Bike Buyer's

100 january 2011
Bike
Buyer’s guide
pinarello DoGma
New colour schemes make one of the most desirable bikes in the world even more enviable.
Inside it’s the same Torayca 60HM1K carbon, able to withstand 60 tons per square cm. Nanoalloy
technology is the use of tiny particles of alloy embedded into the carbon itself. Stronger
carbon means Pinarello can use less material, keeping the frame as light as possible.
Key spec: Campagnolo Super Record
r135 000
trek maDone project 1
Have you decided against buying a Trek in favour of one of those boutique brands with their
cachet of exclusivity? After all, everyone’s got a Trek, haven’t they? No. Firstly let’s not forget
the Madone’s racing heritage. Secondly, go onto Trek’s Project One website and choose from
thousands of different paint finishes, colours and specs to make your own dream bike.
Key spec: Built to order
r95 000
eDDy merckx emx-7
Eddy’s built a new flagship (not Mr Merckx himself, but his bike brand). The EMX-7 is so new
and exclusive that Sylvain Chavanel didn’t even get to ride one at the Tour de France, even
while in yellow. Built from 62 HM carbon (the same as Pinarello’s), it has a 1K weave finish and
an integrated seatmast. Place your order now.
Key spec: Campagnolo Super Record, Lightweight wheels
r198 000
Giant tcr aDvanceD sl 1
If you’re a fan of Oscar Freire, Denis Menchov or Robert Gesink, you can own the exact bike
they ride. Giant is one of only two manufacturers making their own raw carbon filament, so
rest assured that you get the best ingredients in the business. Giant offer a range of sizes in
small increments, so you can get a near custom fit. Di2 tops it all off.
Key spec: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group and carbon wheels
r89 500
specializeD tarmac sl3
After receiving the bad news about Contador’s positive dope test, at least Specialized has a backup
winner in Andy Schleck. ProTour riders are obsessed with stiffness, equating it with a more
confident and positive ride and efficient power transmission. The 2010 Tarmac was already very
stiff, and now there’s a new fork with a bigger cross-section with wider and stiffer blades.
Key spec: Specialized integrated cranks, Shimano Dura-Ace
r72 000
van nicholas astraeus
There has to be a Ti bike in the Dream category. There’s something so damn exotic about this
material. They’re really hard to make, requiring a long apprenticeship and a balance of art and
skill rather than a training refresher course and a lay-up diagram at the wall of a cubicle in
Taichung. It’s more flexible, heavier and less compliant than carbon, but who cares.
Key spec: Built to order
r26 950 (frame only)