Museeuw Bikes MF1 Frame and Fork.
The world's first Museeuw
MF1.
Photo ©: David Harmon
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Johan Museeuw has re-entered the peloton as a bike supplier in
a characteristically low key manner, providing bikes for Belgian
junior squad Avia. However, he makes bold claims for the revolution
in comfort his carbon/flax hybrid bikes will spark when the wider
racing community get to ride them.
We caught up with Johan at the London Bike show last October and
challenged him to build us a custom MF1 machine to throw the worst
of Euro roads it, and he didn't fail us as our test rig is the world's
first MF1.
Museeuw has followed his instincts and designed a frame with a
standard 73 degree seat angle but a relatively shallow 72.25 degree
head angle, giving the frame a relaxed and stable layout. According
to Museeuw, though, it's the sandwich construction of carbon sheets
and flax fibre strands that makes the MF1 unique and intriguing.
Included groupset is SRAM's new Rival offering with DoubleTap shifting,
while finishing kit is provided in carbon by ITM. Wheels are built
with beautiful Ambrosio Excellight rims on carbon FRM hubs by Paul
Hewitt of Leyland, UK.
Making a claim to be revolutionary is extremely bold, even by the
likes of a three-time Paris-Roubaix winner, so we will be giving
the MF1 a hard time over the Tour of Flanders route, the mountains
of Spain and in daily duty for the next 6 months. /DH
Price: £2899 (frame and fork)
Specialized ArcTerra
Specialized's ArcTerra is
a variation on its ultralight Arc
Photo ©: James Huang
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Specialized modifies its ultra-lightweight road-specific Arc optics
for off-road use with a stiffer stainless steel frame and a built-in
brow pad that also lends a bit of extra rigidity, as well as a light
amber tint specially tuned to highlight the greens and browns of
the trail. Like the rest of its optics line, the ArcTerra uses a
proprietary NXT lens material that Specialized claims is lighter,
more impact resistant, and optically superior to standard polycarbonate
lenses. Hydrophilic Megol ear- and nosepieces prevent slipping,
and we've also found that the stainless steel frame can be 'massaged'
a bit to deliver a more custom fit.
Since the Adaptalite photochromic treatment automatically adjusts
the amount of light transmission (from an impressively wide 22-78%)
to suit the surroundings, no interchangeable lenses are required.
Specialized does, however, include a form-fitting hard case to shelter
the ArcTerra's non-folding frame from abuse. The ArcTerra is offered
in four different frame colors, all of which are exclusively offered
with the Adaptalite lens.
Price: US$190
Specialized Helix
The Helix lenses are heavily
vented to maintain airflow.
Photo ©: James Huang
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New to Specialized's ever-growing family of optics for 2007 is
the Helix, which is said to be optimized for road use with a rose-copper
tint that enhances reddish hues along with NXT Adaptalite photochromic
technology that self-adjusts the light transmission from 12-39%.
The Grilimid half-frame and one-piece lens minimizes blind spots
and delivers a viewing angle that Specialized says is designed to
accommodate a typical road riding position, while small vents help
prevent fogging.
Specialized offers the Helix in a rainbow of standard frame colors
both with fixed-transmission and Adaptalite lenses, as well as six
team replica versions (with Adaptalite lenses only). A storage bag
is included, and Adaptalite versions also come with a protective
hard case. A prescription clip-on insert is also offered.
Price: US$100 (fixed NXT lens); US$140 (NXT Adaptalite lens);
US$25 (RX insert)
Tifosi Optics Pavé
The Tifosi Optics Pavé includes
Photo ©: James Huang
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Cuban sprinter Ivan Dominguez of Toyota-United took the final stage
of this year's Tour of California wearing Tifosi Optics' Pavé. According
to company PR rep Shannon Haslem, the photochromic EC Fototec lenses
on our test pair self-adjust from 17-56% light transmission and
utilize a unique purple tint that "filters out blue light and increases
contrast, aiding the wearer in picking up pavement undulations and
the lines of singletrack." Vented lenses prevent the optics from
fogging, and the hydrophilic nosepiece is adjustable for a custom
fit (earpieces are covered with similarly grippy hydrophilic material
but are non-adjustable).
The Pavé also features Tifosi Optics' Enhanced Visual System that
is said to follow the natural curvature of the eye in order to "correct
vertical displacement and eliminate peripheral distortion." Marketing
hype or not, Dominguez clearly didn't have any issues spotting the
finish line of that stage, which he won with a perfectly timed bike
throw, and the Pavé also represents a fantastic value in photochromic
eyewear.
Price: US$59.95 (includes carrying bag and protective hard
case)
Tifosi Optics Dolomite
At US$59.95, Tifosi Optical's
Dolomite packs a lot of
Photo ©: James Huang
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While Dominguez chose Tifosi Optics' Pavé, roughly half of the
rest of his Toyota-United team went with the decidedly more fashion-conscious
Dolomite. The Dolomite is Tifosi Optics' first "sport fashion" piece
and is meant to look equally at home when you are either on the
bike or at the café sipping your mocha latte instead of riding your
bike.
As with the Pavé, the Dolomite delivers similar optical quality
and fantastic value: two additional sets of lenses are included
to accommodate various lighting conditions, all of which appear
well-vented to prevent fogging. While our particular test set doesn't
include Tifosi Optics' Fototec technology, photochromic lens-equipped
models are available in four different versions, including polarized.
Price: US$59.95 (including two sets of spare lenses, carrying
bag, and protective hard case)
Honey Stinger protein bars
Honey Stinger adds two new
flavors to its line of protein bars.
Photo ©: James Huang
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Honey Stinger adds two new protein bar flavors for 2007. Dark Chocolate
Cherry Almond and Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond join the original
Peanut Butta Pro flavour, and all contain 20g of protein, 41g of
carbohydrates, 3g of fiber, 390 calories, and 23 vitamins and minerals.
The new bars also incorporate 25% organic ingredients, and like
all of Honey Stinger's products, are sweetened exclusively with
100% organic honey.
According to Honey Stinger, the new bars are specifically intended
for use as a recovery aid after hard workouts or as a complete meal
replacement. They're far from fat-free with roughly 17g of fat per
bar (mostly monounsaturated), but at least they're free of trans
fats. The rich texture and strong flavor will probably keep most
cyclists from using them in mid-ride, but they've proven to be mighty
tasty and satisfying otherwise nonetheless. We're particularly fond
of the Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond flavor… yum!
Price: US$2.25
Zogics CitraWipe degreaser hand wipes
Zogics CitraWipes are a handy
item to have in your hydration pack or seat bag.
Photo ©: James Huang
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Zogics intends for its CitraWipes to be carried in jersey pockets,
seat bags, and hydration packs as a handy and portable means to
wipe stubborn grime off of your hands after a mid-ride repair. The
23cm x 18cm (9" x 7") wipes are loaded with citrus degreaser to
cut grease and oil, but also aloe and lanolin to help you keep your
career as a "hand model".
Zogics is also a member of the 1% For The Planet initiative, a
consortium of businesses that have pledged to donate a minimum of
1% of their annual revenues to environmental organizations. Eco-friendliness
aside, the wipes actually work seem to work quite well, even on
notoriously difficult-to-remove chain goop. For messier jobs, it'd
be nice if the wipes were a little bit bigger, they did a good job
at keeping our Euro-style white Castelli shorts gleamingly white
so who are we to complain?
Price: US$9.96 (package of eight wipes)
PhotographyFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
David Harmon/Cyclingnews.com
Images by
James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us
Images by
James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
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