Frame and Wheel reviews Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne time trial bike

Time travel

Time trial bikes were not common thirty years ago. Indeed, Frame and Wheel never raced in a time trial as a youth and the few aero bikes around at the time were not very aerodynamic and just beginning to emerge in events such as the Tour de France. Presently, time trial bikes are ubiquitous and there are time trial events on every race calendar. Frame and Wheel competes frequently in time trial events nowadays and is pleased to be able to do so on an Austro-Daimler tt Carbon. Frame and Wheel raced a white one in 2012 and is training on a Champagne version for 2013. 

It’s about a frame set

The frame set features Austro-Daimler 41TT front fork, Austro-Daimler dual position aero seat post, integrated head set and TRP brake set. The frame features aero down tube and seat stays, cutaway aero seat tube, oversized chain stays, BB86 press fit bottom bracket, chain stay mounted rear brake with faring, internal cable routing, riveted front derailleur hanger, horizontal alloy rear dropouts with adjustable axle bolts, two water bottle cage mounts (for the triathlete), distinctive “champagne” finish and down tube Austro-Daimler logo. The 52 cm frame set weighs 2.7 kg (6 pounds). It is designed for mechanical shifting and cannot accommodate electronic shifting. The seat post collar has been improved and now includes two tightening points compared to only one previously. Mechanics report that building up the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon is very straight forward. 

Built up with Stages Cycling power meter

An important point to recognize about the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon frame set is that it does not accommodate SRM or Quarq power meter cranks: the diameter of the opening around the spindle on the power meter plate is not wide enough to fit onto the BB86 bottom bracket. Frame and Wheel likes to use a power meter on the time trial bike and discovered that the Stages Cycling power meter works fine on the frame set and is an attractive alternative: it is refreshingly less expensive (which leaves more resources available for GPS and social network enabled power control units), the difference between 400 watts and 410 watts is immaterial to Frame and Wheel (both are hard for Frame and Wheel to maintain for a long period of time) and Frame and Wheel has always preferred alloy crank arms (Shimano Dura-Ace) over carbon. Frame and Wheel notes that traditional crank sets will work fine on the frame set. 

A fine wine

The Austro-Daimler tt Carbon offers variable seat tube geometry ranging from the more aggressive time trial position (77 degrees) to the more comfortable triathlon position (74 degrees). The desired geometry is obtained by moving the seat clamp forward or backwards along rails on the top of the seat post (This is much easier than pulling out the seat post and reversing it). The ride is smooth and the bike feels stable. Frame and Wheel’s Austro-Daimler tt Carbon is built up with Zipp wheels (900 Tubular disc rear and 808 Firecrest tubular front), a Stages Cycling power meter with Garmin 810 control unit, Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 drive train with 55T/42T chain rings, 3T Brezza II bars and an Adamo seat. The bike weighs eighteen pounds. Fit Werx 2 in Peabody, Massachusetts did the build and the fit.

The voice

Every bicycle has a voice that speaks directly to its rider. For Frame and Wheel, the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon speaks of a mature passion for the time trial discipline. For others, the tt Carbon will perhaps speak plainly of originality, performance and value. For others, no voice will be heard. Frame and Wheel’s view is that the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon is a fine and fast time trial bike that uniquely combines the new with the old. Frame and Wheel looks forward to racing it in 2013.

Specifications

Brand: Austro-Daimler

Model: tt Carbon

Material: Unidirectional high modulus carbon fiber

Design: horizontal top tube

Series: time trial / triathlon

Front fork: Austro-Daimler  41TT

Seat post: Austro-Daimler carbon

Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900

Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900

Bar-end shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900

Cassette, bottom bracket, chain: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900

Crank set: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 170 mm 55T/42T 

Power meter: Stages Cycling Power Meter 

Power control unit: Garmin 810

Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 SL Carbon

Bar and stem: 3T Brezza II straight bend and 3T ARX Team alloy stem

Seat: Adamo Racing

Wheel set: Zipp 900 Tubular rear Zipp 808 Firecrest front tubular

Tires: Vittoria Corsa EVO CX 23-28 tubular 

Total weight with wheels: 18 pounds 3 ounces (8.2 kg) size 50 cm

Rider: Fred Thomas OA/Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team

Build and fit: Fit Werx 2 Peabody, Massachusetts

Frame and Wheel on Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne in 2013 and sample in 2012

Frame and Wheel races Austro-Daimler tt Carbon sample in 2012