BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The first elite bike is an aero frame, aimed at testers and triathletes. The AiR/TT/1, ready in June, will be available in Bikehut stores as well as IBDs. A road version of the frame is being tested and will be available at the end of 2008. Bike and personality pix are here.
AiR stands for Aerodynamic Racing.
The Boardman bike brand was launched in 2007 and was available only through Halfords. At the time of the launch an elite range of products was promised for IBDs
“Our aim at Boardman is simple – we want to create a great British cycling brand which is designed to perform on the world stage,” said Boardman Bikes CEO Alan Ingarfield.
As well as aerodynamic frames, there will be aero Boardman forks and seat posts.
The aero products have been designed with the help of Dimitris Katsanis, frame designer of the not-commercially-available track bikes used by British Cycling.
Chris Boardman is Director of Research and Development for British Cycling’s team.
Ingarfield said:
“I have full confidence in saying that in the world of elite performance, these bikes belong in the very front ranks. Dimitris’s level of expertise is second-to-none. I regard him as the most talented modern day designer of performance bikes.”
The AiR/TT/1 is said to be 25 percent more aero efficient than current teardrop tube shapes.
