BH will mark 100 years of bicycle making in 2009.  Started by los Beistegui Hermanos (Beistegui Brothers) in Northern Spain in 1909, they took their metal working know how and switched from making guns to bikes. They’ve come a long way since winning the first Vuelta a Espana in 1935, and it showed with the new bikes on display at Interbike.  Funny thing, though, I don’t think there was a single “metal” bike in their booth anywhere!
Shown here hanging from a scale is their G4, tipping an impressive 11.9 lbs (click the scale pic to enlarge).  The G4 is the bike the AG2R team rode to a stage victory in the Tour de France.  It’s an 865g carbon-nano tube frame that comes with a lifetime warranty.  What more do you need?
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Read “more” for their other models, including a very sculpted TT/Tri bike, women’s specific performance race bike and a sweet carbon entry level bike…
BH also offers the GC (Global Concept) frame, above, which is made in the same mold as the G4 but uses HM (High Modulus) carbon rather than nano-tubes.  It weighs in at 950g to 1000g for the frame and is $4,200 for a complete Ultegra bike.
The GC Aero is their TT/Triathlon bike and has some very nicely shaped HM carbon tubes.  It’s got massive chainstays and BB area for stiffness and the three position seat post gives you the option of a 74, 76 or 78 degree seat tube angle.  It’s been used in TDF time trials, at Kona IM and other big events.
The headtube is pointed to break the wind and the bladed down tube is cut to fit just over the front wheel.  The cables run through the frame to keep it smooth.
It’s nice to see bike manufacturers building race-ready frames for women that are more than just small sizes.  The BH Cristal is made just for women using tube-to-tube construction (gives them a wider range of size possibilities than a full monocoque design) and sells with Ultegra SL ($3,600) or DuraAce ($6,399).
The Cristal’s top tube is very slender, with a slight slope, and the seat stays curve on their way down to the short chainstays for a responsive yet compliant ride.  It’s spec’d with the same full carbon fork as the AG2R team bike.
The BH Connect uses tube-to-tube construction to offer more sizes (52, 54, 56, 58 and 59.5cm).  It has a laterally stiffer ride than the G4, making it a good choice for crits and sprints.  Frame weight is 900g and is offered with Ultegra SL ($3,600) and DuraAce ($6,400) built kits.
Lastly, the BH Speedrom is their “entry level” road bike.  It has a more upright position than their race bikes. For 2009, it uses a new mold and comes with a full carbon fork and starts at $2,300 for a complete bike.
