Posts Tagged as "Ceepo"

The Face behind Ceepo Bicycles

Video courtesy of Jack and Adam’s Bicycles

Ceepo 2011 Range – Sneak Peak

Choosing the Correct Bike

Now days you have countless choices of frames, wheels, handle bars, saddles, pedals, helmets, nutritional products and even clothing. In fact there are so many mass-produced choices that it’s just plain confusing at the best of times.

Having had a sneak preview of some of the 2011 bike ranges from the recent Eurobike show, I can’t help but wonder how many products are actually made in a factory both owned and based in the same country, let alone the same town, as the actual brand.

It’s common knowledge that a number of large brand companies have a large portion of their range made in the Far East. I think that the Chinese and Taiwanese factory owners must be laughing all the way to the bank. Good on them.

As a triathlete, however, it can be tough to decide on equipment amid the myriad of options. Bike frames and complete bikes are the hardest to choose.

Many athletes ponder questions like: which is the most aerodynamic, which is more comfortable, and, my personal favourite, which is the lightest? The truth is who cares what the answers to those questions are.

What you should be asking yourself is: does this frame/bike suit my ability; is it the right geometry for my body type and size, and, the most important one of all, does it fit into my budget?

Too many of us are caught up in the if-they-have-it-I have-to-have-it-hype.

Everyone, unfortunately, chooses a frame or bike based on what others are riding. No sooner have they bought it and the problems start.

The question most athletes are not asked when choosing a bike is: what is your injury history? This may seem a little weird but it has a significant bearing on both the style and the geometry of the bike that you may need.

Let’s take a road bike for example. You would think that the geometry on a 58cm-frame for one manufacturer would be the same as for the same size frame from all the other manufactures. Not so!

Frames can have as much as a 17mm difference in the head-tube length, which is the section on the frame between the handle bars and the top of the fork.

Let’s say you have lower back or neck discomfort. That 17mm could be the difference between you putting in a strong ride at your next race or having a shocker.

In the same instance,if you do have an old neck injury why choose a time-trial-style frame that is very low at the front thus placing even more strain on the neck than what it’s already going through?

My advice to you is simple. Ask your coach for help.

And if your coach says it is not their area of expertise, appreciate the honesty because it means that your coach is looking after your interests, rather than his back pocket.

In that case, I advise you to find a dealer that has been trained by Dr Andy Pruitt in bike fitting. What this man does not know about bike fitting is not worth knowing. Put it this way, if Fabian Cancellara trusts him shouldn’t you?

“Thanks Jono”

Jono Rumbelo, Certified ironguides Method Coach – South Africa

 

Beauty in a Climax – Ceepo Climax

Bike Review: Ceepo Mamba

They say that when you come across a Black Mamba in the wild you have two options: to die now or to run and die later. Either way you’re not getting out of there alive. It is the single most feared predator on the African Savannah. The Black Mamba attacks with ferocity, it is unforgiving. In the wild only the strongest survive; but against the Black Mamba even they don’t stand a chance.

The CEEPO MAMBA is the road bike for triathletes.

I can hear you thinking “who are CEEPO?” and “why should I trust them?”
The official bike partner of Ironman Triathlon; CEEPO are a Japanese company who specialise in triathlon specific frames. The MAMBA was the result of demand from their ITU athletes to provide a light, aerodynamic frame that was ITU compliant.

A road bike made for triathletes; the CEEPO MAMBA incorporates UCI compliant, ITU triathlon specific design. Whilst the average age group triathlete will not need the ITU compliant geometry, they will benefit from the comfort and aerodynamics that the frame provides.

RIDE
I was given the CEEPO MAMBA for two weeks. Each year I ride my TT bike during the summer season and then pack it away for winter as I log some base km’s in the wet, cold and rain. Apart from not wanting to wreck my TT bike; I want to keep it race friendly for as long as possible. When talking to mates, I found that most triathletes were in this position.

The CEEPO Mamba rides like the child of a top end road bike and a TT frame. The first thing I did was to fit some short clip-on aerobars to the frame. If CEEPO was right I should have been just as comfortable, powerful and efficient in both the ‘road’ (handle bars) position as I was when I switched it into ‘triathlon’ (aerobars) mode. They were right. It has completely changed the way I look at my winter training. Now I can incorporate good climbing and longer intervals into the same workout; whereas previously I would have chosen a frame (road or TT) to suit my specific goal.

It has meant that come summer I will have (hopefully) held onto some of my flexibility and be closer to triathlon specific bike fitness. That can only be a good thing.

SIMPLE
So let’s keep it simple. What makes the CEEPO MAMBA stand out from the crowd?

1. Made from 100% High Modulus Carbon and weighing in at only 1000 grams; the CEEPO MAMBA frame is super light, super tough and very responsive.
2. During winter, athletes want to give their TT bikes a rest. When summer comes around they have lost the flexibility that comes with being down in their aero-position. The CEEPO MAMBA gives triathletes the ability to keep a similar position on their road bike.
3. In a world where road bikes are made for pure cyclists; the CEEPO MAMBA was designed for triathlon. This means that you can attach clip-on aerobars and achieve a comfortable and efficient fit for training during winter.
4. The MAMBA is the perfect bike for those who want to invest in a new bike, but can’t decide between a road or TT frame style. It is fast enough to complement the strongest riders whilst also allowing those new to the sport room to ‘grow into their bike’ as their strength and skills improve.

CEEPO has harnessed the collective power of both the high end road and TT frames with the MAMBA. It will change the way you think about winter training. The CEEPO MAMBA is fast becoming the most feared predator in triathlon.

In the wild only the strongest survive. Make sure it’s you.

(Taken from http://www.firstoffthebike.com)