Aero road bike dominating the development of racing bike
In 2011 and 2012 could be an important year for the history of racing bike. This year there were a harbinger of the beginning of the new racing bike era with the start of the dominance of aero road bike to the usual racing bike.
Dominance occurred because the development of materials for racing bikes made from carbon fiber materials. With these materials, aero road bike can be set spasticity and rigidity, so that this bike racing can be formed more flexible. Very different from the usual racing bike that made with base metal in rigid round-tube shape.
Forms of racing bike frame using carbon fiber, which is almost the same used in F1 cars can be modeled in varied form. Besides getting the most optimal flexibility and rigidity, aero road bike manufacturers are also increasingly active in the trial to find the most optimal form of its aerodynamics.
The most aerodynamic racing bike course is a racing bike TT (Time Trial). Bicycle frame shape is flat, super rigid construction, combined with a low handlebar shape that forcing the rider to bend the body optimally. The purpose bent riders is to be able to split the wind resistance optimally.
Even in recent yearsregular road bike has made more aero. The shape is approximately between standard road bike and TT. The geometry bikes are made relatively standard as before, but the frame pipes made more flat. Road bike manufacturer company invested heavily to conduct research in aerodynamics, in particular by using a wind tunnel such as the manufacture of airplanes or racing cars.
Development of aero road bike all over the world began when a Canadian brand, Cervelo, were successful in racing and also from successful sales recorded of racing bikes S5 model. In addition, other manufacturers, Felt, was also successful with their bike named AR1 model. Success on the manufacturer continues Scott who introduced the FOIL model, as well as Specialized manufacturer with the model Venge.
The success of aero road bike won several prestigious races also lead to increased prestige of the bike. Some racers are successful are Philippe Gilbert with his Aeroad Canyon CF and the world champion Mark Cavendish with his Venge.
In 2012, growing number of new production of aero road bike. Many bike racing teams in the world are focused on aero bike and make it as a top choice. In fact some say that in the future, the dominance of aero road bike will be destroying regular racing bike.
These conditions seem to prove after Carvelo stated that they will focus on aero bikes than usual bikes. Likewise with Specialized, which said that sales of Venge is very good and promising. The most optimistic company is Scott. This companies racing bike manufacturer has stopped making the round-tube bike for the competition category. They estimate that regular racing bikes will be destroyed and aero road bike will be a future racing bike. Moreover, the price of a bike made of carbon fiber are also getting cheaper and affordable. Automatic is not just the racing rider who can buy and use it, but also ordinary people.