Bicycles

On test: Guerciotti Eclipse 2011

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Guerciotti

Published on Monday, 06 December 2010 06:00

Written by Luca Salvatelli

A bike with high performance to the absolute top

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The new frame Guerciotti Eclipse is the first product of a new process of making high-end carbon frames developed by Guerciotti. The study on mechanical properties of carbon fiber has led to the creation of new pipe section and a different binding system of the same. Everything was geared to weight reduction and increased stiffness, with a target weight of 80 kg, the limit of use of this Eclipse. The frame has a declared weight of 870 grams, although in the first test had been made even lighter prototypes well, then it was decided to give up a few grams to have a reliable and secure. Another feature of the frame are the dropouts and integrated carbon rear of the cart. The frame is made entirely in Italy. The number of steering is tapered, bearing 1 inch and 1/8 and 1 inch and 1/2, with a short head tube, but a large section. The fork is a Deda Surf, chosen for its rigidity. The tube has a large section and joins with a bottom bracket from the standard classical and a normal size, the tube has a relatively low, as well as tubes of the rear, well designed from glaring without exaggeration. The tubes run separate high until it joins the seat tube, according to a classic, a bridge allows the fixing of the rear brake. The vertical pipe hosts seatpost diameter of 31.6 mm. In general, the frame design is very classical and traditional. The sizes available are 47 to 56, as well as three sloping sizes (S, M, L), it is planned to measure. Two colors available, red, and what you see in the picture. The bike is then assembled with the new Campagnolo Super Record, which was adopted in full, with a compact crank, sprocket 11-25, controls, brakes, chain, front and rear derailleur. The wheels are Campagnolo Bora Ultra Two, complete with Vittoria Corsa Evo CX tubular 320Tpi. The seatpost is carbon, Deda Superzero model, the stem and the handlebar are made of aluminum, Deda Zero100 models. The saddle is Selle Italia SLR Team Edition, also in the carbon bottle cage Elite. Also standard Look Keo Carbon pedals, custom Guerciotti. The bike so assembled, without pedals, M size, has a weight, we detected with our instrumentation, 6.350 grams.

The road test

Guerciotti Eclipse is the new top range Guerciotti 2011 and actually is a very well made bike. Perfect the construction of the frame, with the carbon that was left right in sight. Great assembly, the only one available, of high quality. The weight is very low. Perfect for the adoption of components, non-core, high quality and aligned to the value of the bike, such as tubulars, saddle and seatpost. Great wheels. Open an analysis of the fork, stem and handlebar. Fork Deda Surf, is not very light, about 400 grams, as well as the handlebar in aluminum Deda Zero100. But it is fair to say that the stem Deda Zero100 is the lightest on the market today and its union to the Zero100 handlebar is the most popular choice among professionals for its low weight, high rigidity and reliability. Surf fork, as well as being very rigid, absorbing the blows of good soil. So if it is true that you could choose the best for weight and fork bending and the overall look, it is also true that the choice of technique is very good. Instead it is to criticize the lack of a beat and chain guards that protect the frame from the contact with the cables. A bike for the rest of the highest quality. Good selection of sizes, too bad for the user weight limit of 80 kg, but many other companies do not communicate this information while having the same limit. In the saddle we find a perfect location for the competitions, with the body tilted well forward, his hands grasping a fold with a reach and a drop large compared to the latest fashion, but with the hands on a low grip, such a perfect aerodynamic position. Excellent ergonomic controls, reduced the travel of the levers, perfect precision and speed in steps of relationship. Excellent braking power, even though in our case was limited due to the modulation of the braking surface carbon. Excellent, however the power of the front brake and the scalability of the back, which in this case helps to manage the wet braking. Overall an excellent braking system. The optimal allocation of the seat, good comfort, though without a decompression hole of the perineum. Again one of the most popular saddles by professionals. One certainty Look Keo Carbon pedals. In movement we find a very rigid frame, despite not being a monocoque. Excellent responsiveness of the rearstay. Perfect bottom bracket stiffness and good steering. For rigidity is at the top of the frame and wrapped very distant from those few who are monocoque frame at the top for absolute rigidity, but the difference is really negligible. Excellent smoothness of the crank and perfect its rigidity. To this is associated with the excellent performance of Bora Ultra Two, the perfect aerodynamics, light weight, but also a very good smoothness, thanks to the ceramic bearings. Good also Vittoria Corsa Evo CX tubular, very smooth and an excellent grip and handling in curves. With this background it is natural to have top performance in the plains, where the bike runs very fast, for the smoothness of the Super Record group, the wheels of the tubes, but also for its excellent rigidity. It's easy to reach the 50 km and go beyond, with the body naturally seeks the maximum aerodynamic penetration, and is excellent with Deda Zero100. In the changes of pace, the bike remains the most competitive, for the stiffness of the wagon, as well as the lightness of the wheels and the whole bike. It's easy to recover from a slow corner exit speed, get up on the pedals to tackle "head on" a hill, with benefits that remain at the highest absolute top. With the wind you work side arms, but this is obvious given the high profile wheels. Uphill it always goes well with light weight. The fast stability is good, but there remains a constant high reactivity and lightness of the steering, which is accentuated on bumpy. It is not easy to ride a bike, one that will "help themselves", but is ridden with commitment and focus. The steering is always well kept strong and then there is the steering precision that would otherwise lack. In the downhill entry of the corners are very fast, yet at the summit, such as changes of direction, always fast. The braking stability is excellent, thanks to the fork Surf, very stiff, which combined with the turn and attack, leading to a front rigid and precise, and it seems to have "the wheel in his hand." Conduct that any "Pro" as attractive. Also on bumpy, at high speeds, the steering is maintained and driven firmly to maintain the correct trajectory, correcting any bumps triggered by the rear carriage, whose stiffness is uncomfortable with the bottom not smooth, very good, however, fork, that absorbs the bumps well and can always have a good control of the trajectory. In general it is a geometry very "racing", meets the athletes because they are very responsive and fast, on the other hand requires some experience and commitment to driving. However, in order to obtain the best possible performance, you guessed geometry and in many cases allows for a "cutting edge" over competitors, as in the long runs tours, where speed in cornering, stability braking responsiveness raises out of the corners can take advantage on competitors. In conclusion, a good bike and very high performance. Often amateurs dream bikes of the "Pro", this Guerciotti Eclipse is a perfect example, even more because it is below the regulatory limit UCI. But as in all things there are pros and cons. The benefits are high, the absolute top in every way, but it requires commitment and leadership experience to be brought to the limit. A perfect bike for the agonist, and then, but that he will gratify even the most inexperienced amateur.

Price

The bike test has a cost of about Euro 8232 and the frame kit is priced at about Euro 3160. In both cases they were correct. The frame kit is priced line, below, in many cases, the most direct competitors, while having great benefits, and is Made in Italy. The bike has assembled a price commensurate with the quality of the components used, and performance expressed. Easy to find higher prices, with the same quality, more than one thousand Euro. A fair price, then.

Positive aspects

Build Quality

Assembly of high quality

Rigid frame

Overall Performance

Driving skills racing

Speed in the entry of the corners

Light weight

Realization Made in Italy

Negative aspects

Lack of protection in some places of the frame

Lightweight steering at high speeds

The report card

Quality 9 (missing some protection for the frame and the rail assembly in carbon)

Stiffness 9.5 (close to the best 2011 frame)

Comfort 8.5 (good in relation to the rigidity of the frame and under category)

Stability 8 (the steering is always very light)

Manageability 10 (most of it can not)

Braking 9 (very powerful, because of sin in modulating carbon rims)

Weight 10 (well below the UCI limit and very competitive in nature)

Price 9 (a great price in relation to performance and quality)

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Guerciotti

Website: www.guerciotti.it