New Arrivals – July 29, 2005 By John Stevenson & James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Welcome to New Arrivals, a section showcasing the latest equipment that's landed on the Cyclingnews tech desk. Look out for reviews over the next few months when we've clocked up some saddle time with this stuff. Colnago E1 Colnago E1 The latest addition to Colnago's carbon fiber bike line uses a monocoque front triangle with B-stay carbon rear triangle and new oversized chainstays for a bike that will suit riders who value stiffness above all else. Construction details are somewhat less complex than Colnago's flagship C50, which helps keep the price down a little - but the full Dura-Ace version here, supplied by Australian importer Excelpro with Cinelli Ram bar and Vuelta wheels, still costs just a shade under AU$10,000. The E1 comes in size sizes and has a sloping top tube layout - not as dramatic as fully 'compact' bikes such as Giant's, but still providing a measure of versatility in fit./JS More info: www.colnagonews.com; Australia: www.excelpro.com.au; USA: www.trialtir-usa.com The Truth Ellsworth Truth Ellsworth is a small California-based mountain bike builder with big heaps of suspension technology in the form of the patented Instant Center Tracking design. ICT consistently aligns the chain torque line with the instant center of the rear linkage, making for ultra-efficient pedaling while retaining the excellent bump-eating capabilities of its four-bar rear end. The Truth is Ellsworth's XC/Endurance-specific race machine with four inches or rear wheel travel in a lightweight aluminum chassis with sealed bearing pivots all around./JH MSRP: US$1995.00 More info: www.ellsworthbikes.com Tifosi Osprey Tifosi Stelvio Tifosi Optics A relatively new player in the huge sports eyewear field, Tifosi makes a wide range of sunglasses, some more suitable for riding that others, but all appearing on first glance to be decent quality and very good value for money. The most obviously suitable for riding are the seven models that are supplied with a trio of interchangeable lenses: Envy, Kilo, Quam 1.5, Quam 2.5, Slip, Stelvio, and Tyrant. These will mostly set you back $59.95 and for that you also get a zip-up hard case and a cleaning cloth/bag. If you're going for more of a fashion statement, then there are several models with just the one lens: Backlash, Czar, Forza, and Q2 with plastic bodies and the metal-framed Glimpse, Osprey, and Quiver. At US$29.95 you won't be heartbroken if you leave them on the top of the car when loading up after a ride…/JS MSRP: US$29.95-US$59.95 depending on model More info: www.tifosioptics.com Lance Armstrong's War Lance Armstrong's War Lance Armstrong must have long passed the point of being the most written-about cyclist ever in the English language, so what could yet another book possibly have to offer? Dan Coyle shadowed Armstrong during the lead-up to his sixth Tour de France victory in 2004 and documents the build-up to yet another dominating performance, meeting the support crew and domestiques that bolstered the Armstrong talent, and providing a perceptive outsider's view of the man and the sport./JS MSRP: US$25.95 More info: www.amazon.com Reynolds Ouzo Pro bar Reynolds Composites Ouzo Pro handlebar Reynolds has a long history in composites manufacturing and it was only a matter of time before it entered the crowded oversized carbon fiber road handlebar market. Reynolds' bar uses a rather unique bend that falls down and away from the rider as it exits the stem then continues in a versatile semi-anatomic bend. Efficient filament-wound carbon fiber construction should produce an ultra-strong and stiff bar that is still lightweight at 230 g for a 420mm wide (c-c) bar./JH MSRP: US$239.00 More info: www.reynoldscomposites.com Reynolds’ Ouzo Comp seatpost Reynolds Composites Ouzo Comp seatpost Another offering from Reynolds' component stable is their elegantly designed Ouzo Comp seatpost. The shaft is made from filament-wound carbon fiber, like their Ouzo Pro bar, and is bonded to an incredibly elegant opposing two-bolt head that neatly incorporates a very reasonable amount of setback. Weight is a very reasonable 224 g for a rangy 350 mm long, 27.2mm diameter post./JH MSRP: US$110.00 More info: www.reynoldscomposites.com Manitou heats up Manitou R-Seven 100mm Manitou has reignited the XC suspension fork wars with their new air-sprung 2006 R-Seven. This successor to the Skareb has trimmed roughly 100g off of the old chassis while upsizing to 30mm diameter stanchions for dramatically improved rigidity. Manitou's new Snap Valve damper design promises a firm pedaling platform while simultaneously delivering near-instant bump response. This preproduction sample doesn't quite have all of the planned weight reduction features but should still provide us with an excellent opportunity to report on the ride quality of the new platform before actual production units are available. Even in its early form, though, this thing is already super light at 3.36 lb (1.53 kg) with an 8.5in steerer tube; production units should be nearly 0.2 lb lighter!/JH MSRP: US$TBA More info: www.answerproducts.com Thomson Masterpiece 31.6mm Thomson Masterpiece 31.6mm For owners of bike with big, fat seat tubes that therefore need a big, fat (but not heavy!) seat post, Thomson has just introduced a 31.6mm version of its lightest post, the forged-then-machined Masterpiece. The newest incarnation of the Masterpiece has all the features that have made Thomson's posts a fravourite: one-piece shaft and head, and two-bolt clamp. It's a combination that makes for a very tough post and also one that's user-friendly - you can get the saddle angle just right with a two-bolt clamp in a way that's hard with a single bolt. In either an in-line or setback design the 31.6mm version of the Masterpiece weighs 190g in a 350mm length suitable for mountain bike and compact road frame use./JS MSRP: $139.99 More info: www.lhthomson.com Sports Oxyshot Sports Oxyshot Sports Oxyshot is a supplement that is taken prior to training or competition - mixed with water or juice - and contains de-ionised water, Atlantic sea salt and at least 150,000 parts per million (15% v/v) diatomic oxygen at manufacture, according to distributor Oxyman. The product has been developed in Australia and Oxyman has secured endorsements from a range of athletes who claim it has significantly enhanced their performance. At the same time, the product has been analysed by an "IOC accredited laboratory, confirmed to contain no banned substances, and has been accepted onto the ASDA supplement database," says the company. Oxyman adds that the product is not to be confused with "chemical chlorite compounds" that are available and also said to provide oxygen supplementation. Released earlier this year, the Sports Oxyshot product is currently being used by a number of high-profile athletes who have reported an improvement in their performance in their respective sports. MSRP: AU$54.50 More info: www.sportsoxyshot.com