superbikes HoW We tested them our main tester rode these four bikes on an 85-mile loop around Wiltshire in the depths of winter. his route takes in a wide variety of roads from perfectly surfaced, predominantly flat dual carriageways to twisting single lane country roads which are more pothole than tarmac. Bowden hill and Westbury s historic White horse provide a couple of the numerous climbs, and this being england in January, testing encompassed just about every type of weather out there, including rain, hail and sleet, with days of stormforce winds perfect for putting bikes with deep section aero wheels to the test photography robert smith You can generally tell a superbike by its price tag, high-tech frame and top-notch kit... 116 March 2012 CYCLING PLUS
road tested ridden & rated...so just how do you separate our quartet of supermodels? CYCLING PLUS March 2012 117
road tested ridden & rated Aero carbon or titanium, the choice is yours Our bike test on page 56 shows you can get some great value for money machines for around 500-600. Here, you could buy a (very) decent secondhand car for the price of each of these test bikes. But these are the Ferraris and Astons of the bike world; the pinnacle of manufacturers designs. Take the Ridley, a bike designed in a wind tunnel, every part optimised to slice through the air, or Bianchi s Oltre, also Ridley Noah Fast FB 9499.99 specification Weight 7.48kg (L) Frame HM Carbon, integrated brake system Fork Carbon, integrated brakes Gears Shimano Dura-Ace Brakes Integrated F-Brake Wheels 4ZA Carbon Highlights Rotor chainset, 4ZA Pro Cirrus integrated bar/stem www.ridley-bikes.com designed with aerodynamics in mind a pro level race machine that s all about aggressive riding and taut handling. Giant s TCR was the original compact geometry frameset, and in its latest guise is the lightest and stiffest road frameset Giant has ever produced. At half the price of the others, and only 3339, the Van Nicholas Aquilo is the most affordable bike here. Made of titanium but built to race, with deep section carbon wheels and Ultegra Di2, this metal dream machine has the potential to be one of the greats. A superbike isn t just a machine that ll maximise your potential and drive you on to riding harder, it ll also give you a psychological boost, knowing that you re riding the best of the best. And when you look at it that way, their prices don t seem quite so steep. Fast treat Ridley s original Noah was one of the first aerodynamic bikes designed purely for the We SAY... Outlandishly quick bike that handles with an ideal sharp agility too road the all-new Fast version has taken the concept to previously unseen territory. Because the UCI s minimum weight of 6.8kg is now easy for manufacturers to achieve, advantages need to be found elsewhere. For Ridley, that s meant creating a bike that s as slippery through the air as possible. At 40kph a rider is using more than two thirds of their total power conquering air-resistance; reduce that and you re gaining free speed for the same effort. The Fast frame has three features to achieve this: F-Surface treatment, an F-Splitfork design and an F-brake. The aerofoil shapes are good at cutting into the air, but problems arise if the airflow detaches from the surface. The F-Surface treatment places a textured finish at the most important areas, making the air detach then re-attach. Testing has shown this leads to a reduction in drag of around four per cent, depending on speed. It s a small gain, but remember that s on an already very slippery bike. A split aerofoil fork blade isn t new Oval Concepts, in conjunction with aero engineer Jon Cobb, produced such a fork for Lance Armstrong among others. The split design combats the turbulence created when air hitting the front meets air from the spinning wheel; the split allows the air moving forwards from the spinning wheel in the same direction you re moving to be turned and channelled into the same path as the air from the front, reducing the turbulence and therefore drag. Testing this has shown an improvement of around seven per cent. The Noah s most obvious development is the F-brake. We ve seen brakes hidden behind fork crowns and under the rear chainstays before, all in an effort to reduce frontal area and potential turbulencecausing protrusions, but Ridley has integrated both brakes. This reduces overall weight by around 300g compared to standard brakes, and the sleeker profile has shown significant drag reduction, with fewer watts needed to achieve the same speed. But all this is meaningless if the bike doesn t deliver where necessary: on the road, underneath you. The Noah is fast. Seriously fast. It responds to power with a brutal kick in speed. Get it into the twisty stuff and it slices through apexes with poise. It inspires confidence, and the faster you push it the more rewarding your ride. On our favourite piece of flat dualcarriageway we can maintain 26mph at a set heart rate on a long-term test bike; with the FB, for the same effort, this rose to 28.5mph. The Fast is ruthlessly efficient, getting up to speed quicker and requiring less effort. It s a serious race weapon, and beyond a decent saddle 118 March 2012 CYCLING PLUS
Superbikes Ridley Noah Fast FB the most technologically advanced road bike available CYCLING PLUS March 2012 119
road tested ridden & rated With aero detailing and an aggressive position, the Oltre is a new classic from the Italian legend and bar tape it has no concessions to comfort. The ride is taut and rigid, the handling sharp and, over long distances, just a little punishing. The innovative F-brakes also contribute to the Noah s speed, not only by improving the aerodynamics, but by affecting the way Bianchi Oltre Super Record 7500 specification Weight 6.43kg (57cm) Frame HM Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Campagnolo Super Record Brakes Campagnolo Super Record Wheels Fulcrum Racing Speed (UK spec: Fulcrum Racing Zero 2-way) Highlights FSA K-Force light bar/stem, Fizik Antares saddle www.bianchi.com you slow down and accelerate. They use part of the fork and the rear seatstays as the arms of what is essentially a V -style mountain bike type brake, with two pivots on each arm activated by a linear horizontal cable. The feel is completely different to the latest dual-pivot callipers from the likes of Shimano or SRAM. The arms have a very small amount of movement before they contact the rim, then when they do it s a case of increasing pressure for the amount of speed you want to scrub off. It s difficult to feed in braking like you would with a callipers or to modulate pressure in the same way. The same amount of power is available, it s how you apply it that changes. If you re the sort of rider who favours dragging the brake for longer in anticipation of a corner or stop, you ll need to adjust the way you ride. Think Formula One driver: get on the brakes, scrub off the speed, then get straight back on the power. We think the Ridley s on-off nature ends up being quicker overall, but this most definitely isn t a bike for a gentle pootle. Every time you get on you ll need to be on top of your game to get the best out of it. As you d expect on a bike such as this, there s pro-level gearing, here courtesy of Dura-Ace with a Rotor chainset, but the light weight and positive reaction to pedal input meant we never found ourselves wanting on climbs. The 4ZA carbon wheels have remained tight, true and the bearings smooth rolling, but the braking surface isn t up to that found on either Easton s or Zipp s latest carbon designs (we tried the Fast with both EC90SLs and 404s). The front wheel was also more affected by side winds than we ve found on equivalent Zipp or HED models. At over 9000 the Noah Fast FB is astonishingly expensive, but you can see where the We SAY... One of the most rewarding riding experiences you can have right now money is going. The frameset is available separately for 3999. Build it up with the best kit available essentially the meat of what s here but opting for the likes of a set of Zipp 404s and the Noah Fast FB would be nigh on perfect. Oltra-modern Designed as a pro-level race machine, the Oltre is the flagship bike in Bianchi s top flight HoC range, and is the bike that Vacansoleil-DCM will be riding this year. 120 March 2012 CYCLING PLUS
Superbikes At just 6.43kg in 57cm, the Oltre is supremely light. The frame features plenty of aero touches such as a bladed seat-tube and seat mast. The fork is mated to the frame with an aero-bladed crown flowing into the down-tube and bladed legs. This usually means extra weight, so it s a welcome surprise that the Oltre frame still manages to dip well below 1kg, the benchmark for high-end carbon. What did surprise us, though, is the bike s comfort. We d expect a pro-specific superbike to blend speed, power transfer We SAY... Thoroughbred race bike, with oodles of comfort and superior handling and light weight and although comfort is important, it s not necessarily the primary concern. Here, though, the sheer smoothness is outstanding. There s a lightness about every aspect of the ride. While the Ridley is all brutish speed and power, the Oltre is just as quick but it achieves this with a nimble, almost delicate touch. Hitting the hills on the Oltre made us want to dance on the pedals, Pantani style. Any bike that can make our 6ft 2in tester s 87kg frame want to ride like a flyweight climber is doing something very right. Put the power down on the flat and the Oltre pulses forward with sublime efficiency, and descending is a joy too, where the lightness of touch translates into a point and shoot nature when you re approaching the limit. This is quite simply one of the best bikes to just ride and ride hard that we ve ever tried. As you might expect for the price, the Oltre has a no compromise build. Campagnolo Super Record is a joy to use, fast shifting and positive, and with everything that s bolted being titanium, everything that spins ceramic and the remainder a combination of carbon and lightweight alloys, it s as good as it gets. The cockpit is all colour coordinated FSA K-Force with a matching saddle from Fizik. None of the fittings are standard either; these are all lightweight anodised titanium and carbon. The Oltre comes out of the box finessed and with top notch components. It seems ridiculous to talk about a 7500 superbike having value for money, but that s what we re seeing here. Our test bike came in Euro spec; for the UK market it ll come with Fulcrum Racing Zero 2-way fit clincher wheels rather than the deep carbon Fulcrum XLRs here. The Zeros weigh around 130g more barely noticeable on the road and for most of us are a more practical proposition than a tubular wheelset. If your pockets are deep enough, we reckon the Oltre is one of the most usable superbikes around. It s fast, light, nimble and cosseting. It does everything with such finesse we can t think of anything else we d rather ride right now. Ti flavour At 3339 the Van Nicholas is the cheapest bike here, but it s by no means outclassed. Titanium isn t the most common material for racing frames, but the Aquilo combines the pure race geometry of a 73.5-degree seat-tube and 73-degree head-tube with a 43mm offset fork. The 97.7cm wheelbase is spot on for a thoroughbred race bike too, making a change from the current crop of sportive-focused machines. The frame features larger diameter tubing than traditional titanium and bang up to date detailing with a press-fit bottom bracket and integrated headset. Built with Ultegra Di2 and FFWD s 60mm carbon clinchers, the overall look is purposeful. Get on board the Aquilo and it s immediately apparent that this has been conceived for race day. The response to pedalling is immediate, the steering sharp, making it a bike that revels over twisty roads. The quite compact frame with lots Large diameter ti makes for a top race frame Van Nicholas Aquilo 3339 specification Weight 8.32kg (56cm) Frame Titanium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 Brakes Shimano Ultegra Wheels FFWD 60mm carbon clinchers Highlights VNT Ti seatpost, VNT bar, stem and saddle www.vannicholas.com of exposed (titanium) seatpost allows a good deal of flex taking the sting out of rougher road surfaces without adversely affecting the bike s superior handling. The FFWD wheels certainly add to the Aquilo s pace potential on the flat. Except on paper, you only really notice the added weight over a standard wheelset on longer climbs, and we think the speed benefits on the flat and on descents are worth the extra grams, especially as they run beautifully smoothly and are remarkably stiff. In high winds the front wheel can CYCLING PLUS March 2012 121
Slick understated and with Shimano s flagship Dura Ace Di2, the SL Zero is a lightweight dream machine feel like it s being pushed off-line; it s never violent but we did find ourselves making the occasional correction. We ve spoken at length about the merits of Ultegra Di2, and all that stands here: slick shifts, even under load, and little or no maintenance beyond charging and keeping it clean. But what we particularly like here is how the Aquilo integrates Di2 into the frame. The battery is mounted under the left chainstay as near to the bottom bracket as possible, We SAY... Ultra-light race bike with a state of the art drivetrain and frameset which not only hides the battery out of the way but also keeps exposed cables to a minimum, making for exceptionally clean lines. For the Di2-specific model Van Nicholas has also removed any extraneous cable guides, so mechanical drivetrains are not an option but when Di2 is so good, why would you want to change? Value isn t something readily associated with superbikes, but the Aquilo has a beautifully thought out and exceptionally well realised frame and fork package which, when you add Ultegra Di2 and a set of carbon wheels that alone would set you back a grand, makes the price impressive. The VNT aluminium bar is a little rigid and the saddle isn t a favourite but these minor points are personal preferences and not real flaws. Although titanium frames are renowned for having a springiness to them, the Aquilo is designed to utilise ti s other characteristic: toughness. Don t think of the Aquilo as a titanium bike, just think of it as one of the truly great race bikes that just happens to be made of one of the most durable materials around. Great expectations With the Giant TCR s quite radically compact frame, it s easy to see the DNA running through from the very first Mike Burrows-designed TCR of 1997. Giant claims the TCR Advanced SL Zero frameset is the lightest it has ever produced, and presented with an all up Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 7499 specification Weight 6.72kg (M/L) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace Wheels Giant P-SLR1 carbon clinchers Highlights Giant Carbon contact SLR bar/stem, Fizik Arione carbon saddle www. giant-bicycles.com 122 March 2012 CYCLING PLUS
Superbikes weight of 6.72kg for a bike complete with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and deep section carbon wheels, we re inclined to believe it. Up front is where most of the improvements for 2012 have been made. The head-tube is massively oversized with a 11/4in top bearing and 11/2in lower; the carbon fork steerer is shaped to fit, and flows into a broad shouldered fork that tapers into slim legs and carbon dropouts. The chainstays broaden from carbon dropouts to a huge boxy bottom bracket section designed to take a press-fit BB. The left chainstay incorporates what Giant calls an RS sensor; when combined with the crank sensor and a compatible head unit, this ANT+ device transmits wheel speed and cadence. A handy addition. The Giant does a fine trick of combining a remarkably surefooted and positive ride with brilliant handling. We d put this down to the incredibly rigid front structure, and the masses of standover height that allow you to throw the bike around. The huge head-tube is topped with a solid and stiff box section all-carbon stem and a carbon bar solid enough to be wrenched on under sprints, but with enough spring to kill any discomfort from poor road surfaces. The road race geometry and a shorter wheelbase make for an exciting ride. Our road test conditions have ranged from very wet, to icy, occasionally dry, but always on the grimy roads of a British winter. On plenty of bikes that means a tip-toed approach to high-speed corners and twisty roads, but the TCR inspires such confidence that we found ourselves taking far more chances than we normally would. Dura-Ace Di2 is everything you d hope for on a 7500 bike and it performed impeccably: positive shifts, powerful brakes and a silent, smooth operation. Some might think speccing Giant s own P-SLR1 aero wheels is purely a budgettrimming measure. We d disagree. The design isn t dissimilar to Zipp or HED s latest creations: carbon rims with an aluminium brake surface and a wider tyre bed than most clinchers. The hubs are Giant branded but made by DT Swiss and are smooth, brilliantly sealed and mated to DT s aero spokes. At 1575g a pair these are no heavyweights, and available aftermarket for 1249.99, they re hardly cost cutting either Giant s own tyres have deep enough sidewalls and a rounded profile perfectly matched to the impressive wheels. The bigger volume of what is still a 23mm tyre adds comfort but not at the expense of speed, as the sticky compound offers ideal levels of grip in a sub-200g package. The SL Zero is difficult to fault. It has one of the very best framesets around with sharp, reactive handling, excellent wheels, top of the range carbon Fizik Arione saddle, quality all-carbon cockpit It s an out-and-out superbike, as the high price and low weight bear out, and it s one of the finest handling, most exciting and rewarding of them all. verdict Each of these bikes is at the very top of its game, and choosing an outright winner is a tough decision. The Ridley is a look into the future of aerodynamic design, a bike that s as cutting edge as it gets, although ideally we d prefer a slightly more accomplished wheel package the 4ZAs fitted are better than 90 per cent of the equivalent wheels around, but the bike achieves 100 per cent everywhere else and we d like the hoops to do the same. Although it doesn t have the same premium price as the competition, in the riding stakes the Van Nicholas certainly isn t compromised, with a blend of toughness and sharp handling that makes it a racer s choice. Yes it carries a little extra weight, but you ll never notice that on the road. It seems a little crazy to describe 3339 as good value, but the Aquilo is in fact we d describe it as a bargain. Bianchi s Oltre is not only one of the best bikes we ve ever tested, it s one of the most beautiful-looking and beautifully appointed. Every ride on this super-light, pro-level, tuned and tweaked bike rewards you with an intense experience. Any bike that looks this fast standing still and makes us smile whenever we see it is a winner in our eyes. If you want comfort in your superbike mix, the Oltre is top dog. It s a joint winner, though, because Giant s TCR the culmination of over a decade of development of compact geometry is a bike that s both sharp and smooth, light and, above all, exciting. Totally built for purpose, there s nothing extraneous or unnecessary here, it s simply a brutally efficient race bike. With its understated stealth looks, it s a discerning choice for those in the know. Zero name but five out of five score. CYCLING PLUS March 2012 123