Hydraulic road rim brakes, aero helmets among new gear
Image 1 of 18
Garmin-Sharp's Cervélo S5, R5, and R5ca machines lined up before the start of the 2012 Tour de France.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rotor's new Aero MAS (Micro Adjust Spider) system features two sets of chainring mounting holes offset by just enough to allow half-step adjustments in chainring rotations. Rotor says amateur riders probably aren't that fine-tuned to Q-Ring positioning but it was a direct request from the company's professional riders.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Garmin-Sharp debuted Rotor's new Flow aero time trial cranks, featuring sculpted arms, a smooth spider and outer chainring, and micro-adjustable chainring mounts to fine-tune positioning for riders opting for the elliptical Q-Rings.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Garmin-Sharp riders will use the new Rotor Flow aero cranks during this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rotor claims the new Flow cranks will save 22-26 seconds over a full Ironman bike leg.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The new Rotor Flow cranks feature much more rounded front and rear edges than the standard 3D+ version but still use similar construction methods, including three lengthwise tunnels bored into the arms to reduce weight.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Garmin-Sharp team time trial bikes feature modified Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 shifter pods that are glued on to the Magura hydraulic brake levers.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cable routing on Johan Vansummeren's Cervélo P4 looks a bit untidy but it's all neatly taped out in terms of keeping the lines out of the wind.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
This Garmin-Sharp Cervélo P5 has basic rubber grips installed on the base bars.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Garmin-Sharp's new 3T Integra LTD carbon stem features an interchangeable forward shroud. In this configuration, there's a built-in mount for Garmin's latest Edge computers.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
_V6O6764 - Abbas Saeiditanha of Azad make a break away(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Millar's Magura hydraulic rim brake-equipped Cervélo S5 sits in among the rest of the team bikes.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie donned a new Giro Air Attack helmet for his training ride on Friday.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Team mechanics have to feed the hydraulic line through the top tube and then reconnect and rebleed the system.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
With a computer mount, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 control box, and hydraulic converted all fitted, the stem ends up being a very busy piece of real estate.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Currently, Magura's hydraulic road rim brakes require a mechanical-to-hydraulic converter mounted underneath the stem.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie is one of two Garmin-Sharp riders who will use Magura's hydraulic road rim brakes.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The new spider features a solid outer profile intended to smooth airflow but a webbed inner surface to boost rigidity. The 30mm-diameter aluminum spindle will work with BB30, PF30, BBright, BB386 Evo, and standard threaded bottom bracket shells.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Always at the cutting edge when it comes to its gear, the Garmin-Sharp riders have their choice from a slew of bikes from team sponsor Cervélo, including the P5 and P4 time trial bikes, the S5 aero road bike, and the ultralight R5 and R5ca. The team is also debuting several new products at this year's Tour de France: hydraulic road rim brakes from Magura, Rotor's aero time trial cranks, Giro's intriguing Air Attack helmet, and 3T's sleek Integra stem.
Garmin-Sharp has already been using Magura's new RT8TT hydraulic rim brakes on its Cervélo P5 time trial machines but David Zabriskie and David Millar also now have them mounted on their Cervélo S5 aero road bikes, too. The requisite mechanical-to-hydraulic converters add some weight, bulk, and complexity for sure but in fairness, Millar's bike is still just over 7kg, according to team mechanics (we weren't permitted to weigh bikes ourselves).
More importantly, the hydraulic system lends a more positive – albeit substantially stiffer – feel at the lever and better responsiveness under really hard braking. From a mechanic's perspective, the fully sealed system should require less maintenance, too.
Showing up on the riders' time trial bikes are Rotor's new Flow cranks, designed with input from team sports scientist Robby Ketchell to decrease aerodynamic drag. Key features include more rounded edges on the crankarms, a solid and dished 'Aero MAS' chainring spider, and a matching solid outer chainring. The aerodynamic benefits are pretty nominal but Rotor still claims the Flow will save 22-26 seconds over a full Ironman leg.
Rotor also gave the Aero MAS dual chainring mounting holes that allow riders to more finely tune the position of their elliptical Q-Rings, effectively decreasing the minimum adjustment by half. Rotor admitted to BikeRadar that most amateurs aren't likely to feel that small of a difference themselves but it's likely the feature will eventually find its way to production nevertheless.
Claimed weight is 562g without chainrings but with Rotor's 30mm-diameter 3D+ system that will work with BB30, PF30, BBright, BB386, and standard threaded bottom bracket shells.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
We also spotted on several team bikes 3T's new Integra carbon stem, which features a Garmin quarter-turn mount built into its forward shroud. This makes for a clean and neat appearance but puts the computer's display closer to the rider's natural line of sight, too.
Finally, it looks like Zabriskie and Millar will also ride at least some parts of this year's Tour de France on the new Giro Air Attack aero road helmet. It's a touch odd looking for sure (even Millar thinks so) but if Giro's aero claims are legitimate, the riders might just get over it.
