2010 Spring Buyer’s Guide: Bikes

Ah, spring. When a man’s fancy wanders and new bikes start to show up in the window of his local shop, tempting him away from his trusted steed. Here are just a few new bikes that may be gracing the racks this spring.

Electra Ticino:

We get several bikes in for review throughout the year, most of which are race bikes. The Electra Ticino 8D ($799)  is definitely not a race bike, but in the short time I’ve had it, it’s received more attention and interest than any other bike I’ve had the pleasure to test. People were drawn to the bike and wanted to know what it was

The Ticino is built in the classic French constructeur style. While the looks are classic, the components and materials are anything but. The frame is aluminum and shifting comes from Shimano Rapidfire Plus trigger shifters and an 8 speed Shimano rear derailleur. The classic lo0k is rounded out with Electra’s componentry that pays tribute to classic Italian designs.

The ride is comfortable and easy on the neck, back and knees.

Ellsworth Coercion:

The Coercion is an all new road bike from Ellsworth. Ellsworth designed every millimeter of the bike, coming up with a force-directional design. This unique piece of engineering has been applied to the tube design, geometric shaping, and lay-up of the bike. As a result, any harsh road conditions are absorbed, and all lateral energy is pushed back to help you move forward. And at 940 grams, the bike is light as a feather and will be sure to help you go faster and longer on all of your rides.

It is said to be very stable and excellent at descending. The bottom bracket area is large and stiff, contributing to crisp climbing. While harsh road conditions are balanced out, the bike does not feel dead when you ride. Ellsworth road bikes of old were designed for the American crit rider, whereas the Coercion is built in the grand-tour style for long road races. It will build out to just under 16 pounds with a fairly standard build kit and will sell for $2595 as a frame and fork.

BMC ProMachine SLC01:

We had a chance to see a full fleet of bikes from BMC Racing while visiting their California training camp back in January, and at long last, we have a Pro Machine coming in for review.

BMC deems the Pro Machine ($2599 for frame, fork, headset and seatpost) “the safest, most durable carbon bike on the market.” They pulled this off by working with Easton to utilize their CNT nanotechnology carbon manufacturing techniques. The result is a very striking carbon fiber bike. BMC is ramping up their presence in America and you can be sure that you’ll be seeing more of their bikes on the road in the coming years.

FactionBikeCo’s 22″ BMX :

I bought a 24″ BMX cruiser last year. It’s a great bike and fun to race, but part of me still wants a 20 incher. Another part of me (my knees) says “no way”.

FactionBikeCo is breaking new ground with their 22 inch wheeled BMX bike. They started out with the intent of building a bigger bike for stunt riding but quickly found that its extra speed and stability boosted rider confidence, making it ideal for racing as well. Think of it as a 29er for the BMX set.

There’s a bike making it’s way to BWN HQ from England if the air ever clears. Can’t wait to try it!

Tags: BMC Pro Machine SLC01, BWN HQ, Easton, electra ticino, electra ticino 8d, Ellsworth, ellsworth coercion, FactionBikeCo Zeitgeist, road bikes, Shimano