Shimano dives deeper into CF
 

From the Tour de Suisse, a Dura-Ace carbon crank:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...h/IMG_0955.jpg
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...h/IMG_0936.jpg
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...h/IMG_3924.jpg
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2007/features/tour_de_suissetech


From CN:

Shimano expands its materials horizons

By Shane Stokes in Bern, Switzerland

While much of its competition has championed the cause of carbon fiber, Shimano has long held to its metallurgical guns, and for good reason. In many instances, the company's highly advanced forged aluminum components have proved lighter and/or more rigid than its composite counterparts. Carbon fiber may be the current fashion, but it's hard to argue with good old engineering.

According to Shimano PR Officer Devin Walton: "With the current materials and technology available for manufacturing, forged aluminum is still the way to go over carbon fiber. That being said, we're always working on stuff and we've also got some pretty talented engineers that know carbon really well, so if we find a way in the future that it makes sense (same or increased performance with lighter weight / same or lighter weight with better performance - either at a cost that could be considered a reasonable value by consumers) then we'd definitely pursue it."

It seems that time has come, or at least is increasingly imminent. Carbon fiber bits have already shown up on Shimano's newest XTR group and the company has used the material for tubular versions of its Dura-Ace race wheelsets for some time. However, Shimano's last bastion of forged aluminum fortitude may finally be showing signs of weakness if our sightings at the Tour de Suisse are any indication.

Gerolsteiner rider Stefan Schumacher's 'spare bike' at the Tour de Suisse was a new Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL2 equipped with a new prototype carbon fiber chainset from Shimano. According to Gerolsteiner team mechanic Jochen Lamade, the German Amstel Gold winner has yet to try out the new bits and pieces in competition, but he'll definitely be using them for the upcoming Tour de France.

"He got this new stuff just before the Tour de Suisse and so decided not to start racing on the bike straight away. He's tried it a couple of times in training and after this race is over, he will become more familiar with it," he said.

Lamade gave a bit of information about the chainset, which right now has no visible branding whatsoever but clearly displays some characteristic Shimano styling cues. "It's a prototype for the Tour. Nowadays everybody wants to use carbon when possible, so Shimano are starting to use it in areas such as chainsets. It looks good, and it should be stiffer and a little bit lighter [than a standard chainset]. Right now it is a prototype and we will give them feedback on what is good and if anything needs to be changed."

We don't have much more information to share with you just yet but will keep our eyes open when we begin our Tour de France tech coverage. Stay tuned!

Last year Shimano was adamant that AL was better than CF. I guess between SRAM and Campy they are trying stay relevant. DA has a 8oz handicap to Record and the new SRAM Red is rumored to be as light if not lighter than Record. DA is basically on par with Chorus and Force. Now if they can just move on to aero cables....

(Cross-posted from the thread on the same topic in the main forum....)

I just can't wait for the thread 6 months from now from all the Shimanophiles talking about how Shimano's new carbon cranks represent a major component revolution and are SO much better than all the other carbon cranks out there. :rolleyes:

The debate over what gruppo is best is really a silly one. All three (SRAM/Campy/Shimano) perform on a high level. The gruppo that fits you or the one you can best afford is the best gruppo for you. Aside from all that CAMPY RULES!!!!!!!!

I'm saving Botto the trouble of posting:


Incorrect.

It's true. Once you just accept that Campy is the best, it makes the debate almost pointless. :D

Now saving Pcad the trouble of posting:

You are an idiot you stupid gay Texas cowboy. Everyone knows that Shimano makes the best fishing components and don't forget...Zipps rule! Everyone is a bike weenie.

...Without going to electronic shifting to do so.

You forgot the part about saying Hail Merckx's at the temple of Our Lady of Dura Achee. :)

BTW, Merckx rode Campy. ;)

Dude, I don't know what you're talking about. That rear derailleur is SECKSAY!

it had to happen eventually didn't it?

So did Floyd. Therefore, all Campy users must be on drugs.:p

the last thing i want is a CF crank.

thanks to my pedaling style, i've managed to scuff the finish on my r700s in less than 300km.

imagine what that'd be like with CF cranks.

besides, CF cranks are fugly.

:lol: well said. you're in fine form this morning

Botto takes a spin with his new carbon cranks in London....

http://www.andy.m.wood.btinternet.co.uk/london.jpg

:beer:

I like the look of and would rather have the aluminum cranks over the carbon http://fairwheelbikes.com/forum/imag...iley_dunno.gif

This is great news..all I have to do is wait for the new carbon cranks to come out and the price of the aluminum DA cranks on Ebay will fall 50% and I can pick up another set. :D

No idea which one is really "better" but I actually like the look of last year's crank MUCH more. Absolutely beautiful:
http://bike.shimano.com/media/images...9830550253.jpg

last years is this years.

Wow..that sounds just like him...who are you, Rich Little?

the difference is huge...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...h/IMG_0936.jpg

I like the open crank ring look better than the closed, but Shimano really dropped the ball with that CF design.

Dude. You have a Led Zep line from 'Battle for Evermore' under your posts. That ROCKS.

http://www.survivinggrady.com/spicoli.jpg

Well, sort of. It came out in '06 but is/was marketed as '07.