CSC's Equipment Question...?

[Talewinds]

I watched the opening 1.9 mile prologue on Tivo tonight and thought I noticed something odd about CSC's TT rigs. It looks like, rather than using that $1000 lenticular beveled Zipp rear disc, it SURE looks like they were using RENN discs with Zipp decals on them. The surface skin looked like a Renn, and the hub looked EXACTLY like a Renn hub.
Can anyone clarify?

[dws5b]

Hard to tell in the pictures but I am pretty sure they are Zipps. You can see the beveling but hard to see the hubs.

[pinky]

Older Zipps weren't lenticular, they probably store old stock for racing in the US as opposed to flying everything over, cheaper that way (Voigt was on an Al Soloist as well).

[platypus]

Older Zipps weren't lenticular, they probably store old stock for racing in the US as opposed to flying everything over, cheaper that way (Voigt was on an Al Soloist as well).

I'd be more inclined to believe that it was retro-grouchiness rather than "Oh sorry Mr. Voigt we don't have a carbon soloist for you to use, is an aluminum one ok?" These guys know what they like and will certainly try to ride thier preferences within what's allowed by the sponsors.

[briscoelab]

Yea... Voigt really likes the Alu Soloist. Other team members were riding the Carbon Soloist. I think it's just a personal choice.

[DocRay]

Voigt never liked the feel of carbon, he prefers ally.

[Warblade]

I'd be more inclined to believe that it was retro-grouchiness rather than "Oh sorry Mr. Voigt we don't have a carbon soloist for you to use, is an aluminum one ok?" These guys know what they like and will certainly try to ride thier preferences within what's allowed by the sponsors.

Actually if you noticed, most CSC riders were on the Aluminum Soloist. Only 2-3 were on Carbon ones, the likes of Basso, Julich, and Zabriskie were the only ones I believe. And I believe that Bjarne Riis has them on the Alu Soloists because 1) This is an early season race that doesn't really mean anything, 2) It's more of a training race, therefore ride a slightly heavier bike to get better training, and 3) Alu Soloists are easier and cheaper to replace if one if one is involved in a crash (lets hopes it's not for the riders sake).

I think that Basso and the others are just using Carbon Soloists just because it's kind of a luxery.

[DocRay]

Actually if you noticed, most CSC riders were on the Aluminum Soloist. Only 2-3 were on Carbon ones, the likes of Basso, Julich, and Zabriskie were the only ones I believe. And I believe that Bjarne Riis has them on the Alu Soloists because 1) This is an early season race that doesn't really mean anything, 2) It's more of a training race, therefore ride a slightly heavier bike to get better training, and 3) Alu Soloists are easier and cheaper to replace if one if one is involved in a crash (lets hopes it's not for the riders sake).

I think that Basso and the others are just using Carbon Soloists just because it's kind of a luxery.

Ridiculous. Do you have any idea what CSC's budget is?
Basso's not even there.
The riders ride what they prefer, these are pros, not poseurs.

[pinky]

Hehe, do you? CSC is one of the more financially challenged pro teams in the tour, hell last year there was question of them being able to pay all their riders. Might want to surf over to weightweenies interesting little thread about the 3 contracts riders have to sign, one for the official wages, one negating the official wages, and the real wage.
Most pro teams do not have money to play with, racing in the US means getting a ton of bikes, equipment, riders and support personel across the atlantic, which isn't cheap, factor in how often things get damaged, its just not worth it bringing along the bling equipment-thats for races that actually matter, not an American rider showcase like the ToC.