 Alexandre Vinokourov’s team bike |
We spotted Alexandre Vinokourov at the recent Dauphine Libere on this understated carbon stunner. It’s a BH, a little known Spanish company. The frames are manufactured in their factory in Northern Spain – you’ll no doubt notice the aesthetic familiarity with the Advanced Le from Giant that Jan Ullrich has been riding. But enough of similarities, let’s talk about the BH.
The model Vino has been riding is from the Global Concept range of bikes, the Wurth team ride the G-2 L-92 model, with the main feature being the integrated carbon seat post. These are becoming more popular, as we’ve already mentioned Giant and Time produce a similar frame, and as we saw recently Look have a similar approach in their 595.
 Fellow Kazakh Andrey Kashechkin has the same bike with a different wheel set up |
The Wurth team have been heavily involved in the development of the frame. A high modulus monocoque approach gives a high level of stiffness, while keeping weight low. Both the top tube and seat stays are profiled and angled to dissipate high frequency vibrations – they’ve labelled this HVP, Harmonic Vibration Profile – catchy…
Liberty Seguros pull out of pro cycling
Alexandre Vinokourov rode the recent Dauphine Libere with a team now lacking a main sponsor. Wurth, previously backed by Liberty Seguros, is now being backed by new sponsor Astana (a group comprising five Kazakh oil companies). Liberty Seguros immedialtly pulled the plug after team manager Manolo Saiz had been involved in doping allegations. We’ll keep you posted on his team’s status.
Finally, the frame is light, taking the scales barely up to a kilo, including the seat post. Most of the weight savings come from the work centered around the top half of the frame, this has the added benefit of creating a lower centre of gravity as most of the weight is in the bottom half of the frame.
Vino’s bike came, as you’d expect, with a spec from the top draw. A Carbono HM Monocasco fork, FSA carbon integrated headset, Campag carbon record drivetrain, FSA K-Force MegoExo cranks, Corima Winium wheels and some FSA finishing kit. His was also sporting the new FSA brake callipers. Interestingly, Andrey Kashechkin’s had his bike kitted out with a deep section rear wheel and a shallower section front, we’ve noticed this on some other rider’s bikes too, is it a new trend we wonder?
Expect a bike like this to dent your bank balance to the tune of £4000+. Rest assured though that for £2400 you can get a slightly lower specced bike, expect Ultegra at this price. Frame and fork only is just £1499. We’re impressed, hopefully we should have one on test soon – watch this space.
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 FSA carbon cranks |
 Seamless seat tube/top tube/seat stays junction |
 We like the look of the new FSA calipers |
 Clean enough to eat of |
 Snazzy bar tape |
 KMC chain |
 Some top spannering going on |
 We’ve never seen a bike rack like this before |
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