Amgen tour of California 2012

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Consumer version of Giant's radical TT bike on the way

  • Look's new KeO 2 Max makes its Grand Tour debut in this year's Tour de France.

    Look's new KeO 2 Max makes its Grand Tour debut in this year's Tour de France.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • More aggressive machining will save 25g per ring, however, bringing them down to a more reasonable 140g or so apiece.

    More aggressive machining will save 25g per ring, however, bringing them down to a more reasonable 140g or so apiece.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Eager consumers interested in picking up a Rabobank Giant time trial bike of their own will soon have their wishes granted.

    Eager consumers interested in picking up a Rabobank Giant time trial bike of their own will soon have their wishes granted.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Internally routed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 wires make for a cleaner package.

    Internally routed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 wires make for a cleaner package.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Rabobank team bikes were a mix of generations.

    Rabobank team bikes were a mix of generations.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Many team bikes have their rear brakes conventionally mounted on the back of the seat stays but production bikes will see them moved to below and behind the bottom bracket.

    Many team bikes have their rear brakes conventionally mounted on the back of the seat stays but production bikes will see them moved to below and behind the bottom bracket.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The relocated rear brake presumably produces less drag than before and there will also be an available integrated mount for a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 battery.

    The relocated rear brake presumably produces less drag than before and there will also be an available integrated mount for a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 battery.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • These strips of electrical tape will ultimately be replaced with a much neater molded rubber gasket.

    These strips of electrical tape will ultimately be replaced with a much neater molded rubber gasket.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Electrical tape is useful for a lot of things, including covering up the bolt holes on the stem to ever-so-slightly reduce drag.

    Electrical tape is useful for a lot of things, including covering up the bolt holes on the stem to ever-so-slightly reduce drag.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Other Astana and all Saxo Bank team bikes were recently retrofitted with team-only lever blades sporting far bigger logos that are easier to spot.

    Other Astana and all Saxo Bank team bikes were recently retrofitted with team-only lever blades sporting far bigger logos that are easier to spot.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • SRAM has also provided the Astana team with custom anodized crank hardware.

    SRAM has also provided the Astana team with custom anodized crank hardware.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The effect is subtle but the white accents undoubtedly look good on Contador's custom white Trek 6 Series Madone.

    The effect is subtle but the white accents undoubtedly look good on Contador's custom white Trek 6 Series Madone.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • While Lance Armstrong's groups get yellow accents, Alberto Contador's groups get finished in white.

    While Lance Armstrong's groups get yellow accents, Alberto Contador's groups get finished in white.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Even the back of the crankarms don't go unnoticed.

    Even the back of the crankarms don't go unnoticed.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • SRAM is providing certain members of the Astana team with custom finished versions of its top-end Red group.

    SRAM is providing certain members of the Astana team with custom finished versions of its top-end Red group.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • SRAM road PR man Michael Zellman says well more than forty man-hours of work went into repainting each group. Production components were fully disassembled and refinished at SRAM's Chicago headquarters.

    SRAM road PR man Michael Zellman says well more than forty man-hours of work went into repainting each group. Production components were fully disassembled and refinished at SRAM's Chicago headquarters.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The radical front end that is such a defining trademark of Giant's slippery time trial bike will make its way into production.

    The radical front end that is such a defining trademark of Giant's slippery time trial bike will make its way into production.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Unless something has changed with the bike's overall configuration and cable routing, the unique scissor-type front brake is likely to be included in the package as virtually nothing else on the market will work. Don’t count on the trick orange and blue anodizing, though.

    Unless something has changed with the bike's overall configuration and cable routing, the unique scissor-type front brake is likely to be included in the package as virtually nothing else on the market will work. Don’t count on the trick orange and blue anodizing, though.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The protruding Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 control box probably doesn't have the aero effect Giant originally was hoping for but it has to be exposed in case an adjustment is needed. Perhaps this will be relocated in production.

    The protruding Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 control box probably doesn't have the aero effect Giant originally was hoping for but it has to be exposed in case an adjustment is needed. Perhaps this will be relocated in production.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Five teams are using the new KeO 2 Max pedal, including Astana (save for Lance Armstrong who is still on Shimano), Cofidis, Silence-Lotto, Quick Step, and Agritubel.

    Five teams are using the new KeO 2 Max pedal, including Astana (save for Lance Armstrong who is still on Shimano), Cofidis, Silence-Lotto, Quick Step, and Agritubel.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • There are no front vents on the new Giro helmet - just a pair of rear exhaust ports. Rather than draw air in through the front of the shell, this new design instead essentially sucks hot air out of the back.

    There are no front vents on the new Giro helmet - just a pair of rear exhaust ports. Rather than draw air in through the front of the shell, this new design instead essentially sucks hot air out of the back.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Giro debuted a new time trial helmet at the opening stage of this year's Tour de France.

    Giro debuted a new time trial helmet at the opening stage of this year's Tour de France.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The key to the ventilation performance of the new Giro helmet is these incredibly deep channels that run through the entire length of the helmet. Riders can reportedly actually feel air being draw in through the front of the helmet around their foreheads and over the top of their heads.

    The key to the ventilation performance of the new Giro helmet is these incredibly deep channels that run through the entire length of the helmet. Riders can reportedly actually feel air being draw in through the front of the helmet around their foreheads and over the top of their heads.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The tapered lower section supposedly performs better than traditional aero helmets when the rider's head is down, and especially so at greater yaw angles.

    The tapered lower section supposedly performs better than traditional aero helmets when the rider's head is down, and especially so at greater yaw angles.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Covering the underside of the tail is wind tunnel-proven to reduce drag so Giro built it into the new design. A strip of stretchy fabric seals the area tightly against the back of the rider's head while a retention system keeps the helmet securely in place.

    Covering the underside of the tail is wind tunnel-proven to reduce drag so Giro built it into the new design. A strip of stretchy fabric seals the area tightly against the back of the rider's head while a retention system keeps the helmet securely in place.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • According to Giro, the new as-yet-unnamed helmet's unusual shape better accommodates the wide range of positions used by today's riders.

    According to Giro, the new as-yet-unnamed helmet's unusual shape better accommodates the wide range of positions used by today's riders.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The visor smoothes airflow even further and it's apparently available in several tints. Of course, it can also be removed in case the rider - or sponsor - prefers standard sunglasses instead.

    The visor smoothes airflow even further and it's apparently available in several tints. Of course, it can also be removed in case the rider - or sponsor - prefers standard sunglasses instead.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The bottom of the body is pared down to minimize weight and keep cornering clearance reasonably high.

    The bottom of the body is pared down to minimize weight and keep cornering clearance reasonably high.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Look will offer the new KeO 2 Max in both composite and true carbon fiber bodies.

    Look will offer the new KeO 2 Max in both composite and true carbon fiber bodies.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Spindle diameter has increased from 10mm to 12mm and 2mm of extra thread makes it easy to add spacers for riders who need a wider stance width.

    Spindle diameter has increased from 10mm to 12mm and 2mm of extra thread makes it easy to add spacers for riders who need a wider stance width.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The revised body offers 12 percent more surface area for your feet to push on and a wider platform for better stability.

    The revised body offers 12 percent more surface area for your feet to push on and a wider platform for better stability.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • As far as we're aware right now, the integrated carbon aerobar setup currently used by the Rabobank team is among the items that will make it into the production version of the bike.

    As far as we're aware right now, the integrated carbon aerobar setup currently used by the Rabobank team is among the items that will make it into the production version of the bike.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • SRAM-sponsored riders will use the company's smooth-sided outer chainrings for time trials as usual.

    SRAM-sponsored riders will use the company's smooth-sided outer chainrings for time trials as usual.

    Photo credit © James Huang