Bicycles

Pro bikes: technical analysis Montepaschi Strade Bianche bikes'

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Parent Category: Bicycles

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Published on Monday, 07 March 2011 17:16

Written by Luca Salvatelli

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The Motepaschi Strade Bianche anticipates the technical solutions used by various teams in the Northern Classics, Flanders and Roubaix in particular. Though several teams have access to bike parts, like the Specialized Roubaix or Cannondale Synapse, these were not used in the Tuscan race, which provides a challenging course, but still flowing, at least most of Roubaix. As stated by the 2011 winner Philippe Gilbert, principally you should have a good control of the bike. All athletes, therefore, preferred to use their bikes, with some technical adjustments. In fact, many bike showed the only difference in the adoption of tubular, wider, and chosen by 24-25 mm, for those who can, among the specific models with more rigid and resistant casing. For example, those who take the Vittoria, use the model Pavè Evo, or the clincher Kxs Evo, or the Veloflex Roubaix. For all the inflation pressure is between the 7-7.5 bar for the front wheel and 7.5-8 bar for the rear wheel. Almost all take the anti-drilling fluids. Major difference in the wheels; some athletes use the wheels at high-profile, while others adopt a compromise solution with a front wheel in the medium/low profile and high profile rear wheel. The most cautious, however, take the wheels with low profile aluminum. Some teams such as Lampre-ISD, specially made craft with wheels Campagnolo hubs and Ambrosio rims. To avoid jumping chain mechanics use to insert a chain guide that keeps the chain out as you move from the small to large chainring. Very beautiful ones used by HTC-Teams Highroad (Specialized), Fuji-Geox (Fuji) and Omega Pharma-Lotto (Canyon). In general, therefore there is no real distortion of the bike, because all athletes want to focus on performance and till give up, especially those that link to victory, to traditional solutions, more reliable, but also less efficient. In general, all limited to just the largest of the tubular mount, 24-25, and adopt a pressure just below that standard, the more the front for more grip and control and more pressure to the rear, again for performance reasons. Who chose the solution of medium-profile front wheel has preferred to have more comfort and reliability, while the more conservative, with homemade aluminum wheels is chosen by very few athletes. Useful guide chain, odd that is not used by all teams. Finally, cautious athletes prefer to take shorter reports, 27 instead of the classic 25, while some prefer to take even a smaller chainring 38, instead of the classic 39, the better to overcome the most difficult parts.

Here are the details of the changes:

Team Acqua & Sapone

The bikes were the usual Bottecchia, updated wheels with low/medium rims and with tubes larger and less pressure

Team Androni Giocattoli

Some athletes have used the standard configuration, with high-profile wheels, others Fulcrum Racing Zero. For all tubular Vittoria Pavè Evo 24 mm and anti drilling liquid.

Team BMC Racing Team

All used wheels, low profile, tubular section and anti drilling liquid.

Team Colnago-CFS Steel

All Colnago C59 Italia have been equipped with Fulcrum Racing Zero wheels and tires Vittoria Evo Pavè 24mm and anti drilling fluid.

De Rosa Team Ceramica Flaminia

All bikes are equipped with the tires Vittoria Revo KXS, very heavy but sturdy.

Team Farnese Vini Neri Sottoli

All athletes have taken the wheel off with a low/medium-profile front and rear high-profile, larger tubes and anti drilling liquid.

TMC Team Geox

Fuji bikes have been updated with a low-profile wheels, rims and hubs DT Swiss, more tubular section, anti liquid drilling, chain guide and crowns of 38 teeth.

HTC Team Highroad

All Specialized have received a chain guide, new tubular section and anti drilling liquid.

Team Lampre ISD

Many athletes have chosen the wheels specially made with Campagnolo Record hub and Ambrosio rims, others have chosen the classic Fulcrum Racing Zero, for all Pavè Vittoria Evo Tube 24mm and anti drilling liquid.

Team Liquigas-Cannondale

No athlete has chosen the Synapse, are all with the SuperSix, some athletes have the wheels at high profile, others chose the Mavic low-profile aluminum.

Team Omega Pharma Lotto

The Canyon CF received a nice chain guide, tubular more section and anti drilling liquid. Some athletes have chosen the medium-profile carbon wheels (as Gilbert), other low-profile aluminum.

Team Garmin Cervélo

Almost all athletes have high-profile wheels with front and rear, some of the athletes adopted the SYS Mavic front, for all Pavè Evo Vittoria tubular and anti drilling liquid.

Team Leopard Trek

Most tubular section and anti drilling liquid, then some athletes have used a low profile wheels, but Cancellara has maintained a high profile rims front and rear.

Team Type1 Sanofi Aventis

The Colnago M10 have all been refreshed with Dura Ace wheels with low profile 24 mm, most tubular section and anti drilling liquid.