Aero gone wild

[richwagmn]

Bike mechanics are going to love these:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/gallery/spotted-redesigned-trek-madone-makes-appearance-at-dauphine_374384

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new-specialized-aero-road-bike-prototype-spotted

Proof again that bike manufacturers have run out of ideas?

 

[42x16ss]

Bike mechanics are going to love these:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/gallery/spotted-redesigned-trek-madone-makes-appearance-at-dauphine_374384

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new-specialized-aero-road-bike-prototype-spotted

Proof again that bike manufacturers have run out of ideas?

Nah, they just know what brings all the freds to the yard

The Specialized looks like an absolute POS to work on. Ugly too. The Trek looks like it would only be slightly better.

 

[jmdirt]

I wonder what the deal is with Cav's new bars (bar/stem combo)? 42x16 is correct, they need to sell stuff so they make riser bars for road bikes. Of course you will also have to buy a new stem if want the same riding position.

As far as the frames are concerned, at the Pro Tour level saving a few watts could (will) make a difference at the end of a long day, week, or GT, but the weekend warriors who are dropping $10K to save 2w on their next Strava record attempt is a gold mine.

--I think that it was one of the Cervelo guys who said that once everyone has an aero frame there is no longer an advantage.

 

[ray j willings]

Just Ugly , Both of them. What difference is that thing going to make to a fat bloke riding a sportive event.
More money than sense....
Specialized especially seem to appeal to the sportive chap. I don't get it.

You know who I am talking about ,,,tons of spacers under the stem., not much seatpost. Big padded seat ....they might as well just put some pedals on a comfy armchair.

 

[stonerider]

I love the new aero bikes. Sagan has already won on the Specialized.

 

[ray j willings]

Re:

I love the new aero bikes. Sagan has already won on the Specialized.

Sagan could have won riding an old woman with wheels strapped to her face,,,
Aero smero ,,,its all about selling the latest model for the fat geezer stack spacer crowd.

 

[StinkFist]

Bike Companies have to sell bikes. Period.
If the latest model is lighter, more aero, and looks a little more funky (fugly) it attracts attention.....knock on = sales.

Without Freds (or whatever other label you attach to those guys & girls who spend plenty of $$ on the latest and greatest gear) the bike industry would struggle.
What do you call those guys and girls who drop a quarter Mil on a massive 4wd SUV unit and can't even change the tyre, let alone drive it off road??
Some folks have plenty of cheddar, and don't give a f@#k what they spend it on, and least of all what you think of them -
More people on bikes is a good thing. Period. If it's a 20K machine with the full monty Specs and they ride at 20 kmphr for less than 50kms per week in full Team Kit...so what?? They're spending money in the industry = good thing!

Pro's don't buy their bikes...they're paid to ride the sponsors bikes. Riders like Cav etc are actively involved in R & D for their sponsors bikes...albeit to make them go faster, be more comfortable, etc...this trickles down into the general population of bikes over time.
Some riders (Freds perhaps) like the thought that they have the same bike as (insert Pro rider of choice here).

Internal Cable routing, integrated headsets, integrated stems / bars, electronic shifting etc, etc it's all just a sign of the times whether you like it or not?? You don't have to buy that stuff....you have options, loads of them.
I'm not a huge fan myself. I ride Ti and Steel and like mechanical shifting and the more classic fit out.

Mechanic's need to keep up to date with the progression of technology and design in the sport. Surely a change of scene and a new challenge is welcomed? Sure, more tools and different techniques / skills need to be acquired.....but that is what it is. Working on the same stuff week in week out must get a little boring.
Personally, I like a new challenge, figuring out the new tech and then being able to master it.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re: Re:

I love the new aero bikes. Sagan has already won on the Specialized.

Sagan could have won riding an old woman with wheels strapped to her face,,,
Aero smero ,,,its all about selling the latest model for the fat geezer stack spacer crowd.

Of course, win on sunday, sell on monday. 'Aero' in a wind tunnel without that great big, non-aero thing on the bike..called the 'rider'.

 

[StinkFist]

Don't they also place the rider on the bike in the Wind Tunnel while testing as well?

I'm sure many riders have altered and refined their TT position on an Aero Bike whilst in the Wind Tunnel??

I suppose that's on a TT specific machine and not the Road styled machines we're talking about here though isn't it??

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

The traditional English racer design's appearance largely was dictated by the fact that it was constructed from individual metal tubes. CF and polymer construction allows building structures that are quite complex yet still unitary, and strength no longer is a slave to shape. Function and not materials limitations can be the designer's chief concern, as was the case with the Lotus 108, more than 20 years ago:

Remember Campy's aero water bottle?

Some designs the market accepts, others it rejects. But if designers weren't in the business of testing the limits, we all of us still would be riding brakeless 15 kilo mild steel fixies with rat trap pedals.

 

[StinkFist]

Some designs the market accepts, others it rejects. But if designers weren't in the business of testing the limits, we all of us still would be riding brakeless 15 kilo mild steel fixies with rat trap pedals.

^^ which are now quite "en vogue" with certain minor cycling cliques

It's important that the UCI place certain restrictions and constraints surrounding the design, weight, & build materials of the bikes used to race. Otherwise you have a situation whereby teams with the biggest budgets, the best design teams and craftsmen are winning the bike races...it should be the best / strongest / smartest riders winning.....not the bike having such an influence on the outcome!

If you watched the last America's Cup Yacht Racing Regatta, you would have seen a perfect example of $$$, technology, NASA, and high profile influence having a huge impact on the outcome of the Racing....IMO, totally unfair. In this sport, you now have a situation where the Team with the biggest budget and access to cutting edge technology will win.
Silly - it should be the best Sailing Team unit that wins....not the boat design and technology.

Anyway...I digress -

I like the new technology and designs. There are countless examples of fugly bikes over the last 50 years and there will be many more to come. But as you rightly say, some the market will accept, and some get rejected.

 

[jmdirt]

I was just looking at the pics of Sagan's Specialized ViAS, and I like the design of the rear brake.

 

[StinkFist]

Re:

I was just looking at the pics of Sagan's Specialized ViAS, and I like the design of the rear brake.

Specialized claims the frame saves two minutes on a flat 40km test over a standard road frame, tucking all of the shift and brake cables internally, resulting in a sleek, wind-cheating profile only seen before on time trial machines.

2mins

Much of what you see there is the trickle down from the Ironman / TT bikes that have been using that type of brake configuration for quite some time.
I never ridden a machine with all the cables internally routed.....I suppose the shifting is not compromised being electronic and not relying on a smooth cable inner / outer interface, but would the braking efficiency be sub optimal having to cram / feed all the cables internally??

 

[jmdirt]

Re: Re:

I was just looking at the pics of Sagan's Specialized ViAS, and I like the design of the rear brake.

Specialized claims the frame saves two minutes on a flat 40km test over a standard road frame, tucking all of the shift and brake cables internally, resulting in a sleek, wind-cheating profile only seen before on time trial machines.

2mins

Much of what you see there is the trickle down from the Ironman / TT bikes that have been using that type of brake configuration for quite some time. I hadn't seen the downtube mounted brake before.
I never ridden a machine with all the cables internally routed.....I suppose the shifting is not compromised being electronic and not relying on a smooth cable inner / outer interface, but would the braking efficiency be sub optimal having to cram / feed all the cables internally??

If I take advantage of the time saving from all of the equipment in S's new aero package, I can go to the store and back before I leave.

 

[StinkFist]

Marginal Gains??

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

I was just looking at the pics of Sagan's Specialized ViAS, and I like the design of the rear brake.

I'm sure it's great. Right up until you have to change the pads and cable housing....

 

[richwagmn]

Re: Re:

I was just looking at the pics of Sagan's Specialized ViAS, and I like the design of the rear brake.

I'm sure it's great. Right up until you have to change the pads and cable housing....

Looking at the cable routing (front and rear) I wonder if they ran housing the full length? If so, you'd think the cables would have a lot of drag.

I curse enough trying to change inner cables as it is. Yea, it's easier if you ran housing the whole length, but that has to affect brake performance.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

I was just looking at the pics of Sagan's Specialized ViAS, and I like the design of the rear brake.

I'm sure it's great. Right up until you have to change the pads and cable housing....

Looking at the cable routing (front and rear) I wonder if they ran housing the full length? If so, you'd think the cables would have a lot of drag.

I curse enough trying to change inner cables as it is. Yea, it's easier if you ran housing the whole length, but that has to affect brake performance.

It look to be 100% internal

I am NOT jealous of the poor Tinkoff/Etixx/Astana mechanics that have to look after these bad boys

 

[42x16ss]

The "aero analysts" over at Slowtwit are going gaga over this thing:

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/2016_Specialized_Venge_P5525229

Sinyard could have saved mega $$$ by skipping the wind tunnel and just handing it over to these geese

 

[Master50]

Even if we could afford bikes like this, what about the challenges as we get older and the stem now is too long and too low. No stem swap but a bike change?

 

[StinkFist]

Re:

Even if we could afford bikes like this, what about the challenges as we get older and the stem now is too long and too low. No stem swap but a bike change?

Thats an excellent point I hadn't considered.

I'm most certainly staying conventional.....riding Ti, no internal anything, mechanical shifting.

Whats the deal over on Slowtwitch these days?? ...still loaded with LA fanboys and Tri / Iron hardcore groupies??

 

[ray j willings]

No slammed stem,,,,, perhaps this is the way to go....

 

[richwagmn]

Re:

Even if we could afford bikes like this, what about the challenges as we get older and the stem now is too long and too low. No stem swap but a bike change?

I going to assume the "Old" venge will stay around for sometime just for that reason. I really wonder how much drag is added by having that little bit of cable that most internally routed frames have today in front of the head tube.

 

[richwagmn]

I wonder if it was offered to Nibali or Contador? Surely saving energy over 3 weeks is as important as winning a sprint?

Or maybe... they're not impressed (as both Nibs and AC use mech shifting).

 

[ray j willings]

Re:

I wonder if it was offered to Nibali or Contador? Surely saving energy over 3 weeks is as important as winning a sprint?

Or maybe... they're not impressed (as both Nibs and AC use mech shifting).

They are shielded from the wind behind teammates most of the time,
the easiest rides in the peloton "except the climbing"
Aero bike would be pointless.