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FEATURES: LIVE FROM EUROBIKE 08: DAY THREE FROM INSIDE THE ZEPELLIN HANGER
Brad Roe
September 6, 2008
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Fueled up by multiple trips to the waffle and Nutella counter, which by the way, is culinary genious, we made our penultimate lap around the halls of the very organized and calm Eurobike show. There will be time to reminisce about all we've seen and done while here, but the main point is that the show is huge and manufacturers aren't holding back launching new products until Interbike in a few weeks.
THE GOLD ORBEA OF SAMMY SANCHEZ AND AS ALWAYS, CARPE DIEM
Orbea displayed the road racing gold medal bike of Spain's Sammy Sanchez front and center in their booth. Can you blame them?
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The Orbea Orca of the Euskatel-Euskadi team and Olympic Gold medalist, Samuel Sanchez
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Eurobike 2008 feautured many sleek, city-commuting bikes, but the Carpe Diem could be the best looking of all. It almost makes you want to leave your car at home and run errands.
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FUJI BIKES AND ROCK RACING?
RBA's European Editor, Tim Maloney spilled the beans on Tyler Hamilton winning the US Pro Championships not on a De Rosa team bike, but on a Fuji in his first Eurobike post. Well, if the graphics and the signs and the special frame painting on this Fuji SL-1 mean anything, it looks like Fuji is about to go Rock. We asked high-level, non-english speaking employees at the booth if the rumors were true and were told nothing is finalized yet. Looks pretty done to us.
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Fuji looks to be Rock Racing's bike sponsor. They alread have one championship under their belt.
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Fuji also had the D-6 Professional on display in Germany...part of the Delta Six design lab project, Fuji's advanced product development system. There will be two versions of this bike for sale, the D-6 Pro with SRAM Red, Reynolds Strike wheels and a weight of 17.5 pounds, and a more affordable D-6 with SRAM Rival.
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BMC INVESTS 10 MILLION EUROS TO MAKE BIKES IN SWITZERLAND
BMC is building a carbon facility in Switzerland to hopefully move production of all their bikes in the next few years. Owned by Phonak Hearing Aid mogul, Andy Rihs, BMC will ramp up their first production bikes this Spring.
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BMC's speed-focused TT01. Production on a new top of the line race bike to replace the Pro-Machine will be the first in line for Swiss made carbon.
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THE WORLDS FASTEST CRANKS AND A NEW SITE
Zipp chose Eurobike 2008 to launch their new VumaChrono TT Crank and announce their redesigned website. The VumaChrono TT's, Zipp claims, are nine seconds faster than any competitor in the 40k test. The VumaChrono features a spider-less design, accomodates single and double chainrings, has a 146mm Q-Factor, weights in at 860 grams (53/39, 172.5), and is handmade in the US. Want a set? You will have to start training now and save up $1650. Their new site is www.zipp.com
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The VumaChrono's come with either ceramic or precision steel bearings and in 167.5-180mm sizes.
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AND FOR THE DOUBTERS
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There actually were multiple waffle and Nutella stands lining the
halls. Simple and satisfying. I think God made Europe so American
travellers could be reminded it's the simple things in life that really
matter. Waffles. Chocolate butter. Toasted. The perfect snack.
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