euphoria of victory, Jacques-Mayne was forced to confront the anguish of defeat. Such are the emotions that only racing can produce.
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