Welcome to another edition of Bike Porn Monday. A reminder to the growing group of weekly readers - if you want to submit a bike, component or bit of gear that you think is worthy then email us at bikeporn (at) velociti.org [replace the (at) with an @ symbol!]. Let’s get started!

Condor Fixed Gear TT Rig

First up is a stripped back Condor fixed gear time trial bike.  Before you start thinking that this bike is for use on the track, it’s actually used by it’s owner for road-based time trials (geared with a 55×17 - 87 gear inches).  He’ll admit that sometimes he wishes he has gears (in fact I think he may have chucked a derailleur on this bike since), but I think there is something just gorgeous about this minimalist bike:

More info at this guys blog.  Oh, and did I mention that it only weighs about 6.4kg (14lbs)!

Roval Wheels

Whilst I like lots of exotic stuff, occassionally a mass production brand just seems to do it right, and the Roval wheels that come out of Specialized are pretty funky.  These wheels are actually a resurrection of the Claude Lehanneur designed wheels (famous for being rigid, lightweight, but unfortunately not very realiable).  Here’s one of their road based offerings - the Rapide Star:

Apparently Specialized have got it right this time, and the wheels are reliable.  I’m guessing they’re ok given that QuickStep are using them this year.  I noticed the Roval’s in particular watching the TDF Stage 4 time trial - the disc that they had on looks fantastic in motion (watch out for them again in the final TT - stage 20):

Photo is from Cycling News (c) Gregor Brown.  Whilst I love the wheel, I’m actually taking a guess that it’s not a Roval product at all, but just a stickered up HED or similar.  I can’t find any info about a Roval disc wheel.

Finally, here’s a little featurette on Roval wheels:

 
A little Tour Bling

Staying with Cycling News for the moment, there is a great article in their Tour Tech series on personalisation of individual riders bikes - see full article here.  Here’s a photo from that article featuring the Pinarello Prince of Valverde.  Whilst some probably think it’s a little garish, I really like it and it stands out really well in the bunch:

 
A little Crumpton beauty

If you’re after a bunch of nutters (in a good way - I like obsessive people) then go check out Weight Weenies.  I found this absolutely beautiful example on here, built up by “executioner”.  The frame is made by Nick Crumpton who is one of the rarer breed of custom bike builders who works perdominantly in carbon fibre. 

TRP Brakes

There’s something I really like about highly machined components - they just look uber-serious.  Whilst these TRP brakes are not necessarily particularly aerodynamic, I can see a set of these on a time trial bike to help complete a really aggressive look.  TRP actually make a TT specific brake, but these little beauties, at 120gm per end, just look NICE!

Aggressive Looking Shimano

I was recently looking for some cranks for my new 29er build and settled on the new SLX cranks from Shimano.  The new SLX groupset sits between the XT and LX groups, but looks fantastic.  The cranks are based on the Hollowtec II platform so are suprisingly light whilst nice and strong.  In fact, I think the styling of the SLX cranks:

is better than the top of the line XTR cranks:

Sure the XTR’s are possibly lighter and stiffer, but they cost a multiple of the SLX’s.

Klein Attitude Retro

Sticking with MTBs for the moment, I came across this simply gorgeous retro MTB.  I have owned and ridden Klein road bikes in the past and still one of my all time favourite bikes (sadly no longer with me) was a Klein Aura XV (made before Klein went a little downhill).  This is another Weight Weenie build by shamus:

Rapha - Clothing that says “Phark I’m rich”

If you’ve never been to Rapha’s website, treat yourself to perhaps the ultimate in euro high end cycling gear.  Most of their clothes are made from sport-wool so it’s great in anything but high heat and has the added benefit of fitting really nicely and not smelling.  If I had a pile of cash, I’d be splashing out on pretty much every item from their catalogue.  A few of my faves include:

The Classic jersey:

The Club jersey:

Their awesome “Fixed” cycling shorts - London courier style in a nice pair of threads:

Gratuitous pics

So, firstly I’ve been asked to stop being so sexist and include a pic that will appeal to the girls.  I struggled, I really did.  The closest thing I came to for the girls I found here: http://asianhunks.blogspot.com/2007/09/bicycle-hunk.html.  It just makes me feel uncomfortable, so I ain’t going to include any of these pics here, but girls - knock yourselves out.

My wife suggested I post a pic of German triathlete superstar Norman Stadler.  Couldn’t find one of him looking good with a bike so this will have to do:

And to tame it down a bit on the other side of the fence, I thought I’d post someone with more clothes on.  However, clothes or not, I reckon this girl is hot:

Full gallery of all pics below:

[Show as slideshow]

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