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EUROBIKE 2008: LIVE FROM EUROBIKE 08: FROM THE SHORES OF BODENSEE
Road Bike Action
September 7, 2008
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There are about 60 million bikes in Germany and is the #1 bike market in Europe and German bicycle manufacturers produce 3.5 million units per year. Although the bike racing craze has slowed with the fall of Jan Ullrich, there is still much enthusiasm for high-end road and mountain bikes in Germany. In this Live From Eurobike 08 report, we’ll take a look at just some of the tasty Deutsche road iron from the Shores Of Bodensee.
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
Canyon: The Innovation Sensation
Based in Koblenz, Germany, Canyon Bicycles is a company with a unique approach. Sold only via their website www.Canyon.Com to end-users, Canyon has been able to focus on product innovation and providing a great proposition of value for money. Using Dell Computers as inspiration, Canyon founder Roman Arnold and his team are selling over 30,000 road and mountain bikes per year direct to consumers all over Europe. Roadbikeaction.Com recently covered Canyon's team bike here but the big news for Canyon in 2009 is that they will become the bicycle sponsor of Silence-Lotto through 2011. Arnold told Road Bike Action at Eurobike "we are really pleased to work with a great team like Silence-Lotto. It is a real change of the generations", as Silence-Lotto chose Canyon over Colnago for the sponsorship.
Ultimate CF SLX headtube
In 2009, Cadel Evans and his Silence-Lotto teammates will ride Canyon's new Ultimate CF SLX, with frame & fork weighing less than 1200g. (2.6lbs) in a size M. Canyon has achieved this by refining the already sophisticated mix of FES optimized carbon composite, with a re-designed fork with a slimmer cross section blades for more comfort and stiffness.
The 2009 Ultimate CF SLX is lighter and stiffer than the 2008 version thanks to the optimized carbon layup and sports a new matte finish. Built with a combination of monocoque & tube-to-tube construction, Canyon's tubesets have tube shapes and diameters related to frame size; the smaller the frame, the smaller the tube diameters are, while the bottom bracket has a unique double-wall construction.
New for fork Ultimate CF SL
Canyon's key VCLA (Vertical Comfort Lateral Stiffness) ratio has been increased by 200% to enhance power transfer and rider comfort, while the Maximus seat tube is 30% stiffer than the previous version. Roman Arnold and his Canyon design team knows the devil is in the details, so the new Ultimate CF SL now has ceramic bearings, all the nuts and fittings are in titanium, while a new slimline CNC seat clamp weighs just 9.6 grams!
Canyon Speedmax CF
Already successful with their Speedmax AL time trial / triathlon bike, Canyon has an all-new carbon fiber version for 2009 called Speedmax CF. Like Ultimate CF SLX, Speedmax CF has a mix of FES optimized carbon composite, with a combination of monocoque & tube-to-tube construction that has been designed by Canyon for the best aerodynamics. All new features for Canyon's Speedmax CF are the low-profile hourglass shape 1-1/8" headtube, distinctive ovalized toptube, new Aero fork with wing-shape blades, Super Aero seattube that envelops the rear wheel, just ahead of the oversize bottom bracket for maximum power transfer.
Because time trial riders and triathletes often have different positions, adjustability is an important for feature for the Speedmax CF, so the Aero Carbon seatpost offers the ability to change from TT to Tri position and adjustable horizontal rear dropouts allow any wheel to be perfectly positioned in the seattube cutout.
Canyon offers a full range of road and mountain bikes; check out their website at www.Canyon.Com
Storck Fascenario 0.7 IS
Storck: Light Fright; How Much Is Too?
Markus Storck has pioneered lighweight carbon fibre bicycles in Germany and his expensive, exclusive rich-man bikes are now exported to over 40 countries. Storck and Canyon have battled for top-dog supremacy in tech aware Germany for years and in 2009, the top-of-range Storck Fascenario 0.7 IS is super-light and limited to only 100 examples. Thanks to a special VVC vacumn void process and 2K carbon fibre, Storck claims a weight of 1194g for a 57cm frame and fork and the top Stiffness-to-Weight value of 104NM/Kg which will retail for over $7,000 for the frame.
Storck’s Aero has been improved for 2009 with unidirectional carbon fibres for it’s wind-tunnel tested monocoque frameset.
Focus Izalco Team Milram
Focus: Made In Germany Rules
The big news for Focus Bicycles in 2009 is that the German firm will sponsor Team Milram. Focus Bicycles Marketing Head Herwig Reus told Road Bike Action at Eurobike "this is something we are really excited about. Although we sell Focus brand in over 40 countries, this great sponsorship will allow us to show Focus to more potential consumers.
Izalco Team Milram detail
We have great products, too and we proud that our Focus Izalco Team is made in Germany." Milram will ride the Focus Izalco Team model, with an ISPS high modulus Unidirectional carbon composite frame and fork, SRAM Red groupset and Lightweight wheels
Focus Izalco Pista
Another Focus Izalco is the Pista model, with an aero track version of the ISPS high modulus Unidirectional carbon composite frame and sleek aero seatpost.
German woman crosser Hanka Kupfernagel and special friend of Focus founder, cyclocross legend Mike Kluge has dominated the womens cross circuit for the last few seasons on her Focus Mares Team 'cross bike, with an X-Tro lite G7 Cyclo Cross 6000 series aluminum frame and carbon fork.
Quantec: Affordable German Carbon
Well-know in Germany for affordable road, mountain and tri bikes with good design and performance. Quantec is a brand of CCM-Sport in Rheinbach. Their new carbon fibre Race model features a 3K carbon
sloping frameset with integrated headtube, sophisticated tube shapes. Fulcrum Racing Zero wheels and Campagnolo Chorus 11 speed for about $4000.
A comparable bike in the USA would be about a grand
more as European manufacturers can't get away with the down spec as in the States.
Kocmo: High End Titan Bikes
Or rather, Titanium bikes. This firm from Stahnsdorf has earned kudos for it's Cross frame, judged best in test by Rennrad Magazine.
This new Kocmo Cross version on show at Eurobike features a clean look with disc brakes.
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