This week, Colnago launched its new aero bike, which will likely be ridden by Tadej Pogačar and UAE Crew 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, nice, as a proponent of conventional bikes at first look that is the whole lot 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 the whole lot:
And one might purchase a number of timelessly beautiful Italian highway bikes for the value of the “body equipment” alone:
See?
Although the really sensible funding for the discerning highway bicyclist with over six thousand EuroBux™ (or its regional equal) to spend could 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 might be an excellent factor. The extra I give it some thought, professional race bikes needs to be high-tech, quasi-experimental cutting-edge machines. I imply why the hell not? It’s about driving a bicycle as quick as potential, proper? If you wish to see purely human speed-based competitors then watch individuals working.
As a substitute, the UCI has tried to maintain the bikes “conventional.” We in fact noticed this within the late ’90s, once they declared that highway racing bicycles “shall be of a conventional sample, i.e. constructed round a foremost triangle,” they usually 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 potential benefit whereas remaining inside these confines. So 20 years later, you wind up with this:
Certain, it has a diamond body, however is it in some way extra true to the thought of the standard bicycle than the Y-Foil was? I might argue that it isn’t. In the meantime, all these “benefits” make their means down the road, and whereas the UCI could require a “conventional sample” it now additionally permits discs brakes, so immediately even a mid-level highway bike is all carbon and built-in and digital and hydraulic…
…all of which is completely nice 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 solely and remodeling it right into a cowl for the rear wheel is completely authorized? Simply reduce design unfastened and let it fly for chrissakes! Let professional bikes and regular bikes diverge! After all there’ll nonetheless be individuals who need 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 have been to proceed to develop exponentially extra excessive in worth or design as a consequence of a calming of the foundations, perhaps the whole lot else would form of stabilize, with solely the improvements that really make sense trickling all the way down to the “regular” bikes. I attempt to chorus from facile bike/automobile comparisons, however McLaren sells one thing like 5,000 vehicles a yr worldwide throughout all its fashions, whereas Mazda sells twice as many Miatas within the US alone. Alas, even superbikes are rather a lot cheaper and extra accessible than vehicles, so bike firms can attempt to make all their bikes into McLarens. However perhaps if we untether bike design on the professional degree we’ll lastly get extra Miatas–you realize, enjoyable roadsters regular middle-aged balding males can really reside with.
Or perhaps this has already occurred and that is what gravel bikes are, I dunno.
Nonetheless, I can’t assist considering that if the UCI have been extra permissive, you can recognize a badass bike like this with out additionally having to fret that each different bike will begin trying prefer it too, and that in 10 years even entry-level highway bikes could have proprietary water bottle programs:
[From here.]
However perhaps I’m too trusting.
