Why the all-rounder superbike could be a disadvantage: GCN Tech Show

This week in the Tech Show Ollie Bridgewood is reunited with Alex Paton fresh from his trip to the Tour Down Under. In the show, the boys are looking at whether teams that use an all-rounder style bike like the Specialized Tarmac or Pinarello Dogma are at a disadvantage to teams with separate climbing and aero bikes like Visma-Lease a Bike.

With the WorldTour racing kicking off last week for the 2024 season we have got our eyes on the bikes each team will be using – look out for a video from Alex on Sunday 28 January for more details. Across the board, there seems to be a divide in the strategy and equipment available when it comes to team bikes but is there any measurable difference between an all-rounder and two dedicated polarised bikes? Ollie and Alex have looked into this and they think that there is.

• Read more: Lightweight vs aero - which bike climbs faster?

Firstly there is the weight difference. All-rounder style bikes tend to be between 500-700 grams over the UCI weight limit of 6.8kg whereas dedicated climbing bikes consistently come in right on the lower weight limit. Secondly, all-rounder bikes are not quite as aero as full-on aero bikes like the Canyon Aeroad or Trek Madone with roughly a 5-10 watt penalty. Although these don’t sound like massive differences, in the world of professional racing any advantage is worth having.

If we look a little deeper into the shift to all-rounder bikes, the trend comes down to marketing. Bike brands use racing as a marketing tool, showcasing bikes to a global audience. The reality is that for most of us, the concept of buying a lightweight and aero bike is off the table, whereas one bike that does it all is far more appealing. From the manufacturer's perspective, it is also an advantage to move to an all-rounder product as this reduces production costs as only one frame profile is needed rather than two.

Hot and spicy tech

We take a look at what has been going on in the world of cycling-related tech over the past week.

ENVE AR ONE bar and stem

ENVE has released what could quite possibly be the world's most expensive off-the-shelf handlebar with this latest release. The AR or ‘all road’ bar and stem are designed to be comfortable on adventurous endurance rides with a 50mm flare to the drops. They are also available in 20 size combinations with stem increments of 10mm and bar increments of 20mm. The cost for all of this, £1200 / $1300!

New Factor Ostro VAM

This has been spotted a few times now and Alex was lucky enough to get his hands on one in Australia however for the time being it remains officially unreleased. What we do know is the frontal area of the bike has seen a redesign thanks to the recent UCI equipment regulation changes. It was also seen with a new set of Black Inc. wheels that are reportedly 300 grams lighter than the current version.

Brompton now offer 12-speed bikes

Folding bike icon Brompton has announced that it will be offering bikes with a spread of 12 gears. ​​The increased gear range will be available on the T Line, Electric P Line, P Line, and Electric C Line models and achieves this by combining a 3-speed internal Hub and 4-speed rear derailleur.

Lidl-Trek have partnered with Aerosensor

Lidl-Trek has announced a partnership with aerodynamics optimisation brand Aerosensor. The team has been using it in its winter training camps to help optimise equipment and rider positions out on the road. The product uses a series of sensors combined with rider power data to derive their overall aerodynamic efficiency. It will be interesting to see if products like this take off across the WorldTour allowing for more regular testing than booking time in a wind tunnel.

The Bike Vault

As always we love seeing what you guys are riding. Don't forget if you want to see your bike appear in the Tech Show's Bike Vault you can upload it via the GCN uploader.

Mark's No22 Drifter

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This custom No22 Drifter with 12-speed Dura-ace and limited silver GRX is definitely an eye catcher

Aug's 2023 Canyon Endurace CF 8

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This is Aug's first carbon bike and they already have their eyes on some carbon wheels to upgrade the bike

Mark's Bianchi XL Pro 1998 Pantani Team replica

© GCN

Mark has combined era appropriate components with some newer Campagnolo Record upgrades

GCN Peloton Sketch T-Shirt - Green

Showcase your passion for cycling with the GCN Peloton Sketch T-Shirt - featuring a dynamic peloton design that captures the energy and camaraderie of the cycling world. Together we are faster, can travel further, and have more fun!Product features: 100% organic cotton Unisex regular fit Care instructions: Machine wash at 30° Iron inside out Do not tumble dry