BRAD’S BEST OF SHOW
STORCK AERO II $10,000 (FRAMESET ONLY) This year Storck introduced the Aero II, and if the mass of people crowding the Storck booth at Interbike is any indication, this bike will turn plenty of heads. From a head-on view, it’s the cleanest bike we’ve ver come across. Every little detail is shielded from the wind—so much so that it took us almost five minutes to figure out where the Di2’s battery was hiding. (It’s under the seat.) The most curious feature is the design of the front brake, which is actually built into the fork. A pair of all-carbon calipers reach out from the inside of the fork to grab the rim when the lever is engaged and then retreat back into the fork once the brake is released. At $10,000 for the frameset only, a complete build (with Di2) could easily bring the cost of this rig up to $18,000. Now all you need is that winning lottery ticket. Storck-bicycle.de
KESTREL 4000 LTD $10,829 (WITH DURA-ACE DI2)
Kestrel is back and in a big way. Every little piece of the new
4000 frame was designed from the ground up in an A2 wind
tunnel in Charlotte, N.C. It’s sleek as hell from any vantage point,
especially up front, thanks to its frame-integrated fork. But what
earned the 4000 LTD “best in show” honors is the unique three-piece
seatmast. An upper-mast and seat post head (designed by Ritchey) slide over
the all-carbon base, allowing for endless adjustability. The removable pieces
also allow the bike to fit in just about any travel case. The multi-position
Ritchey seat post let’s a rider roll with between 76 and 82 degrees of seat
angle. Six sizes are available and two other build options are available for
less than five figures. We think the $4,329 Ultegra build offers the biggest
bang for the buck. Kestrelbicycles.com
SUPLICY QUANTUM $3,800 (FRAMESET ONLY)
Another small fish making a big splash at Interbike was Suplicy, which
introduced the new Quantum triathlon frame. The Quantum uses the same
THM-Carbone fork as the Storck Aero II, but Suplicy also offers the frameset
with a standard carbon fork for $2,800. The Quantum features a carbon derailleur
hanger—not something we see much of—and even a carbon seat post clamp, which also
doubles as a holder for your bib number. But our favorite feature of this new rig is that it
offers two different mounts for the rear brake: one under bottom bracket for maximum aerodynamics and one on top of the rear triangle for everyday use. The frameset will be available
in January and comes in four sizes ( 51, 54, 56, 58). Suplicybikes.com
TYR HURRICANE WETSUIT $290-$625
It was only a matter of time before TYR jumped into the wetsuit market. Unlike Speedo, who
rushed into wetsuit production two years ago, TYR took the time to do the necessary homework. It spent more than two years designing the three wetsuits that make up the Hurricane
line and we think the company nailed it on its first attempt. While the top-end C5 was one of
the most comfortable suits we’ve ever slipped on, we were more excited about the mid-level
C3. TYR’s middle-of-the-road option uses the same neoprene and coating as most top-tier suits
but only carries a $450 price tag. The Hurricane line will be available in February. Tyr.com
SCOTT T2 $110
Scott defied our expectations at this year’s show with the introduction of the T2 Pro, an
easy-to-don racer with a unique heel closure. While the single-pull heel closure is fun to
play with, what really makes these kicks worthy is the smooth ride. Keeping with the current running trend, Scott designed a shoe that promotes a more forward running style.
The lack of a true heel bevel makes the T2 ideal for mid-foot and forefoot strikers.
At only seven ounces the T2 is probably best reserved for race day or speed
work. Scottusa.com
