With product launches getting earlier every year, not all of the new stuff at Eurobike is as new as its presented. There are still plenty of things seeing the light of day for the first time, including a new frame from Cipollini, some new shoes from Sidi, and lots more...
“Ah, Mr Cipollini, I’ve been expecting you…”
Amid much of the ceremony you would expect from the Re Leone himself - including a video where Mario himself rides away from some motorcycle bad guys to “protect his secrets”, which surely makes him favourite for the role when Daniel Craig retires - Cipollini bikes unveiled the new ‘Bond’ frame at Eurobike this week, which comes in at the top of the company’s all-Italian made range. Unlike the existing frames in the range - the RB1K, the RB0,8K and the Lógos - the new frame is not a complete monocoque, but is constructed using a patented Bond-Atomlink rear triangle and stay bonding, mated to a one-piece front triangle with a compact BB386 bottom bracket area. This, claims Cipollini, creates a rigid frame that “ensures a complete transfer of power,” but also remains comfortable.
Also, in the words of Super Mario himself, it is “sexy.”
Like all Cipollini frames, the Bond is 100% made in Italy - with “maniacal Italian craftsmanship” - from its conception in Verona, design in Milan, mounding in Venice, and complete construction in Tuscany. Made from a mix of T700 and UTS carbon, the frame will be available from September in sizes ranging from XS to XL, and weighs a respectable 1050 grammes for an unpainted size M.
Sidi Wire Carbon road shoes
Italian shoe company Sidi has introduced a new top of the line shoe to its road range, simply called the “Wire Carbon”. While in many ways it resembles the company’s previous range-topper, the Ergo 3, the new shoe introduces an entirely new closure system. Abandoning Sidi’s tried and trusted Spider buckle, and the velcro and Techno 2 systems used by its other shoes, the Wire Carbon instead uses two wires - hence the name - over the instep and forefoot.
The shoe uses the same Vent Carbon sole as the Ergo 3, which is available in the standard three-bolt, as well as the four-bolt ‘SP’ - Speedplay - version, but the the adjustable heel retention system has been upgraded. There is also an ‘Air’ version with a perforated upper and, as usual with Sidi, the new shoe is available in a variety of hi-gloss ‘vernice’ colours and sizes.
With the Wire road shoe comes the matching Drako mountainbike version, featuring the same technology throughout, but with the addition of the reinforced toe that already features on Sidi’s existing mtb range.
Vittoria introduces ISOGrip compound and Corsa SC tyre
Tested at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France by ProTeams, Vittoria has introduced a new tyre compound called ISOGrip, which will replace its existing Kevlar SiO2 across all of its top-level cotton casing tyres. Combining the twin properties of maximum grip - in the wet or dry - and low rolling resistance, Vittoria claims that it takes its existing range of performance tyres and tubular to a whole new level.
In addition to its new compound, Vittoria has also released a whole new tyre in its Corsa family with the SR, which stands for “Special Race”. Like the rest of the cotton tyres it features a 320TPI casing, with the new ISOGrip compound, and is designed for pros and top amateur racers. Like the rest of the “Cotton family” - which includes the popular Corsa Evo CX - the new SR comes in a range of widths between 24 and 28mm.
Orontas bike care
“From Toronto with Love” come Orontas bike care products which, while not entirely new, are just pushing themselves into Europe. Entirely made in Canada from natural products, the Orontos range - of chain lube Type A and Type B, a Plant-Based Lube, a Cleaner and a Waterproof Grease - is presented more like a cosmetics range than a brand of bike products, including the limited edition, handmade wooden boxes available to store it.
For a gallery of Eurobike images, click below:
Cipollini Spy Video