Pez article on the top rider's TDF bikes

[Christie]

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5161&status=True

 

What I found inrteresting:

 

1. Discovery use ceramic bearings in their bbs and hubs, as well as in the derailleur pulleys of some TT bikes. This was never hyped up much as far as I have seen, perhaps they think it provides some advantage?

 

2. Contador's bike is 7kgs, but Levi is a weight weenie, his bike is 6.8kg, looks like he rides an SLR saddle.

 

3. Has Boonen got Boras on his bike, but with Fulcrum stickers on - notice the G3 spoke pattern on the rear wheel. I wonder why?

 

4. I agree with the author that Sastre and Soler's bikes look a bit bland.

 

 

[AndreZA]

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5161&status=True

 

What I found inrteresting:

 

1. Discovery use ceramic bearings in their bbs and hubs' date=' as well as in the derailleur pulleys of some TT bikes. This was never hyped up much as far as I have seen, perhaps they think it provides some advantage? They've been using ceramic bearing for qyuite a while now. BTW, even BBB has got pulleys running on ceramic bearings.

 

2. Contador's bike is 7kgs, but Levi is a weight weenie, his bike is 6.8kg, looks like he rides an SLR saddle.  Leipheimer is only as big as a grasshopper so his bike is smaller

 

3. Has Boonen got Boras on his bike, but with Fulcrum stickers on - notice the G3 spoke pattern on the rear wheel. I wonder why?  Fulcrum is a Campag product. It's one way to get Shimano users to use Campag wheels without too much discust.

 

4. I agree with the author that Sastre and Soler's bikes look a bit bland. A Cannondale can never look bland. Even when the metal and carboan are being mined they look amazing.

 

 

[/quote']

[Christie]

1. The reason I noted their use of ceramic bearings is because in a previous forum on the hub some experts said ceramic bearings is useless. Seems Discovery does not think so!

 

3. The rear wheel on Boonen's bike looks like a rebadged Bora, not the equivalent Fulcrum speed, which has 21 spokes, but in a normal pattern. Just curious.

 

4. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I prefer the red & black Syst 6 (like Spinnekop's)  

[javadude]

I like the Ridley colour scheme. Apparently Soler had a Polka Dot Cannondale for the final day, any pictures of it anywhere?

 

[boeing]

Ceramic bearings firstly dont wear as much as your standard, not that this is an issue for a team that has no budget limit!

The main reason is probably that they offer less rolling resistancfe, quite substantially! Hey it got them two podium places

 

[Christie]

Form Carmichael's comments on Pez, Evans had to go 2 sec per km faster than Contador to win the TDF. He came very, very close, going 1.96 sec per km faster than Contador.

 

Perhaps Contador would have lost it without ceramic bearings? I dont think ceramic bearings make a big difference, but it does make a difference, and in this case 0.04 sec per km slower would have lost Contador the TDF.

[boeing]

Here's a question! Why are there no time bonuses in the TT! If there were, Evans would have won! If you eliminate the Time bonuses, Evans only lost by 3 seconds!