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Photos ©:
James Huang/Cyclingnews
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Can't find a bike sponsor? Make your own
By James Huang in Georgia
Carbon-rimmed Easton Tempest
II rims
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Cruz’s race bike
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Arundel Bicycle Company
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Component sponsor Easton
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Each rider on the team
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Many riders strive for
a narrower Q-factor
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The integrated head tube
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The Easton CNT carbon rear
end
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The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team is special in that a wholly new
bicycle brand was created from scratch in order to act as the bike sponsor
for the team. Team director Harm Jansen openly admits that creating
an entirely new brand of bicycle was "a lot of work", but
it was a decision that was born out of necessity. According to Jansen,
"it was hard for the organization to find a good sponsorship. Part
of the idea behind starting our own brand was also to help further develop
name recognition for the team," so it's easier to market the United
bikes. Eventually, we'd like to earn a small piece of market share as
we're also trying to sell these bikes on the web to help generate revenue
for the team."
Regardless of the hardships involved for team management, the team
riders certainly benefit as each of them receives two fully custom-built
frames to use for racing and training. Antonio Cruz, a former USPRO
criterium champion and ex-team-mate of Lance Armstrong's is one of the
beneficiaries, and we took a look at his bike just before the final
stage of the Tour de Georgia on Sunday.
Cruz's frame uses an Easton Scandium main triangle mated to an Easton
CNT-enhanced carbon fiber rear end for comfort, but they're "full-on
racing machines and we're very happy with the way the bikes perform,"
Cruz told Cyclingnews. Cruz's Argentinean Toyota-United teammate,
Juan Jose "JJ" Haedo, is also apparently quite satisfied with
his custom machine as he fired off the sprint win in today's final Tour
de Georgia stage in Alpharetta.
Toyota-United is still working on a few aesthetic details on their
purpose-built rigs, but plans on offering team replica bikes to consumers
through its web site as a means of generating additional revenue for
the team . Although each of the team rider's main bikes are fully custom,
the spares use "stock" sizes and publicly offered versions
will share the identical geometry and parts kits.
Photos
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
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The team bikes for the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
were not just custom-made for each rider; the bike company itself was created expressly for the purpose of becoming the bicycle sponsor.
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Cruz’s race bike
uses a standard issue Dura-Ace 10spd drivetrain, including crankset, chain, derailleurs, and cassette. Like many in the peloton, Cruz ran a 12-27 out back for the Brasstown Bald Mountain stage, but otherwise normally runs an 11-23.
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Carbon-rimmed Easton Tempest II rims
and Vittoria Corsa Evo tubulars fill out the rolling stock for Cruz and the rest of the Toyota-United team.
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Component sponsor Easton
is also tapped for the cockpit, which includes an EC90 Equipe Pro carbon fiber bar. Cruz apparently needed a different stem at the last minute as he was spotted here at TdG with a Bontrager Race X Lite model with the logos covered in electrical tape.
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Arundel Bicycle Company
is a small player in the bicycle world, but their Trident carbon fiber bottle cages are good enough for Cruz.
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Many riders strive for a narrower Q-factor
on their bikes, but Cruz actually runs a 3mm pedal washer behind each of his Dura-Ace pedals to widen his stance.
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Each rider on the team
is likely very thankful that they are able to choose their own saddles. In Cruz’s case, a Selle Italia Flite Trans Am Gel Flow does the trick.
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The Easton CNT carbon rear end
is joined to the aluminum front end via a large “Monobox”-style connection down by the bottom bracket.
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The integrated head tube
on the Toyota-United team bikes offer a clean look and allow for greater separation between the top tube and down tube for increase front end strength.
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The man and his machine
- ready for work before the last stage of the Tour de Georgia.
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Full specification
Frame: United Bicycle Easton Scandium main triangle with Easton
CNT carbon stays
Fork: Easton EC90SL
Colour: Team Toyota-United Pro Cycling
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 175cm/ 5'9"
Rider's weight: 66kg/ 145lbs
C of BB to C of seat tube: 460mm
C of BB to T of seat tube: 520mm
C of BB to T of seat: 730mm
Top tube length: 56.5mm (virtual C-C)
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars: 530mm
C of front wheel to top of bars: 525mm
Cranks: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7800, 172.5mm, 39/53
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-7800
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7800
Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7800
Levers: Shimano Dura-Ace ST-7800
Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7800, 11-23
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Wheels: Easton Tempest II Carbon tubular
Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Evo CX 21mm
Bar: Easton EC90 Equipe Pro, 42cm (c-c)
Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite (w/ logos covered), 110mm (c-c)
Headset: Cane Creek IS-2 Integrated
Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace PD-7800
Seat post: Easton EC90 Zero
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Trans Am Gel Flow
Bottle cages: Arundel Trident carbon
Cycle computer: Cateye Micro Wireless
Total bike weight: 7.53kg/ 16.6lbs
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