Pick your favorite ideas in road bike development and we’ll bet they mostly match up with current trends: Lower weight, more aero and improved compliance.
Throw in a race winning pedigree and you have the upcoming 2014 Jamis Xenith road bike. It’s a completely redesigned bike with new shapes and features. Even a new construction process!
They borrowed the rear mounted front brake from their TT bike, tucked the rear brake under the chainstays and reshaped the main tubes to make it more aero. Helping that out are new mech/elec cable stops for internal routing of any type drivetrain. Slip past the break for more info, images and a teaser video…
Besides offering better aerodynamics, the Windshield II fork hides Tektro TTV linear pull front brakes for improved power, too. These should come stock on the SL, Team and Pro builds. On the back, depending on model, you’ll get either Shimano’s new BR9010 or Tektro T740R dual mount brakes.
It uses a BB386EVO bottom bracket that allows for 30% larger seat and down tube diameters at the junction than the prior Xenith. It also let them increase the chainstay size without crowding the rear tire. Chainstays are asymmetrical, with the driveside being 15% larger and 30% stiffer.
The balance between stiffness and compliance is built into the frames in several ways. The tubes are “tapered and triovalized” with size specific tubing – the 56/58/61 frame sizes use 10% larger top and down tubes than the 44-54 sizes. The seat stays are tuned better since they’re no longer required to handle braking forces.
Full details, pricing and the rest should come at the tradeshows. For now, here’s this:
