Bicycles

Test: Cinelli XCR 2011

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Cinelli

Published on Monday, 20 September 2010 08:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

A perfect bike, excellent comfort, great safety and reliability timeless

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Cinelli XCR frame has been updated for 2011 with a series of technical changes. There remains a slight sloping geometry, but changes the series of steering, now traditional and more integrated, and the bracket, now standard in the classic BSA and not BB30. Remain instead unchanged valuable pipes Columbus XCR. Tubes made from steel billet and not from sheet steel fabricated and welded. This solution allows lower weight of the tubes, which reach a thickness of 0.4 mm, and improved mechanical strength. They triple butted and their special chemical formulation does not require a subsequent heat treatment after welding. This type of tubes has also won the prestigious IF, just for the innovation. All tubes are shaped and processed by mechanical drawing and typing, metal pipes directly into Columbus. This craftsmanship, along with mechanical properties of the alloy XCR allow high values of fatigue resistance, ability to absorb vibration and weight/stiffness than titanium alloys. The frame is then proposed in 6 different sizes (48, 50, 53, 56, 59, 61) in addition to the achievement measure. The series of steering has bearings 1 inch and 1/8 and is completed by a Columbus Minimal monocoque carbon fork weighing 360 grams. The frame has a declared weight of 1450 grams in size M. The surface of the pipes is called "Cristalmirror polish", that is polished. The seat has a seat tube clamp Cinelli integrated seat stays, seat post has a diameter of 31.6 mm, the dropouts are CNC machined. There isn't a bike assembled but is sold only frame kit. The bike XCR 2011 was presented with the Shimano Dura Ace, handlebar integrated Ram 2, Ram seatpost, saddle Cinelli and carbon wheels with high profile. We've tried a different bike and assembled with a Campagnolo Record 10v, Mavic R-SYS, Ram 2 handlebar, saddle Prologo Choice and seatpost Ram. Assembled in the size M bike weighs 7.5 kg, as observed with our instrumentation, and the bike assembly proposed by Cinelli bike weight of 6.8 kg (value not verified by us).

The road test

Cinelli frame XCR is a small work of art, with all handmade pipes, welds and perfect surface is perfectly polished. Very nice closing the seat, similar to that used on Supercorsa equally beautiful are the dropouts, but the whole frame and opening to people who are still passionate about cycling technique. Precisely for this jars slightly sloping frame geometry, even if it is really the minimum angle of the tube, and a few sizes still available, although there is the possibility of custom-made. Who buys such a frame is a true cycling enthusiast and little inclined to bow to commercial reasons that have forced the reduction of sizes, introduced with its sloping geometry. As much to criticize the choice of one glossy, beautiful, scratch resistance, but that does not please everyone and that many would like a frame of red or another color. All this contrasts with the model being proposed Supercorsa with traditional geometry, many sizes and colors. We will go further, also criticized the decision not to bring into production a fully assembled bike, you do it to the Best Of or Strato, which certainly does not have low prices, we do not see why not with the XCR, wends, thus, meeting for those who want a bike already assembled, with the color you prefer and the right size. The assembly that we tested is a great example of how you manage to make a good bike with quality components, but not particularly extreme for a bike light, no light, but competitive, reliable and long life. Assumes a good riding position and ergonomics of the crease Ram 2 (already tested by us) is more than good, allowing a more secure and comfortable grip. Moving one quickly the major feature of this frame: the comfort high. Despite the Mavic R-SYS is very rigid, comfort on rough is far superior to any carbon frame. In this, the XCR has no rivals at all. The frame geometry gives priority to stability and security with a headset that stays firmly in hand. The inputs in turn are more progressive and precise. Better behavior on rough, even at speed, has the bike remains stable and under control. This is due both to the steering geometry is not extreme, is the great ability to absorb vibration of the frame. Downhill bike remains competitive due to the stability and steering precision, and only the strait can be slow in the entry of the corners and change direction quickly. All in all, however, the behavior is perfect for a bike that will not put half of pure competition. If comfort is the highest level, not least is the rigidity of the frame and the rear. Compared to the best carbon frames, you do not suffer for lack of rigidity or reactivity, but only for a weight, which in our configuration, some models can not compete with high range. But it is not far away, and in fact the weight that we observed is not so superior to other bikes that are credited to values lower than 7 kg but then, with our instrumentation, passed peacefully to 7 kg. In sprint is appreciated, however, the rigidity of the frame and the excellent choice of wheels, rigid and sliding. In case the plain, then, is very competitive, because once you reach cruising speed you can maintein effectively, thanks to the rigidity of the frame. In practice it is limited, not so much in acceleration and the toughest climbs, where a lighter bike can make a difference. But we repeat, this is not a racing bike and not extreme, then, these are the most important aspects. The fork is light, but not extreme, is rigid enough to accommodate more abrupt braking and cornering force placement, but is comfortable on bumpy. Features that emerge powerfully over long distances, where the high comfort allows less psychological stress, physical, compared to more rigid chassis and lighter, allowing the end, even the best personal performance. Another advantage of this product is its longevity, not only for materials with which it is made, but for its classic forms and timeless, even in three years (the average commercial life of a carbon frame is two years) will always be present, as is still present in this Cinelli Supercorsa XCR we can consider its evolution. A great frame for those that do not play competitive sport, finished with care, durable and of high quality. Unfortunately we could not detect its performance with the Polar equipment in this steel was creating interference with the power detector. The sensation is, however, a frame that is on top for comfort and absolute performance (rigidity and responsiveness) just below the best chassis of the highest level in carbon. Excellent driving skills, perfect for a non-competitive. The only flaws, then, are to be found in a number at full size, in the absence of a range of colors and at least one model already assembled. Despite this, however, is still the best frame/bike, a cyclist who does not play competitive sport, can buy.

Price

Cinelli frame XCR is priced around 2900 Euros, lower than many high-end carbon frame, which after two years become obsolete. Processing entirely Italian, the high number of hours to make all the frame tubes and the next assembly, fully justify the price.

Positive aspects

Build quality
Implementation 100% Made in Italy
Aesthetic personality
Comfort
Overall performance
Safety and riding skills
Longevity frame and bike

Negative aspects

Absence of a range of colors
Lack of bike assembled
The absence of a classical geometry
No more bounty

To learn more:

Cinelli
Website: www.cinelli.it