The bikes will always be the stars of Interbike. Over the past two weeks we have been covering a wide range of the products we experienced in Vegas, but today we bring you eight bike companies and the products they were showcasing out in the desert.
Blue Triad SL
Argon 18
Argon 18’s Nitrogen may be their new star, but we were just as excited about the updates to the E118 TT line. The Nitrogen aero road bike is everything you would expect from a new entry in this category. Hidden brakes front and back (the rear brake is hidden behind the designed headset) – check. This is clearly a bike designed from the outset to provide speed to those in the peloton. One of the little details that traithletes will appreciate is the two-way seatpost that allows you to flip the seatpost forward for those looking for a more tri-specific position. This is a bike we are extremely excited about getting in for a long-term review.
For the E118, Argon 18 has completely redesigned the cockpit. The new cockpit allows full control of stack as well as the bar angle. The brake cable is routed through the integrated stem through the fork to the hidden front brakes (an extremely clean design). While we didn’t get to ride the new bar, we did get to play with the bike a bit. And we’re definitely looking forward to some seat time with the E118 in the near future.
Bianchi
Bianchi was showcasing their new Aquila CV. The Aquila is simply one of the cleanest bikes we have ever seen straight from the factory. The integrated front fork and stem cleanly hide the brake cable all the way from the levers down through the stem and fork to the hidden front brake. The stem also hides the Di2 junction box. At the back, the Di2 battery is hidden in the seat post and the brake under the chain stays. The only place you can find an exposed cable is the little loop of cable exiting the frame to the derailleurs – like we said, this is a very cleanly built bike.
Blue
The Blue Triad SL isn’t the newest frame at Interbike, but that didn’t mean it still couldn’t draw a crowd. After a rough year for Blue, it was good to see them showcasing products out in Vegas. The SL on display had one of our favorite paint jobs on the floor. Blue was also showing off their new Aerus line of wheels, with the SL riding atop Aerus Quantum SL80s. The full carbon SL80s feature a 24.5mm rim width.
Cipollini
If you are looking to make a big splash with your new bike – naming it the Nuke is definitely a way to start. And as we all know, Cipollini knows how to make a splash! The Nuke on display was an all-Italian build with Campagnolo wheels and groupset and Selle Italia saddle. Built directly into the chainstays and fork, the brakes redefine the concept of integrated (check out the access ports for the brakes in the images below). Cipollini also displayed the device they use for cutting the seatpost without damaging the carbon – one of those critical design ideas that often goes unnoticed. The Nuke is not your average TT bike, but Cipollini has never been your average bike company.
Culprit
We stopped by Culprit to check out their Croz Blade road and Culprit TT bikes. We recently looked at their Croz Blade Arsenal and loved the concept – a complete bike package for your road and triathlon needs. At Interbike, we had the opportunity to check them out first-hand, and we’re impressed with what Culprit is trying to do. The aero road bar with integrated aerobar mounts really works for us. We were also big fans of Culprit’s Di2 Junior bike. It was everything an aspiring road race or triathlete could ever ask for!
Falco
In 2013 Falco was hidden at the back of Interbike, but that didn’t stop everyone from making their way over and checking out the V. This year, Falco had a much better position (located just off the Triathlon Pavilion) and was still making a splash. While there were not any new updates (besides what we covered in May), that didn’t stop us from checking out the V and shooting a few photos.
Guru
We currently have a Guru CR.901 undergoing long-term review in the AG garage, so we wanted to stop by the Guru booth to see what they had in store for 2015. The big news was the new CR.401. While it’s built from the same mold as the 901, it uses a different carbon layup resulting in an almost $2,000 price difference. Another difference is that you cannot get the custom geometry options with the CR.401 (though the custom paint is still available). Guru was also showcasing their Photon HL with a weight of just 650g for a 54cm frame.
Pinarello
We took a Dogma F8 for a 30 minute ride at the outdoor demo and came away astonished. The phrase “I want this bike” was uttered more than once. Thanks to a design that was inspired by Jaguar, the F8 is a bike that excels at every cycling discipline; whether it be climbing, descending, putting the watts down, or just cruising. We are hoping to get an F8 for long term review. And when we do, we expect it to be setting new benchmarks for the AG team.
