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Pro Bike: Leipheimer’s Trek Equinox

The grooved top tube supposedly maintains smooth airflow and enhances lateral rigidity.

  • 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.

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The grooved top tube supposedly maintains smooth airflow and enhances lateral rigidity.

© James Huang, technical editor