U.S. Cyclists Look For A Super Ride In Atlanta New Bike Designed To Give U.S. Edge

United States cyclist Dirk Copeland remembers being at the starting line in the 1992 Olympics, checking out his competition and thinking he didn’t have a chance. The problem: Bad bikes.

Copeland felt like he and his teammates had Schwinns, their rivals Corvettes.

Not anymore. Nearly four years of testing - much of it in the General Motors wind tunnel used to improve automobile technology - have resulted in Superbike II, the ultra-thin, gold-seeking machine to be used exclusively by the U.S. in the velodrome at Atlanta this summer.

“Now we can be proud of the fact that when we get to the starting line, we’ll be better prepared than any other country,” said Jim Page, deputy executive director of the United States Olympic Committee, at Monday’s unveiling of Superbike II.

Forget the two bronze medals of 1992. The U.S. fully expects to ride these new bikes to a cache of gold.

“It’s going to be the fastest bike at this Olympics,” said Copeland, expected to be among the Superbike II riders in Atlanta.

Looking at it headfirst, the bike is hardly visible. All components disappear within a frame that’s amazingly streamlined. Even the nuts and bolts are hidden.

“See if you can detect any ruffle in the smoothness,” said Chester Kyle of GT Bicycles Inc., one of the bike’s designers. “There’s nothing to ruffle the air.”

Only 12 bikes exist and each is tailored to a U.S. rider’s body size and shape. The bikes were delivered last week so the cyclists would have 3-1/2 months on them.

“After just a few minutes on it, I was really comfortable,” said Copeland.

The team is accustomed to the design, having ridden prototypes for two years.

“Every time we go around the velodrome, it’s normally about 15 seconds. It probably takes a couple of tenths off that. You notice that when the coach calls out your times. So it does make a difference.”

What makes the bike super are a heavily reinforced yet lightweight frame, and an aerodynamic design that reduces wind by 15 percent more than the next-best bike.

A rigid frame is important in accelerating to begin a race, when everyone tries to go from a dead stop to nearly 45 mph.

The less flexible the frame, the easier it is to accelerate. Because this frame - made of a modified carbon fiber - is three times as stiff as steel, the rider’s energy is used more efficiently and he reaches top speed a little quicker.

But riders and coaches can’t stress enough, the bike won’t compensate for a lack of physical ability. It should, however, maximize the Americans’ work ethic.