Floyd Landis is making return with the OUCH Pro Cycling Team and the Kuota Kredo Ultra.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Kuota has a reputation for using enormous tube cross sections and its latest Kredo Ultra is certainly no different with an absolutely massively reinforced bottom bracket area.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The bulbous shell houses an integrated BB30 bottom bracket.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The head tube is similarly oversized with a tapered 1 1/8″-to-1 1/4″ steerer tube hidden within.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The matching KR1 fork uses full-carbon construction and deep-section blades for precise steering.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The oversized front end should yield better braking, too.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The trend continues with the giant down tube.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The rear end is fitted with asymmetrical chain stays. The driveside one is fairly narrow and tall…James Huang/BikeRadar.com
…but the non-driveside stay is broad and narrow.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Though most of the frame is cartoonishly oversized, the seat stays are rather slender, presumably for a comfier ride.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The extended seat tube requires only a stub-length seatpost.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Setback, anyone?James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Landis’ name is written discreetly on the top tube.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Fitted to the bottom bracket shell is the BB30 version of SRAM’s Red crankset.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
SRAM Red Doubletap levers are fitted to Ritchey WCS Logic II bars.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Landis is running the extra-stiff ‘SPR’ version of the SRAM Red outer ring.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
SRAM-sponsored teams we saw were finally running SRAM chains now that the pins have been strengthened up a bit.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
A SRAM Red rear derailleur moves the chain over the innovative OG-1090 cassette.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
A dimple in the seat tube allows some breathing room for the SRAM Red front derailleur.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The OUCH team is running a new set of fully sealed cables which SRAM apparently may consider including as stock equipment for its Red group.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
A simple number holder is sandwiched in between the Red rear brake calliper and the frame.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Landis is using Mavic’s new Cosmic Carbone SLR clincher wheels.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Though the SLR uses similar unidirectional carbon spokes as the top-end Ultimate model, the ends are fixed to the aluminium rim with threaded steel ends. The carbon rim cap is essentially just there for aerodynamics.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Cosmic Carbone SLR is OUCH’s highest-performance option from Mavic since the team is officially limited to using clincher tires.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The spoke ends aren’t anchored within the sleek aluminium hub shell; the spokes run straight through from rim to rim in one piece.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Even the Arundel Dave-O bottle cage and Speedplay Zero Titanium pedals are colour-coordinated.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Floyd Landis returned to cycling this season after serving a two year ban for doping. Now riding for the OUCH team, his sights are set on US races and the Tour of California rather than the Tour de France. Landis is sure to put in some massive efforts as the race winds its way to the finish in Escondido and appears to be on an appropriate machine for the job in the Kuota Kredo Ultra.
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Kuota has earned a reputation for using enormously oversized tube sections for extra frame rigidity and the Kredo Ultra’s overgrown proportions look to provide a stout platform for putting down the power. The front triangle is particularly massive, starting with a bottom bracket area that comes up nearly level with the large chainring. Integrated BB30 bearings allow for a larger-diameter bottom bracket spindle than usual, too, while also offering a generous amount of ankle clearance.
Kuota was an early adopter of tapered steerer tubes and its latest Kredo Ultra is suitably equipped. Though not quite as massive as some, the 1 1/8″ carbon steerer still flares out to a healthy 1 1/4″ at the crown and combine with the relatively deep fork blades for more precise steering and surer braking. The broad top tube also works to combat unwanted torsional flex but Kuota has at least given it a shallow vertical profile and a slight bow for some rider comfort.
Kuota has a reputation for using enormous tube cross sections and its latest kredo ultra is certainly no different with an absolutely massively reinforced bottom bracket area.:James Huang/BikeRadar.com
A seriously massive bottom bracket area
The theme continues with large-diameter asymmetrical chain stays: while the driveside stay is relatively tall to resist upward movement and narrow for clearance, the non-driveside is substantially broader to keep twist in check. As was the case with the top tube, the seat stays are relatively slender for a smoother ride. In spite of the generous amount of surface area, thin tube walls keep the claimed weight to around 1100g.
Unlike most top European teams, OUCH’s title sponsorship from Maxxis limits it to clincher tires. Thankfully, casing and rubber compound technology has vastly improved in recent years such that the performance differential in most situations is modest – if at all – and some studies actually suggest they can offer lower rolling resistance than tubulars since they tend to be more round.
The performance gap is also minimized by the matching Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR wheels whose 52mm section depth and bladed unidirectional carbon spokes provide good all-around aerodynamic performance. On the wet first stage into Santa Rosa, Landis likely appreciated the more confident braking in the aluminum rim, too. Carbon tubulars still hold a firm upper hand in terms of weight, as the clincher setup still gives up at least 500g in comparison.
Total weight for Landis’ bike is a very good – but not great by pro standards- 7.36kg (16.2lb) in light of the otherwise premium build.
SRAM red doubletap levers are fitted to ritchey wcs logic ii bars.:James Huang/BikeRadar.com
SRAM Red Doubletap levers are fitted to Ritchey WCS Logic II bars
SRAM provides Landis with a complete Red group, including its latest BB30 crankset with a stiffer ‘SPR’-edition outer chainring and updated PC-1090R chain with stronger pins and extra grease. Ritchey handles the cockpit components with its WCS aluminum bar, stem and 1-Bolt seatpost – all in gloss white – while fi’zi:k takes care of the contact points with its Arione Wing Flex saddle and grippy black tape.
As is the case with a whopping seven other teams in this year’s race, OUCH team bikes are fitted with Speedplay Zero pedals and Arundel provides coloured-to-match carbon bottle cages.
Landis has already started this year’s race on a bit of a sour note after apparently crashing the day before the start of the race and posting a 20-second deficit on the short 3.9km (2.4mi) prologue. Thankfully for him (or not, depending on your perspective), there are still about 1200km (750mi) to go and Landis will have ample opportunity to try and spoil the Astana party. Allez, allez!