Bikeradar gallery

Pro Bike: Leipheimer’s Trek Equinox

The ends of the base bar are plugged with Bontrager Race XXX Lite Carbon Aero brake levers.

  • Levi Leipheimer tackled this year's Tour of California on Trek's new Equinox TTX 9.9 SSL.
  • Where'd it go?
  • The grooved top tube supposedly maintains smooth airflow and enhances lateral rigidity.
  • Smooth lines are the bottom bracket help reduce turbulent airflow.
  • The extended crown is designed to create a smooth transition to the dropped down tube.
  • Cables are routed directly behind the stem where the air is already 'dirty'.
  • The internally routed rear brake housing exits at the very back of the top tube.
  • Deep-section seat stays help slice through the air.
  • Cane Creek supplied the Astana team with custom-colored and laser-etched headsets.
  • Leipheimer used a Lightweight wheel from Germany's CarbonSports, with a giant Bontrager decal.
  • The rear hub internals are borrowed from DT Swiss' 240s design.
  • Leipheimer runs his front wheel without seals for reduced friction.
  • The computer magnet is tiny and directly glued on to the surface of the front wheel.
  • Leipheimer rode with SRAM's new Red crankset fitted with the company's prototype TT outer ring.
  • 172.5mm-long crankarms for Leipheimer.
  • The construction of the PowerDome cassette is ultra light while still using durable steel cogs.
  • Leipheimer is still running a Shimano Dura-Ace chain, though.
  • Leipheimer's bars were covered in road grime after he scouted the course in the morning…
  • …but they were nicely cleaned up shortly thereafter.
  • A pair of HED clip-on aero bars was fitted to the Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon base bar.
  • Leipheimer's pads were spaced barely 11cm apart from center-to-center.
  • Custom pad risers put Leipheimer in the perfect position.
  • The rear derailleur is fitted with ceramic bearing pulleys.
  • The SRAM Red front derailleur owes most of its weight savings to the titanium cage.
  • SRAM's new TT shifters are ultralight but also more adjustable than others.
  • The ends of the base bar are plugged with Bontrager Race XXX Lite Carbon Aero brake levers.
  • Leipheimer prefers Bontrager's Race Lite Grippy tape.
  • The SRAM Red brake calipers are aggressively relieved and fitted with titanium hardware.
  • Pad holders are fitted with Bontrager carbon-specific cork brake blocks.
  • The Selle Italia SLR T1 saddle offers Leipheimer a little extra padding in the nose.
  • Go, Levi, go!
  • Leipheimer's bike gets the final check before heading out on course.

Showing 26 of 32

The ends of the base bar are plugged with Bontrager Race XXX Lite Carbon Aero brake levers.

© James Huang, technical editor