Week in Tech: Cyclocross worlds and new Shimano power meter
Scott's new disc-brake 'cross bike, Belgians get special blue bikes and Lazer lids, Nys' prototype Dugasts, and Shimano power meter spotted
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Here’s your Week in Tech — all the gear news, tips, and announcements you need and none of the marketing gibberish you don’t.
Scott teases disc ’cross frame
Scott Bikes had quietly stepped away from the cyclocross market. Despite having racers on its bikes at the highest levels, the Swiss brand did not offer a single ’cross bike this season. Over the last couple of years, Scott kept its cyclocross marketing to a minimum, as it did not offer a disc-brake bike, but all that will be changing soon.
Swiss rider, Marcel Wildhaber raced the final round of the UCI cyclocross World Cup aboard a prototype Scott with disc brakes, and a front thru axle — we believe the rear end sports a thru axle as well.
Scott has posted the new bike all over its different social media outlets, so we expect to see the bike launched ahead of next season. Don’t get too attached to the paint scheme, though. The special camouflage is intended to blur the lines on the prototype frame, much like how car manufacturers mask prototypes.
Nys tests prototype Dugast Rhino
Sven Nys has been testing a prototype Dugast Rhino tubular during world championships course inspection in Tabor, Czech Republic. The new tubulars sport the same cotton casing and tread pattern of the current Rhino, but the rubber compound has glass beads and sand mixed in.
The special Dugasts give Nys added confidence in cornering on the snow and ice that currently cover the Tabor course. With more snow expected tomorrow, it’s likely that Nys will race his gritty new rubber come Sunday. According to Trek’s Matt Shriver, there might be a couple other riders on the prototype tires, though he was unsure.
This is not the first time Nys and Dugast have tested a tire designed for racing on ice. The Dugast Diablo famously — for those who pay attention to such details — never made it to market after the UCI banned it from UCI events, though we have higher hopes for this new Dugast.
Belgian riders sport special frames, helmets in Tabor
Belgian riders Wout Van Aert and Rob Peters will toe the line in Tabor aboard some new frames. Frame sponsor Colnago sent the two podium hopefuls light blue frames that pair nicely with the Belgian national team kit. Peeters and Van Aert will ride SRAM Force CX1, which Van Aert rode at Belgian national championships as well as the Hoogerheide World Cup.
Lazer helmets also provided the Belgian VGSP riders with a special black and light blue Z1 helmet. Lazer’s Chris Smith said on Twitter that the Belgian color would be available by next ’cross season.
Belgian teammate Sven Nys also received a special bike for the World Championships, with a similar light blue livery. Of course, every rider is hoping to trade in their current frames on Monday morning for a white model with some rainbow stripes.
Shimano power meter spotted in Spain
Outside of the ‘cross spectacle centered in the Czech Republic, Shimano’s first foray into mobile power measurement was spotted on triathlete Bart Aernouts’ BMC by Lava Magazine.
Shimano filed for a power meter design patent last year, though nothing has come of it, except for an integrated power meter on Shimano’s stationary bike used for bike fits. Shimano is currently not commenting on the power meter, but the design requires the use of Shimano’s TL-FC16 tool, which is normally used for attaching non-drive side Shimano cranks.
Lava’s photos lead us to believe the new power meter uses strain gauges on both the left and right crank arms, though how they are mounted is still a mystery. The system resembles Pioneer’s power meter that was launched last spring.