Kestrel has been working on what it dubs, a Superbike. Here is the first side on pic, courtesy of Xtri.com

TT Bike Fit Blog posted their observations (based on the photo only – Kestrel isn’t talking):

* Center pull cantilever front brake. Eliminates the need for aerodynamically dirty cable housing. Similar to Specialized Transition.

* Broad fork blades incorporating mounting posts for cantilever brakes. There appears to be some slotting or interesting sculpting of the fork blades, and the fork crown fares into the downtube.

* No cables. It may be that this prototype simply doesn’t have the cables routed yet. Or, they could be concealed in the steerer/headtube and exit above the front tire, entering the down tube inside the crown faring. Also, there is no front derailleur (now that would be a trick! – I’m sure it’s just not mounted yet) and an electronic rear Dura-Ace derailleur.

* Concealed rear brake

* Very clean and low seat cluster area. The seat stays join the seat tube very low, similar to the Airfoil. This, along with the relocated rear brake, presents a very clean and thin trailing edge allowing air flow to pass between the rider’s legs easily, and likely helps it to rejoin flow passing over and around the rider, reducing low pressure (and hence drag) behind the rider.

* Seat stays form wings around the rear tire near the seat cluster area.

* Tiny, almost rudimentary seat tube. It fares the rear wheel, yes, but I wonder if it is mainly there to satisfy the UCI “double diamond” requirement. The Airfoil seems to do just fine with no seat tube or rear wheel faring.

* There also appears to be some unusual sculpting or slotting on the seat stays.

* The frame look to incorporate a variation on the integrated seat mast – an extended “seat tube mast” with internal post. My guess is the “seat tube mast” may still need to be trimmed to size, but the internal post should allow more adjustment than the caps used with seat masts. It is unclear how the seat post is fastened, and the post itself looks like it may be just a mock-up (quick prototype). In any case this may provide all of the advantages of an integrated seat mast (lighter weight, stiffer, cleaner interface) with greater adjustability. Or, they may add an extended cap onn the outside similar to the D6.

* The seat mast looks to be built at 75 degrees, although there is some parallax distortion in the photo. This will suit UCI regulations well, but will mean that the final seatpost will need a movable clamp (perhaps like the Fuji D6) to get a steep seat angle.

Nice one. I like it. Very much. Let the aero wars continue…

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so this beauty from Specialized is called The Shiv.

is it supposed to make you shiver when you look at it?

Was it an error from their side, and its supposed to say The S*^t? As in “Did you see that new Specialized? Its the Sh*$t!!”

Not quite sure. But the beaker on the front, and integrated front brake (a patent which belongs to Cervelo nogal) and the very P3 like rear are all very Zhoosh looking. As a triathlete though, I have a few concerns…

1. It only comes in road angles?!?! WTF Specco, that’s no good! I can ride 180km in the TT bars on road angles to suit the UCI? Try run a marathon after that….

2. It comes in very ltd numbers, which means its going to be Shiv expensive. Maybe that’s where the name comes from?

Other than that, I am sure it`ll make do for a uber wealthy german dude who rides it to the coffee shop for his friday ride. He may even deploy a parachute out the aero helmet to slow him down as he approaches the Vida in Camps Bay.

But you know, zis is imperative to critical speed yah?

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not so subtlely leaked by Specialized. Is it a Specialized Transition 2?

We know Fabian can hammer…

looks alot like the first generation Giant, and now the 2nd generation Scott, with some Cervelo features.

But all the guys must remember, that none of these frames meet UCI standards.

PS: I do like how it covers the front brake a bit…

want a full sized image?

Click HERE!!!

for reference, here is the Giant, click HERE!!!

thanks Marc

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