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EUROBIKE 2008: LIVE FROM EUROBIKE 08: SRAMNATION SENSATION
Tim Maloney-European Editor
September 4, 2008
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SRAM: Sramnation Sensation
With their recent equity partnership with Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking, Chicago based high-performance bicycle component and if the traffic in their Eurobike stand is any measure, SRAM will soon surpass projected revenues of a half billion dollars in 2008. Road Bike Action sat down with our old friend Dirk Belling, SRAM Europes Marketing Manager to talk about the new road products from SRAM for 2009. "SRAM is introducing a wheel line for 2009...why? SRAM President Stan Day has always wanted SRAM to be a company that offers a full range of components and after the acquisition of Zipp, we realized we could offer a broader choice of products in the wheel category. Zipp is our high end, elite branded wheel product, while SRAM wheels will satisfy the demand for high-quality, well-engineered wheels for aftermarket and OEM."
SRAM S80
SRAM will offer three different carbon wheel models with different rim depths; SRAM S40 / S60 / S80. Each SRAM wheelset will be built by Zipp and will offer a deep rim profile with unique hybrid torroidal shape, structural woven carbon rims with a aluminum braking surface and a special 6-pawl freehub for rapid engagement and cartridge bearings for low maintenence. The specs of SRAM's new wheel line are impressive and break down like this: Designed for fast, hilly rides, SRAM S40 has a 38mm X 20mm rim with 18 front & 20 rear spokes. Claimed weight is 725g. front & 890g rear in either Campagnolo or Shimano freehub and black or silver anodized spokes.
SRAM S60
Perfect for all-around riding, SRAM S60 has a 60mm X 22mm rim with 18 front & 20 rear spokes. Claimed weight is 828g. front & 922g rear in either SRAM or Shimano freehub and black or silver anodized spokes. For triathon and triathlon, SRAM S80 has a 82mm X 25mm rim with 18 front & 20 rear spokes. Claimed weight is 951g. front & 1126g rear in either SRAM or Shimano freehub and black or silver anodized spokes.
SRAHub & Spoke detail
With performance and value, the new SRAM wheel line is one of the most exciting new products at the Eurobike show.
No Rival For Rival's New Shifters With Carbon-Fibre Levers
SRAM has revised their entry-level Rival road group for 2009 and it is an exciting leap forward for the Chi-town component manufacturers. With a new, cutting-edge carbon & black look, a lighter overall weight of 2200g. thanks to the infiltration of SRAM Red technology, Rival will have few rivals for 2009. Rival has new 320g. carbon brake levers that are not only adjustable for shift and brake lever position, they now feature trim for the large chainring, something that was lacking in the previous incarnation of Rival.
SRAM's new Red BB30
Already the lightest road groupset on the market, SRAM Red has introduced a BB30 crankset and bottom bracket for 2009. Sram RED BB30 cranks will be available in 165/170/172.5/175 & 177.5 crank lengths, 53/39 standard and compact 52/36 & 50/34 variants. Dirk Belling told Road Bike Action "I have become very enthusiastic about the BB30 cranks; they are lighter and offer better q-factor and the larger diameter BB is really noticeably stiffer."
Colnago: True Blue To Ferrari Red
Ernesto Colnago's relationship with Ferrari goes back over two decades, when Sig. Colnago, Beppe Sarroni and Vanni Brambilla made to visit il commendatore Enzo Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. Sig. Ferrari said to Sig.Colnago "why don't we work together" and that was that! Colnago and Ferrari have been collaborating since then on projects such as the Precisa fork (Ferrari Engineering showed Colnago with extensive test results that a straight blade fork absorbed shock better than a curved one) and extensive use of carbon fibre technology.
CX-7 detail
At this year's Eurobike, Colnago showed a new, super-limited edition of the CX-7, which will be made in only 99 examples for 2009. "I created a new CX-7 for 2009", Colnago explained to Road Bike Action. "It has all-new graphics from the Colnago for Ferrari 60th Anniversary Edition and once again celebrates our close relationship with Ferrari."
Long Live The King!
De Rosa: Sempre Il Piu Bello
Cicli De Rosa of Cusano Milanino, Italy may be the smallest of the "Big Three" of iconic italian bicycle brands Colnago, Pinarello and De Rosa, but small is beautiful as far as the De Rosa family is concerned. For 2009, De Rosa has a few graphic tweaks and one new model, the NeoPro. Top of the pops for De Rosa is again the beautiful King 3, made in high-modulus Mizuno HMK1 carbon fibre. The King 3 may have the sweetest, swoopiest lines in the pro peloton and De Rosa has not touched their top-of-range bicycle for 2008.
Go Go NeoPro!
Just below the K3 is the new NeoPro, a bicycle Cristiano De Rosa told Road Bike Action "with the new NeoPro, this frame can be completely customized. We have chosen K12 T700 carbon fibre for the tubeset and the moulds for the lugs are specially sealed with a nitrogen injection to prevent resin leakage and creates a more precise fit between tube & lug.
Danilo De Rosa (L) smiles with the new DR NeoPro, while Cristiano (R) is not happy
as he's just heard that De Rosa sponsored Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton has won the
USPRO Championship on a Fuji, not his team issue De Rosa!
Available in three sloping sizes and five standard sizes, De Rosa's NeoPro can also be custom made through any De Rosa dealer.
Ready To Roll With Elite's V-Arion
Elite: Rollin' Rollers:
For 2009, Elite has created the first ever roller with an integrated resistance unit, the V-Arion. With three integral resistance levels, a special parabolic shape drum for better control and an a solid integrated frame that folds for easy storage, Elite's V-Arion may be the most innovative roller system ever.
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