So we were lucky enough to be able to go down and have a look at the bikes and take some photos of this season’s team bikes.

The Specialized bikes of Team Astana, Eddy Merckx of Quick-Step and the Trek bikes that the new Lance Armstrong team; Radio Shack.

Levi Lepheimer Trek Madone Bike

First the Eddy Merckx bikes are very new, the Merckx brand has been around for some time, but the company has recently been taken over by a new management team and they have released new frame designs. Quick-Step team leader; Tom Boonen was very pleased with his made to measure bike that he received within a month.

Eddy Merckx EM3

The Quick-Step team rode Specialized for the last few years, but Specialized are going with Alberto Contador’s Astana team this year after they had been using Trek for the two years before that. Trek is staying with Lance Armstrong, but then they have been hand in hand for many years during his best results.

Eddy Merckx EM4 Frame Closer look

All the bikes we saw were not surprisingly; carbon and the Specialized and the Trek were running on the SRAM Red Group sets where as the Eddy Merckx is kitted out with Campagnolo Super Record.

Specialized's Alberto Contador Bike for 2010

Wheels were from Bontrager on the Trek’s, Fast Forward for the Eddy Merckx and the Specialized were shod with ZIPP. There was a mixture of alloy and carbon rims, but this could have been the rider’s personal choice.

Vinokourov Specialized bike for 2010

The only time trial bikes we saw were from Trek, there were two different models, the more normal TTX with a normal brake set up and then there was the hidden brake version that had been used last season and was going to be available to more team riders this season.

Trek Madone RadioShack team bike

The aero brakes are inside the front forks and hidden inside the bottom bracket area and work like a cantilever system, the TTX has normal SRAM callipers.

trek madone time trial bike for radioshack

The Specialized road bike looks fairly normal with its mainly round tubes, the Trek and the Eddy Merckx frames are a mixture of tube shapes, but if you asked me to choose one of them; I can’t as they are all top class and I would imagine that they ride perfectly as they are the bikes of the top professionals.

Trek TTX RadioShack

Here is our selection of bike photos for your enjoyment, we hope you like them?

trek frame yuk paint

Trek Front Brake

Trek Rear Brake

Among the racers in the starting line were 17 of the 18 ProTour teams and five professional teams:”

This is present for your eyes. Just some nice bike shots we’ve taken in la Vuelta. We’ll go deeper with them very soon.

Canyon - Silence Lotto 2009 - Cadel Evans Custom Made Frame

Batavus – Vacansoleil

Specialized – Saxo Bank 2009

Time – BBox TEam 2009

Scott – High Road Columbia-Htc 2009

Ridley Andalucia-Cajasur Team 2009

Pinarello - Caisse D’Epargne Cycling Team 2009

Orbea - Euskaltel-Euskadi Pro Team 2009

Samuel Sánchez is to wear dorsal number 1 in the 2009 Vuelta, in recognition both of his status was Olympic Road Race champion and of his determination to centre his season on this year’s race.

Focus - Milram 2009 Team

cervelo testing pro team bike 2009

Giant TCR Advanced – Rabobank Team

First you need to look at these wheels and you can see they are different, the strengthening round the spoke holes, the carbon and alloy mix of the rims, the smooth finish of the hubs and those red nipples, but lets take a close look at the technology first.

The Tech Speck

These wheels are said to be 1380 grams in weight (less Q/R), the label on the side of the rim says so, but the set we have came in at slightly less, so no complain there! The rims are made by a carbon and alloy laminating process, this keeps the weight down and maintains the braking performance without having to change brake blocks for special carbon pads as the brake surface is alloy, although these are mostly carbon rims.

The low weight is achieved with the reduced thickness of the alloy rim wall from 1.3 mm to 0.7 mm, then the carbon fiber is bonded to the alloy for the rigidity, weight saving and strength. The extra carbon reinforcing around the spoke holes strengthens the wheels so that there will be no worries about heavy riders or hard conditions.

Dura Ace F.Hub

The spokes are steel butted and bladed for aerodynamics, they are also straight pull so that there is no weakness at the bend of the spoke at the head as in a normal spoke. The front wheel has 16 radial laced spokes and the rear has 20, crossed twice, the spokes on the front wheel come straight out of the hub from a wide shell and the spoke heads are hidden by a cover so that the hub looks normal. The rear hub has a chunky flange system with blocks of alloy to anchor the spokes down, then for comfort the spokes are crossed two times for a little give, the flanges are set wide for more rigidity. Shimano have now fitted a cassette body that will take a 9 or 10 speed cassette.

Rear Hub

The hub bearings have labyrinth double contact seals that are low friction so that no water will enter the bearings and there is minimal friction. The bearings are treated with Borozon, giving a smooth finish for top bearing performance. The hub body itself is cold forged and machined aluminum hub shell with a 7075 oversized alloy axle.

The nicest touch and a criticism are the red nipples, they look very nice, but if you look at many wheels they have internal nipples, the spoke disappears in to the rim. These wheels have the old fashioned visible nipples; this could be for strength although the internal nipples look neater. Another nice but pointless touch is the etched Dura Ace on one side of the inside of the hub which no one will see, except when stationary.

Red Nipple

What Do They Feel Like to Ride?

Well, they ride very well, we tested them fitted with Continental Grand Prix 4000s tires and we used them on a carbon Time bike and a Carbon Scott Addict on the same course that we tested other wheels which has a hard climb with steep sections, a fast descent and some fast flat roads and some bad surfaces, basically it has it all.

They feel fast and light and when hitting the climb there was no feeling of drag, they performed like a carbon wheel, not an alloy/carbon mix. On the descent the wheels go where you want them too, no fighting the steering, swooping through the bends they felt very lively.

Dura Ace Rim

The place they felt the best was on the rough roads, they seemed to take all the little bumps and uncomfortable vibrations from the ride, comfortable and positive. When sprinting with some wheels you can feel the rear wheel flex from side to side as you put the pressure on and when climbing out of the saddle and putting your weight on the front wheel you can feel some lateral give, but with the Shimano Dura Ace 7850′s there is no movement, but the wheels still have that built in comfort. The wheels felt the same in both bikes, so there were no complaints.

Front Hub

Other Dura Ace Wheels

Shimano also manufacture a 50 mm deep section carbon rimed Dura Ace wheelset for tubular tires and also a Dura Ace Scandium road wheelset for tubeless clincher tires. So there are a few different Shimano Dura Ace wheelsets to choose from.

Our Overall View

The Dura Ace wheels are very good and not too expensive, they look the part as the red nipples tie in with the red decals on the rim, the hubs are silver and that goes nicely with the silver brake surface and the very functional quick releases, so they are stylish, perform well, are light and not too expensive.

Our Vote: 9 out of 10, those nipples lose a point.

The Technology

There is fifteen different models of the Trek Madone, four women’s specific, four with Pro frame designs and four different kinds of carbon, seven different sizes in the Pro range, six different women’s sizes and nine different sizes in the standard frame and quite a few different color combinations, so there should be a bike amongst all those to fit and suit everyone. You just have to decide how much you want to spend and which group set and wheels you want, there are lots of different combinations, so here we will go through them before we give our opinion on the ride.

Hidden Set

The Madone Pro Range

In the Pro Range you are getting the same frame design that the professional riders use, the head angle is steeper and the top tube is slightly longer, which gives a livelier, more sporting feel, but could be less comfortable than the standard frame. The Pro 6.9 and the 6.5 is made with OCLV Red Carbon and the forks are Bontrager full carbon with the E2 carbon steerer. The Pro 5.5 and 5.2 is made with Black Carbon and has an aluminum steerer. The components vary from Shimano Ultegra to SRAM Force and at the top of the tree; Shimano Dura-Ace and then the wheels are all from Bontrager, each depending on the model of bike.

Madone 6.5 Pro

The Women’s Specific Models

Of the four Women’s Specific Trek Madone’s the top Madone 6.5 WSD is as good as the men’s Pro version, but with the woman’s frame design. OCLV Red Carbon and the same all carbon forks, Shimano Dura-Ace and Bontrager Race X Lite wheels and cranks. The 5.1 is made with White carbon with aluminum steerer forks and is kitted out with full Shimano Ultegra and Bontrager Race wheels. The 4.7 and the 4.5 are both made with TCT Carbon and carbon forks have an aluminum steerer, the better bike (4.7) has more Shimano Ultegra equipment and both are available with double or triple chain sets. The geometries look just right for most women and the angles are not too severe, where the women have an advantage is that they can check out the men’s frames and so they have a much bigger choice. Ladies, if you are looking for a light weight racer or a very good sports bike then these cant be beaten.

Solid Carbon

The Others

There is six other Madone’s to choose from, the 6.9 and the 6.5 are as good as the Pro series, there is just that slight difference in the geometry and the components, of course. Both are made with OCLV Red Carbon and have full carbon forks, the equipment is either Shimano Dura-Ace or a Bontrager/Dura-Ace mix. The 5.5 and the 5.2 are both the same frame, Black Carbon with aluminum steerer, the difference being the Shimano Dura-Ace/Ultegra/Bontrager mix, as with the other, Bontrager wheels. The 5.1 is made of White Carbon and aluminum steerer with Shimano Ultegra bits in either double or triple chain set. TCT Carbon is used for the 4.7 and the 4.5 and the forks have an aluminum steerer, the equipment is a Shimano Ultegra/105 mix, these are at the bottom of the range and the frame style is a little different, but they are still great bike at a brilliant price.

Madone 5.5

Different OCLV Carbon

Red, Black, White and TCT Carbon, it’s got nothing to do with the color of the bike, it’s the quality of the tubes. Red is the highest quality carbon tubes and has the most carbon for the best performance. Black is not as high in carbon and white even less. TCT is another method and doesn’t cost as much as the others to produce.

Seat Tube

The Look

Well, it looks great, from the straight forks to the solid back end it’s a work of bike art. The hidden head set always makes for smooth lines and the forks blend into the head tube perfectly. The tubes are all different shapes for added strength, but this adds to the beauty of the frame, the top tube is sloping, but not too much. There is a lot of carbon around the seat cluster for more rigidity, this also adds to the looks as does the extended seat tube which comes up a bit higher than the top tube, unlike other frames of this design you don’t need to cut the tube to suit and its not too difficult to work out your frame size as the extension comes up to around where a normal level top tube frame would come.

Madone 6.9 Pro

The Ride

As I said before the bike we had the chance to ride was an Astana Team issue Trek Madone, so it would be the best available, like the 6.9, but it had SRAM Red group set, which at the moment I don’t think is available as a stock bike from Trek. We didn’t mind as it rode really well, especially as it was fitted with Bontrager Race XXX Lite carbon wheels, which was the cream on the top of the cake.

The ride was short, but comprehensive enough to test the bike over all different terrain, except cobbles! When descending there was no speed wobble or deviation from a straight line and cornering was a dream as the bike could be banked over at what seemed to be a very tight angle with out feeling dangerous, let’s say I pushed it as far as I thought safe, but maybe there was a little left. Climbing was easy, well as easy as I could find it, the frame jumped up and seemed to accelerate with out much more effort. The back end is solid and this was felt when sprinting as there was no flex from the rear and pulling hard from side to side there was no twist at the front end either. This bike handles as well as any other bike I’ve ever ridden and in some cases better, it’s light and responsive and handles like a race bike should, precisely.

Tour Winners Bike

The Summing Up

The Trek Madone 6.9 is the top bike and comes in at just over $8,000 and the 4.5 can be bought for just over $2,000, so there is some thing for everyone, especially the ladies as there are lots of bikes in lots of different sizes. The only problem being which one to buy?

Marks out of 10 = 9.75, well there is far too much choice!

Team Astana

Now SRAM have released the Red group set, it was first used at the very top of the sport by the Saunier Duval pro team on their Scott bikes and now the new Astana team will be using the Red group on their Trek Madone frames for the 2008 season.

We managed to get a sneak preview and a short ride on a team bike recently when they were in Spain for a training camp First of all it’s great to have an extra choice other than Campagnolo and Shimano and the SRAM Red is a group that is as competitive as Record or Dura-Ace, it’s light, it looks good and it works a dream, once you get used to it.

Unlike their competitors the SRAM shifters only use one lever to change gear, Shimano use the brake lever and an extra lever behind the brake lever, where as Campagnolo use a lever on the side of the body of the brake and a lever behind the brake lever.

Both systems use one lever to go up the gears and another to come back down, the SRAM system uses the same lever, behind the brake lever, to go up and down. It’s different, but after an hour or so it became second nature.

Right Shifter

Red Chainset

The Shifters

First the look of the lever is similar to Campagnolo Record, but without the small lever on the inside of the body, also the neat little Red logo’s on the back lever makes these levers standout from the bunch. Probably the best facet of the levers, after the “Double Tap” function, would be the adjustable reach on the brake lever and gear lever to suit your hand size and the reach of your fingers. You first adjust the gear lever, then the brake lever to your needs.

This is a great function that all brake lever/shifters should have. Lots of carbon is involved to make the Red shifters 10% lighter than the Force shifters, carbon is our favorite so top points there. There is also a choice of cable routing which is great if you own bars with a tight bend for the cabling at the back of the bars, with the Red you can have the cables at the front.

The Crank Set

The carbon cranks are also similar to the Campagnolo set in the way it looks, apart from the Red logo. The set weighs in at a feather light 760 grams for the full set and the bottom bracket uses Black Box Ceramic bearings for a smooth, resistance free, pedaling. The cranks come in six different lengths and three chain ring combinations, 53/39 and compact 50/36 and 50/34 and are made of 7075-T6 aluminum and alloy fixing bolts.

The Derailleur’s

The rear derailleur is very light weight and works with great precision; the weight is saved by the use of carbon and titanium. The pulleys have ceramic bearings and the cage is made of carbon, brining the weight down to only 153 grams and the mechanism will take a maximum 28 tooth sprocket. The front derailleur has a hardened titanium cage onto the alloy body and now has more adjustability due to the fine tune on the left lever, more like the Campagnolo small clicks.

Red Rear Mech

The Cassette

The sprocket cassette is a wonderful piece of engineering, light, stiff and very hard, in fact everything you want from a cassette, it’s also Red on the inside, so it’s very visible. The cassette is machined out of a solid block of Chromo-steel that has been heat treated and then shaped by CNC methods. You don’t need to understand it, but when you see one it’s like no other cassette you have ever seen and weighs in at only 160 grams. When I was at the Astana camp the team were using Shimano cassettes and chains as they were waiting for the gear ratios that they needed, otherwise they would have been on it.

Front Mech

The Chain

SRAM chains have always been amongst the best, they have the “Power Lock” connecting link which is secure and so much easier than any other system. The pins are hollow for weight saving and strength, top chain.

Left Shifter

The Brakes

When we looked at the Force and Rival group sets we didn’t much like the look of the brakes and well, we still don’t! Don’t get me wrong here, they work brilliantly, with a sharp feel like Shimano, but that skeletonized look I just can’t get used too and now I have another reason not to like them, they are silver, which is OK, but with all that black carbon on all the other bits, then the brakes should be black. I guess the main thing is that they work, which when it comes to stopping that’s very important.

Red Brake

How does it Ride?

Obviously I was riding a team Trek Madone, the same bike as Tour winner Alberto Contador rides; in fact it was his spare bike, so you can’t get better than that! The bike felt great as it also was fitted with Bontrager wheels, the shifters took a little to get used too, but with more practice you wouldn’t have to think about it, it would become second nature changing gear, the gear change is precise and accurate, without any slips or miss changes. The brakes are very sharp compared to the Campagnolo Record that I am used too. The chain set doesn’t hit your ankle and looks good too. Everything else felt as only a top class race bike should, no complaints, except those silver brakes should be black.

Marks out of 10 = 9.5, well those brakes!

Astana Trek

These frames are made of a Carbon fiber, natural Flax Fiber which is a very robust, flexible and light, this fiber is so popular in the car industry that BMW and Audi, as well as the aeronautical industry, use it. In 2004 Johan enlisted the help of IPA Composites of Belgium and BILLATO Linea Telai of Italy and they came up with what Museeuw calls Flax Carbon Hybrid Race Bike.

The frame is composed of a combination of high-end flax and carbon fibers, which are joined using the twill composite hybrid sandwich technique. “What’s that?” you say, well the main advantage is that the process gives the frame excellent shock absorbing qualities for added comfort without loosing performance, a stiff yet pliable ride.

Who is IPA?

IPA designs and manufactures fibrous composite products using a multitude of techniques. IPA also designs products on specific customer request, among others for the car, sports and aeronautical industries. IPA owns the latest machinery and has over 30 years of experience and know-how under its belt, guaranteeing the highest of quality and timely delivery.

Time and again, with ambitious engineering and excellent craftsmanship, state-of-the-art technological applications are developed and improved. An engineer with a passion for cycling introduced Museeuw Bikes to the company, resulting in the present co-operation.

And BILLATO?

Billato is a family business which was established in 1954. Today, it has grown to be one of the five top frame builders in the world. The reason the Billato name does not ring any bells with even the most ardent cycling enthusiasts is due to the fact that Billato produced frames are raking in victories under other brands’ names.

A great many accomplished professional cyclists, among them Sean Kelly, Greg Lemond and Chris Boardman, already relied on Billato craftsmanship and experience, and as of 2006 Billato will be adding the production of Musseeuwbikes frames to its list of accomplishments as well.

The basic material is produced in Belgium and then transported to Billato’s new facility in Padova. Here the tubes are shaped and the frames hand-assembled using Billato’s unique Flax Carbon Wrapping System technique.

That’s the Science What About the Bikes?

There are three different models of Museeuw bikes, the MF-1 is the top of the range road bike, the MF-3 comes in three different styles; road, track and cyclo cross, then there is the MF-5 which is a more reasonably priced road bike with all the design and innovation of the others. All the Museeuw bikes come with a 10 year guarantee for peace of mind, they must be very sure of the frames! There is three different paint style designs and in six colors, we are not sure about the Lion style, it looks more like tiger stripes to us, the other paint jobs are more pleasing to the eye, but what is under the paint is much more important, here is what we think of each frame.

The MF-1 Road Frame

The MF-1 frame is Museeuw’s top frame; this is the frame that the Jako-Cyclingnews team will be riding on Belgian roads in 2008.

The tubes on the MF-1 either 40% to 50% Flax or 100% 3K Carbon HM and are connected with the use of lugs this isn’t the smoothest way, but it gives a very strong bond between the tubes and give great stiffness to the frame.

The top tube slopes slightly from head to seat, not too much, but enough to help handling and stiffness. The head tube is bulky which keeps the frame stiff and cuts down on torsion stress, the seat stays are of a wishbone design and the seat tube has an aero profile. The MF-1 is strong and light, everything you need from a bike frame, it’s not cheap, but a frame of this quality is never going to be a give away.

MF-1 Road Bike

The MF-3 Road Frame

The MF-3 frame does not have lugs to join the tubes, Billato build the frames without separate tube connections. Instead, a patented “wrapping system” is used; this also means that the MF-3 can be made to measure to suit the rider’s dimensions.

The MF-3 has a smooth, sleek look and it’s a little less expensive than the MF-1. If you were to ask us to choose between the two frame jointing systems, we couldn’t as they are both equally as strong, the choice would come down to looks, smooth or lugged?

MF-3 Road Bike

The MF-3 Cyclo Cross Frame

The Cyclo Cross frame has the same technology as the road frame, but of course has all the facets that a cross bike needs, higher bottom bracket, more wheel clearance and all the cables running across the top tube for less chance of them being fouled by mud. This is a classically designed Cyclo Cross frame and will take any conditions you could throw at it.

MF-3 Cyclo Cross

The MF-3 Track Frame

Smooth lines are perfect for a track bike as aerodynamics are important on the pista, this is not a out and out pursuiters bike, nor a specialist sprinters frame, but an all round track machine. Very classy and strong and will handle the tightest of tracks with style and with sure footed confidence. If you are looking for an all-round track machine, I wouldn’t look any further than the Museeuw MF-3 Track Frame. It’s expensive, but it would be worth every cent.

MF-3 Track Bike

The MF-5 Road Frame

This is the bottom of the range from Museeuw Bikes, but saying that it’s better than many of other manufacturer’s top frame. The frame is manufactured in the same method as the MF-1 with lugs, the difference is in the amount of Flax used in the main tubes, the MF-5 has 80% Flax, the forks are the same as all the others at 50% and the lugs and wishbone are both 100% Carbon like the more expensive MF-1 frame.

The frame dimensions are the same as the other frames so you know it will handle well with its semi-sloping top tube and regular angles. If you want the Museeuw experience, but want to save some money, then you need to seriously consider the MF-5.

It is not cheaply made and is cutting edge technology and let’s face it a wonderful looking bike.

MF-5 Road Bike

So What Is Our Opinion?

Brilliant, beautiful, technical, artistic and expensive! You have to pay for class in this world and Museeuw Bikes delivers class and style by the ton, but at a price. That is our only complaint. Otherwise these are among the best frames we have ever seen, but then they should be when you have an ex-rider of the experience of Johan Museeuw behind these bikes.

They also make carbon wheels which are 50% Flax and hand built in Belgium. Carbon overload here at Bike Cycling Reviews.

Musseeuw Wheels

Here is Philips question: I would like to upgrade the wheels on my bike (a 2004 Fuji BEST) and am considering the Neuvation R28 SL3 model. They are light (1540 grams). I would also order the ceramic bearing kit for them. What are your thoughts on this wheel set? Have you any experience with them? Thanks.

We like new things and even better if they are carbon and at prices that will not break the bank. If the frame is the heart of the bicycle then the wheels are the soul, nothing improves performance better than a good set of wheels.

The problem is that good wheels normally cost a lot of money. Neuvation have developed wheel building in Asia for some of the world’s top brands, Neuvation wheels give you quality at lower prices because company owner, John Nugent, is a one-man company, he does modest marketing, and focus on giving the customer the key aspects of a good wheel without all of the expensive fluff.

The Different Wheel Sets

The M models use all the same basic hub guts and are only Shimano compatible. The R series also all use the same hub “guts” and are available in either Shimano or Campagnolo. All models share the same basic front hub. The carbon wheels use the R series hubs. The R series wheels all share the same rims.

The M series wheels use a steel cassette body that is more durable but heavier than the R series wheels which use an alloy cassette body.

Aerodynamics, Weight and Stiffness

Aerodynamics is very important if you go very fast and relatively unimportant if you don’t. The cut off line is about 20 mph and increase dramatically above 25 mph. So if you are a pro level rider averaging 25 mph it is a huge issue. If you are a club rider going 17 mph it’s not so important.

Wheel weight is very important since it is weight in motion. Rim weight is more important that total overall weight since it’s the furthest from the center and requires more force to get it moving. Once a wheel is at speed the weight is mostly unimportant unless you are going up a hill where it becomes very important. So wheel weight is most important in getting wheels up to speed and in hill climbing.

Stiffness is more important to larger and/or stronger riders who can flex wheels quite a bit. Professional riders normally release their rear brake going up hills because they would touch the brake pads if they didn’t (note they engage them again at the top). Stiffer wheels also bend less for every rider and therefore deliver more power to the road. Stiffer wheels are also heavier.

Why Are They So Good?

Wheel quality is difficult to see. It’s a combination of good hubs, good spokes, a good rim, and a high quality build. The factors that make these parts of a wheel good are mostly invisible. You are going to spend a lot of money on wheels, so you should do the research and find out what the key issues are. Here is the opinion of company owner John Nugent on why these wheels are the best wheels you can get for the money.

“There are three critical aspects to good hubs. Design, machine tolerances, and bearings.”

John has been working with this hub and wheel maker for over 4 years and during the process has introduced him to many other high-end wheel companies. The result is that the hub “guts” on these are the same as found in many other wheels costing over $800 per set. The design of the M28 Aero hub cassette body is an old Sachs design that has been around for over 15 years with excellent results.

R 28 SL3 Silver

The Hubs and Spokes

Machine tolerances : The key to hub durability – outside of the basic design – is the level of tolerances held up in machining. Both companies use high-level tolerances.

Bearings : Neuvation use precision cartridge bearings like many of the high-end wheels. They fill them with an 80% fill of high-quality grease and use slip-fit bearings. These bearings have the advantage of not tightening when the quick release is tightened (a common problem with conventional bearings and angular contact bearings).

Spokes : Spokes are extremely expensive and add a lot to the cost of a wheel. The C 38 wheels use Sapim CX Ray spokes (one of the most expensive spokes in the world – and one of the best). Since the wheels are already totally too expensive, John figured he might as well splurge. All the other wheels use Pillar spokes. Pillar is the best quality spoke maker in Taiwan. They are the supplier to Mavic and buys his wire in Sweden – the same place as the other high-end European spoke makers. The quality is excellent and the price is reasonable.

The Rims

Neuvation have three rim makers. The C 38 rims are made by one of the world’s leading carbon rim makers in the US. It’s the best there is and it is brutally expensive. The C 50 rim is made in China by a carbon rim maker who supplies other top-level wheel builders. The other wheels are made by a Taiwan rim maker who supplies Mavic with rims. His quality is very high and the prices are very reasonable.

The Wheel Building.

One of the key parts of a wheel and the easiest to skimp on. Neuvation wheels are all 100% hand-built made by highly-skilled wheel builders. The key in a wheel is to take the spokes up to tension equally. This requires the builder to gauge the tension during the entire process. Of course, the spokes are pre-stressed so that the wheel doesn’t go out of true when you first ride it. It is not uncommon for people to tell John that they’ve gotten almost 5,000 miles on a set before they had to true them.

Ask any high-quality wheel builder how to make a straight wheel and he will tell you to start with a straight rim. Almost no wheel companies test rims before they build wheels, so you take your chances. The Neuvation factory has a special rim testing fixture so that the bad rims go back to the rim maker (probably to go to another customer). They apply the decals after the wheel is built so they don’t get scratched while building. And, of course, they use Loc Tight on the spoke nipples so they stay tight. If you were to visit the factory you would see many sets of wheels selling at twice the price of Neuvation wheels using many of the same parts as Neuvation wheels.

Neuvation wheels offer the best value because John doesn’t do a lot of marketing, sponsor professional teams, use expensive ways to make wheels (that don’t result in any benefits), and because it is a one-man operation giving you the ultimate value for the price and weight.

That’s the tech and sales pitch out of the way, what do we think about the wheels?

The Wheel Sets

Basically there are seven different wheel sets, five are clincher and two for tubulars, the two for tubulars (C38 & C50) have a full carbon rim, the others are al alloy or in the case of the C38 C it’s a carbon/Alloy combination. So let’s look at each set.

The M 28 Wheel Set

The M 28′s are for Shimano 8, 9, or 10 speed cassettes and have a deep “V” section clincher rim (27 mm) built with stainless 2mm spokes with brass nipples, radial front and crossed rear. The hubs have 4 cartridge bearings and the set weighs in at 1720 grams without Q/R, the logos look great and the breaking surface is straight and smooth. The best news is the price; check the web site for a bargain.

M 28

The M 28 Aero 2 Wheel Set

The Aero 2′s use the same rim as the normal M 28, but they have aero 4.3 mm spokes with brass nipples. The hubs are made for Shimano 8, 9 or 10 speeds and have 4 cartridge bearings with a cut out flange. They weigh the same as the M28, but are more aerodynamic.

M 28 Aero 2

The R 28 Aero 3 Wheel Set

The same “V” section 19 mm rim and 4.2 mm aero spokes, but alloy nipples are used except on the rear gear side. The hubs are of a cut out design that can take a Shimano or Campagnolo cassette and have 6 cartridge bearings; they weigh in at only 1600 grams without Q/R and the come in black or Silver.

R 28 Aero 3

The R 28 SL3 Wheel Set.

The same hub and rim set-up as the R 28 Aero 3′s, but with lighter DT Competition 2.0-1.8 spokes and alloy and brass nipples and available in silver or black. Here is the good news; they are only 1540 grams (without Q/R) and only $300 in the Super Sale. These are the wheels that Philip originally asked about and we think he should buy them at that price, they can’t be beaten on weight or price and perform wonderfully on the flat, but come into their own on any climb.

R 28 SL3 Black

The C 38 Wheel Set

These are the wheels that every one in the BCR office were wetting themselves over, they only weigh 1170 grams (without Q/R), 38 mm carbon rims and hubs that take Shimano and Campagnolo with flange cut outs and 6 cartridge bearings. Sapim CX Ray spokes with Alloy and Brass nipples. The all carbon rims are for tubular tires and only weigh 290 grams. These are real beauties, but to buy similar from one of the named brands would cost you so much more, if anyone wants to buy me a Christmas present, then don’t bother to wrap them!

C 38

The C 38 C Wheel Set

These are the clincher version of the C 38. They have alloy braking and tire mounting section, so this adds to the weight bringing them up to 1625 grams (without Q/R); everything else is the same as the C 38′s including the price, nice but not as light.

C 38 C

The C 50 Wheel Set

The C 50′s have an enormously deep 50 mm all carbon tubular tire rim which weighs more than the C 38, built on the same cut out hub that can take Shimano and Campagnolo cassettes. DT Competition spokes with alloy and brass nipples. They are a little cheaper but they are heavier. Close call to which we prefer, but the C 38 wins.

C 50

What Do We Think?

Unbelievable, is what we think! The price, the weights, the workmanship and the performance from Neuvation Wheels is unbeatable; we only have one problem you can’t buy them outside of North America. John Nugent knows what he is doing when it comes to top class wheels and we take our hat of to him, nice work John, keep it up!

Check out the Neuvation Wheels web-site at http://www.neuvationcycling.com

Marks out of 10 = 9. It will be 10/10 when we can buy them in Europe!

Trek frames have been ridden to first place the worlds biggest bike race, the Tour de France, a record six times by American Lance Armstrong, Trek have used this experience to gain useful information for all there frames, so they cant be bad.

At the top of the Trek frame range is the Madone, which is cutting edge carbon technology, this is the frame that Lance and his team use and you too can ride this handcrafted piece of performance.

Next is the Pilot, still with race proven geometry, but with a more comfortable riding position for some long enjoyable rides.

The third carbon frame is the OCLV Carbon, which is made of ZR 9000 Alloy with carbon rear seat stays and front forks for stiffness and to take the road vibrations away. Also available is the Alpha Aluminum, Trek have been making road bikes for 20 years and they are durable, light and are built for performance that lasts.

If you are a big Lance Armstrong fan you could order the Limited Edition Livestrong 6, in a special charcoal with gold leaf finish, this is very special edition Trek bike frame that will make you the envy of your bike mates.

We also have some questions about Carbon Cranks that need answering, if you are looking to up grade your chain set and bottom bracket then you should find this helpful

Why Carbon

Well, apart from the fact that they are the most beautiful things to look at, with style and wonderful lines, all that with strength and rigidity, what more could you want from a piece of bike equipment, not much. Many of the component manufacturers are making Carbon Crank sets and we try to look at most of them, we might miss one or two but we do try to cover them all. One big question is; why do Shimano not make carbon cranks? We don’t know, maybe they will one day, but at the moment they don’t.

Time

FSA Carbon Cranks

FSA

FSA were probably the first to make Carbon Cranks popular, they make quite a few carbon and alloy crank sets in both standard and compact. The SL-K Light are made by a pressurized molding process, the crank arms are hollow but with an internal I-beam reinforcement. The Team Issue crank set has Monocoque crank arms with a forged alloy spider, these are in standard size. In compact there is also the SL-K Light and the Team Issue, but also there is the K-Force Light, very similar to the SL-K, it is also hollow carbon, light, smooth and strong. All the other crank sets are in alloy, very nice, but not carbon, so we are not interested in them.

Fulcrum Carbon Cranks

We all know that Fulcrum make great wheels, but they also make two sets of Carbon Cranks, the Racing Torq RS in compact and standard and the Racing Torq R also in standard and compact. Fulcrum says the RS is for top level competition and the R is for keen cyclists. Both sets of cranks are made with multidirectional carbon fibre with a hollow structure. Nice looking with neat Fulcrum graphics, the cranks use the Campagnolo Ultra Torque bottom bracket system, so it’s light, rigid and easy maintenance.

Fulcrum

Zipp Carbon Cranks

The Zipp 300 crank set is smooth and shiny, it also has more carbon and less alloy in its construction, this makes it lighter for the same strength and rigidity, Zipp claim that these crank set and bottom bracket system is lighter than other sets by more than 100 grams. It looks nice, but we don’t know anyone who has tried them, unlike the other, so we don’t know how good they are, but we like the look.

Zipp

Campagnolo Carbon Cranks

Campagnolo makes lots of Carbon Crank sets, you can get a bargain if you buy the older version with the taper fitting, but don’t buy them, spend more and get the new Ultra Torque bottom bracket system, it has a large axle and exterior bearing which spreads the load and the hole thing looks cool. Campagnolo now offer three Carbon Crank sets with the Ultra Torque bottom bracket, the cheapest one is the Centaur, every bit as good as the more expensive versions, but a little heavier, but available in different length cranks. The mid priced Chorus has all the advantages of the more expensive Record set, Ultra Torque design with wide axle and wide bearings, the carbon is strong, rigid and beautifully finished, also it is not too expensive. The Campagnolo Record Carbon Crank set is the top of the range and it’s the one most of the professional teams are using, large axle, external bearings, alloy fixing bolts, hollow crank arms etc. and weight 643 grams.

Campagnolo Record

Other Exotic Carbon Cranks

THM

There are a few other makers of Carbon Cranks, we found THM Carbones Clavicula crank set which is light at 410 grams with bottom bracket, its not cheap and only comes in 172.5 and 175 lengths, but is available in standard and compact designs. We also found the Lightning crank set which they say is the lightest available, it looks a little like a BMX crank, not sure about this one. Time who make pedals and carbon frames also make Carbon Cranks with a titanium bottom bracket and ISIS fitting left hand crank, it also comes in compact chain ring sizes. There are also Carbon Crank sets from Control Tech, Pazzaz and Ambrosio.

What Does the Style Monkey Think?

I like all the Carbon Crank sets, the only one I’m not sure about is the Lightning crank set, it looks a bit strange, but that’s my opinion. If you are asking me which one I would go for, then it would be the Campagnolo Chorus, it’s very similar to the Record, but a lot cheaper, it also comes in all the crank lengths and chain ring combinations in standard and compact, it has it all at a reasonable price.

Campagnolo Chorus

Carbon Cranks get 10 out of 10.

Lightning

The Technology

As with the Star wheels we will start with the technology: these wheels are quite normal in comparison to the star wheels, no BIG Star shaped flange, just a normal small low profile hub, beautifully cold forged in a gold color. The axles are adjustable for extra smoothness and maximum rolling on the bearings. The E5 alloy low profile seamless rim is used again with a 21mm width and a 24mm depth and a perfect braking surface without any imperfections in the machined side walls.

Roval Small/Large Flange Hub

DT Aerolite bladed butted spokes are used, 20 raidially on the front and the 24 in the rear are 8 raidially on the non gear side with a small flange and 16 crossed twice on the gear side coming out of a gear side larger flange.

The Look

I must say I prefer the look of the Fusee E5′s, maybe I am “old fashioned” but these wheels look light and fast, minimalist is the word that comes to mind. The hubs are small and unobtrusive, the spokes are slim and sleek and the rims are strong and have an aero profile, they look very smart and would be the weapon of choice for any course profile, except perhaps cobbles and very rough road conditions.

The Wheels

The Performance

The Roval Fusee E5 wheels are lighter than the Star wheels and climbing the steep bends that I found a little sluggish with the Stars, I didn’t notice with these, so weight is noticeable on a climb. I also noticed a difference on the crosswind section, there was no feeling of a side pressure that I found with the Star wheels. On the flat into a head wind I still think the Star wheels came out on top as they did seem to cut through the wind more easily.

And The Comparison?

Comparing the Roval Fusee Star, Fusee E5 and the Campagnolo Electron was not easy as all are top quality wheels. The performance of the E5 and the Campagnolo wheels was so similar that I couldn’t tell the difference. They are both light and fast, climb well and rode with a crosswind without any problems, cornering with the E5′s seemed to be a little sharper and more precise than the Campagnolo Electron. Now the Star wheels felt slow on steep climbs and didn’t feel too good in a crosswind, where they come into there own is when riding into a head wind, they cut the air like a knife, on a descent they were more sure in their performance, the problem is to come down you have to go up first and that is harder work with the Star wheels than with the others.

Roval Rim

Our Conclusion

If you want fast all-round pair of wheels then go for the Roval Fusee E5 wheels, they have everything you need, they perform well in all conditions, they roll smoothly and ride comfortably, the look is traditional and they match any frame colors or designs.

If you want some strange looks and comments from your ride partners then get a pair of the Roval Star wheels, they are definitely different, they roll well, they corner wonderfully and they ride into the wind without slowing you down. Where they are not so good is in a crosswind and on very steep sections of hills. If you can put up with this and like to look of the hubs then these are the wheels for you.

Given the choice, personally, I would go for the Roval Fusee E5 as you can use them anywhere in most conditions. The best thing about both pairs of wheels are the hub bearings, whish are super smooth and the braking surfaces of the rims are faultless and give no worries on the fastest of descents.

I like the look of the Roval Star wheels and they rode well, except where I live its very hilly, so I need a pair of wheels that you can help me climb as I need as much help as I can get fighting against gravity.

Roval Front Hub

If you are interested in any of the specialized wheels, take a look at their web-site: specialized.com, – Equipment – Road Components.

Marks out of ten: -
Roval Fusee Star Wheels.
Roval Fusee E5 Wheels 9.

Roval Carbon