In action – The TTX with the old bars

Needless to say George Hincapie has made a pretty good recovery following his crash in the Paris-Roubaix earlier this year. He certainly looked lean and mean in the time trial at the Dauphine last week. He rode the bike shown here, albeit with a disc and tri spoke front wheel. On the long descent to the finish he was absolutely flying, reaching speeds of 70km/h+ and spinning out on a huge gear.

Lance Armstrong won his final career Tour stage at St. Etienne last year on a prototype version of this bike – Trek’s new TTX Equinox time trial bike. We were lucky enough to meet up with Geoff Brown, one of the Discovery team mechanics, who on the day after the TT just fitted the latest set of Bonty Aerobars and finalised adjustments for George and his assault on the Tour de France. He let us take some exclusive snaps of it with the new bars.

Geoff told us that the new time trial machine has adapted to suggestions from the team and the mechanics, it’s also lighter and has better aerodynamics than the previous TTX model. It’s intended to be more stable at speed, something that the Discovery team captain will have realised in the TT, as the front end is longer and the steering less twitchy. Most of this, no doubt, will help the challenge of Discovery as they shape up for the TdF next month.

All pictures © Gerard Brown

Hincapie rides to 4th in the Dauphine TT	New seat tube and post	Stiffer front end with new fork
Colour matched bars	Bonty brake levers	George’s eye-view
Much better resolved front end	‘Cigarette paper’ clearances	Simple to adjust saddle cradle and seat post