Tommaso Twitter UpdatesCeramics & Aerodynamics: FSA Powers into 2006
Dedication to innovation and quality has seen Full Speed Ahead grow to become a major bicycle component manufacturer. For 2006 the company is focusing on ceramic bearings, improved aerodynamics and its trademark compact cranksets to steam away from the competition.
The driving force of bicycle component maker Full Speed Ahead is well captured in their name. FSA stays ahead of the competition through design innovation and manufacturing expertise. FSA's manufacturing base is in Taiwan, but they are truly a global company, with offices in the USA & Italy that collaborate to direct FSA's component development. FSA offers solutions for speed across a broad range of bicycle components; from headsets to wheels; cranksets and bottom brackets, Vision Time Trial & Triathlon bars and handlebars & stems.
A particularly interesting product from FSA to be launched for 2006 is the K-Force MegaExo Compact chainset. CSC's Ivan Basso used an FSA SLK Compact chainset with 50X36 chainring combination in last season's Giro d'Italia and Tour De France, riding to stage wins in the Giro and a superb runner-up spot behind seven time Tour winner Lance Armstrong in France. This marks the first time a rider using a compact chainset equipped bicycle has been on the podium in a Grand Tour.
FSA is a strong believer in the compact crankset, Doug Stuart of Full Speed Ahead told Cyclingnews that "a compact crankset is about 15% lighter than a triple set, and weighs 50 grams less than most non-compact double chainsets. And we find that the smaller, more rigid 110mm bolt circle diameter is simply a more efficient platform for pedaling. The Q-Factor is the same as a standard double, yet another advantage over a triple." FSA's K-Force MegaExo Compact chainset uses outboard bearings and an oversize spindle that is stiffer and lighter than most cranksets, which provides optimal power transfer for the rider. That's why Ivan Basso has already made the switch for 2006 to FSA's K-Force MegaExo Compact. And to make for the smoothest shifts possible, FSA has also developed a front derailleur specifically designed for compact cranksets.
Another key initiative for Full Speed Ahead is the introduction of ceramic bearings.
For the last few years, Full Speed Ahead has been working with their extensive array of sponsored teams to test, improve, and refine an often neglected product that can provide significant performance advantages. FSA's Claudio Marra explained to Cyclingnews that "our testing shows that ceramic ball bearings are 20% more rigid, 10X rounder and 60% lighter than standard steel ball bearings, which reduces friction. We have found that using ceramic ball bearings can provide speed increases of up to 4%, or a forty meters distance gained over every kilometer."
FSA's ceramic bearings are not actually ceramic; they are made from pure, solid silicon nitride balls that are mounted in hi-spec carbon steel bearing raceways. To make them, the manufacturing process is long (70 days), complex and expensive. "First off, the ceramic powder is synthesized and pre-treated. Then the silicon nitride material is stamped into spheres, sintered, then specially ground and worked into a perfectly round shape before final assembly." But the cost is worth is, as Marra points out, the performance advantages and longevity (ceramic bearings outlast steel bearings by 5-20X) are real. Marra then explained that "we combine these ceramic bearings with super low-friction seals and a special lubricant in an optimized system; the advantages are hard to see with the naked eye, but you can tell on the bike."
Ceramic bearing kits are offered for FSA's own products, like the MegaExo crankset and RD-400/488/600/800 wheel series but also for many other brands of bicycle components.
FSA's Doug Stuart told us that "our ceramic bearings are a big breakthrough so we decided to make them for brands like Mavic, Zipp, Spinergy, Campagnolo Shimano and even Lightweight carbon wheels. Plus we offer ceramic bearings for Campagnolo Record and Chorus bottom brackets and even derailleur pulleys."
FSA is also busy creating a focused range of high-performance wheels that are designed and built as an integrated system. Perhaps they haven't received the attention they deserve but, like other top FSA products, they benefit from advanced materials and relentless attention to detail. FSA's top of the range wheelset for 2006 is the RD-488. This wheel is a real racing weapon, with a 50mm carbon fiber tubular rim laced to 20 spokes in front and 24 in back. FSA's RD488 wheels don't have just any old aero spoke, but custom drawn Wheelsmith AE-14 spokes. FSA specially designed these spokes to have not only a fast aero profile, but to also to absorb road vibration.
No wheel system could stand without a hub, and FSA's RD488 wheels have specially selected quadruple ground and polished bearings and special end caps that seal them shut no matter what the weather. FSA attention to detail is evident in features like the radiused flange holes that provide 100% support to front & rear spoke elbows. And all of FSA's 400 series wheels have hubs with a clever mechanism where the entire internals can be removed with two 5mm allen keys. Plus the FSA's RD488 wheelset can be upgraded with a ceramic bearing kit if you need even more speed. Another addition to FSA's 400 wheel range is the RD-460, their first high-performance disc-brake compatible wheel. Suited for cyclocrossers who don't want to mess with tubulars but want the safety and security of disc braking, these new hoops have 24 Wheelsmith 14 gauge butted spokes front and rear.
As seen on the Cannondale six13 of Gilberto Simoni as he battled to second place at this year's Giro d'Italia, FSA's new Plasma carbon fiber integrated bar and stem are now available.
This sleek, swoopy steerer is light and stiff; just the type of upgrade that can make a bike special again. Plasma is available in three widths (40-42-44) and four lengths (100-130) that will fit almost any rider. Another FSA stem that is clearly race proven is FSA's 100% CNC machined 140 gram OS-115 model, used by speedy sprinter Robbie McEwen as he rode his FSA bar & stem equipped Davitamon-Lotto Ridley to two stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and four in the Tour De France. Yet another FSA stem that is clearly a standout is the new for 2006 OS-150, forged and CNC finished for high-strength and light (155 grams) weight.
Throughout the incredibly comprehensive range of Full Speed Ahead bicycle components, the evidence is clear. Where other manufacturers often choose to focus on just one material, FSA looks for the right material application for the right job. They use three grades of carbon fiber, four different grades of aluminum and three diverse types of steel to create Full Speed Ahead bicycle components. Doug Stuart summed up FSA's philosophy up by telling Cyclingnews that "We work with our advanced engineering capabilities and then integrate the key input from all our sponsored riders, from Ivan Basso and Robbie McEwen to mountain bikers like Gunn Rita Dahle, Christof Sauser and our Gravity guys like downnhill rider Sam Hill, just to name a few. FSA then uses our state of the art manufacturing to create great possible components. That way, when consumers choose FSA, they know they are going to win with us."
by Cycling News Staff
The driving force of bicycle component maker Full Speed Ahead is well captured in their name. FSA stays ahead of the competition through design innovation and manufacturing expertise. FSA's manufacturing base is in Taiwan, but they are truly a global company, with offices in the USA & Italy that collaborate to direct FSA's component development. FSA offers solutions for speed across a broad range of bicycle components; from headsets to wheels; cranksets and bottom brackets, Vision Time Trial & Triathlon bars and handlebars & stems.
A particularly interesting product from FSA to be launched for 2006 is the K-Force MegaExo Compact chainset. CSC's Ivan Basso used an FSA SLK Compact chainset with 50X36 chainring combination in last season's Giro d'Italia and Tour De France, riding to stage wins in the Giro and a superb runner-up spot behind seven time Tour winner Lance Armstrong in France. This marks the first time a rider using a compact chainset equipped bicycle has been on the podium in a Grand Tour.
FSA is a strong believer in the compact crankset, Doug Stuart of Full Speed Ahead told Cyclingnews that "a compact crankset is about 15% lighter than a triple set, and weighs 50 grams less than most non-compact double chainsets. And we find that the smaller, more rigid 110mm bolt circle diameter is simply a more efficient platform for pedaling. The Q-Factor is the same as a standard double, yet another advantage over a triple." FSA's K-Force MegaExo Compact chainset uses outboard bearings and an oversize spindle that is stiffer and lighter than most cranksets, which provides optimal power transfer for the rider. That's why Ivan Basso has already made the switch for 2006 to FSA's K-Force MegaExo Compact. And to make for the smoothest shifts possible, FSA has also developed a front derailleur specifically designed for compact cranksets.
Another key initiative for Full Speed Ahead is the introduction of ceramic bearings.
For the last few years, Full Speed Ahead has been working with their extensive array of sponsored teams to test, improve, and refine an often neglected product that can provide significant performance advantages. FSA's Claudio Marra explained to Cyclingnews that "our testing shows that ceramic ball bearings are 20% more rigid, 10X rounder and 60% lighter than standard steel ball bearings, which reduces friction. We have found that using ceramic ball bearings can provide speed increases of up to 4%, or a forty meters distance gained over every kilometer."
FSA's ceramic bearings are not actually ceramic; they are made from pure, solid silicon nitride balls that are mounted in hi-spec carbon steel bearing raceways. To make them, the manufacturing process is long (70 days), complex and expensive. "First off, the ceramic powder is synthesized and pre-treated. Then the silicon nitride material is stamped into spheres, sintered, then specially ground and worked into a perfectly round shape before final assembly." But the cost is worth is, as Marra points out, the performance advantages and longevity (ceramic bearings outlast steel bearings by 5-20X) are real. Marra then explained that "we combine these ceramic bearings with super low-friction seals and a special lubricant in an optimized system; the advantages are hard to see with the naked eye, but you can tell on the bike."
Ceramic bearing kits are offered for FSA's own products, like the MegaExo crankset and RD-400/488/600/800 wheel series but also for many other brands of bicycle components.
FSA's Doug Stuart told us that "our ceramic bearings are a big breakthrough so we decided to make them for brands like Mavic, Zipp, Spinergy, Campagnolo Shimano and even Lightweight carbon wheels. Plus we offer ceramic bearings for Campagnolo Record and Chorus bottom brackets and even derailleur pulleys."
FSA is also busy creating a focused range of high-performance wheels that are designed and built as an integrated system. Perhaps they haven't received the attention they deserve but, like other top FSA products, they benefit from advanced materials and relentless attention to detail. FSA's top of the range wheelset for 2006 is the RD-488. This wheel is a real racing weapon, with a 50mm carbon fiber tubular rim laced to 20 spokes in front and 24 in back. FSA's RD488 wheels don't have just any old aero spoke, but custom drawn Wheelsmith AE-14 spokes. FSA specially designed these spokes to have not only a fast aero profile, but to also to absorb road vibration.
No wheel system could stand without a hub, and FSA's RD488 wheels have specially selected quadruple ground and polished bearings and special end caps that seal them shut no matter what the weather. FSA attention to detail is evident in features like the radiused flange holes that provide 100% support to front & rear spoke elbows. And all of FSA's 400 series wheels have hubs with a clever mechanism where the entire internals can be removed with two 5mm allen keys. Plus the FSA's RD488 wheelset can be upgraded with a ceramic bearing kit if you need even more speed. Another addition to FSA's 400 wheel range is the RD-460, their first high-performance disc-brake compatible wheel. Suited for cyclocrossers who don't want to mess with tubulars but want the safety and security of disc braking, these new hoops have 24 Wheelsmith 14 gauge butted spokes front and rear.
As seen on the Cannondale six13 of Gilberto Simoni as he battled to second place at this year's Giro d'Italia, FSA's new Plasma carbon fiber integrated bar and stem are now available.
This sleek, swoopy steerer is light and stiff; just the type of upgrade that can make a bike special again. Plasma is available in three widths (40-42-44) and four lengths (100-130) that will fit almost any rider. Another FSA stem that is clearly race proven is FSA's 100% CNC machined 140 gram OS-115 model, used by speedy sprinter Robbie McEwen as he rode his FSA bar & stem equipped Davitamon-Lotto Ridley to two stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and four in the Tour De France. Yet another FSA stem that is clearly a standout is the new for 2006 OS-150, forged and CNC finished for high-strength and light (155 grams) weight.
Throughout the incredibly comprehensive range of Full Speed Ahead bicycle components, the evidence is clear. Where other manufacturers often choose to focus on just one material, FSA looks for the right material application for the right job. They use three grades of carbon fiber, four different grades of aluminum and three diverse types of steel to create Full Speed Ahead bicycle components. Doug Stuart summed up FSA's philosophy up by telling Cyclingnews that "We work with our advanced engineering capabilities and then integrate the key input from all our sponsored riders, from Ivan Basso and Robbie McEwen to mountain bikers like Gunn Rita Dahle, Christof Sauser and our Gravity guys like downnhill rider Sam Hill, just to name a few. FSA then uses our state of the art manufacturing to create great possible components. That way, when consumers choose FSA, they know they are going to win with us."
by Cycling News Staff
posted by Randall Scott Company @ 12:41 PM
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