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Team Europcar Colnago M10s 2014

Team Europcar Colnago M10s 2014

 
Team Europcar Colnago M10s 2014
Pieter Van Pietersen



Team Europcar is using a Colnago C59/ M10 frames, Campag BORA Ultra 35 / Ultra 2 wheels, Campag Super Record EPS components and Deda Bars/ Stem.

Some riders choose to run mechanical gears, perhaps at request of the sponsor.

On rougher roads, some riders choose the Colnago CX-Zero frame, which gives a softer ride and more upright position.

Good tool for the job, although Thomas Voekler will gurn his way through the year on anything!

The bike components used by Team Europcar are listed below.



M10s 2014

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Colnago M10s 2014 Complete Bike

Love Colnagos, but these days the technology is behind that of other manufacturers. All downhill since the Master Piu.

Weight: -g

RRP in USD: $-



BORA Ultra 2 tubular

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Campagnolo BORA Ultra 2 tubular Wheels

50mm deep carbon rims, carbon hubs, ceramic bearings, low front spoke count, light weight, reputable manufacturer. Nothing there points to bad performance. They are well liked wheels which feel solid and reliable. I hesitate to say they feel fast, as in my opinion, wheels never do. How can you tell if you're going 1mph faster?

The question is, do you like the bold graphics, and do you mind paying the high asking price? At that price you could look at the Lightweight Meilenstein which is 210g lighter (and $600 cheaper).

Perhaps consider the Bora One wheels which have the same rim but alloy hubs and steel bearings and are only about 30-40g heavier but around $1,300 less.

Weight: 1310g 565g front 745g rear

RRP in USD: $4365

The Bora Ultra Two tubular wheelset sells for $3478 here. There's no clincher version available.

At this price, perhaps look at Lightweight or ENVE wheels at $2950. If you are a Campagnolo rider, you won't be able to run C50 tubular wheels - $2145 at Wiggle , which are a fair bit cheaper.

Super Record 11 Ultra-Torque Ti EVO

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Campagnolo Super Record 11 Ultra-Torque Ti EVO Cranks

To fit the cranks requires Campagnolo's proprietary installation and removal tools.

Campagnolo UT-BB120 tool Bottom Bracket Cup tool
Campagnolo UT-BB110 tool Ultra Torque fixing bolt tool

You can also get a BB30 model. All Super Record bottom brackets are supplied with ceramic bearings. I don't believe the 3.5W saving over steel bearings, however.

If you get the standard 'Super Record 11 Ultra Torque Titanium Crankset' then you'll save about $300 but will be 56g heavier. Can you bear it?

Weight: 584g 172.5mm arms compact

RRP in USD: $1025

Super Record 11 cranks are selling for $789 here although these are compact or for $635 here (standard 53x39).

Super Record 2014 11 Speed

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Campagnolo Super Record 2014 11 Speed Front Derailleur

Very similar to the Record model, just 4g lighter and it says "Super" on the top. Regardless, it works well, trims, and will accommodate 24-55 teeth chainrings. Expensive when you think that a Shimano Di2 front derailleur is selling at $350.


Weight: 129g

RRP in USD: $855

You can buy an entire EPS upgrade kit in a box here for $2700 or just the front derailleur for $756.

Alanera RHM Carbon

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Deda Alanera RHM Carbon Handlebars

This integrated bar and stem comes in 9 sizes, with the largest at 12cm stem and 46cm width for the big lads out there.

Weight at 409g is heavy. You can get a carbon or aluminium stem at 125g and Carbon bars at 200g.

The glossy white finish will soon be scratched once you attach lights and computers to it.

With no weight advantage, no real stiffness advantage and no price advantage it is difficult to see why you'd buy these bars instead of separate components except if you liked the look.

Note that the GPS mount has to be bought separately and standard mounts won't fit on these bars due to their cross section.

Weight: 409g (12cm x 44cm)

RRP in USD: $850

The Alanera is selling for $381 here without GPS mount accessory.

Super Record 11 Speed EPS

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Campagnolo Super Record 11 Speed EPS Levers

These work as well as the Shimano Di2 levers. They are probably easier to get used to, since the shifting control is similar to the mechanical version. These levers also give a more audible click compared to Di2, which you may prefer (I don't).

With the downshift lever on the inside of the hood, it can be reached with your thumb while in the drops, so a special sprint button isn't required.

These are actually cheaper than Dura-Ace and feature integrated CPU functions, but you still need a CPU fixed to your stem with ugly zip-ties.

Weight: 265g pair

RRP in USD: $780 pair

A single lever sells for $253 here and of course you'll need two.

Super Record 11 Speed EPS

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Campagnolo Super Record 11 Speed EPS Rear Derailleur

It does look good with all that carbon. The motor is quite well hidden inside the derailleur body.

The pulleys have holes to save weight, but these tend to fill with oily gunk, which weighs more than plastic. So unless you keep them very clean, the benefits will be lost.

As with Shimano Di2, this derailleur has a 'Ride Back Home' function. If the battery dies or if there is a crash, the motor is uncoupled, so the derailleur may be positioned manually.

Weight: 206g

RRP in USD: $750

A Campagnolo Super Record EPS 11S Rear Derailleur 11S Short Cage Carbon sells for $468 here and $765 here.

Super Record 11 Speed

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Campagnolo Super Record 11 Speed Cassette

Five of the sprockets are steel (the smallest ones i.e. 11-15). The other 6 are steel. They are mounted on an aluminium body. The reason for using steel is to save weight, reduce cost and improve wear. it is better to use Ti on the larger cogs as these have less load on them, and can be made lighter than with steel. Its a fine balancing act.

Light and quiet running, it is nevertheless rather expensive.

Available sizes:
11-23, 11-25, 12-25, 12-27, 12-29


Weight: 177g (Actual: 194g for 12-27)

RRP in USD: $470

The Record 11 cassette is selling for $299 for 12-25 here (other sizes more expensive, but 12-25 is a good cassette) and Super Record for $332.45 here.

Chorus cassettes $145 are a fair bit cheaper and only 59g heavier.

Keo Blade 2 Ti

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Look Keo Blade 2 Ti Pedals

I've used look pedals since 1988, but in the last few years I changed to Shimano. I found that the Look cleats tended to fall apart very quickly (the non slip grip tore off followed by rapid wear of the plastic) and the bearings got crunchy after some wet rides.

The slightly worn cleats would also rock from side to side (i.e. pitch introduced) which may have caused some knee niggles. The Shimano platform is more solid. Perhaps this has been solved with Look's new pedal body shape. Let me know if it has.

I've also seen issues with the carbon blade delaminating or snapping, so check yours regularly. Perhaps the issue is solved with this wider blade. Note that the blades come in different spring strengths, with blue as the highest.

There have been complaints about an aggressive seal on the pedals, which adds friction.

Having said that, these pedals look fantastic, and if you have a Campagnolo group set, you can't be putting Shimano pedals on, can you?

The price is high, so consider the Keo 2 Cromo steel axle version which is 20g heavier per pedal but 40% cheaper.



Weight: 90g per pedal, 34g cleat

RRP in USD: $400

Look Blade 2 with Cr-Mo axles sell for $164 here or $393 for the Ti version.

Super Record 11 Speed

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Campagnolo Super Record 11 Speed Brakes

A great functioning brake caliper, only available in black.

The main issue is cleaning the things with all those holes. Brake dust and grime will accumulate, and you'll need pipe cleaners and ear buds to get it out. Who can be bothered with that?

Campagnolo has finally fixed their brake pad issue. They used to be impossible to remove, which is a pain if you need to regularly change the pads for carbon or alloy rims. The pads now slide easily out of the shoes.

The rear brake has a single pivot design, which makes the brake a little lighter and less powerful than the front dual pivot. This is useful, as less braking force is required at the rear wheel.

Weight: 272g Mono/Dual pivot

RRP in USD: $335

The single pivot version is selling for $300 here or $312.50 here . The dual pivot version costs a more at $390 here

Rox 6.0

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Sigma Sport Rox 6.0 GPS

This is a simple computer that tells you heart rate, distance, speed, cadence and altitude. There's no GPS, however (or of course power reading).

If shopping for a computer I recommend getting a GPS enabled computer, otherwise how will you join Strava?

As this is a German product, the , and . are swapped around. So one thousand point two becomes 1.000,2 instead of 1,000.2. The altimeter is also subject to barometric influence, so unreliable.

Weight: 60g

RRP in USD: $165

The Rox 6.0 sells for $148.50 here

Carbon Comp

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Hutchinson Carbon Comp Tires

There have been a lot of complaints about this tire's resistance to cuts and punctures. Unless you live in an area with smooth, gravel-free roads, like Majorca, then don't get these. They are probably good for 500km, then it is time to replace them. Pros can do this, but normal riders won't.

They have been seen on pro bikes rebadged as Mavic tubulars.



Weight: 260g

RRP in USD: $139.95

Selling for $88 here

Tao Carbon

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Tacx Tao Carbon Bottle Cage

This is a light bottle cage at 29g. However it is about five times the price of the Elite Custom Race which is 41g. You'll have to decide if the extra cost is worth it.

The Tacx Tao bottle cage holds bottles securely (500ml - 750ml used). Some bottles won't fit as they are too wide, so do check carefully before buying. The bottles are easy to insert and retrieve and the design means that the bottles don't get marked. (Aluminium cages tend to tattoo the bottles).

However there's a major flaw. The plastic tab $7.99 at the bottom of the cage snaps after a few months of usage. It isn't strong enough for the job. This has happened on three Taos that I've owned, so I've given up and moved to Elite. On that basis, I do not recommend this bottle cage.



Weight: 29g

RRP in USD: $80

Tao Carbon cage with bottle selling for $81 here.

Plastic tabs available separately: $7.99 here

Dura-Ace CN-9000

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Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 Chain

This is an 11 speed chain. The old Shimano chains were the best wearing in tests. This 11 speed chain shouldn't wear any faster than the excellent 10 speed versions as the rivets are similar. I get about 5000 dry km per chain. Make sure you follow good chain maintenance procedures to maximize wear.

DA chains used to require being mounted in one direction, but this has now changed - they can be mounted any way. I imagine this is because so many muppets were not reading the very CLEAR instructions supplied by Shimano, then complaining about a noisy drive chain and poor shifting.

Shimano has also removed the slots that were drilled into the inner plates, yet the chain, being narrower, is 23g lighter. It isn't much, but it all adds up.

Weight: 243g for 114 links

RRP in USD: $58

The Dura-Ace 11 speed chain sells for $47 here or $41 here.

Chain Catcher - Patte Anti-deraillement

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Aivee Chain Catcher - Patte Anti-deraillement Chain Catcher

This is a nice chain catcher that mounts with braze-on front derailleurs. There's a little adjustment grub screw to get the position spot on. To get it to work with Campagnolo EPS, you need to buy KIT-5054.

Weight: 12g

RRP in USD: $30



Race Number Mount - Patte de Plaque

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Aivee Race Number Mount - Patte de Plaque Race number mount

Simple, light and nice to have on your bike. The screw at the back is a butterfly nut so you don't need tools to attach your number.

Weight: 8g

RRP in USD: $10




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