When the winner of the 2004 Giro d’Italia, Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD), rolls out for the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday (15), it will be aboard a Wilier Zero 7.
Only Cunego and fellow team leader, Michele Scarponi, have been equipped by Wilier with the Zero 7, owing perhaps to the prohibitive costs of creating a frame mould for each rider.
Additionally, the Zero 7 was not intended to be a team bike. It does not comply with the UCI regulations for minimum bike weight. RoadCyclingUK understands that Cunego and Scarponi’s machines are weighted with brass ‘bungs’ located in the seat tube.
Its name derives from a guaranteed sub-800 gram weight for a painted, medium sized frame. It was originally designed in response to Cervelo’s ‘Project California’ frame, among the first of a new breed of ultra light, sub-UCI limit frames that includes Cannondale’s Super Six Evo. Each individual frame is supplied with a certificate, recording its precise weight.
The frame is constructed from carbon supplied by Japanese firm, Mitsubishi, resistant to pressure of 60 tonnes, and built using Special Elastomar Infiltration film, which surrounds the fibres rather than introducing a layer between them. Wilier claim a 35 per cent increase in strength over conventional carbon frames through its use, as well as a significantly smoother ride.
Wilier has worked with component manufacturer, FSA, on the bottom bracket, dubbed the ‘386’ owing to its hollow, 30mm wide spindle, and 86mm wide shell. A ‘creak free’ polymer interface sits between the spindle and the shell’s 46mm bore. Interfaces allowing the use of Campagnolo, Shimano, and SRAM cranks are available.
The tapered head tube reduces from 1-1/4” to 1-1/8”. A prototype of 1.5” at the lower bearing was found to be too stiff.
Our ‘large’ model is equipped with a Campagnolo Super Record drive train and calipers. The aforementioned crank and the cockpit are from FSA’s K-Force Light range. It rolls on Fulcrum Zero 7 wheels shod with Michelin Pro 3 tyres. A Selle Italia SLR saddle is paired with a Ritchey Super Logic post.
The frame is available in six sizes, and retails at £3999. The value of our test bike is estimated by Wilier’s UK importer, ATB Sales, at £8,500.
Check back for our full review.
