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So here it is, the very latest in time trial technology. Oval have used their JetStream technology to create a new TT bar. The design team at Oval created a drawing for Jordan to work from. Then together they have sampled and tested 12 sets of bars for use by selected riders in the Tour.
Like current Oval TT bars they have fully adjustable armrests and integral brake levers. Eventually the extensions will have adjustment collars but for the time being these have been bonded into place. So as well as being rattle-free they are also very light and solid.
The following is taken from Oval’s pre-Tour press statement outlining the latest teams to sign up, pretty impressive for a company that has only been going for three years.
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Yesterday at the first ProTour Team Time Trial event in Eindhoven, Holland, three ProTour teams will be riding Oval Concepts JetStream forks on their newly designed carbon fibre time trial frames. While a sneak preview is possible this weekend, Liberty Seguros-Würth, Liquigas-Bianchi and Lampre-Caffita have all confirmed they will use the JetStream fork technology at the Tour de France starting July 2nd.
While the patented JetStream fork technology has been accepted by triathletes for the past two years, top level pro teams are only now finishing their wind tunnel testing to prove to themselves that the 35 to 55 second time savings per hour at 50 kph if for real. Liberty Seguros-Würth team’s wind tunnel testing in Germany showed a whooping 10 watts savings at 400 watts of output.
Liberty Seguros-Würth will be riding a new, Manolo Saiz inspired, BH designed time trial frame which will include the A900 JetStream carbon aero fork, aero handlebars and stem. It will also debut the new Oval A700 aero brakes which nestle behind the JetStream fork.
BH plans to make this new team replica bike available for 2006 equipped as you will now see the team using.
Liquigas-Bianchi will be riding a new Bianchi TT frame and the A900 JetStream carbon aero fork which made its debut under Magnus Backstedt at the Dauphine Libere last week. This Bianchi frame and Oval Concept fork will also be available for sale as a set for 2006.
Lampre-Caffita will be riding the new carbon Cannondale – a radical step for the company synonymous with oversized aluminum framests. Cannondale has also once again decided to use the Oval Concepts JetStream carbon aero fork with their new TT frame at the TdF.
Links:
• www.ovalconcepts.com
• Oval is Distributed in the UK by Upgrade Bikes Ltd. Tel: 01403 711 611
• Upgrade contatcs page
• E-mail Oval
