Podium E'tape Shimano 105 Complete Road Bike - 2016
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At the heart of Diamondback's Podium E'tape Shimano 105 Complete Road Bike is what may well be the two most well-kept industry secret we've had the opportunity to ride and love: Diamondback's Podium frameset. The Podium frameset featured here is the same frame used in the more expensive Podium Equipe build that's being proven the world over under the professional athletes of Optum Pro Cycling. By combining that frameset with Shimano's durable workhorse 105 drivetrain and HED's aluminum Flanders Plus rims, the Podium E'tape model brings a pro-level frameset to a self-sponsored price point.
The Podium E'tape's frame comes to life through Diamondback's Advanced Monocoque Molding Process (AMMP). AMMP starts with a polystyrene pre-form core and a plastic, internal bladder describing the shape of the frame. Different carbon moduli from Mitsubishi and Toray are laid-up around this core in order to hit the sweet spot of stiffness and comfortable compliance, and the whole package is then encased in an external shell to match the internal bladder and keep the inside surface as smooth and unblemished as the outside. Key structural joints are reinforced with silicone mandrel shells in order to ensure the best possible strength-to-weight ratio, and Diamondback eschews pre-preg carbon in favor of its own proprietary Optimized Resin Compound to ensure total control over the materials' consistency and the frame's qualities.
The end goal of AMMP is, of course, to make a frameset that's both race-worthy and comfortable enough to ride all day long at any speed, so the E'tape features the an upright race geometry that's similar in design to the endurance frames with Italian labels that have been appearing with increasing frequency in the peloton. This geometry is defined by taller head tubes, shorter top tubes, and a touch more fork rake than the slammed look we became accustomed to — but never felt good on — in the late '90s and turn of the century.
Of course, given that it's got the same geometry as Optum's machines, you can rest assured that this isn't a sportive bike. Its stack and reach come in just under the average for many of the pro machines you'll see in the peloton, so the cockpit configuration can be set up as an agro crit stiletto when the time comes for pain. The bottom bracket and chain stays are built up to resist wagging, which ensures that every watt of self-punishment you put into the pedals transfers to the road.
The tapered head tube and Continuous Fiber Technology carbon fork take advantage of the frame's geometry to glue to lines and track confidently when the kilometers are ticking down and the situation starts getting twitchy. In order to keep you fresh for those moments, the slightly flattened seatstays and 27.2mm HED carbon seatpost absorb road noise and keep things vertically compliant, so the frame's stiff efficiency doesn't translate into rider fatigue after two hours of racing.
- Frame Material
- AMMP carbon fiber
- Fork
- AMMP Carbon Competition Road Fork
- Headset
- FSA No.42
- Shifters
- Shimano 105 5800
- Front Derailleur
- Shimano 105 5800
- Rear Derailleur
- Shimano 105 5800
- Crankset
- 53 / 39 t FSA Gossamer Pro
- Bottom Bracket
- Praxis Works PF30 Conversion for Shimano
- Crank Arm Length
- [size 52] 170 mm, [sizes 54-56] 172.5 mm, [sizes 58-60] 175 mm
- Cassette
- 12 - 30 t Shimano 105 5800 11-Speed
- Chain
- FSA CN1101
- Brakeset
- Tektro R540 dual pivot
- Brake Type
- rim
- Handlebar
- HED Grand Tour 7050 AL
- Handlebar Width
- [size 52] 40 cm, [sizes 54-56] 42 cm, [sizes 58-60] 44 cm
- Stem
- DBR 3D
- Stem Length
- [size 52] 90 mm, [sizes 54-56] 100 mm, [size 58] 110 mm, [size 60] 120 mm
- Saddle
- Prologo Zero II Cromoly
- Seatpost
- HED carbon 27.2mm (Di2 compatible)
- Wheelset
- [rims] HED Flanders C2+
- Hubs
- sealed cartridge
- Tires
- Continental Ultra Sport II
- Tire Size
- 700 c x 23 mm
- Pedals
- not included
- Recommended Use
- road race, road endurance
- Manufacturer Warranty
- lifetime on frame
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