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Eurobike road: Canyon, Focus, Museeuw

Unlike many bikes that have been introduced lately the Focus Izalco doesn't have a tapered steerer tube.

  • The Canyon Speedmax CF PRO will be Cadel Evans' new time trial weapon as he hopes to go one better in next years's Tour.
  • The new Canyon Ultimate CF SLX will be the team bike for Silence-Lotto in 2009.
  • The Ultimate CF SLX is claimed to be substantially lighter than the CF but is still built around the stiffness of the bottom bracket area which is double walled for extra rigidity.
  • The chain stays are designed to transfer the maximum power to the rear end.
  • Certain areas of the frame though are designed to provide a little lateral comfort.
  • The top tube is very flat where it joins the head tube to allow a little vertical flex.
  • Canyon collected its frame data while the bike was in motion to work out the best was to make a stiff frame that's also comfortable.
  • A breakdown of the different tubes and their various wall thicknesses.
  • The aero section seat tube has a huge cutout to accommodate the rear wheel.
  • From the front the Speedmax bears the usual narrow profile.
  • The Speedmax has an adjustable seat post to keep things tri-friendly and still UCI-legal.
  • The legs of the Speedmax fork supposedly mimic airfoil sections used in aircraft.
  • Unlike most of the tubes that have to cheat the wind the top tube presents virtually no frontal area so it's slim and ovalised to allow a little comfort.
  • The Ultimate FS PRO is Canyon's second string frame; it's almost as light as the CF SLX, but supposedly not quite as compliant.
  • For 2009, the Milram team will ride bikes made by German company Focus.
  • Milram will be riding the Izalco Extreme version which differs from the one pictured…
  • … with its integrated seatpost which Focus says makes things lighter and stiffer.
  • The Izalco is built around what looks to be a well reinforced bottom bracket area.
  • Unlike many bikes that have been introduced lately the Focus Izalco doesn't have a tapered steerer tube.
  • Focus uses different amounts of material for different sizes in order to achieve the desired ride characteristics for each rider.
  • The Izalco is fitted with 3T's Funda Pro forks.
  • Milram will use SRAM Red to turn its Lightweight wheels next season.
  • The Izalco Chrono is Focus' top time trial frame…
  • … but it is actually a rebranded frame from Swiss bike builder Walser - an historically popular move amongst the German teams.
  • Walser frames are notoriously invisible to the wind with their distinctly narrow design.
  • The Focus Izalco Chrono in Team Milram livery - a bit cheeky as Colnago still has almost four months left in its deal with the German team.
  • Focus also makes 'cross bikes. This top-end model is the Mares Team.
  • The Museeuw MF-1 still tops the Belgian legend's range but now uses more flax for 2009.
  • The flax fibre weave is now on the outside of the MF-1's tubes to make it more visible and the frame now has an integrated seatpost.
  • New to the Museeuw range is the MC-7, which contains a lesser quantity of flax fibre and a lower price.
  • The MC-7 is available in the usual array of finishes, including those that show off the carbon/flax fibre weave.
  • Also new for Museeuw is the Gran Fondo, an entry level frame with less flax, which is reflected in the price.
  • You can clearly see the undirectional flax fibres beneath the clearcoat of this MF-5.
  • After a lot of development Museeuw can now present a range of carbon/flax wheels, with either a 39mm-deep section…
  • … or 25mm-deep rims. All are built up with Endo hubs and Sapim spokes.
  • Despite being painted white you can still see the flax fibre through the graphics.
  • The carbon/flax wheels are only available in tubular version but Museeuw also makes some carbon-and-aluminium rims for use with clinchers.

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Unlike many bikes that have been introduced lately the Focus Izalco doesn't have a tapered steerer tube.

© Ben Atkins