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Interbike 2004: Part 4
By Tommy Murphy – RoadCycling.com Technical Editor
Oct 13, 2004, 06:03
Every year at Interbike there are a handful of items that truly standout and this year was no different. For many of us it’s easy to reflect back to our college days and recall those weekends at home when your parents drilled you with questions about your major, your classes and of course your grades, and after attending Interbike this year I really wonder how students of BYU engineering professor Dr. David Jensen and University of Southern California student Steve Gaskey address those questions.
Although Steve Gaskey wasn’t able to make it to Interbike his buddies at Simple Minds Technology made sure his 14.5 foot Drag-Bike did.
Steve Gaskey’s Bicycle Dragster. Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
Sporting a 600 lb. Good Year Eagle Drag Racing Slick and 200 lb. chassis this bike was built for one thing: Racing. Utilizing a 33 speed drivetrain and six derailleurs, Gaskey’s Dragster can hit a top speed of 70 mph. For more information on the story of Steve Gaskey’s bicycle dragster check out Gaskeymoto.com. He has a complete book about his dragster including additional designs and thoughts. Very cool Steve!
A closer look at the Dragster. Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
Not far from the RoadCycling.com Utah offices comes the Iso-Bike from IsoTruss.
Iso-Bike - www.isotruss.com. Photo copyright Joseph Phillips.
Dr. David Jensen of BrighamYoungUniversity began working on the IsoTruss in 1995 after being approached by Larry Francom with the design. Dr. Jensen helped secure the patent for IsoTruss and since that time has continued to develop ways to increase the IsoTruss’ strength and functionality. Primarily used in utility poles and towers, the IsoTruss technology is now being experimented on the bicycle. A six-foot IsoTruss beam weighs only 1.2 pounds. Alone, each individual component can only support about a half-pound load, but because of the stability of the design and its construction as a composite, the beam’s total load capacity is more than 3,400 pounds. Although the Iso-Bike wasn’t officially registered at Interbike, BYU students were seen pushing this engineering creation around.
Scott Team. Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
Scott USA had this 8 pound featherweight on show this week. Featuring Scott’s new 880 gram CR1 Limited frameset, Scott claims this bike to be the lightest shifting bike in the world. The new CR1 Limited cuts an additional 15 grams out of the already slender CR1 Team (895 grams). Also new to Scott is American Chris Horner. Horner has signed with the Scott sponsored Spanish Pro Tour team Saunier Duval-Prodir for the remainder of ’04 and for ’05.
Scott Team. Note the single carbon chainring eliminating the need for a front derailleur and the drilled out rear derailleur and pulleys. Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
Scott Team. The bars have been left unwrapped and the bike is specked with downtube shifters to reduce weight and AX Lightness brakes and seatpost. Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
Scott Team. Are those really pedals? Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
Scott also had their 19 pound Scale Limited on show that utilizes the same CR1 Limited carbon fiber technology. Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for our reviews of Scott’s top-of-the-line road and mountain bikes.
Scott MTB. Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
It’s hard to believe the thought of professionals still buying their own equipment, but when it comes to the Tour, riders have to have the best and for wheels, professionals like Armstrong, Ullrich, and Cipo turn to Lightweight. Carbon Sports, the makers of Lightweight wheels, will be importing their wheels for the first time to the states for ‘05 through Javelin Bikes. Lightweight offers three wheels and a disc beginning with their “Standard” available in 12/20, 16/20 and 20/20 spoke options.
The Lightweight “Obermayer” offered in a 12/20 spoke count boasts a lighter rim over the “Standard” and revolves around Tune Mag 160 hubs for the rear and Lightweight’s own super light bearings for the front.
The “Alpe d’Huez” lacks the heat dissipating foam and resin found in the braking areas of their “Standard” and “Obermayer” wheels reducing rim weight by 40 grams meaning these things are meant for one thing: Climbing. Sorry boys, no descending.
Lightweight also uses their carbon fiber spoke technology sandwiched with foam (the simplified version) to produce their featherlight (900 gram) disc:
Lightweight Disc (Yes, those are spokes.) Photo copyright Roadcycling.com.
