 Aero advantage – Oval’s new bar |
Oval’s head honcho Morgan Nicol was kind enough to show us the latest stuff from their workshops at Eurobike. What’s most intresting about Oval aero bars for 2007 is they are even more infinitely adjustable and tuneable (is that possible?). You can choose from a number of shapes, sizes and materials and we don’t know any other manufacturer who makes so many stem lengths – they take their handlebars very seriously.
You can now mix and match parts and decide how much weight and dosh you want to save as they have bars and stems to suit the weight weenies and those on a budget. Dealers will have to keep more stock, but the result will mean better choice and fit for the rider.
Anyway the latest hardware development is a new stem cap (on the bar pictured right) that takes all the aero bar gubbins and keeps it off the bars. Why is this good? well it prevents scratching or damaging sensitive carbon bars which is important but it also allows the weight to be transfered straight to the stem. It also simplifies adjustment and removal, so you can plop bars in and out. Good for those who only have one bike for TTs and road races.
 The new stem – looks tidy |
Previous Oval Jetstream aero bars have meant custom building the bar and faring bit (done at Jordan’s F1 HQ at Silverstone) for individual riders and this costs, a lot. Especially as they have to be assembled and finished by hand.
So the new design maintains the aero integrity but reduces the need for so many special custom peices by being adjustable – which is more practical. They’ve made it just as aerodynamic and it’s pretty too.
Oval’s website will soon have all the weights and kits online so that you can custom build your own set up, should be good. In the meantime dealers will have wall charts that show the full range of possibilities – it’s huge.
We bemoaned the fiddly rear facing bolts on their otherwise excellent stem and low and behold, Oval supplied us with a T-bar 4mm Allen key with a Bondhus ball end – makes life a lot easier. The latest carbon stem is so light it feels like it’s made from cardboard and as tested by Oval’s teams at the Tour and Vuelta this year.
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 Now adjustable It’s all in the face plate |
 It’s already on the Christmas list… |
 Certainly looks fast |
