The bikes of Langkawi

CyclingTips’ roving reporter Dave Everett is currently over at the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia following the race for CT. He sent back the following gallery of images showing some of the interesting bikes and bike setups on show at the 2.HC race. Over the past few years we’ve published…

March 12, 2015 Dave Everett

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CyclingTips’ roving reporter Dave Everett is currently over at the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia following the race for CT. He sent back the following gallery of images showing some of the interesting bikes and bike setups on show at the 2.HC race.

Over the past few years we’ve published a few nice galleries (if we do say so ourselves) showing all of the latest WorldTour bikes. These are understandably drool-worthy machines with all of the latest, high-end kit from the biggest names in the industry. In most instances though, the bikes of the WorldTour teams are fairly standard machines that you could quite easily get from any local bike shop (as long as you can afford it).

But run your eyes down the UCI team listings to the Pro Continental and Continental ranks and you’ll start to see bikes and brands with some odd set-ups that you may not see on the local club run or in your nearest bike shop.

With the Tour de Langkawi currently on and the race featuring a international mix of teams — from local national squads to American Pro-Conti teams — it’s a great opportunity to bring you a few shots of some of the bikes that you may not usually see.

Some of the bikes at Langkawi, such as Giant-Champ Sys (Giant Propels) or Asian Racing Team (Scott Foils) have setups that are nice, but are nothing you haven’t seen before. Therefore we’ve left these out on this occasion and focused on the more exotic bikes that we were able to wrestle away from team mechanics.

Bardiani-CSF

Bardiani-CSF riders are again on Cipollini framesets in 2015. They’ve got a truly Italian set up with all components hailing from the team’s home country. Wheels, bars and stems are all supplied by Deda/ Dedelementi. Saddle and bar tape is from Prologo. Campagnolo mechanical Super-Record finishes the build with a Power2Max Campagnolo SR powermeter with head unit from SportTek.

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Bardiani-CSF are again this year on Cipollini framesets. It's a truly Italian set up with all components hailing from the team’s home country. Wheels, bars and stems are all supplied by Deda/ Dedelementi. Saddle and bar tape is from Prologo. Campagnolo mechanical Super-Record finishes the build with a Power2Max Campagnolo SR powermeter with head unit from SportTek. — Bardiani-CSF are again this year on Cipollini framesets. It’s a truly Italian set up with all components hailing from the team’s home country. Wheels, bars and stems are all supplied by Deda/ Dedelementi. Saddle and bar tape is from Prologo. Campagnolo mechanical Super-Record finishes the build with a Power2Max Campagnolo SR powermeter with head unit from SportTek.

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Bretagne-Séché Environnement

French team Bretagne-Séché has inherited some fantastic team sponsors for the 2015 season. Last year they were on Kemo frames, but this year they have jumped aboard Look 795s. With Cofidis switching to Orbea in 2015, many of the equipment suppliers have moved over to the Brittany-based team.

Wheels are from American Classics with Challenge Strada Pro Edition tubulars. Apart from the Look chainset, it’s a fully Shimano Di2-equipped setup. Even the bars are from Look, which are designed to work in conjunction with the company’s very “futuristic”-looking stem.

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French team Bretagne-Seche are a team that have inherited some fantastic team sponsors for the 2015 season. Last year they were on Kemo frames, but this year they are jumping aboard Look 795’s. With Cofidis switching to Orbea in 2015, many of the equipment suppliers have moved over to the Brittany based team. Wheels are from American Classics with Challenge Strada Pro Edition tubulars. and apart from the Look chainset, it’s a fully Shimano Di2 equipped. Even bars are from Look, which are designed to work in conjunction with their very “futuristic” looking stem.

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Androni-Venezuela

Italian squad Androni-Venezuela has swapped bike sponsors again for the 2015 season. This year they are on Kuota’s new top end model, the Khan, which was first showcased at last year’s Eurobike. The original forks have been beefed up since then.

Dedaelementi supply the wheels that are rolling on Vittoria tubulars. Kuota’s own seat post keeps the Selle Italia saddle in place. Bars, stem and bar tape are all by Deda, with the stem showcasing the new Zero graphics. Shimano brakes, rear/front mech and levers are the team’s choice with Rotor supplying the chainset which looks to be a prototype of what could very well be a new powermeter.

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Once again the Italian squad Androni-Venezuela have swapped bike sponsors. Throughout the team’s multiple incarnations have change bike sponsors quite a few times. This year they are on Kuota's new top end model, the Khan, which was first showcased at last year’s Eurobike. The original forks have been beefed up since then due to the preferred the look of them. Dedaelementi supply the wheels that are rolling on Vittoria tubulars. Kuota's own seat post keeps the Selle Italia saddle in place. Bars stem as bar tape are all by Deda, with the stem showcasing the new Zero graphics. Shimano brakes, rear/front mech and leavers are the teams choice with Rotor supplying the chainset which looks to be a prototype of what could very well be a new power meter. — Once again the Italian squad Androni-Venezuela have swapped bike sponsors. Throughout the team’s multiple incarnations have change bike sponsors quite a few times. This year they are on Kuota’s new top end model, the Khan, which was first showcased at last year’s Eurobike. The original forks have been beefed up since then due to the preferred the look of them. Dedaelementi supply the wheels that are rolling on Vittoria tubulars. Kuota’s own seat post keeps the Selle Italia saddle in place. Bars stem as bar tape are all by Deda, with the stem showcasing the new Zero graphics. Shimano brakes, rear/front mech and leavers are the teams choice with Rotor supplying the chainset which looks to be a prototype of what could very well be a new power meter.

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Colombia

Pro Continental team Columbia is again riding Wilier Zero 7 frames for 2015. There’s a slightly odd mix of components with Ritchey Logic providing the seatpost and FSA supplying the bars and stem. This is unusual as all three items are normally from the same brand.

The saddle is from Italian manufacture Astute. These hand-made saddles are new to the peloton, and have some amazing looking carbon rails and shell models in their line-up. Oddly the team isn’t using these versions. Wheels and chainset are from FSA/Vision with the wheels decked out in Vittoria tubulars. Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical is used for shifting but the brake callipers are FSA SLKs.

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Pro Continental team Columbia are again on Wilier Zero 7 frames for 2015. Components have a slightly odd mix, with Ritchy Logic providing the seatpost and the FSA supplying the bars and stem. This is unusual as all three items are normally from the same brand. The saddle is from Italian manufacture Astvte. These hand made saddles are new to the peloton, and have some amazing looking carbon rails and shell models in their line-up. Oddly the team aren’t using this version. Wheels and chainset are from FSA/Vision. With the wheels decked out in Vittoria tubulars. Shimano Dura Ace mechanical is used for shifting but the brake callipers are the FSA SLK’s.

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MTN-Qhubeka

MTN-Qhubeka’s Cervelo S5s are a bike reminiscent of what Garmin-Sharp used in 2014. Enve wheels have come on board; last year the team were rolling on Zipp’s hoops. Hubs and spokes are from DT-Swiss. They are one of two teams here in Langkawi on Enve, though NSC T.W.O have a pretty pink-detailed version instead (see below). Rotor, 3T and Shimano make up the rest of the kit with Selle Italia providing the perch. Tyres are from Continental.

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NSC T.W.O

New team NSC T.W.O is on one of the most interesting set-ups. The team is sponsored by a local importer/bikeshop and the National Sports Council of Malaysia. The second sponsor T.W.O. distributes Condor and the rest of the equipment in Malaysia.

Unlike a few of the teams here at the Tour de Langkawi, NSC T.W.O has a full back-up of spare bikes and wheels. The team is also running FMB tyres on its climbing wheels. Bar tape is by Supercaz, a new brand set up by Anthony Sinyard, the son of Specialized founder Mike Sinyard.

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The new team NSC T.W.O are on one of the most interesting set-ups. The team are sponsored by a local importer/bikeshop and the National Sports Council of Malaysia. The second sponsor T.W.O. distributes Condor and the rest of the equipment in Malaysia. Unlike a few of the teams here at the Tour de Langkawi, they have a full back-up of spare bikes and wheels. The team are also running FMB tyres on their climbing wheels. Bar tape is by Supercaz, a new brand set up by Anthony Sinyard, the son of Specialized founder Mike Sinyard.

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UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare riders are on the Wilier Centro 1SR for 2015. The team’s race bikes have stayed in the US and these are their training bikes outfitted with mechanical Dura-Ace. Shimano also supply the wheels fit with the 25mm Maxxis Forza tubulars.

UHC is also kitted out with K-Edge mounts for both their computers and race number hangers. Most of the bikes from the team seem to feature the San Marco Concor saddle. Pioneer is the powermeter sponsor and it comes in a fetching team blue for UHC.

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UnitedHealthcare are on the Wilier Centro 1SR for 2015. The team’s race bikes have stayed in the US and these are their training bikes outfitted with mechanical Dura-Ace. Shimano also supply the wheels fit with the 25mm Maxxis Forza tubulars. It seems to be either Deda or FSA that are the main suppliers of stems, bars and setposts for teams at the moment. UHC is also kitted out with K-Edge mounts for both their computers and race number hanger. Most of the bikes from the team seem to be using the San Marco Concor saddle. Pioneer are the power meter sponsor and it comes in a fetching team blue.

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Southeast Pro Cycling

Southeast has a bike that’s better looking and that stands out more than its dull grey kit. Cipollini and Bardiani are the main sponsors of the team and the bikes are fitted out with Italian Ursis wheels, FSA bars and stem and Selle Italia saddles. Campagnolo mechanical Super Record handles the braking and shifting.

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Southeast have a bike that’s better looking and stands out more than their dull grey kits. Cipollini and Bardiani are the main sponsors of the team who our outfitted on Italian Ursis wheels, FSA bars and stem and Selle Italia saddles. Campagnolo mechanical Super Record handle the braking and shifting.

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Torku Sekerspor

Turkish team Torku Sekerspor is on a frame brand that I for one am not familiar with. Salcano does look very well balanced up close though. There is very little electronic shifting in the peloton here in Langkawi and Torku Sekerspor is no different, using a full Dura-Ace group-set.

Noticeable again is the fact FSA is not supplying a seatpost yet it is supplying the bars and stem. Ritchey SuperLogic is the post of choice with Pro suppling the saddle. Pro is also the bottlecage suppliers. Wheels are Shimano’s trusted Dura-Ace C50s.

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