This week, Colnago launched its new aero bike, which will likely be ridden by Tadej Pogačar and UAE Staff Emirates:
Now, I ought to say from the outset that I don’t like this bike.
I LOVE IT.
Wait, what?
[Sound of phonograph needle scraping across record grooves as it’s hastily removed, intern get on that would you?]
Okay, superb, as a proponent of conventional bikes at first look that is every part I’m in opposition to. For instance, my very own Italian racing bike has shifters like these:
In the meantime, this can be a computer-controlled lump of plastic with proprietary every part:
And one might purchase a number of timelessly beautiful Italian street bikes for the value of the “body package” alone:
See?
Although the actually sensible funding for the discerning street bicyclist with over six thousand EuroBux™ (or its regional equal) to spend can be to purchase one timeless Italian bike, one ultra-comfy lugged Rivendell Roadini, after which blow the remainder of the cash on fancy dinners.
Setting that apart, the rationale I like the brand new Colnago is that I hope it represents the purpose at which skilled racing bicycles and sporty bikes for “regular” individuals are lastly going their separate methods as soon as and for all. This may be an excellent factor. The extra I give it some thought, professional race bikes ought to be high-tech, quasi-experimental cutting-edge machines. I imply why the hell not? It’s about using a bicycle as quick as doable, proper? If you wish to see purely human speed-based competitors then watch folks working.
As a substitute, the UCI has tried to maintain the bikes “conventional.” We after all noticed this within the late ’90s, once they declared that street racing bicycles “shall be of a standard sample, i.e. constructed round a predominant triangle,” and they banned bikes just like the Spouse Oil:
Certain, this meant that our sporting heroes continued to trip bicycles with basic silhouettes. However competitors being what it’s, it additionally meant designers continued to pursue each doable benefit whereas remaining inside these confines. So 20 years later, you wind up with this:
Certain, it has a diamond body, however is it one way or the other extra true to the concept of the standard bicycle than the Y-Foil was? I’d argue that it isn’t. In the meantime, all these “benefits” make their manner down the road, and whereas the UCI might require a “conventional sample” it now additionally permits discs brakes, so at this time even a mid-level street bike is all carbon and built-in and digital and hydraulic…
…all of which is completely superb if that’s what you’re after, but when it’s not your options are quickly diminishing.
So right here we’re on the Colnago:
By no means has the “conventional sample” ruse been extra obvious than it’s now. What’s the UCI clinging to right here? Why is not any seat tube unlawful however relocating it totally and remodeling it right into a cowl for the rear wheel is completely authorized? Simply minimize design free and let it fly for chrissakes! Let professional bikes and regular bikes diverge! After all there’ll nonetheless be individuals who wish to trip unique professional duplicate superbikes and are keen to pay for them, and the businesses who make them can proceed to promote them (certainly, as it’s they’re required to promote them). But when these had been to proceed to develop exponentially extra excessive in value or design as a result of a soothing of the foundations, possibly every part else would form of stabilize, with solely the improvements that actually make sense trickling right down to the “regular” bikes. I attempt to chorus from facile bike/automotive comparisons, however McLaren sells one thing like 5,000 automobiles a 12 months worldwide throughout all its fashions, whereas Mazda sells twice as many Miatas within the US alone. Alas, even superbikes are loads cheaper and extra accessible than automobiles, so bike corporations can attempt to make all their bikes into McLarens. However possibly if we untether bike design on the professional stage we’ll lastly get extra Miatas–you already know, enjoyable roadsters regular middle-aged balding males can really stay with.
Or possibly this has already occurred and that is what gravel bikes are, I dunno.
Nonetheless, I can’t assist considering that if the UCI had been extra permissive, you might recognize a badass bike like this with out additionally having to fret that each different bike will begin wanting prefer it too, and that in 10 years even entry-level street bikes may have proprietary water bottle methods:
[From here.]
However possibly I’m too trusting.
