Cannondale's New "Super" Slice

Over Ironman Arizona, I had an opportunity to check out some of the pro's bikes. Being part of the industry it's always exciting to see what bike manufacturers are coming up with to "keep up with the Jones's". I was excited to see Michi Weiss show up to transition on his new Cannondale "Super" Slice so naturally, once he was finished biking, I snapped a couple of pictures.

The first think I noticed is the similarities it shares with most other "Superbikes"... Integrated stem, a clean front end with hidden cables, and integrated brake calipers. It seems as if whether the aero benefits warrant hidden cables/brakes is only secondary to the perception that a "Superbike" needs to have those features, or else it can't be on the same level as all the others.

Once I moved down to the downtube/bottom bracket area, I noticed, and expected, none other than the BB30 shell Cannondale pioneered and has been using for years. However if you look closely, the downtube doesn't seem to be molded around the BB shell. Given that there hasn't been much info released on the aerodynamics of the bike, it's tough to say whether or not there's a purpose for it. Also, given that this bike isn't a production bike yet, it could be an early prototype.

Looking at the integrated brake calipers, I noticed that the brakes themselves (or brake shoes at least) seem to be the same one would find on traditional calipers. While it's not unheard of to come up with a unique non-standard design (see the Cervelo P4 rear brake), it's probably the easiest way to keep brakes adjustable for good wheel compatibility.

The seatpost is another feature that stands out as it's noticeably skinnier than most TT/Triathlon bike, especially those considered "Superbikes". While I don't know for sure, it appears that the seatpost can be used as Michi had it, or as a setback post by just flipping it around.

The seatpost also looks to be well within the 3:1 UCI regulations. Cannondale has consistenly been a big sponsor of pro peloton teams, currently Liquigas/Doimo, so it would make sense that their bikes are designed to meet UCI regulations.

Finally, Michi just like a lot of other pro's, is using an SRM power meter with the PCVII head-unit. He was also running an FSA cockpit, what looked to the Speedfil A2 with a custom Fuel Belt bottle, and a Zipp Firecrest 808/Disc combo (originally I had posted it was a non-Firecrest but have since been corrected).

Superhuman

It isn’t often that I judge a book by its cover, however it does happen from time to time and in the latest instance – as in most cases, I’m reminded as to why it’s important not to.

Being around professional athletes is always fun, whether you’re into sports or not. They tend to be in the top .001 percent of their “sport” and as much as you’d like to think they’re normal people just like you and I, they’re not. Normal people can’t jump 40 inches and dunk a basketball while rotating 360 degrees. Normal people don’t hit a 95 mph fastball, and they certainly don’t run a marathon in just over two hours or finish an Ironman distance triathlon under 8 hours.

So how does judging a book by its cover have anything to do with this? Over the last few weeks I had a chance to meet and talk with a few professional athletes as I made the trip to Ironman Arizona. Sure they look different, most of them talk different as they’re from all over the world. However, take 2 minutes to start a conversation with them and you’ll quickly learn they’re humble. I don’t mean humble relative to perhaps other pro athletes from major sports in the US… I mean humble! Perhaps even more so than a lot of age-group triathlete out there. While I don’t have an explanation for it, it’s certainly refreshing, - maybe we’re constantly fed information via the media that most aren’t this way. Who knows, I don’t.

Marketing 101: How to Avoid Being GM

While this isn't exactly comparing apples to apples, Ben Hoffman's picture (while it doesn't tell the whole story) is an example of how automakers can advertise, and make nice with cyclists, triathletes, and outdoors people in general. Yes, this is in reference to avoiding the disaster that was the General Motors "Stop pedaling" campaign... which they rolled out (and canceled) all in just the last few days. Remember it isn't WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it.

Vokswagen (VW), a company with a pretty long connection to the cycling and triathlon community recently announced a partnership with Ben Hoffman (details here). While indirectly Ben Hoffman is endorsing driving, or at least the need to drive for most people's every day life, it is done in tactful and positive way. Take notes GM, you could learn a thing or two.

The old Jetta MK3 Trek Edition

Clearly, VW and Hoffman have chosen to highlight the fact that not unlike an elite athlete, a car is a performance machine, something some triathletes can most certainly understand.

“I am looking forward to the competition in Kona and am honored to be racing against the greatest athletes in the world,” said Hoffman. “I am also grateful to have a performance-driven supporter like Volkswagen, which not only has deep roots in the athletic world, but understands what it takes to be the best at its craft.”

Furthermore, VW makes a point to make a connection between them and Hoffman, endorsing and/or embracing his multisport endeavors.

Finally, and probably just as important, VW's approach is not pushy in any way... while GM's intent was clearly a poor attempt to drive sales amongst students, Volkswagen is purely supporting Hoffman, someone who they consider a good role model, or as they put it "...embodies the Volkswagen ethos."

More on the Kona Bike Count: Is it Misleading?

Given the power of the Kona bike/gear count, you'd assume that some companies are going to try everything to increase their visibility and boost their image. So how low (or far) do they go?

Here's a few things to consider... A lot of items' counts are high by default based on the fact that they come stock. A good example is all of the vision aerobars that were spec'd on Cervelo's, Quintana Roo's, etc. over the years. Something else to consider is the fact that some companies sponsor major triathlon teams. Orbea and Ridley sponsor the Timex and Zoot teams respectively. Given the talent level needed to be a part of those teams, at the end of the year, a lot of their members end up qualifying for Kona, and therefore boost their equipment count.

Finally, there's companies that give away product in the form of "sponsorships", Quintana Roo being a goo example. Though they don't give away all of their product, they have some pro's, as well as elite amateurs representing the brand (an estimated 20%-25%). And according to an industry source, Rudy Project's campaign (see above) has been by far the most aggressive. Out of the 211 Rudy Project helmets that put them atop the Kona count, as many as 200 of them were part of their Kona plan to give away free product to qualifiers. Which poses two questions: is the Kona bike count that meaningful, that it is necessary to perform well on it? Or, is the only way to get athletes to wear/ride certain types of equipment to boost up the count to give it away for free? My guess is the latter.

Specialized Unveils Triathlon Shiv

In what was probably one of the worst kept secrets, Specialized finally unveiled their new triathlon specific "Superbike", the Shiv. Though similar to the Shiv TT, this bike has quite a few unique features which all contribute to this bike NOT being UCI legal. My question to Specialized however: if you ignore UCI guidelines, why not go crazy with it? (Ok, somewhat rhetorical as the answer probably is, because people still have to buy it).

What does Specialized have to say about it? let's watch...

I don't think anyone would disagree when I say that Specialized has built quite a reputation in the cycling and triathlon world. Over the last couple of years, it seems as if Specialized has had a ton of momentum. Will this new project keep the momentum going? it's tough to say, and only time will tell. Below are some of the key points that caught my attention after watching the video.

"Fastest, most integrated, best fitting bike" - That's a pretty aggressive claim, and if proven, will propel this to be one of the top bikes at the Kona count in 2012. This claim however is also somewhat confusing. Typically integration and fit are not friends... even if by fit you mean your bike fitting into a travel case, which triathletes do a lot of.


"Fuelselage... traditional water bottle systems add significant disturbances to airflow" - While this is a great idea, and one that's been discussed as a possibility in the past, Cervelo just recently released a study that water bottles between the aerobars and behind the saddle may in fact, make you more aero. Did Cervelo strategically release that info once they knew Specilized had an integrated bike?


"4:1 Cross-sections" - Sure, 3:1 is aero, so does that automatically make 4:1 more aero? Specialized seems to think so. Still, some testing would go a very long way. By testing, I don't mean against previous Shiv models or Transition models, I want to see testing against all other leading triathlon/TT bikes.

"Five Frame sizes, and virtually everything on it can be adjustable in multiple ways" - Ah, stack and reach. According to the new Shiv's stack and reach, it qualifies as a "Short and Tall" somewhat similar to the Cannondale Slice (at least in a size 56). This is definitely the way to go, as "Long and Low" bikes are hard to fit, and seem to be less and less common. Furthermore, the fact that this is a "Superbike" with an integrated cockpit, it typically benefits from having a higher than normal stack due to the lack of steerer.

"Wide range of vertical and horizontal adjustability" - Unlike it's predecessor and other "Superbikes", the new Shiv will follow in the steps of Trek's Speed Concept and provide a number of adjustment options. After seeing the pictures of some of Specialized's offerings, it looks like some models won't be using the proprietary bar and stem. Bottom line is, adjustability is always good.

Here's some pictures (courtesy of Slowtwitch.com) showcasing some of the Shiv's new features

The fuelselage (integrated hydration system) with the lid on. Presumably, this will be an easy, on-the-fly hydration option.

This is where the Camelbak-like bladder fits. Not sure how easy it is to take it in and out.


Bladder easily removes for cleaning. If you look closely at the picture, though this should fit about 750ml, it doesn't look like all bike sizes use same bladder (most do).


The straw will easily stay away with a magnetic "hook". The straw looks to be quite flexible unlike the Profile Design model.


Specialized looks to be using the same brakes used on the transition. One of the big questions seems to be why is there no nosecone? Of course, referring to the nosecone outlawed by the UCI on the original Shiv.


A great image on the adjustability of the base bar. Though unclear on whether there will be different length stems, this system seems to share similarities with the Look 695 stem. Need a longer stem? just flip the shim from the front to the back and increase the reach by what appears to be 1cm.

Interbike 2011

Though the annual cycling trade show isn't what it once was, it's still fun to go and see what the industry's got to offer for the year ahead. No matter what you've seen up to that point (Eurobike), there's always surprises. If nothing more, it's good to see what you otherwise would see pictures of and of course, catch up with fellow industry folks you only talk to a few times a year. Remember it's a small industry!

This year, I wanted to take some pictures at the show. It's always a goal of mine and somehow I never get around to it. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the show.

The Look "Premium Collection" certainly caught my eye. For 2012 they'll have a series of "country bikes" representing about a dozen countries with paint to match. They'll also continue to offer the "Mondrian" edition as well as a "Black on Black" and "Greg LeMond" editions.

Here's another look at some of the Look "Premium Collection" offerings for 2012.

Dario Pegoretti had some bikes on display inside the Gita Bike booth. You've got to love his work, especially his use of color and creativity on his Ciavete frames.

Here's a shot of a nice looking commuter. An expensive looking commuter no less.

The beauty of a Pegoretti is often accentuated by the fact that it's a mix between classic "old school" with modern technology and componentry. In an cycling era where carbon bikes with bad paint jobs is the often the norm, a Pegoretti is always refreshing.

Inside the Gita booth, you can also find the popular and always-crowded Pinarello booth.

The Pinarello Graal is a traditional Time Trial machine disguised as a "Super Bike". The stem and aerobars do a good job of that. The sleek lines and paint don't hurt either.

Though not as advanced as some of the other GPS enabled computers out there. The SRM PC7 is the gold standard in the Pro-Peloton, its color options are vast and offer great customization.

Feeling Trisexual? What you Need for your First Triathlon

I'm not much of a triathlete, even though it's how I got into cycling I haven't done one in about two years. There's a local race in a few weeks that I've considered signing up for.

I must admit, right now there's a couple of things holding me back... and even though it's nothing major, I'm just getting a bit nervous about having to put a bento box on my bike (not to mention one of these). Luckily, the race won't be long enough for either of those.

All joking aside, even though I consider myself a roadie (and need to live by these rules) Triathlons can be fun and a great way to cross-train. The fact that they're looked down upon by my fellow roadies is kind of a head-scratcher. Aside from all of the gizmos and gadgets, triathletes aren't so bad after all.

So if you're thinking about doing your first triathlon, here's the cliff notes version of the whole process... just remember it's not as bad as it sounds:

1. Pick a distance: Triathlon is any event in which you swim, bike, and run. A lot of people assume Triathlon = Ironman, which is not the case... there's lots of different distances but most races will be one of the following: Sprint, Olympic, Half Ironman and Ironman. If you've never done a triathlon, you're most likely going to start off with a Sprint or something similar to it.
2. Train: You probably know this part, however if all you've ever done is watch people dot it on TV, you're probably thinking "oh that's not so bad" (Unless you've watched NBC's over-dramatic Telecast of IM Hawaii). My point is that even the short distance triathlons require training. So do yourself a favor and don't waste your $60-$100 to get pulled out of the water. Check out Ontri or Slowtwitch as they're great resources.
   
3. Gear Up: For a newbie, showing up to a race might be a bit intimidating as local Age Groupers (fast or not) will have some of the coolest shit the pro's don't even have. You don't need most of that. These are the must-have's: Goggles, a triathlon top & short (or suit), a bike, helmet, running shoes, a number belt, and body-glide (very important).
4. Have Fun: If this is your first race, the probability that you're not going to win is high, so just go out there and have a good time. This will be the only way to get a feel for how it all works... you can practice all you want, however race day is race day, you'll see what I mean.

If you're thinking to yourself that can't be as easy as what I just described, you're kind of right. It wouldn't be called exercise if it was easy... and more people would be doing it. However, this is a good starting point.

Make sure you use your LBS (Local Bike Shop) as a resource, especially if there's a Triathlon specific shop in your area. Find a local triathlon club or coach and get in touch, they're usually willing to help you through the process. Don't ever feel like you're asking a dumb question, there's a lot of unknowns to someone who's new to the sport and people will understand. If you're not much of a people person, it is 2010 and everything is at your fingertips online, so check out some of the resources I mentioned above and knock yourself out!

Good luck!