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2008 Slipstream Final

Slipstream  announced the team yesterday, here in Greenville, SC. And not to my surprise Tyler Farrar has joined the team -who I predicted would be on the team simply by his performance and American.

Only 9 guys from the current team make the move up to the Pro level. Noticeably absent is Craig Lewis and Mike Creed - guys that were at one time media acclaimed for the Pro level. I will be interested to see where the other guys land. 

Former neighbor Tommy Peterson, earns his rookie stripes. Could see some new American faces in the Tour de France. 

2008 Roster:

David Millar,
Christophe Laurent
Julian Dean,
David Zabriskie
Christian Vande Velde
Magnus Backstedt
Tyler Farrar
Maartijn Maaskant
Dan Martin
Chris Sutton
Trent Lowe
Ryder Hesjedal
Kilian Patour
Steven Cozza

Returning Team
Tom Danielson
Danny Pate
Pat McCarty
Will Frischkorn
Jason Donald
Lucas Euser
Tom Peterson
Mike Friedman
Huub Duyn
Timmy Duggan

                        

Brand New Powertap Competitor

I got this message today:

First of all, I would like to thank you for expressing your interest in Quarq. Cycling and technology are our passion and we are very excited about our upcoming products.

Today is full of big announcements and it’s all about ANT+Sport. ANT+Sport is a 2.4 GHz wireless network with standardized communication between devices including bike power sensors, speed sensors, cadence sensors and heart rate straps. This allows separate manufacturers to independently develop sensors and computers, allowing you to pick and choose your favorites to create a system that meets your needs.

This is wonderful for bicycle power measurement because it introduces something new – choice. Within ANT+Sport, you will be able to choose a power sensor and choose a computer separately. There are other ANT+Sport sensors that will be available and interchangeable also – including speed, cadence and heart rate.

So what products are on ANT+Sport?  The Quarq CinQo and Qranium are ANT+Sport, as is the new Garmin 705. Take a look at the 705’s product description and you will see the phrase “third-party ANT + Sport-enabled power meters”. That includes the Quarq CinQo.

Eurobike starts tomorrow and Interbike is just around the corner, so keep an eye out for more product announcements from other companies. Also check back to Quarq.us for updates.  This is going to get interesting!

Ride on,

Jim Meyer

I have been following the development of this new product that is suppose to be launched at Interbike this year. It is a new power/wattage measurement tool. I was told via third party that the concept is to capitalize on the SRM strain gauge concept when SRM's patent expires this year.

Pretty good looking design, we'll see when these guys actually starting having the units arrive from Asia.

Wonder why they aren't using a Shimano or Campagnolo spider idea if that license is too high?

The CinQo is designed for attachment to production cranksets with separate spider assemblies.   Versions of the CinQo are planned for:

• FSA Team Issue
• FSA Krono TT
• Truvativ Rouleur Carbon (SRAM)
• Cannondale Hollowgram
• Specialized S-Works Carbon
• Track arm are to be determined.

Nice Centurion as the work horse...

Slipstream signs Backstedt, Swede brings Celeste colored bikes with him...

As reported here first during the early stages of the Tour. 

Magnus Backstedt has signed with Slipstream to add to the already growing firepower.

Rumor has it he is bringing Bianchi with him to add to the lineup a first class bike company. Bianchi wants to be back in the Pro Peloton. Other possible sponsors: Hincapie Clothing, Hyatt Hotels, Shimano (since Stetina's kid is on the team), Chipolte Restaurants ABN-Amro, not sure if Powertap will be back.

Wonder what the blood bath will be for the young guys on the team since most of them will probably not be on the team for next year.

I still think that Tyler Farrar will join the team. Unconfirmed, but I could see and if Saul Raisin is cleared to race in the Pro Peloton again, he might join the team if Credit Agricole does not resign him.

Powertap Scores Tour de France Podium 2 years

Dirk Friel- who has been working Lotto-Predictor reminded me to day that Powertap has been used by podium finishers for the last two years. Cadel even has a cameo on the powertap site.

Nice job. I will follow up with the Predictor guys to see if the calculate his wattage during the event and why he did not use a PT like Floyd did.

Power to the Elite People

Velonews showcases the commitment that T-mobile and SRM have made to the tour.

Wireless unit is in the works. Probably to help offset the possible on slaught of power meters that may come to the market since the SRM patent expires this year. I am aware of at least 3 new units in development.

The author says that you'll never see the unit on a winners bike. Well did he miss a guy named Floyd last year.

Last I checked he won the RACE with a Powertap!

When do you think they'll announce Hincapie to T-Mobile?

Velonews tried to pry it out of Stapleton today. I am sure they are waiting until the rest day to have all the media there and make a big announcement.

Powermeter Search Engine

Want to search for training with power in a search engine that searches ONLY wattage specific sites?

This search engine is a co-op with Google and uses all the sites possible (Google Wattage Forum, Training peaks, Blogs, Coaching websites, Cyclingnews Fitness Section etc.).

You may contribute, invite others to contribute and add this search engine to your website by visiting:

Powertap Geek Search Engine home page.

CERAMIC BEARING POWERTAP HUBS

Did Floyd Really Cheat?

I am not speaking of stage 17. Cyclops replaced his standard bearings with ceramic. So during the Tour de France Floyd rolled on the only ceramic bearing Powertap wheels in existence.

POWERTAPGEEK CERAMIC BEARING POWERTAP HUBS!

Now you can too. I am re-introducing a limited number of pre-built hubs or upgrades to your current hub/wheel with these ceramic bearings. Any Powertap Hub  (Standard, Pro, SL, or 2.4) will work. These bearings are Grade 5 Ceramic - the finest available.

As long time readers will know,  started experimenting with Ceramic Bearings in an SL last January See the post. but the challenge with any Powertap bearing replacement is the torque tube~ as messing it up will make the whole thing inaccurate. This is not an easy process to keep the integrity of the torque. Saris/Cyclops will Void a warranty if it is done improperly. You can now benefit from a lot of trial and error and save money and time.

OUR PROCESS WILL NOT VOID YOUR WARRANTY. Lower rolling resistance, full warranty.

Turn around is 14 business days (with my current inventory) from arrival at my shop. We will ship internationally. We are not allowed to publish the pricing so please contact me for more information. 

 

Watts it Cost part 2

Powertap Product Manager Jesse Bartholomew commented on the recent post about Watts it cost to sponsor a team, and he added that I did not include travel, so let's throw in $300/day for 25 days adding an additional $7500 to the total sponosrship of Team Slipstream. That does not include Lotto-Predictor so I would say they roughly will have a $300-400K in sponsorship costs this season.

Lightning Bolts

Dave's handy work just arrived, the final stats for these wheels (returned within one week, during Christmas!).

Front 598grams

Rear 969 grams (the hub came in at 412g - less then the stated weight!)

Total wheel weight:   1567 grams!

Powertap Geek will be offering these wheels to customers. Just email us and we can set you up with the lightest clincher Powertap Wheel set out there!

Cycle Sport

New Cycle Sport has Floyd Landis's special all black bike with a wireless PowerTap mounted on it. But no close up of the wireless mounting system. If you notice something on the chain stay that is the receiver unit used in the TdF for timing and scoring.

2006 Powertap Wireless...

2006 WIRE-LESS Power tap

Floyd Landis used it in the 2005 Tour, and according to Dr. Lim - one of his coaches- it works really well. I am surprised no one has taken spy photos from the Phonak team. I tried to search for photos out there and have not found any clean upclose images. With a new computer too, I would like to see how it is, its memory capacity and mounting design.

The new wireless unit will have Bluetooth data transmission (which I am told is better encryption then other software). And will have a USB download craddle (AWESOME)! No more serial port convertors.

The hub internals and cpu will both be different from the wired SL. Wireless having to be beefed up to transmit directly to the computer all the data. I would be interested in the cadence (if there is any) and the sending unit... The best part is that your bike(s) will not look like an electrical enginnering class test unit. Battery life could be an issue, since the hub has been asked to do more.

To me this is the coolest feature - coded Heart Rate Monitor! That is great for racing since I have sometimes had some Heart Rate Corruption since I have picked up other racers data. Is it worth the $300 (or cost of good wheel and tires) TBD.

The new SL boxes are coming with the new system already printed out on the boxes/labels.
Here is the reality check...

• No upgrade - from an SL to wireless. There are too many differences.
• Price - retail cost $1500, add in a wheel build and you could be close to $2K! Yikes!
• Availability- will be sometime in the summer with the Cyclops people I spoke with saying that it may or may not be around the spring time.

Press On

The upcoming issue of Velonews will have a power meter showdown. Not sure if they got a snwak-peak at the wireless version soon to by mounted on Pro bikes of Phonak, Tiaa-Cref, Health Net, and who knows who else. I expect the P-tap SL or other to win out for ease of use, weight, and accuracy.

Power Surge!

Received some new SL's this week.

The product is much better asthetically and from a quality stand point then the Pro. The sealed bearings and hubs built in servicability are the two most notably features.

Having a 28H wheel built up by Dave Thomas which should weigh close to Mavic Ksyriums when finished. Will also build a Zipp 404 wheel with an SL for high priority races.

Estiamated wheel set weight: 1565 grams (for comparison Mavic SSC SL wheels are 1600 grams).

Floyd and the P-funk band...

Floyd Landis Training Camp Info is here...