The Cycle Show wouldn’t be the Cycle Show without Wilier in attendance. Here is the Wilier Cento 1 SL (frameset £4299 SRP) and Cento 1 SLR (frameset £8999 SRP). Beautiful racing machines! Nothing more needs to be said:
Front view of the Cento 1 SL
Rear view
Integrated seatpost
Cento 1 SLR
I love the carbon weave on the Wilier. Looks similar to their logo
Some more from the 2010 London Cycle Show. This time it’s from Eddy Merckx and his top of the range, EMX-5. These two machines on show came direct from the Tour de France, from the Quick Step team.
One show was the combo yellow/green EMX-5 from stage winner, as well as Yellow Jersey and Green Jersey winner, Sylvain Chavanell. Add to this was the polka dot coloured EMX-5 won by King of the Mountains jersey winner from the same stage, Jerome Pineau.
Here are their frames for you to admire:
Quick Step's Sylvain Chavanell's yellow/green Eddy Merckx
Jerome Pineau
Just had to get a picture of the new Eddy Merckx logo
This year’s London Cycle Show also showcased the new Pinarello Graal that will be used by Team Sky in 2011. An awesome looking machine to say the least. The extended/integrated stem with its own unique handlebars; the one-piece fork and headtube; the front brake housed behind the fork; and the hideaway section on the rear chainstay for the Di2 battery pack (if you choose to ride with the Di2, of course).
However, the best looking part of the entire bike is the downtube. It has sections that look like raised ‘shark fin’ profiles. Whether it enhances the rider’s performance is yet to be established, but it does look quite cool. I’m sure when the 2011 season kicks off, we’ll soon be able to tell if does help when the Team Sky riders edge their way up the GC. Maybe we’ll even see Bradley put in a sterling performance at the Tour de France.
Team Sky Pinarello Graal
Super skinny
Looks alien-like from the front (ever seen Men in Black?)
The aero downtube
A close up shows the shark fin ripples on the downtube
The battery pack for the Di2 nicely tucked awy within the chain stay
A chunky but much needed integrated stem and unique handlebars
Front brakes sitting behind the forks
Team Sky Pinarello Graal
I attended the 2010 London Cycle Show with all the intention of getting some pictures of the new bikes we could be seeing on the roads in the UK. However, since then my life and work schedule has been super manic so these postings have been on the backburner for a while. Anyway, decided to start with a small set of pictures first and then work my way through the rest of them.
While at the Cycle Show, Mario Cipollini was there with his new bicycle and clothing range. I didn’t take picture of the clothing. If you want to see what it looks like, go check out Giordana, as they make all his clothing line.
As for the bike (and for all you tech heads out there), the general specs are:
Type: Monocoque
Frame Material: CARB. T1000 – M46J
Fork Material: CARB. T1000
Frame weight: 1050 gr (Size M)
B. Bracket: BB30
Sizes: XXS – XS – S – M – L – XL – XXL
If you’re looking for more detailed spec, then click here. Just way too many options to list here.
The MCipollini RB1000 in Naked Silver/Orange
The MCipollini RB1000
Nice curves on the MCipollini RB1000 with integrated seat post
From the front
Rear stays
ISD team issue RB1000
And here is Mario on his RB1000 in the Tuscan hills
I’ve taken some time out of clearing my study to go through my computer and clear out any old files that I have. While doing so, I came across this video that I took while at Cycle Show in London this year.
It’s of the man that Saddleback Ltd – importers of Felt, SRAM, ZIPP, Castelli, etc – use to ‘gain’ people’s attention at the show and bring them onto their stand. Not sure if he get’s them onto the stand, but he does manage to get their attention.
Anyway, it tickled me to watch people get caught unaware by this guy so thought I’d film it and get it up here. As they say, better late than never. Enjoy!
Oh, more importantly, Merry Xmas everyone!!
Basso Diamante
As promised in my last posting about the Wilier’s on display at the Cycle Show, here is the next installment about the awesome Italian racing machine, Basso. There are quite a few versions, which have recently become available to the UK market, thanks to the team at Moore Large.
Basso Diamante
Above is the Diamante which is Basso’s only unique hand-made frameset built in limited quantity. So pretty much means an expensive buy either way you look at it. But if you want that something special made just for you, then this is the way to go.
Basso Astra
Now this is one beautiful racing machine. I used to own a steel version (Columbus EL OS for all you old school folk) of this now carbon monocoque only frame, and used to love riding on it everyday. Seeing this frame at Cycle Show brought back so many memories for me, the training, the racing and the winning. The day will come when I will purchase one, even if it is just for the sake of nostalgia.
According to the company website, the following is said about the Astra – the company’s flagship frame:
A new star is born in the Basso R&D department. It is dedicated to the most demanding riders. It has a full monocoque T700 3K carbon fibre frame and its front and rear triangle tubes have visible longitudinal lines that remind us of a four-leafed clover shape. The new Astra has a maximum flexion of 0,21 mm on the BB shell and a maximum torsion of 2,3 mm on the head tube; on both tests we apply a weight of 50 kgs at 40 cm distance from the fulcrum. It can be driven in long distance races in a very smooth and comfortable way, but it is very reactive and precise in fast accelerations or very winding roads. 7 colour combinations will let you choose your personalized look.
I have to confess though, when I purchase one of these, it will have to be kitted with Campagnolo. An Italian frame deserves to be ridden with complimentary Italian equipment.
Basso Astra
Basso Astra (with Campag)
Basso Astra
Basso Astra
Basso Laguna
Now the remainder of the range in the form of the Laguna, the Reef and the Devil.
Basso Laguna
Basso Reef
Basso Reef
Basso Devil
Basso Devil
Basso Konos
Last but not least from Basso is the Konos, the company’s time-trial frame. I’ll be honest when I say that I’ve seen beter looking time trial frame’s but at least this is something to build and improve upon.
Basso Konos
I know this is going to sound like I’m working for Basso (or Moore Large), but if you have time this weekend, get yourself down to your local bike store and make some enquiries about these bikes. Xmas is just around the corner and this would make a great present, either for yourself or your partner.
And to my darling wife, if you are trying to find the perfect gift for me this xmas, then may I suggest the Blue Astra (pictured above). It would be the perfect gift 
.
Then again, if I can’t get it as a gift, I wonder if the guys at Moore Large will let me review an Astra for a few weeks (or months)?
[UPDATE] I am now selling my Basso Astra – if you want to get details and see more pictures of it, then check this post out.
It’s been a week since the London Cycle Show and I’ve managed to get some time to myself to download the rest of the pictures I took during the four days at the show.
Over the past year or so I have come to enjoy the look of the Wilier racing machine, so much so that it is now sitting at the very top of my wish list. So here are some pictures from, what I would say is the world’s most beautiful racing machine:
Wilier Cento 1
Wilier Cento 1 Di2 (SRP £7695)
Wilier Cento 1
Wilier Cento 1 Superleggera
According to the little sign displayed under the bike at the sow, the Superleggera uses a special carbon lay-up and advanced materials that include Mitsubishi’s highest specification 60 ton carbon.
The frame weighs in at only 920g and the fork is 360g, saving 130g from the standard Cento 1. Apparently the snakeskin carbon outer weave is designed specifically to abosorb vibration, for outstanding ride quality.
Special order frame set only SRP4299
Wilier Cento 1 Superleggero
Wilier Cento Chrono
Wilier Cento Chrono (SRP £3499 frame set only)
Wilier Imperiele
Some wicked lines on this racing machine. Just beautiful!
Wilier Imperiele
Wilier Imperiele
Wilier Imperiele
Wilier Imperiele
Wilier Imperiele
In my next posting will be some images from the new range of Basso’s that are now being sold in the UK.
Knog's Porno Patches
So it’s been a full year since I was at the Cycle Show and showed you some of the coolest racing bikes on earth. Man, time really does fly past. I do wish it would slow down a bit, or maybe I’m just doing too much.
The Cycle Show in London opened today (well, actually yesterday but that was for the the trade). We (The Tour of Britain) have a stand there too this year and opposite us are the guys and gals from Moore Large, distributers in the UK for amongst other things, Basso Bikes and Knog. More on Basso to come over the course of this weekend, but for now I’ll tell you about Knog.
Knog are not your conventional type of cycling equipment manufacturer. Not by any means! I saw a few months back the press they were getting about their ‘Porno Patches’ – see image above – due to them calling their puncture repair kit a porno patch. Serioulsy clever marketing as it had every one talking about it.
Anyway, so thanks to the guys at Moore Large, I was able to get my hands on a Porno Patch. Even the packing makes it look like it’s a condom. That was also the first thing my wife said when she saw me with it – “what are you doing with a condom?”
The best part of the packing is the text on the back. It says:
A lab test revealed that if you give these kinky self -adhesive patches to girls they’ll fix their bike puncture quick smart and ride away with a bike as sexy on the inside as the outside, and that if you give them to boys they’ll stick them on their nipples. Nuff said.
So if you want to get your own Porno Patch and see what the fuss is all about, get down to the Cycle Show and visit the Moore Large stand. And I’m sure if you ask nicely, you might even be able to get your hands on Knog’s Skankers 2009 (see image below). Now you’ll have to get your own to see what these are about
Knog Skankers
