Blue Competition Cycles used Press Camp to unveil their all-new Axino road bike (and new Jonathan Page Signature Edition Norcross cyclocross bikes, which we’ll post separately!), a replacement for their popular RC8 race bike.
The Axino, named for the smallest theoretical part of the atom, and the one that contains all the energy, is a sub-1000g frame made with tube-to-tube and monocoque construction aimed at one-day classics and American style crit racers.
Blue wanted to create a stiff, strong bike with standard “round” tube design, and to do so they fabricated a one-piece top/down/head tube structure, tapered seat tube and one-piece BB/chainstay structure. To keep the ride comfortable, the seatstays are curved for a little flex over the bumpy stuff, and they added some nice features to make it a great looking and performing bike.
Details, photos and pricing after the break…
Shifter cables run directly into the large, shapely tapered headtube, and the cable housing stops at the entry points. Cables then run through carbon tubes inside the frame. Blue recommends using Gore’s cable system with liners, but it’s not absolutely necessary. The rear brake housing enters further forward than on most frames to keep it from rubbing your knee when you’re standing or sprinting.
Cables pop out just in front of the BB30 bottom bracket.
Called Direct Drive, the one-piece bottom bracket and chainstay structure is stiff. They had that piece laying around and I gave it a good squeeze and flex and it barely budged.
Putting the finishing touches on the stiff factor is the taper at the bottom of the seat tube, giving the bike more contact area at a typically high stress area. Notice that the stays and downtube are virtually at the edge of the BB shell.
Keeping all that rigidity from pummeling your arse are some curved seat stays, designed to give a little over the rough stuff. The Axino also comes with house-brand Aerus carbon seatpost and handlebars and alloy stem, which should help soak up a bit more road vibration.
Full carbon dropouts on the stays and fork.
The 2011 Blue Axino will be available in several builds, and all Blue road bikes come with a water bottle and carbon cage and a custom, color-matched Prologo saddle:
- $2100 frameset
- $7800 SRAM Red, 303 carbon clinchers, TRP mag 970 road brakes
- $7000 Shimano Dura-Ace, HED Ardennes wheels, Aerus components, Prologo saddle
- $6400 SRAM Red, HED Ardennes wheels, Aerus components, Prologo saddle (shown)
- Force $4600 and Ultegra $4400 options also available, HED Bastogne wheels
