- When most people think of Australia they think of
sun, sea, shrimps on the barbie.
But not me, oh no.
I'm here for the Tour Down Under and I wanna find out
what's the latest and greatest in tech for 2019.
(happy upbeat music)
(logo whooshes)
The new Cervelo S5 Disc.
The first time I've got these hands on one, and well,
it's a nice looking bike, isn't it?
Now, other than of course the disc brakes and the
ability to fit wider tires,
what else is there on this bike then?
Well strikingly obvious, let's face it,
is the new handlebar and stem setup.
Taking a v-shaped type design and apparently it's been
developed in conjunction with 3T,
of course themselves who are pretty much renowned for
making handlebars and stems.
Now, it's not a one piece affair though.
First when I heard about the launch,
I thought wow, that's gonna be a lot of configurations
you're gonna have to make.
But in fact, it is a two piece item.
So the stem here, that's available in about
six different lengths and then the bars,
three or four different widths there too.
So everyone's catered for because you can simply add and
remove the bars using some bolts which go on the
underside of the stem and bar and then fit into these
aluminum kind of nuts really, if you like,
which go on the other side.
Now, check that out.
That's right.
Basically an external fork.
So the steerer tube, well, that's on the outside.
Inside of here we've got a steel rod which
basically sets the headset preload for the bearings.
Now by doing that, means you can actually get away with
having a smaller diameter head tube which means,
that's right, more aerodynamic.
Something I must just say actually talking about
aerodynamics, I'm looking how much tire clearance there is
and in the rear, there's not a lot even with the 25 fitted.
So put a 28 in there, it's gonna be close.
(happy upbeat music)
Right, now loads of you remember Peter Sagan.
He always seems to rock up with different models of
eyewear each and every time we see him on the podium.
And with these ones, they're strictly limited,
100% Speedcraft.
There's only five pairs available.
Well now I've been told there's only three,
and now there's only two.
See you later.
(upbeat happy music)
The derailleur hanger on this Cannondale SystemSix is
not only a lovely pinky purpley affair which is
beautifully CNC machined and I could
obsess over it all day but also,
it's got a lip built onto it which is gonna prevent any
overshifting into the frame when laying down
loads of torque when you're down there in
the 11 tooth sprocket.
I like that.
Now if you're gonna be running a specific frame with a
specific seat post like on this Cannondale,
you are gonna need a special number holder.
So the brand K3 have actually 3D printed up some
special models for this bike and well,
it's not gonna fit any other seat post out there.
And talking about this seat post,
a handy little feature on the back of it
is a reflective strip.
I do like details like that.
So the bike of Mitch Docker,
he's got probably one of the chunkiest stems
I've seen for quite a while.
Just check out that face plate.
It's a Vision Trimax Carbon which is an
alloy stem then wrapped in carbon, as is the faceplate.
One of the most interesting bits about this stem is that
not only is he the only rider here I've seen using one,
but the bolts that attach the faceplate onto the
actual stem itself attach from the rear using
some tiny little heads in there.
But it gives it fantastic appearance.
Might see if I can have a go on it later on,
see how it rides.
Freshly arriving onto Australian shores is this
Wilier Triestina Zero7 and probably one of the
coolest standard, if you can call it standard,
paint jobs you can get,
previously I've only actually seen it on the bike of
Filippo Pozzato in his Cento10AIR Disc that looked
ultra bling and well, that's my thing.
(happy, upbeat music)
Believe it or not,
this is actually the first time I've been able to get these
grubby hands on one of these bikes.
That's right, this is the BMC Timemachine Road version.
But what I think is absolutely beautiful on this
bike in fact is the aero module bottle cage.
So you can see them here.
They take a strikingly different appearance from
any other bottle cages we see on the market because
they are in fact designed to match
the profiles of the tubes.
And they do a really good job of it I think.
Now something you wouldn't see if you had
a bottle inside of the cage on the down tube is in fact the
Di2 control module because that is
tucked away really neatly in there.
Looks great.
Have a look then there on the fork leg.
Yep, that's right.
It's an integrated aero cover for the disc brake caliper.
Now this being the first time I've actually managed to
look at the bike,
at first I was a little bit unsure about it,
because I'd only seen it in a photograph.
But now I can see it, it looks really nice.
Because after all, those calipers they do get
quite a bit of wind going through them,
especially when these riders are pedaling away.
So this is the ICS Aero system,
standing for Integrated Cockpit System.
Now what's really interesting these days about
integrated handlebars and stems is that they're not as
integrated as they once were when it was
simply a one piece affair.
So in fact, the handlebars and stem are
two separate components meaning that mixing and matching
stem lengths and bar widths is
way, way easier for mechanics.
So when it comes time to change them around,
it's not quite as troublesome.
So the aerodynamics, of course that comes from the
flat profile here on the top of the actual handlebar.
And the integrated, well that can also be because
the cables, they run internally here just past the bend of
the actual top of the handlebar.
Then they run internally all the way.
Now something else worth mentioning on this bike,
is the actual top cap cover of the headset,
because that's aerodynamic and they do in fact come in a
couple of different heights too.
So if a rider is gonna be running with
their bars slightly higher, I guess, then aerodynamics are
gonna be kept to a reasonable level.
And also, this bottom section here
which is connected to the stem,
that too can actually be changed.
At first, I wondered if it was integrated but well,
it's not strictly integrated.
It's kind of incorporated into the actual stem design.
(happy, upbeat music)
Fitted onto the bike of Davide Ballerini of
the Astana Pro Team is the FSA PowerBox power meter.
So FSA they've partnered up with power2max to
provide a great bit of kit because it's not
gradable or updatable power meter.
So your standard power meter,
it comes with your power output as well as
your left right efficiency but
if you update or upgrade the firmware for that small bit of
extra cost, well, then you get your torque output as well as
your pedal smoothness too.
Handy.
Wolfpack.
No, it's not the name of the Quick-Step team.
Well it is, but these tires aren't on
the like of Quick-Step.
In fact, they're on the bike of Astana.
Now, Wolfpack is a relatively small company and the
guy who owns it actually worked a number of
other tire companies along the way before
branching out on his own.
Now I have spoken to a couple of other mechanics here and
they reckon that these tires are amongst the
grippiest out there and that the team could use them in
all different weather conditions.
They've got silk sidewalls as well
which is absolutely brilliant.
You don't see that very often anymore.
But the downside apparently is that
the tread is a little bit soft for the
really, really poor weather conditions.
But well, it's good to see another tire company out there.
Gum sidewalls.
Thumbs up.
GPS mounts.
Something in the past I've been known to obsess over,
in fact I still do, it's not a thing of the past.
But this one here from Grade,
well it's really good because you can simply
press a button on the underside and then
extend it or reduce it depending on
the length of your head unit.
That's good.
One solution fits all.
(upbeat, energetic music)
So I've got the Speedcraft Air glasses on from 100%,
and they attach via some little magnet pads here which
self adhesively attach onto your nose,
but still obviously use your normal temples.
But with this handy dial on the front,
I was a little bit dubious to be honest if they would
actually work or not but I can feel my nostrils opening,
I hope the cameraman's not peeking it up too much because
it's not gonna be pleasant inside, but yeah.
You can definitely feel the difference.
And well, when you put them on, look at that.
They're not gonna come off.
They're stuck on.
My nose is gonna come off before the glasses do.
Now something that's just caught my eye are
three aluminum bikes here of the team of Bora-Hansgrohe.
So Jay McCarthy, Oscar Gatto and Pete Sagan have all
got themselves a Specialized Allez Sprint frame and
apparently they're only going to be using it in the
criterium here which just start just one day before
the actual main event.
But it is interesting to see that.
The color way, that's actually what really pops out in my
eyesight because it is slightly different,
and I do like the green offering of that.
And then, what's that I spy?
Yep, that's right.
Tubeless tires again.
So while the plot thickens,
maybe we'll see them using tubeless tires this season.
Who knows.
Now something I've noticed on the bikes of
Pete Sagan in the past is he tends to use
slightly wider axles on his pedals than normal.
One reason behind this is that he desires a
wider Q factor or possibly it's just
something to do with comfort.
Either way, these days riders are actually limited with
their Q factor because, well, integrated axles onto
chain sets don't allow you to get your cranks further apart.
Whereas years ago we used to be able to use
square taper bottom brackets and
therefore adjust your Q factor accordingly.
So that's one of the reasons possibly why he's got these
extenders in, but probably the most interesting thing about
this is they don't look like the standard Shimano part.
Instead they're quite, well, rough around the edges and
it looks almost a bit like my dremel bits at home that have
sort of diamonds integrated into them.
I don't know exactly what they are but they look great and
I love the fact that Sagan is
really particular about his position.
(upbeat, energetic music)
And tucked away on this bike of Adam Blythe of
Lotto-Soudal is in fact a K-EDGE chain catcher.
It's not just any old chain catcher though.
Oh no no no.
It is in fact a double whammy, if you like.
Because it's gonna keep your chain in position as well as,
also it's got a magnet there on the bottom of it so
that's gonna register up with the power meter which means
you're gonna get deadly accurate cadence readings.
Now Blythe on this bike, he doesn't actually have
his power meter fitted as of yet.
The mechanic, well, he's calling over my name right now to
try and get the bike back, but he's gonna have to wait.
But yeah, that's actually what it's there for.
And if that's not enough K-EDGE for you just yet,
well, check out that.
There's a number mount on there too.
I do like a nice number mount.
Something which I'm pretty sure is new is in fact this
rear derailleur hanger that another new product is
fitted into, so in this case it's the
12 speed Campagnolo Super Rec body ps rear derailleur.
But it looks to me like that is a
custom made derailleur hanger.
So CNC machined bit of kit rather than cast aluminum.
Now some of you will remember back at the Vuelta a España
in 2018, I spotted approach type groupset and
EPS Super Record 12 Speed.
Well here it is in the flesh again but this time,
importantly complete with logos.
Keep your eyes peeled.
It's coming.
Well, at least I think it is.
Now a problem that many cyclists out there find is that
if they're wearing sunglasses which is
pretty common here in Australia for instance,
they actually touch or rub or connect with
the retention system on the back of the helmet.
Now in the case of KOO here who are the
manufacturer of these sunglasses,
they're actually part of the Kask brand,
of course Kask are a helmet company.
They have come up with an ingenious solution in my opinion.
Adjustable temples, which is done neatly because
from first glance on the outside,
you wouldn't even know they were adjustable.
So you simply slide it into a slot of your choice
depending on the size of your head and also
the retention system you're using.
Great idea.
So I'm lucky enough to be here with the bike of
Elia Viviani and well, he appears to be using
clincher tires or in fact, tubeless tires judging by the
nut here on the valve.
So unless they're actually trying to
pull the wool over my eyes and trick me,
it wouldn't be the first time,
maybe, just maybe we'll see the team of
Deceuninck - Quick Step Floors take to
using tubeless tires this season.
That will be a first.
Especially for that team.
Now after all that hot tech I need to cool myself down.
But before you go away, make sure you
leave a comment down below with your favorite bits of tech.
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