I speak in depth with Chapter 2 Bike’s founder Mike Pryde about their prime line aero-race bike – the KOKO – which can be the most recent PEZ undertaking bike construct. Beneath I’m going by means of the complete construct spec that includes Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset, Chapter2 HETI C45 aero carbon disc wheels, Mana built-in one-piece handlebar, Arundel cages and bar tape, and Scott Tofino saddle.
Click on Play to roll the video – and see extra on the PEZ Youtube channel right here.
And now for a better have a look at the construct…
It began with my unboxing some time again…
Out of the field, it’s simple to see this body was meant to cheat the air. The seat tube is formed to snuggly match across the rear wheel and go air round it to create the least quantity of drag, the place the wheel is near the body.
The KOKO is Chapter2’s aero race highway frameset – at the moment priced at $2849US for the body & fork. That’s an excellent value for a body like this.
The downtube actually reveals off the truncated Kam-tail design, permitting for lowered drag whereas creating the stiff spine of this body – that extends from the top tube down by means of the underside bracket and alongside the chain stays to create a really secure platform for the drive practice, and to withstand the sideways torque attributable to pedalling.
The wheelset is new from Chapter2 – their REHI C45 carbon disc wheels – 45mm rim depth and a pleasant match to the aero-designed KOKO.
The strait fork blades are additionally individually formed like airfoils – wider on the entrance, then tailing narrower on the again. This picture additionally reveals the width of the downtube on the backside bracket, which actually helps create a really secure drive platform. Additionally observe the pointed vanguard on the prime of the seat keep – designed to slice the air and cut back drag – it’s a pleasant element.
Some fast details on the wheels: Form and design is Chapter2’s personal, and so they oversee manufacturing at their accomplice provider in Asia. They use Sapim X-Ray spokes (by no means a foul alternative).
However what I actually like is the large 21mm inside width that permits the tire to seat extra overtly to the rim mattress, which in flip permits a extra pure – and efficient – contact form to tire, resulting in total higher grip, stability, management and efficiency.
This picture from the Chapter2 web site offers an thought of how air flows round sure factors on the body.
The airfoil form can be used on the seat stays, a bit exhausting to see on this picture, however they too are formed like mini airfoils. This picture additionally reveals how carefully the rear wheel is snugged into the seat tube to create the least quantity of dragged on this space.
And whereas we’re wanting on the seatpost – take a look at their seatpost wedge – designed to supply variable stiffness choices. The wedge itself has two bumpers – one at every finish, and every of a unique density (one stiffer, yet another compliant). You may tune the quantity of seatpost flex by selecting which approach you insert the wedge. For instance, inserting the wedge with the softer bumper on prime, permits for extra seatpost flex, thereby giving a extra snug experience. Insertion the opposite approach reduces seatpost flex and affords extra direct highway suggestions to the rider.
The system is a bit finicky to put in, however I did it with out a lot bother, and as soon as it’s set, you possibly can neglect it till it’s time to alter the Ultegra battery housed within the seatpost – ought to that day ever arrive.
The Koko frameset developed from an earlier model body set referred to as the Rere (I reviewed it right here), one of many upgrades for this new body is elevated clearance for each entrance and rear tires to accommodate riders’ present selections of wider, larger quantity tires for extra consolation. I’m working 28 mm Pirelli tires on this one.
The body is designed with numerous tire clearance. I’m working 28mm Pirelli P-Zeros, however there’s room in there for 32mm tires.
The cockpit options Chapter2’s personal MANA built-in carbon one-piece handlebar– which you should buy by itself to mate with any body. Priced at $499US, it’s not cheap by any measure, nevertheless it is without doubt one of the less expensive carbon one-piece built-in bar/stem combos on the market, making it a stable alternative for anybody able to up their sport to go totally built-in.
Inside channelling is slick and paired with the inner cable routing within the body units up for a super-clean and modern wanting construct – there’s not a cable in sight.
Throughout the highest the bar contains a large platform, which from an engineering perspective gives a bigger floor space to connect with (ie: maintain on to), and likewise dissipate highway suggestions – which ought to make for a extra snug experience on lengthy days.
The groupset is Shimano Ultegra R8100 Di2 12-speed – it’s been properly reviewed across the net, and briefly is prime line, splendidly although out and functioning gear. Enhancements on this newest iteration of their “second tier” wi-fi cockpit, embody extra refined braking management, and so they say their “quickest shifting ever”.
Observe that I put “second tier” in quotes up there, to name out not that it’s one stage under their prime line DuraAce gruppo, however as a result of anybody who’s ridden Ultegra up to now is aware of that it’s just about nearly as good as every other model’s top-tier gruppo.
Shimano has just about set the bar for technical perfection with regards to bike gear, and I can’t consider any purpose why you wouldn’t be completely satisfied using it.
I’ll begin with the levers, since that is an important level of contact, and the components of the groupset you’ll have a look at most. Ultegra first appeared in 1987, with the title an amalgamation of the phrases “final” and “integrity”. The form and performance has developed significantly since then.
This model hits all the trendy design sizzling ponts – like ergonomically formed hoods that provide a number of safe grip-points. The levers now management each shifting & braking – with the latter being totally hydraulic.
Shifting is wi-fi, and managed by the 2 paddles tucked in properly behind the brake lever, and are totally customizable through the Shimano E-Tube app. I’ve mine setup to regulate the entrance derailleur from the left aspect, and rear gears from the suitable aspect, however you possibly can set these to your individual desire, and likewise select which paddle shifts up or down.
Paddle shapes have been refined to be barely bigger that earlier variations, to permit for simpler attain from the drops, and likewise extra tactile suggestions.
The app additionally supply customizable shift speeds (though I’m unsure why anybody would need something slower than the quickest setting attainable…), different fine-tuning opitons and reference to different third occasion computer systems.
Drive Prepare
Shimano calls it their “confirmed HYPERGLIDE+ drivetrain expertise”. And they don’t seem to be unsuitable – fashionable design and manufacturing expertise actually is an excellent factor, with proof proper right here in how quiet and easily this method handles gear adjustments underneath quite a lot of pedalling situations.
Folks speak about how costly the topline Dura-Ace Di2 package is, however Ultegra has at all times been the good purchase as a result of it delivers virtually the identical stage of technical perfection as DuraAce, however at about 2/3rds the price (ymmv) – and I problem anybody studying this to discern any notable variations in efficiency between the 2 gruppos.
The rear derailleur – formally referred to as RD-R8150 Rear Derailleur is compatible with 11-30, and 11-34T cassettes. Shifting efficiency is great, however what actually impressed me was the easy cost port situated behind the derailleur behind a small safe door/ flap.
Not like different electrical methods I’ve available with a poorly designed microscopic connector port which might be almost not possible to see when you’re eyes are over 50+ years, or a system that requires battery elimination to cost them, the Shimano system is really plug & play. The system comes with a usb charging cable that plugs proper into the rear derailleur – and blue mild comes on to indicate it’s charging, and when it’s prepared the sunshine turns inexperienced. So easy.
The battery lives within the seatpost, and is wired to the entrance & rear derailleurs.
The R8100 brakes use Shimano’s SERVO WAVE expertise that permits “a quicker preliminary chunk level adopted by a wider management space”. Backside line is best modulation – that’s higher really feel for a way the brakes clamp down on the rotors.
The brake calipers are stated to now ship quieter braking. Anybody who’s ridden disc brakes will by now know that braking noise can come up in quite a lot of types – like squeaking pads, impacted by moist or dry situations, warped rotors, and even not sufficient pad clearance. Shimano says these now have “a ten% enhance in pad-to-rotor clearance to scale back noise”… which sounds good to me.
Upkeep has been made simpler too, with a separate bleed port and valve screw simplifies the bleeding course of, so that you (or your mechanic) now not need to take away the caliper from the body to bleed the system.
I opted for 11-34 gear (50/34 up entrance) which is definitely the widest vary on a highway bike I’ve ridden – however as i’m into my early 60’s age-wise now, I’ve misplaced the need to push large gears simply to show I’m powerful, and settled into some consolation understanding I can nonetheless experience up any grade round my hilly dwelling right here in Vancouver.
Arundel makes one of many cleanest cage designs round – and so they’re good guys too and have have been very long time supporters of PEZ. In the event you haven’t already, take a look at their web site and deal with your self to one thing designed proper and priced for actual riders.
The Scoot Tofino saddle is a contemporary formed (ie: shorter – nosed) saddle that provides some useful add-ons, with bolt-on accessibility for a proprietary mild, fender, and saddle bag that every one cosy up beneath. It’s a sensible little system, and I like how the sunshine matches up proper underneath the saddle inserting it as excessive as attainable on the again of the bike, and eliminating the necessity to strap one on prime the seatpost.
For this put up I wished to give attention to simply the construct, and can speak concerning the experience of the bike in a while.
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