BMC launch new Timemachine ahead of Ironman World Champs

The Timemachine, BMC Switzerland’s speed bullet, is a race-proven testament to superior aero engineering. A world record-breaking Ironman distance bike split, Cadel Evan’s victorious penultimate TdF stage win in 2011 and back-to-back World Championship TTT victories convincingly crown the time-trial bike’s palamarés. Now, a new Timemachine with a new rider focus, has been developed by Impec Lab engineers. Revealed at an exclusive press launch at the IM World Championships in Kona today, the completely re-designed Timemachine addresses triathlete’s needs with highly functional design features and technology.

The new Timemachine is the result of two years of forward-thinking aero investigation between BMC and Swiss Formula1 experts Sauber Engineering, and close collaboration with BMC Etixx Pro Triathlon Team powered by Uplace. Instead of building a bike that gets riders from A to B as quickly as possible, Impec Lab engineers were challenged with creating a machine that gets triathletes as quickly and efficiently as possible from T1 to T2.

According to Mart Otten, BMC Switzerland Road Product Manager “The new Timemachine is the benchmark for time-trial bikes. In its development, instead of putting the time-trialist in focus like its predecessors, we gave priority to triathletes. We leveraged the Impec Lab to explore unique solutions that would not just meet triathletes’ needs, but go a step further and create a product that truly enhances their performance. We are looking forward to seeing this new aero machine break some Ironman and middle distance triathlon records!”.

BMC has re-worked its “SubA” aerodynamics formula and completely re-invented its rider-positioning system “P2P” (Position-to-Perform) to significantly improve performance, while adding innovative, discipline-specific bike features to make this the ultimate ‘must-have’ piece of cycling equipment for triathletes.

Aerodynamic Form

The Timemachine’s SubA aerodynamics formula focuses on superior tube shaping and component integration to ensure maximum speed. A 2-year partnership with Sauber Engineering led BMC to refresh its SubA concept for the new Timemachine to include re-engineered tubes with truncated profiles, crosswind-stable tube shapes, a new hinge-fork design, a super-lean frontal area, and maximum overall integration. Combined with P2P, the Timemachine is clearly designed to deliver free speed for long distance triathlons, time trials or solo efforts in wind-swept terrain.

Functional Integration

BMC brought the first hinge-fork to the market more than a decade ago, but simply being the first is not enough for its engineers. BMC has refined the third generation of its proprietary hinge-fork to create an even leaner frontal area with seamless form and maximized function. Hidden brake calipers, cables, and housing, and an all-new hidden seat clamp make the new Timemachine feel practically invisible to the rider and more importantly, the wind.

Dual-purpose, Rider-focused Fit

A slippery-fast frame is a good start – but adding a versatile, aerodynamic positioning system for the rider…breaks records. The redesigned Position-to-Perform (P2P) system lets triathletes and time-trialists find their ideal contact points without sacrificing aerodynamics, no matter how aggressive or conservative their front-end position is.

Triathlon Prioritized

Stable in crosswinds and lightning fast in straight lines, predictable handling in the aero position, an adaptable cockpit for both short and long reach preferences and high or low stack heights, the ‘Quick-pad’ brake cartridge system for swapping out racing and training wheels, fuel and equipment storage…the new Timemachine has been designed with multi-sport performance in mind. Additionally, BMC engineers have come up with a smart disassembly solution for the cockpit, to facilitate packing the bike for travel.

Ultimate versatility

The ‘V-Cockpit’ is supplied with all complete bikes, and is optional with the frameset. It offers optimal aerodynamic performance for taller pad stack dimensions, while its forward-offset promotes vertical compliance to blend high-performance with comfort. The Timemachine’s other cockpit configuration, the ‘Flat-Cockpit’, offers maximum aerodynamic advantage, letting riders attain the lowest possible pad stack configurations. Changing the seat post to the rear-mount option makes the Timemachine UCI compliant.

Sizing, Geometry, and Models

The Timemachine range, consisting of “01” and “02” level-specific technology and integration packages – possesses a consistent sizing and geometry throughout the line-up. Available in 4 sizes (Small, Medium-Short, Medium-Long, Large) the frame geometry is continued from the previous generation Timemachine.

Given the unique design of the Timemachine 01 cockpit, top tube, Brake Booster Technology, and its dual-mount seatpost options – traditional frame measurement techniques are void. Preference is given to “Pad Stack and Reach” measurements. However, the Timemachine 02 model has a more traditional cockpit configuration, therefore, traditional frame stack and reach measurement techniques may be applied. In addition to a full geometry chart, BMC retailers will be provided with a more robust online tool to determine the rider’s optimal frame size (based on elbow pad stack and reach), cockpit options, and the recipe for creating specific cockpit dimensions.