I got the review uploaded a few minutes ago by Kim and Marc at IBS. As usual, she did an excellent job. The photography in this review is particularly good. We tried to do our best to cover the topic fairly completely. I hope you guys find it interesting. It was a great bike to review and I enjoyed it very much.
Nice review Tom…and sick looking bike!
One of the local teams here rides the Arcole, they looke even better in person. And it just so happens that everyone on the team is fast as shit too…I am sure the bikes help with that.
So if you put on some Zero Gravity brakes, and a carbon crankset…how much more could you shave off the weight? What did the complete weight end up at? (I didn’t see it in the article, did I miss it?)
-bcreager
I never weigh the complete bikes since they vary so much from frame size to frame size. Also, there is an enormous amount of confusion over how to accurately weigh a bike correctly. It is a hornet’s nest I don;t want to open. Also, I am not too much of a weight weiny. The Arcole isn’t the lightest bike, but it is plenty light enough to go fast and the extra stiffness may make the extra weight worthwhile for some riders.
we tried to go nut to bolt in this review, and it was a fun review to write. I loved riding that bike.
Would I be correct in assuming that a rider that likes to climb out of the saddle and “grinds” at a lower cadence would benefit most from a stiffer bike? Or is stiffness universally better? Perhaps its even a personal preference?
-bcreager
“If you are a long torso, short leg rider above 5’8” tall who likes to mash the big gears the Arcole could be a match made in heaven.”
This be me. although i’m only 1.5 inches taller (and that .5 always stays in).
i’m planning a new bike this winter … maybe i should add the arcole to the shortlist, before you’re review I didn’t know anything about it.
My list: Guru Chron’Alu (dumb name, great bike), P3SL, P2Sl … and now the Arcole.
Any advice?
If you click on the photo on your website, it pops up a Colnago. May want to correct it.
Tom that thing looks like it could even make me go fast.
how can i get a closer look? what’s the colnago doin’ there!?
Another great bike THAT WON’T BLOODY FIT ME !!! Why do you manufacturers taunt me…
Good review Tom and looks great.
My assumption is that a stiffer rear end with less lateral deformation under pedal load is going to climb faster and more efficiently given the same power output as a frame that has a higher degree of deflection under pedal load.
I can’t prove that and I don’t know it for a fact. I believe the Swiss engineer and former team director sportif Paul Koechli did some reasearch years ago with, among others, Jean Francois Bernard (winner of the Mont Ventoux uphill time trial in the Tour de France) on frame weight and stiffness and climbing performance.
My intuition (which may or may not be good) is that a stiffer frame is faster out of the saddle in a big gear on a tough climb- tough to quantify though.
One thing I can tell you- it does feel better on a climb, like less work = more speed/acceleration FWIW which ain’t much…
how can i see a close up of the javelin? you click on it and a colnago pops up…
Yup… It was late when I did that. I’ll fix it tomorrow when I put the P3C stuff up. Sorry about that. Thank you for pointing it out.
Thanks for posting the review on the Javelin Arcole. I have ridden this bike all year (had it painted pink though! I know, I know the guys are all cringing!). Anyway, I LOVE it. It is fast, handles well and is just cool. Thanks for the review, I couldn’t agree more with your review!
Mac - If you are reading this, can I get JAVELIN frame stickers from ya?
Tom, as an additional piece of information USE make a range of carbon seatposts in 25 mm diameter, they are tough, good looking and light. Carbon Aliens are the lightest seat posts you can get Alien clamp is super light and super strong Lay back design Thick-walled carbon tubing Large strength/safety margin for durability and security 164g
FYI Tom,
There are also three sizes in 650c for both the Arcole and the Barolo (48, 51, 55).
Mac McEneaney
Javelin
Is this Jen H…
I can find a way to get you decals. I’ll see if I can use my Javelin connections to find some.
Mac
I never weigh the complete bikes since they vary so much from frame size to frame size. Also, there is an enormous amount of confusion over how to accurately weigh a bike correctly. It is a hornet’s nest I don;t want to open. Also, I am not too much of a weight weiny. The Arcole isn’t the lightest bike, but it is plenty light enough to go fast and the extra stiffness may make the extra weight worthwhile for some riders.
we tried to go nut to bolt in this review, and it was a fun review to write. I loved riding that bike.
…but in a large part of the review you explain how to reduce the weight of the bike. Of course, nice to get extra $ from the customers.
Hey Mac,
Yep, it is me! I will tell you though that MORE people ask about my pink Javelin b/c it is naked. SO many people, so maybe this reverse PR can work?
I will email you off line. Thanks a ton – JH
While mine’s not painted pink (gag!), I concur. I’ve ridden mine all summer long and couldn’t be happier with it. Great review Tom.
“Javelin’s Arcole is the razor’s edge of a new company at the pointy end of the triathlon bike spear”
Could you please use more analogies in your wording. I’m just not getting it.
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