All this ‘new’ stylin carbon talk makes me thing Kestrel was so way ahead of everyone in the bike industry.
Yes there was the first carbon lugged bikes but Kestrels’ engineering in innovative design may have led the industry to were we are today.
Starting their carbon bike line in the late '80s they made every thing from the original 1st ‘mono’ frame, stylin 500 series, all the 'KM40’s along with their carbon forks.
Kudos and a big thanks to Mr Sandusky and the rest of the team!
I was talking with Preston in Kona back when they had just introduced the new KM40 Airfoil. The old KM40 design was several years old, and he was noteably impressed by the numbers of KM40s still being raced. That bike was certainly ahead of it’s time. For years their carbon fork was THE fork to spec on one’s bike. Time to revive some of that old equipment, get it repainted and head to the races.
When talking about early inovaton in carbon one can not forget Craig Calfee!! Although not first in the triathlon industry, Craig’s bike’s were cutting edge in the early 80’s and those designs still stand true today. Just ask Greg Lemond and Dave Scott.