WILIER CENTO1 CRONO

Few realms in cycling attract self-styled "experts" like the field of aerodynamics. Maybe it's because the Grand Tours are mostly won in the time trials. Or maybe it's because wind tunnels are an oasis of performance measurability unlike anything other in the sport. Whatever the reason, when we think the word "aero", about 10 different companies with 10 different "gurus" come to mind. Some profess encyclopedic knowledge about frameset aerodynamics; some claim the same for wheelsets; others offer savant-like expertise for aerobars. In studying bike industry marketing materials about aerodynamics, though, you'll note how granular their worldviews are. You'll hear "Frame X is 10% more aero than frame Y." And that "Wheelset X is 10% more aero than wheelset Y." And on and on for bars and helmets, etc. We're skeptics by nature and we oftentimes have concerns for the real world context of these tests. A great example can be found here on one of the finest cycling tech sites on the web. See the picture of the spinning wheel in the tunnel? It begs a simple question: How relevant is the data from this test since it's done without a fork, and without a frame, and without a rider? Maybe our concerns are unfounded. We acknowledge that. But this test arouses our fear regarding the ever-increasing wealth of aero data we see: How much is done in a vacuum, and how much done in the context of real riding conditions?

We bring this point up for one primary reason: In any discussion of the Wilier Cento Crono, the name John Cobb must immediately come up. His name is on the bike, and Wilier doesn't hesitate to state that Cobb designed it from stem-to-stern. Who is John Cobb? He's arguably spent more time in a wind tunnel than anyone in North America over the last decade. When Lance Armstrong first started chasing Tour de France titles, Cobb was his undisputed aero advisor. He's credited with conceiving Giro's design for the Advantage helmet (at the 1999 Interbike, Giro showed off Cobb's back-of-the-napkin drawings & cardboard mockups of the design), with both Trek & Litespeed's aero bike designs, and with Oval Concepts' (now Ridley's) Jetstream fork technology. He consulted with teams like Rabobank then Lampre, which resulted in the Cobb-Wilier collaboration.

If there's one fact we'd like to get across here, it's this: Unlike other "gurus" fixated on the aero minutiae of components in-and-of themselves, the bulk of Cobb's hours in the tunnel have been spent optimizing the aerodynamics of cyclists on their bikes, not just testing bikes or components alone. That's what's of such significance with the Cento1 Crono. Cobb understands that the aerodynamics of products are beneficial only insofar as they make the rider/bike combo more aero.

Body-and-bike as an aerodynamically optimized unit: How is it done on the Cento1 Crono? First is its geometry, specifically as it pertains to the more forward position you'll achieve thanks to its steep seat angle. Cobb has been a longtime advocate of steeper seat angles, since they incorporate larger muscle groups, leverage core strength, and (after some adaptation) result in substantial increases in power output. Second is its airfoil tubing shapes. They're not oval all the way across, but rather (like an airplane wing) have an ovalized leading edge with a sharp trailing edge to maximize drag reduction. The aero advantage of these airfoil shapes are complemented by sculpted seatstays and internal cable routing -- further reducing drag. Lastly, you'll find "splitter" bulges in the Cento1 Crono's downtube, as well as in the head tube and seat tube. The purpose of the splitters is to route airflow efficiently through & around different parts of the bike and the rider's body. The seat tube shape allows better airflow between the rider's legs, and the dropped down tube and raised top tube smooths the airflow coming off the front wheel and the back of the stem.

The Cento1 Crono is a full carbon monocoque frameset, made primarily from Toray T700 SC unidirectional fiber. Its tensile strength is immense, and it results in a stiff frame super-resistant to the high-torque efforts of time trialing. It's available in 3 sizes, and comes standard with an aero version of the Wilier Monoscocca monocoque carbon fork, a Ritchey integrated headset. It has an integrated seatmast. It requires the use of a braze-on front derailleur and an English bottom bracket.

2012 Wilier Cento1 Crono Pricing