ENGLISH N° 09 - JANUARY 2015
Dan Craven:
From “Nam” to Top
Ambassador:
Luca Parmitano
Tech bulletin
B1-r brakes
Dan Craven
COLNAGO V1-r
Dan
Craven
PEOPLE
With a beard and long hair, Dan Craven does not look like a typical
cyclist. The Europcar team rider recently sat down for an exclusive
interview with our magazine. His secret to becoming a professional
cyclist? Never give up, and travel the world!
“I’m a born and bred Namibian star ting my second season with Team Europcar - after a very long
journey to get to the upper levels of cycling. I got into cycling via triathlon after stumbling across the
spor t in my final year of high school. No one knew about cycling where I lived, and my town didn’t even
have a swimming pool, so needless to say I wasn’t very good. Once at University in Stellenbosch, South
Africa, I got into road cycling and it’s taken me around the world. I spent four years on Team Fidi BC,
an Amateur team in Switzerland, then four years on British Continental teams in the UK (Rapha Condor
Sharp and IG - Sigma Spor t). From there I spent a year and a half without a real home-base – riding for
Synergy Baku Cycling Project from Azerbaijan in 2013, and in the first par t of 2014 with the German
squad Team Bike Aid. I’ve had many highs and even more lows along the way. Living in the backyard of
a scrap-metal yard for years, crashing into sign posts at full speed, and, of course, racing until I was
purple in the face – but somehow I’ve always kept going (I’ve never claimed to be a bright spark…).
I’ve never done this for the money and as much as I love the “fame” (for lack of a better word), it is
really only an added bonus. Being out on the road and feeling like a little child again, trying to ride
away from my buddies (or the best cyclists in the world - trying!) – I suppose that’s why I do it.”
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COLNAGO V1-R
Dan’s bike
Tell us about your 2014 season with Europcar
“I only joined the team in late July but was thrown right into racing, racking up 43 race-days in three months
- with the definite highlight being the Vuelta Espana. I had been very nervous joining the team mid-season,
and I was not speaking French all that well, but the reception from the squad was absolutely amazing and I
felt right at home within days. That said, I wasn’t overly impressed with any of my results and really have to
pick up on that side of things in 2015. I usually enjoy getting into all day breakaways, but somehow failed
to get into a single one while racing for Europcar. That cannot continue, so I’m really looking forward to
doing something about that in the near future”.
What was your best racing moment of the year?
“As I didn’t get any big results, or, as I’ve already said, get into any proper breakaways, my highlights
obviously will be of a different manner. Without a doubt, my highlight is the simply fact that I got to put on
the team kit and swing my leg over one of the team bikes. It’s taken me so long to get to this level that just
being in the team bus, in the peloton, at training camp, or where ever, still feels somewhat surreal to me.
Like a kid in a candy store, you’ll probably find me grinning from ear to ear most of the time. I just hope
this feeling remains for as long as possible”.
MOVIE: V1-r / DAN CRAVEN
What are the differences between racing in Africa and in Europe?
“Pretty big - but getting smaller every year. In African racing the field is not as deep as in Europe, and
even though it is easier to be counted as a strong rider, one is also marked more by others in the field
as a result. This makes it a very good place to learn certain aspects of racing for young and developing
riders - how to handle pressure and leadership roles especially.
Also, most African racing takes place on wide open roads without many corners, this is very different than
in Europe where you are constantly changing direction and racing on roads of varying sizes. This might
explain why I am not all that fond of cornering at high speeds”.
INTERVIEW
Dan Craven
Team Europcar
Colnago V1-r, size 54s
Selle Italia SLR saddle
Deda 42mm handlebar and 130mm stem
Campagnolo Super Record mechanical
(I love the Campy “clunk”)
Sigma Rox 10.0 speedometer
Power2Max Campagnolo Record power-meter
Campagnolo Bora 35 racing wheels – 11-25/27
Campagnolo Zonda training wheels – 11-27
What expectations do you have for the upcoming season?
“After the recent news about the team’s license a lot has changed, and I will need to find out what my racing
program is before I can say for certain what my goals will be. Whatever the program - top of the list will be
breakaways! It’s time I get into some again”.
Can you describe your daily (training) routine?
Tell us about your food choices (pre, during, and post training)
“I’m a sucker for a daily routine - I function a lot better when I have a general routine (it can’t be too strict
though, otherwise I might go crazy). The problem is that with so much traveling, and with having several
places I call home at different times of the year or even month (Namibia, UK, France, and soon Spain as
well), it is hard to get into a comfortable routine. Generally I like getting to bed before 10 p.m. This allows
me to wake up before eight the next morning, in time to make my girlfriend coffee on the rare occasion that
we are spending time together. Hopefully a bit of core work before breakfast... Breakfast is a combination
of eggs (and bacon), and then oats. The training/racing schedule of the day defines which (big day - a
lot of both; medium - just oats; short day - just eggs). Training varies between a complete rest day (once
every three weeks if travel doesn’t get in the way), and six hours on the bike. All plans can change on pretty
short notice, dependant on how I’m responding to the previous day’s efforts – and, of course, what the
local weather has decided to do for the day. Post-training I’ll vacuum up whatever leftovers there are from
the previous day’s dinner. Dinner at the end of the day is hopefully a massive salad filled with avocado,
rocket, tomatoes, and other delicious goodies. I always have a healthy portion of protein - chicken breast
being easy and fast but, as an African, I am always particular towards a nice juicy, medium/rare steak. Carbs
all depend on what I’ve been up to, but I do my best to avoid bread and pasta – as impossible as that is
at times. I find it nigh impossible to follow the paleo diet, but I am a very big fan of it and try to follow the
general principles to a certain degree. Sugar is a delicious evil that I try and side step at every moment of
the day, unless it’s right before or during a ride”.
DEDICATED
SEATPOST
MAXIMUM
COMPATIBILITY
How many kilometers do you ride per year?
“Good question. I’ve had consistent computer issues the past few years, so honestly can’t tell you how
much. Added to that, the last few years were wrought with a lot of chaos, so the total wouldn’t be quite as
you would expect”.
What do you like most about your Colnago bikes?
“The brand – there are few top brands that have survived over the years with the family connection that
Colnago has (Condor in the UK is another rare example). These days all of the top bikes are good, so if
you’re spending top dollar you have to find something that appeals to you - for me, the old-school family
connection, history, and image of Colnago far outweighs the flash and fanfare that many “racing brands”
have. Not to mention the value that Colnago’s maintain over time - part of their old-school charm. My very
first bike in Europe was a Colnago Dream, back in 2005 when I arrived in Switzerland – that obviously
helps, even though I was already fond of Colnago before then”.
Which is your all-time favorite Colnago model?
“Funny thing is that even though my main racing and training bike is the V1-r, I am a massive fan of the
C60 (which I do also have, as my secondary racing bike). The carbon lugs and the resulting classic look of
the bike really appeals to my tastes. It’s the kind of classic bike that you could ride forever and not worry
about changing fashions. Just look at how expensive C40 frames on eBay still are… But, if there’s one
Colnago that I really want (and don’t YET have), it’s the Master. I already have the parts that I want to put
on a Master, I just have to save up some more so that I can afford one”.
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DEDICATED
BRAKE
SYSTEM
Tech bulletin
PAG.9
CARBON FRAME
DROPOUTS
THREADFIT 82.5
BOTTOM BRACKET
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At 38 years old, Air Force Major Luca Parmitano
completed the world’s most difficult triathlon in Hawaii
this past October – 3.8km of swimming, 180km
cycling, and a full marathon-length run!
AMBASSADOR:
Luca Parmitano
The Astronaut Triathlete
“My legs feel like they did when I came back from the International Space Station – sitting or
standing is easy, getting up is more complicated,” so said Parmitano the day after completing
the Ironman Kona, Hawaii. An astronaut with the ESA (European Space Agency), Luca Parmitano,
ambassador of Italian Presidency of the European Council, took 12 hours and 30 minutes to
complete the event. He arrived in 1513th position amongst the 2200 athletes who started.
Although triathlon is often a race against one’s self, the long “journey” of preparation is often
the focus. “The preparatory phase lasted about six months. I started training before I knew I
would be invited to the World Championship, because my intention initially was to join the race
in Arizona (also in the Ironman circuit). The hardest part for me was also the longest – the
bike leg. For various reasons, I had never used a triathlon bike until recently! I chose an Italian
bike, the Colnago K.Zero, because Italy has always been at the forefront in the creation of highperformance bikes. Unlike in cycling, in swimming and running there is the work of adapting the
body – this is the tool itself, and you just have to learn to push the limits. The challenge for me
was to finish the race. The possibility of not being able to finish not only exists, but it is very real.
I would not choose to do this race if I did not think that there is the possibility of not being able
to finish it. The ‘challenge’ is this: do not do something because you are sure to be able to, but
because you have not! “
COLNAGO K.ZERO
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NEWS:
Tech bulletin
Mara Abbot Joins
Wiggle Honda Pro
Cycling Team
Assembling and
Adjusting B1-r Brakes
American Mara Abbott is one of eight new signings for Wiggle Honda
Pro Cycling for the 2015 season. The 29 year old is coming over from
the American UnitedHealthcare team, and has won the prestigious
and toughest stage-race for women, the Giro Rosa, twice in her career
(2010 & 2013). In 2010, Mara was the first ever American to win the
race. Mara’s climbing abilities and determination will make her one of
the lead riders for stage races, and an indispensable member of the
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team in 2015.
Featuring direct mounting to the frame, Colnago B1-r brakes need special attention
during the adjustment assembly. For best performance, it is necessary to pay special
attention to the two washers that are included in the brake pad assembly – moving
them according to the type of wheels:
- Wheels with very wide rims (25-27 mm): 2 external (a + b)
- Wheels with “standard” width (22-25 mm): 1 internal + 1 external
- Wheels with narrow rims (19-22 mm): 2 internal (a + b)
After this first crucial adjustment, you can proceed with assembling the brake on the
frame as instructed. An additional fine-tuning of the distance between pad and rim, as
well as the centering of the brake, can be done by adjusting the side-screws (2mm
hexagonal head) visible above the two brake pads.
NEWS:
RusVelo
Strongly Confident for 2015
The Rusvelo team will continue to ride Campagnolo-equipped Colnago
bikes, changing the model to the new V1-R. There are also noticeable
changes in the rider line-up, with two of the team leaders, Ilnur Zakarin
and Sergey Lagutin, leaving for Katusha, and a big group of under-23
youngsters coming in. Still, the team is determined to hold on to the UCI
rating positions it occupied in 2014. True to the strategy of giving the
green light to a professional career for the most talented young Russian
riders, the team roster remains 100% Russian.
Team roster for 2015:
Ildar Arslanov, Ivan Balykin, Igor Boev, Alexander Evtushenko,
Ar tur Ershov, Petr Ignatenko, Sergey Firsanov, Alexander Foliforov,
Alexander Komin, Roman Kustadinchev, Roman Maikin, Ar tem
Nych, Ar tem Ovechkin, Kirill Pozdniakov, Alexander Rybakov,
Alexander Serov, Andrey Solomennikov, Mamyr Stash.
Sports directors:
Alexander Efimkin, Sergey Honchar, Alexey Markov, Fabrizio
Tacchino, Rober to Vigni.
Technical partners:
Accapi, Campagnolo, Casco, Colnago, Deda Elementi, Dion
Spor tlab, Elite, Errea, Look, Parentini, Selle Italia, Tufo.
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I N
C O L L A B O R A Z I O N E
C O N
Location: MARANELLO
LINEA DI PRODUZIONE V12
LIGHTNESS, AERODYNAMICS, SAFETY.
The V1-r is the new frame from Colnago designed for
cyclists who are particular about their bike’s weight-toperformance ratio. It is made with the highest quality
carbon fiber, selected in cooperation with Ferrari,
which is why is we use the Cavallino logo on each frame.
The frame is monocoque, with aerodynamic shaped
tube sections, and full-carbon rear dropouts.
The V1-r is the best monocoque frame produced in
Colnago’s sixty year history.
c o l n a g o . c o m