Megaburn Joins Team Leggera elite sponsors

Teschner-Leggera’s Jonathan Cantwell welcomes Megaburn’s National sales manager Peter Evans

Leggera & German ‘Lightweight’

Euro Pro joins Teschner-Leggera

Renowned Queensland Professional, David Betts, has recently signed with Teschner-Leggera in the capacity of product development rider. Betts, 24, has just returned from a successful season riding with European Team Tenax (www.tenax.it) where he competed in many races including the Giro Lombadia.

Brisbane based, David recently became engaged to be married, and so the Teschner-Leggera offer was not to be missed.

David Betts racing at the South Bank Criterium	David Betts (Left) with fellow Leggera Team Professional - Jonathan Cantwell

David’s first task is to provide rider feedback on a new full-carbon Teschner designed bike (seen above) – due for public release mid-2006. “It’s great to be involved with a hi-quality Australian bike manufacturer right from the beginning of a new design,” says David. “As professional riders we normally just get to ride the team sponsors equipment. I now get to provide detailed feedback on all aspects of bikes in the Teschner –Leggera range. It’s another reason why I think these guys have such a great reputation and future in competitive cycling”.

Update: David finished a creditable 7th on his ‘prototype’ Teschner at the Australian Open Road championships.

Leggera at Eurobike

2005 saw the first year that Leggera exhibited at the world’s biggest bike show, Eurobike. Located across 11 sprawling halls in the historic German township of Friedrickshafen, Eurobike is definitely THE place to be for bike enthusiasts in early September each year.

Apart from a the sheer scale of the event (800+ exhibitors covering the entire cycling industry), the amount of business that gets done is staggering.

One of the most interesting exhibits from a roadie point-of-view was the SRAM stand. Most of our readers will already know something about their new groupset – aimed at finally breaking the Shimano/Campagnolo duopoly. We hope to bring you a detailed report on this rather novel groupset in the future.

Below is a summary of some of our favourite exhibits – Enjoy!

One of several beautifully finished Koga’s from Holland. Note the ‘cast’ Koga name on the headtube, which is all carbon. Teschner-Leggera are now in discussion with the graphics company that did this design.				This model, painted in the Lampre-Caffita colors, had some lovely detailing and was a crowd favourite. We especially liked the red Wippermann chain!
The detailing on Koga’s bikes is very nicely done.					Cannondale reps not sure if this particular colour will end up in Australia.
Cannondale have persisted with the K-Force bars on this Six-13 despite criticism of their out-of saddle climbing performance (the reason shown here well at this angle). Other models (below) have different bar/stem combination.				One of our LEAST liked designs from a stable that we usually admire. Too many contrasting curves result in a ‘road-crash’ appearance. But does it perform?
Wonder where we’ve seen this frame before? Xentis 4 blade wheels won a design award.					Just to prove we really DO like Bianchi’s! Not too dissimilar to the new Teschner-Leggera ‘Sirocco’ due for public launch at the Sydney Bike Show.
		This one is here to please the boss and the legions of GIOS followers. We would have preferred to see Eurus wheels on a bike of this quality rather then the heavier Zondas.

So there you have but a small glimpse of some of the finest road and TT machinery the industry has to offer in 2005/06. We didn’t see too much that could be described as ‘ground-breaking’ but there were some interesting technical developments which we aim to incorporate into Teschner-Leggera designs over the coming months. As usual, read this news section for updates.

Leggera Socks Winners

The following names were drawn at random from entries submitted during August for the Leggera Team socks:

• Kon Papakoustantinou
• Steve Hosking
• Adrian Miles
• Steve Wiffen
• Darren Byers

A pair of embroidered coolmax socks is in the post to each winner - enjoy!

Leggera and Teschner Exhibiting at Sydney Show

Joint Press Release
Teschner Bikes and Leggera International Merger

For Immediate public release

Teschner Bikes CEO, Peter Teschner, recognised as one of the world’s leading bicycle frame builders, and Leggera International, Australia’s leading carbon bike authority, have today announced their plans to merge.

The new company, Teschner-Leggera International, will operate from Leggera’s new corporate headquarters and factory located on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

“I’ve been watching the growth of carbon fibre frames with keen interest for the past few years” says Teschner. “Australia’s Leggera have a very impressive range of products that are now selling internationally. Our merger has come at an important time in the development of the Australian bike industry. I’ve long-held the belief that we produce the best cyclists in the world, but prior to Leggera no one locally has had the ability to have input into the design and production of full carbon framesets. I’m extremely excited about working with composites as well as continuing with my traditional scandium/carbon custom frames”.

Leggera have recently established a research and design office inside one of the largest Asian carbon bicycle manufacturers. “We will shortly have a full-time presence of Australian technicians and designers working with our supplier, actually inside their factory” says Leggera founder and President, Paul Farrell. “This is a significant step forward -being able to design, build and road test new products along with Peter Teschner, Australia’s number one frame designer”.

Whereas Leggera are relatively new on the international cycling scene, Teschner celebrates 15 years of continuous and highly successful production this year. “We’ve built a solid world-wide reputation for our bikes during this time” says Teschner “as witnessed by the number of National, Commonwealth, Olympic and world titles our bikes have helped achieve. Supplying in volume however has always been an issue for us. Leggera have the ability to produce a quality product in quantity. We share the dream of bringing the best Australian designed bikes to the world market and equipping Australia’s elite cycling athletes and Commonwealth and Olympic teams”.

The first of the new Teschner full-carbon bikes will be launched at Eurobike in September. “We have a very exciting monocoque track bike currently under test on the Gold Coast. Initial rider impressions are very encouraging as are our computer simulations. The prototype frame is immensely stiff whilst we have managed to keep the weight under 1.5kilo with some clever engineering. We anticipate full production to commence within 6 weeks after we finish fine tuning, and have bikes in store later this year”

Teschner’s first role in the merged company will be to oversee all local assembly of Leggera’s carbon bikes. Assembly of Teschner scandium/carbon bikes will also be moved to the Gold Coast.

Teschner-Leggera International may be contacted on +61 (0)755 935 939 or by visiting their respective websites www.leggerabikes.com and www.teschnerbikes.com

Authorised by: Paul M. Farrell 16/08/2005


End of press release

Carbon Shortage

Not often we get the news out well before our friends at cyclingnews.com (The BEST cycling information website there is. Ed.) but we’ve covered all this information (below) which was posted on cyclingnews.com on May 12, several weeks ago! So if you really want to know what’s going on in the world of carbon bikes – keep reading Leggera News first.

Carbon Fibre Shortage Looms

Bike prices likely to rise as aerospace demand increases for composites

A few years ago a downturn in US defence spending led to a glut of high-end bike components as former defence contractors turned their CNC machines to making parts for bikes instead of fighter planes. Now it looks like the opposite is about to happen as demand for carbon fibre increases in the aerospace industry.

Carlton Reid of UK bike trade website bikebiz.co.uk got this rather alarming news from Dr. Kuan Chun Weng, who runs Composite Technology Corporation of Taiwan (C-Tech), the company that makes carbon fibre frames for Giant and is about to start making them for Colnago.

Weng is very familiar with the aerospace industry's need for advanced composites: in a former life, his PhD in composites technology was put to work in Taiwan's missile-making programme, part of the delicate military balance that exists between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

"Missiles are easy to make from composites. They're long, straight tubes," said Dr. Weng. They're also built to self-destruct and have not been designed to ascend and descend Alpine cols piloted by pro bike riders.

Moving from missiles to bicycles was therefore quite a career change for Dr. Weng, and a more taxing one. The stresses and strains a pro rider puts into a road frame means the job the carbon fibre is given to do is a multi-tasking one. Sprinters want lateral stiffness, col climbers torsional stiffness.

C-Tech was originally part of Giant, but while the parent company still owns 78 percent, it has operated independently since 2000 Dr. Weng came on board. It has 200 employees, with 22 in its research and development department in Taipei.

Ninety percent of C-Tech's production is for Giant, though the first production run of Colnago's non-Italian mid-range carbon frames is planned for late July or early August.

However, there's a global shortage of carbon fibre, with composites factories all over the world having to cope with rationing of the fibres that go into making carbon fibre. This is due to the expansion of the Chinese economy, the building of the Airbus A380 and Boeing's 7E7 Dreamliner, top-secret US air force projects, and the proliferation of windfarms across Europe. Every windfarm blade of 50m or more is made of carbon fibre. Shorter blades can make do with cheaper, heavier glass fibre.

Instead of some pauper industries - such as the bike industry - being denied access to the raw materials, the main Japanese suppliers of the specialist polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres have restricted supply across the board.

According to Toray Industries of Japan, the demand for PAN-based carbon fibre for 2004 was estimated to be about 22,000 tons and the demand is forecast to grow at an annual rate of more than 10 percent in the future and is expected to exceed 30 000 tons in 2007.

In a statement issued in January, Mitsubishi Rayon of Tokyo, another of the world's leading suppliers of carbon fibres, said:

In January of this year, Mitsubishi Rayon of Tokyo, another of the world's leading suppliers of carbon fibres, issued a statement urging carbon fibre manufacturers to "establish their production systems to ensure future stable supply" in the face of increasing demand.

According to Dr Weng this 'future stable supply' did not materialise and that from April this year, shortages started to bite. He believes the rationing will last through to June and perhaps beyond.

Price rises inevitably follow any materials shortages and Dr Weng believes carbon fibre bicycle frames (and tennis rackets, golf shafts, fishing rods and other carbon fibre products) will start to cost more later this year as suppliers pass on some of the extra costs to consumers.

Dr Weng said the price hike will last for up to two years, limiting the mass market potential for carbon fibre products in the bicycle industry.

The first consequences of the forthcoming price hike can already be seen, claimed Dr Weng. He said his R&D team have come across Asian bicycle components made from cheaper glass fibre, 'wrapped' in carbon fibre. Last year's trend was for carbon fibre sheathing over aluminium cores, a shady practice but one that's easily proved to be taking place (so long as you can bear cutting into your 'carbon' handlebars, that is). However, glass fibre cores can be dyed to look indistinguishable from the carbon fibre outers and it needs specialist testing to spot the duds.

Dr Weng said consumers should be made aware that carbon fibre bikes will not be coming down in price any time soon and that cheap-as-chips carbon parts and frames may not be all they seem.

Copyright: Cyclingnews.com 12/05/2005.

Selle Italia Signo Saddle

On test: Selle Italia Signo Genuine Gel Road Saddle, May 3, 2005

Rock 'n' Roll

Steve Beletich examines yet another techno-packed marvel from Selle Italia, the heart of which is a pivot system which allows the saddle to rock from side to side with each pedal stroke.

Selle Italia Signo Genuine Gel
Photo ©: John Stevenson

The Signo Genuine Gel is one of the more recent additions to Selle Italia's already vast line-up of more than 50 hand-made Italian saddles. Its base consists of a Rylsan shell with three gel inserts, wrapped with the now ubiquitous Lorica fabric. This sits atop polymer shock absorbers and tubular Vanox steel rails.

The Signo's rails are conventionally anchored at the saddle's nose, although at the rear they meet the saddle base at its centre, rather than under the side 'wings' as is typical. This central union of rails and saddle base is pinned longitudinally, to allow restricted oscillation of the saddle in harmony with your pedalling motion. Therein lies the heart of the so-called 'articulated oscillating saddle base'.

My first impression of the Signo was of course the unusual centralisation of the rearward saddle rails. Blind Freddy could see that the intention of this is to allow the saddle to pivot on an axis parallel to the bike's top tube. Even before installing the saddle, I was readily able to deform the base around this axis whilst holding the rails in my bare hands.

A carbon insert
Photo ©: John Stevenson

Other standout features were the red rubber shock absorbers immediately under the shell and the attractive triangular carbon insert at the rear of the saddle surface. I was also left with no doubt that the Signo took some styling cues from the Flite Genuine Gel, which remains an all-time favourite of roadies everywhere, myself included.

I had to spend marginally longer than usual installing the Signo, as the rails were 3-4mm wider than the channels in my seat post clamp. I'm not sure if this is intentional, e.g. to pre-load the rails in some way, but it did take a little effort to squeeze them inward whilst tightening the clamp. No major drama however.

Once installed, the first 'sit' felt firmer than the Selle Italia SLK I had just removed from the Merckx test bed (although I was wearing denim jeans at the time), which is possibly due to its less generous padding. However the Signo's firm sensation in 'static' mode was going to be very different to the way it felt during riding, as I was to learn later.

Whilst coasting, the saddle's suspension system and tubular rails effectively soaked up all small to medium sized bumps. Close encounters with man-sized potholes seemed to cause the saddle base to deform significantly in the centre, banana-style. This occurred to the point where I felt the saddle would 'bottom out' over very large holes - the base seemed to actually make contact with the seat post clamp beneath it. The saddle would then spring back from this deformed position and throw my weight upwards, which caused me to bounce and slide around a little. Mind you, we are talking about some pretty serious potholes here, not your average tiptoe through the tulips.

Unusual underside
Photo ©: John Stevenson

I have to say that it also felt like too much of my weight sat centrally, in that delicate area, and that not enough of me was sitting on my ischial bones. No doubt this a function of the centrally-supported saddle base and resultant flexibility of the rear wings.

Under pedaling, the Signo did pivot from side to side, as per its design intention. I can't say that I warmed immediately to this sensation, although I did find that with it came a noticeable reduction in pedaling effort. The saddle wings would yield ever-so-slightly under my thighs on each downstroke, and ipso facto it felt like I saved a couple of watts of pedaling power.

In conclusion, it has to be said that individual preferences and subjectivity will always dominate a rider's likes or dislikes for a particular saddle - let's face it, there's a hell of a lot of nerve fibres located in your rear end. Personally, I'm not the lightest rider around and I like to feel that my ischial bones are firmly supported by the saddle wings. Add to this the fact that I'm riding some of the crappiest roads that Sydney has to offer, and I have to conclude that the Signo's 'articulated oscillating saddle base' was not ideal for my tastes. I tended to oscillate a little more than I wanted, and bounce around on very rough roads. You might say I would prefer a little more rock (firmness) and a little less roll (pivot).

Shiny!
Photo ©: John Stevenson

Having said that, I can imagine that a lighter rider, on better roads with less of a preference for saddle firmness, would love the feel of the Signo and embrace the obvious pedaling advantage it offers. For example, I reckon a time trialist or triathlete (sans chamois) could get a lot out of the suppleness and efficiency of this saddle - several less watts of thigh rub could translate into a winning margin over the course of a race.

Suggested retail price: €109 / US$145
Claimed weight: 225 g +/- 8%
Measured weight: 255g
Dimensions: 141 x 277 mm
Colours: Black
Materials: Lorica, tubular Vanox
Pros: Noticeable reduction in pedalling effort
Cons: Lack of ischial support
More information: www.selleitalia.com
Cyclingnews Rating:

Copyright: Cyclingnews.com

At Last - Cannondale delivers Chinese Takeaway!

These stories keep us quite amused here at Leggera. Finally, Cannondale have seen-the-light and now openly admit what we’ve been preaching here for years! What kept them one has to ask? Well we suppose we’ll soon be deluged by Cannondale’s techi-sounding acronyms for secret carbon processes that they’ve now discovered (yeah, right).

The model name ‘Synapse’ is appropriate – It means ‘gap’.

We really shouldn’t smile……………

Cannondale launches Synapse

Cannondale has for years been experimenting with carbon fibre, usually in conjunction with the company's long-time favourite material, aluminium. But the latest road frame from the Bethel Connecticut bike builder doesn't mix carbon with anything: the Synapse is 100 percent carbon fibre.
And in another first for Cannondale, it's not manufactured in the US, but in the far East, rapidly becoming the home of carbon fibre just as it's been the home of chromoly and then aluminium bike manufacture in the past.

Cannondale says the Synapse combines stiffness and comfort better than any other carbon fibre bike, thanks to its Triaxial Hourglass seat stays and Synapse Active Vibration Elimination technology in the chain-stays.

Copyright: Cyclingnews.com

Ilsley Wins Cape Argus

Leggera's Triathlon Bike leads the way

We really didn’t need a ‘guru’ to confirm this for us, but in a recent interview with cyclingnews.com, Steve Hed; chief aerodynamisist for Team Discovery Channel and Armstrong himself, was asked where future improvements could be made:

CN: What is next on your list to make the fastest components possible?

SH: The next project I think is a new rear wheel. As bike design is changing, as aero seat-stays and aero seat-tubes are changing, a disc wheel is probably not the best wheel for the future anymore. I think a tri-spoke or some version of something else... that's what we are working on next is trying to replace that wheel with a wheel that will be lighter and little bit more aero.

Taipei Bike Expo Roundup

March saw our annual Leggera pilgrimage to Taipei Cycle 2005 – where the world’s leading bicycle manufacturers gather to showcase new technology and components.

With 620 exhibitors exhibiting over 2019 booths this is where the serious business of the bicycle industry gets done.

2005 was the 18th year of the Taipei show and a record number of visitors (over 33,000) attended over the 4 days. Leggera Bikes importers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were all present.

View of the main floor. The second floor was also packed with exhibitors

Once again the predominant theme in high-end bike products was carbon, carbon and more carbon. Carbon (rim) wheels were on offer everywhere (mostly produced by the same Asian manufacturer), but few new clincher or novel designs.

White – or more accurately, silver, carbon (which really isn’t) was on show on many stands. (Note: A certain well-known bicycle company had to cease calling it’s products ‘White Carbon’ in Europe under threat of false advertising!) Apart from cosmetic appearance this material has no technical improvement so we’re still undecided at Leggera whether to offer this finish.

Generally carbon prices have increased across the industry despite the ever growing number of smaller component producers. Raw material supplies from the world’s 3 major carbon manufacturers have been in short supply due to massive contracts with the aerospace (Airbus) and U.S. military. We heard of several bicycle brands substituting fibreglass and even carbon wrapped alloy to reduce costs on their so-called ‘full-carbon’ frames!

The ‘new’ look in carbon finishing is UDC – a wider checker-board appearance than has been the norm. Leggera’s new full-size road bike (Code name 'Sirocco') will be finished with UDC.

Another interesting finish on display was this full-carbon frameset with chrome ion plating.

Claimed to be very durable, Leggera will be experimenting with this finish over the coming months. It may feature on certain parts on forthcoming models released in 2005/06.

During the show Leggera concluded a supply agreement with Easton Sports for the supply of their (previously named) ‘Velomax’ range of road wheels. An evaluation of many leading wheel brands over the past year has confirmed the technical superiority of Easton’s ‘Circuit’ and ‘Ascent II’ wheelsets in their respective price/performance category. Leggera will continue to offer wheels from Zipp, X-treme, Mavic, Shimano and Bontrager as client optioned alternatives.

Easton’s carbon track bars may also be original equipment on the new Leggera Track bike.

On a lighter note, this is one bike that you won’t find in a Leggera catalogue!

Almost entirely created in bright chrome wrought iron, this baby is DEFINITELY U.C.I. legal!

Leggera's Carbon track bike a step closer

Following a lot of client requests, technical research and feasibility study, and a deal of negotiating, Leggera is proud to announce that an all-new,  full monocoque-carbon track bike will be joining Leggera's range in time for the start of the 2005 track season.
 
The new frameset (code named 'Pista') is a joint development project between Leggera and legendary English master frame builder, Terry Dolan (seen below, left, with Leggera founder Farrell and carbon frame designer Yu at a recent design meeting). Dolan is one of England's finest speciality frame builders and can proudly boast of supplying bikes and nurturing the careers of such past and current cycling legends as Chris Boardman, David Millar, Bradley Wiggins etc.

South African Summer

As we start settling into our racing season here in sunny South Africa, I can feel the days get shorter as we make our way to the less comfortable winter months. The weather is still good though, so far be it from me to complain just yet. This time of year does treat us to the occasional shower, which is welcomed any time but when I’m on my bike and 100 kilometres away from home.

As I said, the racing has started and everybody seems to be coming out the blocks quicker and quicker, so to stay on top you need to stay on your toes. For those of you not in the know, we are a mere 5 weeks away from what is now one of the most respected cycling races in the world, the Cape Argus (taking place on the 13th March). This event has no less than 35,000 entrants every year; sorry in case you didn’t get that the first time its 35 THOUSAND competitors, of which a large number travel across from all over the world to join us. The 5 days leading up to this colossal event we have an international stage race, in which us local pros get to flex our muscles at each other while at the same time try keep the European teams from getting the better of us.

For the first time in quite a few years the Cape Argus itself will be incorporated in the tour as the final stage. Us pros are set off ahead of everyone else and not only battle it out for the title of the winner of an event of its statue, but also the chance to cause an upset in one of South Africa’s biggest stage races. I’m glad to announce that Leggera will be showing itself in this tour for the first time, with myself and a few others armed to the teeth with the Leggera Compact. Stay in touch as I keep you posted on the run up to this exciting event.

Cheers

Adrian Ilsley - Leggera South Africa

Veloflex - Real Italian Tyres!

This report was written by Mark Hoskin having visited the Veloflex factory in Presezzo (BG), Italy. We thought it worthwhile reproducing here to explain why Leggera only specify Veloflex tyres on their high-end road bikes.

"Veloflex, last holdout for Italians who know how to make good tyres. Born from the closing down of homegrown manufacturing of Clement and then Vittoria the five people here are all looking stressed. It's a normal emotion, for Veloflex sell all they produce, and don't want to take the risks involved in increasing their staff, or the numbers of machines needed so they all work flat out to try and keep up.

Machines? But Veloflex tyres are handmade.....Yes, but think of stitching a tubular using a needle and thimble, or heating the moulds for the tread bands using some sort of open fire..machines are used, but only when it helps make the work faster and more accurate, not in place of the human hand, but guided by it.

The method of construction is simple and elegant. Cotton is used for all casings, they are firm believers in robust casings, so there is no place for the more delicate silks. Cloth is made by a simple machine and a pair of hands, it's endless bands formed by individual fibres being laid on a drum and impregnated with latex. The fibre is angled at 45 degrees and laid in two plies which are biased (place your hand flat on a table with your fingers together and lay the other hand on top of it at an angle, that is the form the fibre takes) for strength and flexibility. This is then cut into the appropriate width for a casing, the next step depends on if it is for a clincher tyre, or a tubular. In either case the edges are folded over to either add reinforcement for stitching, or to hold a Kevlar bead (Veloflex do not produce any steel bead tyres). If it's a tubular, they are just bonded using latex, for a clincher they are folded over with the bead inside and a separate chafing strip is added to the outside to prevent damage from the rim (and errant tyre levers). After curing this casing is then (for tubulars) fitted with a chafing strip on the inside which is sewn in place along one edge. The tube is inserted (Veloflex use butyl coated latex tubes) and the other edge of the strip is sewn to enclose the tube. All sewing is performed by the two females on the staff, they have a better eye and more nimble fingers for this kind of work. The tubulars then have the casing edges sewn together using linen and the base tape is glued in place and then left to cure. The finished casings then have their tread bands glued in place by hand with simple jigs and a roller (the casing is mounted in a jig that is able to be rotate, this has a stationary arm which holds a section of tread band and allows the operator to make sure it is laid in the correct plane. Straightness is checked purely by the naked eye, it's more accurate than using a machine (NASA type budgets might produce something to beat it, but this is the real world...) and repeatable. Interestingly enough the two people who do this job don't look as stressed, they look calm. The completed green tyres are then left to cure, no heat is used (said production produces a vulcanised tyre, which may allow 100% reliability in the casing/tread band join, but the heat hardens everything too much and makes for a less flexible tyre. It would also mean heat resistant materials having to be used, which adds weight. By way of comparison a Veloflex Servizio Corsa weighs 155gm, the similar Pariba Formula SL 175gm.

Life is changing even here though. While tubulars are for the moment safe, caused by private label demand for professional cycling teams each year, Gabrielle Colleoni wants to stop making them so he can free up people to make clinchers. It's simple economics, they only have so many pairs of hands and so much production time. The far simpler and easier to produce clinchers are what is demanded on the whole by the purchasing public and they can't make enough to fulfil the orders they receive. So if they cut out tubular production they will increase total numbers of tyres produced. It's a tough choice, and unfortunately is being forced upon them by sheer public demand actually created by the big boys and their marketing departments. If Andre Dugast were to stop as well there would be no old world style handmade tubulars being produced in Europe. The day that happens will be the end of an era. It's enough to make me pity the riders who started after about 1985, for they possibly never had the pleasure of learning the joys of the many different tubulars companies like Clement used to make in the tubulars heyday and what it was to pick your tyre/wheel combination for a particular event. It was fun..really."

Copyright Mark Hoskin.

Vision by FSA TT Mini clip-on bar

McEwen Wins Leggera Bikes Criterium

Robbie McEwen, riding in his new Davitamon-Lotto team livery, took out the Leggera Bikes International New Year’s day criterium, held at the Nerang cycling complex, Queensland, Australia. An event record number of riders (170) braved 34 degree heat to contest this annual event across all grades from Junior to Elite.

Paul Farrell presents prize money to womens third place winner Candice Sullivan (AIS)
- Photos courtesy Cyclesportnews.com

Congratulations to the following people who filled in our on-line survey and were drawn, at random, as monthly winners in our free ‘Leggera Race Socks’ give-away:

October:
S.Manis – Ontario, Canada
J.Mann – Western Australia
A.Richards – Queensland
J.Farmer – England
P.Racks – New South Wales

November:
P.Clark – Tasmania
R.Potenski – Colorado, USA
P.Sims – Victoria, Australia
A.Gail – Victoria, Australia
S.James – Vancouver, Canada

5 pairs of socks are posted out each month. Simply fill in our on-line survey for your chance. Tell us a little about yourself, what and why you ride, and what you think about Leggera (good, bad or indifferent!). Your comments really DO make a difference to the kinds of bikes we build.

Noosa Triathlon Expo

Following the successful release of the monocoque Carbon Race ‘Tri’ specific frameset earlier this year, Leggera Bikes accepted an invitation to exhibit at this November’s ‘Noosa Triathlon Expo’.

Leggera ‘Race’ owners featured prominently in the results of some major triathlon events during 2004 – This was also the first year to see Leggera raced at Hawaiian Ironman (Darryn Reid).

It’s not often a manufacturer will publicise having to replace a faulty component but
at Leggera we don’t mind admitting we get the occasional problem to fix. We believe it’s how swiftly and easily the issue is addressed and how the client feels about how the problem is ultimately fixed that matters.

We thought therefore we’d share this warranty issue with our readers:

Leggera took ‘pole’ position with its stand just inside the main entrance to the 2004
Bicycling Australia show, held at the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne.

Leggera ‘Piuma’ to be launched

The all-new Leggera ‘Piuma’ (Italian for Feather) will be officially launched into the Australian market on October 22 in Melbourne at the Bicycling Australia Show.

Piuma frameset undergoing final testing

Brief History of Carbon Fibre – Part 2

The so-called Second wave of carbon fibre use in the bicycle industry commenced in the early 90’s. By then, Japanese fibre manufacturing giant Torayca, was already manufacturing ‘Prepreg’ carbon sheeting. ‘Prepreg’ is a product obtained by impregnating carbon fibre yarn with a uniform and consistent amount of resin. As the fibre volume and orientation can be kept constant, the formed product has a defined and stable quality. Early Torayca prepreg was specifically developed for Boeing in their 777 series jetliner.

Copying larger diameter alloy tubes previously only used prior to this time in MTB bikes, road frame designers started to embrace the concept but in carbon fibre.

Many of the leading road brands such as Pinarello, Colnago, C4 and Trek also began experimenting with one-piece carbon fibre framesets which often required unconventional styling.

At the same time, numerous other manufacturers who supply the bicycle industry started introducing carbon into their products. Carbon seat shells and seat posts were amongst the first to appear.

The unique qualities of carbon fibre soon saw the development of the first carbon forks, handlebars and stems, brake levers, crank arms and, after many attempts, carbon wheel rims.

Overall weight and durability continued to dog exponents of carbon fibre products during this period.

The third and final part of this series brings us up to date when carbon fibre establishes itself as the material-of-choice with high-end bicycle designers

Modolo - The making of an Italian legend

Modolo Family

Most of us over the age of 40 who have been involved in bicycle sport for some time will be familiar with the famous Italian ‘Modolo’ name.

Started in 1952 in a small factory in the northeastern Italian town of Santa Lucia di Piave by Mr.Adamo Modolo, the company initially made a variety of parts in steel for bicycles. Around the same time, many other now famous marques such as (Campagnolo, Selle Royal, Miche etc.) were establishing themselves in this vicinity.

This region now boasts the highest concentration of Italian quality bicycle manufacturers; being home to such famous brands as Wilier, Pinarello, etc.

Current company General Manager, Domenico Modolo (son of the founder), joined the company in 1976 having graduated as a mechanical engineer. Soon afterwards the famous TOP brake-set, made in light alloy, commenced production. These brake-sets were exported all over the world and set the standard for high quality Italian aftermarket components. However by 1990, fierce competition from the then newly emerging low-cost bicycle manufacturing powerhouse, Taiwan, caused production to cease.

Without a complete groupset to sell, as being offered by Campagnolo and Shimano, Modolo decided to take a different route and the world’s first anatomic handlebars and stems were developed.

A new company was formed which now trades under the name Serenissima Diffusion Srl.

Manufacturing and distributing only ‘top-quality’ handlebars and stems, Serenissima have built upon the Modolo tradition and are highly respected in their field. Indeed many of the newer brands in bars and stems are actually made by Serenissima and rebadged!

Their full-carbon ‘Curvissima’ racing bars (meaning curves-without-ends) are true examples of Italian flair in design and manufacturing. Modolo’s 2003/4 range includes bars and stems manufactured from either carbon fibre or hi-tech alloy for both the true road-racing aficionado or hard-core downhill racer.

2004 will see the release of new stems and seat posts, further enhancing the reputation of Modolo as the quality ‘high-end’ Italian marque.

Modolo products are proudly distributed in Australia by Leggera Bikes International, Gold Coast, Qld and in New Zealand by F.I.L Importers, Christchurch.