Our new team FUJI SST 1.0’s arrived. SST stands for SuperSonic Transport as made famous by the Concorde commercial airplane that was designed to transport passengers at speeds greater than the speed of sound.
“To achieve supersonic speeds aerodynamics play a crucial role. As speeds approach the speed of sound, the additional phenomenon of wave drag appears. This is a powerful form of drag that begins at about Mach 0.8, and ends at about Mach 1.2, (transonic speeds). Between these speeds, the peak coefficient of drag can be up to four times that of subsonic drag.” (Wikipedia)
I am not sure at what speed the FUJI SST aerodynamics start to play a crucial role, but it does feel fast. The aero design that deserves the SST moniker certainly will play a role at higher speeds providing an aero advantage when riding below any supersonic speed. I am sure that data collected in a wind tunnel would support this.
The FUJI SST 1.0 is built to be a super stiff and very aero frame set, much like the Concorde, the difference is that it does not need to be going greater than the speed of sound to feel the benefits of the leading design and technology that is in this the bike. The stable platform is obvious as soon as the bike rolls down the driveway and turns onto the street, and again confirmed the first time standing on a climb. The RIB Caron Tubing Technology has internal bracing in the tubes further enhancing the already very multi shaped tubes and adding additional structure. The fork, the down tube, and head tube feel as though they are machined from the same block of material. There simply is no flex.
The new Dura Ace 7900 has a very different feel to it when working with it compared to the 7800 group set. The bits are noticeably svelte, they just feel smaller and lighter. The finish has a nice durable presence reminiscent of Teflon balanced nicely with the famous Shimano mirror like finish. The previous generation Dura Ace had a smooth polished feel to it, the 7900 is more industrial and hard. In typical Shimano fashion all worked flawlessly as a system.
I have owned several FUJI’s and have recommended them to friends and neighbors, typically tuning them and getting a good feel for the quality of the bikes. They have always been an exceptional value, with good simple design. The SST has transcended this and has truly impressed me with the details offered in a very advanced design. Thoughtful use of materials in shapes and configurations that address both the aero and rigid requirements of a top end race bike. In any industry there is top edge technology, then there is leading edge technology, and beyond that it is bleeding edge technology. This new FUJI SST is beyond what is typically expected, even at the pinnacle of design. The SST Concord when it was introduced was pinnacle of air travel providing fast efficient travel, similarly the FUJI SST provides fast efficient travel in a package that is leading edge, without the sonic boom.
If you are in the market for a high end well equipped bike with a frame that is truly well designed ask one of the TEAM FUJI/Clif Bar riders that are now racing them to loan you one of theirs for a test ride and see for yourself. For a very good road test done by www.testrider.com see the video http://vimeo.com/8590498 on the FUJI SST1.0.
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