It’s Giro month on RCUK, four weeks in which we take our inspiration from Italy’s Grand Tour.
The second of our test fleet has arrived, a machine that could scarcely be more Italian.
The MCipollini Logos is the latest addition to a range of ‘super bikes’ named after former world road race champion and sprint legend, Mario Cipollini.
Made in Tuscany from three grades of carbon, the Logos is a monocoque frame with an integrated seat mast.
Stylistically, the Logos sits somewhere between its sister models, the heavily sculpted RB1000 and the more conventional RB800, and offers a more relaxed geometry than either.
The upper surface of the Logos’ top tube rises in a pyramid and broadens at either end, most notably at the head tube. Its lower surface is a downward facing pyramid.
The box section down tube is broad (though not as broad as the RB800) and flattened on all four surfaces.
Guides for internal cable routings are moulded at the top of each side of the down tube and appear wide enough to accept mechanical or electronic cables.
Only the right hand side routing is required on our Ultegra Di2 equipped test model, and the unused left port is filled with a blanking grommet.
The seat tube is shaped with an aero-profiled leading edge and a flat-backed kamm tail design, and arcs around the rear wheel in similar fashion to the RB1000, creating a tight rear triangle that promises acceleration.
A BB30 press fit bottom bracket is de rigeur for a carbon machine at this price point, and while oversized, the shell is less bulky than on some machines of our acquaintance.
The chainstays broaden appreciably at the bottom bracket and cinch towards the rear tyre, offering about half a centimeter of clearance either side of the 22c tub with which our test model has been supplied.
An oversized, tapered head tube slopes at a relaxed 72 degrees, which we’re expecting to deliver confident, predictable steering. We’ll let you know.
The full carbon fork, made of the same T700 weave from which the frame is constructed, sweeps back at the top of the leg, presumably for aerodynamic effect.
The battery for the full Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset is mounted at the foot of the down tube.
Finishing kit comprises a carbon-alloy Ritchey Matrix stem, carbon Ritchey Logic Curve compact bars, and a Ritchey saddle with carbon rails and platform.
The wheelset comprises 60mm Fast Forward F6R carbon rims, rolling on DT Swiss 240s hubs, and shod with Challenge Criterium tubs.
The Logos frameset retails at £3400 and comes in six sizes from XXS to XL.
