Swiss frame maker Andy Walser has the unique honor of having his Time Trial bikes relabeled as a Wilier, a Giant or a Lapierre for Pro Tour events. No wonder, he also recognised as building the fastest Time Trial bikes in world. His newest frames are in cooperation with the German brand Focus. The Izalco Chrono Time Trial bike is presented as the fastest asembly line bike in the world.
Olympic gold medalist Nicole Cooke and German Team Milram captain Linus Gerdemann (2007 Tour de France stage winner) recently tested the bike in the velodrome of the German town of B?ttgen. The Izalco Chrono has the more comfortable standard bottom bracket rather than the Walser signature narrow bottom bracket, though still has his unmistakable aerodynamic and geometric influence. Both riders are betting on Focus with Nicole commenting "I have have never ridden a faster bike".
While a Walser bike is virtually unobtainable, the Focus/Walser Izalco Chrono is available in the UK for the equivalent of $8,500 – this version includes the Tria carbon frame with American Position (AM) bottom bracket, 3T Funda Pro carbon fork, Zipp 808 clincher carbon Wheelset, SRAM Red components and weighs in at 8,4 kg.
Links:
Focus Bikes: www.focus-bikes.de
Andy Walser: www.walser-cycles.ch
Flexliner (Australian Distributer)
images ? Focus
