The new BMC Impec
#26
Sua Ku
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 2
From: Hot as hell, Singapore
Bikes: Trek 5200, BMC SLC01, BMC SSX, Specialized FSR, Holdsworth Criterium
^^ now we're talking.
A lot of fuss made about carbon nano tubes over the last few years and then a move to weave.
Look forward to the reviews and riding one.
A lot of fuss made about carbon nano tubes over the last few years and then a move to weave.
Look forward to the reviews and riding one.
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: South Australia
Bikes: Aegis Aro Svelte
Carbon nano tubes in bicycle construction is quite simple. Typical composite const. is epoxy bonding together large carbon fibres. They add carbon powder composed of carbon nanotube dust to the epoxy resin before layup. This fills the gaps between the structural fibres with carbon reinforced epoxy resin. Low tech but very effective at increasing laminate stiffness.
Ten years ago I had the pleasure of watching my friends 90' carbon mast being layed up for his racing sailboat.
It was done by Ted Van Dusen Racing Sailboats in Mass. He did the design/engineering and fabrication. Ted has one of the few weaving/braiding machines in the States.
It is only useful for making tubes, hence the BMC red lego lugs. They start with an aluminum mandrel tube section(ie a baseball bat). The braiding machine is threaded with a large spool of unidirectional carbon fibre. The machine starts at one end and braids a sock of carbon around the aluminum mandrel. If you want more reinforcement it slows down and adds more fibre at programmed locations. It is ideal for tapering.(On the mast they add extra fibre at the spreader location which are huge point loads). They then take the whole layup and transfer it to an autoclave(high temp & pressure). The aluminum grows in diameter as it is heated. The epoxy is allowed to hardened. Then the layup is cooled. The aluminum shrinks and you can slide the carbon tube off of the mandrel.
Very slick technology....
Ten years ago I had the pleasure of watching my friends 90' carbon mast being layed up for his racing sailboat.
It was done by Ted Van Dusen Racing Sailboats in Mass. He did the design/engineering and fabrication. Ted has one of the few weaving/braiding machines in the States.
It is only useful for making tubes, hence the BMC red lego lugs. They start with an aluminum mandrel tube section(ie a baseball bat). The braiding machine is threaded with a large spool of unidirectional carbon fibre. The machine starts at one end and braids a sock of carbon around the aluminum mandrel. If you want more reinforcement it slows down and adds more fibre at programmed locations. It is ideal for tapering.(On the mast they add extra fibre at the spreader location which are huge point loads). They then take the whole layup and transfer it to an autoclave(high temp & pressure). The aluminum grows in diameter as it is heated. The epoxy is allowed to hardened. Then the layup is cooled. The aluminum shrinks and you can slide the carbon tube off of the mandrel.
Very slick technology....
#34
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 0
From: NYC - where bicycles go to die
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
#40
Man that video is annoying. You can hardly hear the English over the other talking.
I haven't seen an article or video yet that explains the Shell Node Concept. Pretty strange since that's the most noticeable thing about the bike, at least on the black & red version. It blends in a lot better on the all-black version.
I haven't seen an article or video yet that explains the Shell Node Concept. Pretty strange since that's the most noticeable thing about the bike, at least on the black & red version. It blends in a lot better on the all-black version.
#43
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,863
Likes: 6
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?
#45
stole your bike


Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,907
Likes: 27
From: North Bergen, NJ
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Ridley Compact
I like it a lot in black. The video was odd especially that slow motion shot because it seems like that would be better suited for women/gay men...does nothing for me because the woody I got was due to the bike.
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#48
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R3 and Redline Conquest with Campy Veloce
There are two colours: laquered carbon with either red shells in the Team Version or matt black shells in the Noble Version. There are five frame sizes and a choice of race or performance fit. Prices start at €6,499 with SRAM Red and go up to €9,999 with Dura-Ace Di2. Full details, UK pricing and riding impressions to follow.
#50
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 4
Probably there is almost no difference in stiffness, but the impec looks more sturdy (not sure about this word ok?) I love the new lugs and actually i love the red, yes i like anime
The fork looks like the TREK one but better
WHat i think is that the frame is a little bit more comfortable, thing i really dont know how u can get it better. Wonder how much is the frame, bmc frames arent that expensive after all compared with other brands.
The fork looks like the TREK one but better
WHat i think is that the frame is a little bit more comfortable, thing i really dont know how u can get it better. Wonder how much is the frame, bmc frames arent that expensive after all compared with other brands.









I wonder how flexy the Pro and Team were in comparison to the Impel...