If there was an award for the most abstract-looking track bike at the 2023 World Championships, the Japanese Track Cycling Federation would have stolen the show. The V-IZU TCM, named after the Tokyo 2020 Izu Velodrome, is the third bike to take a leaf out of British Cycling’s book, with ultrawide fork legs and seatstays.
The V-IZU TCM follows a similar aerodynamic notion to both the Hope x Lotus and Look P24 (see news, page 6), which we covered last week. The wide fork legs, it’s understood, are designed to sit in line with a rider’s lower leg which can aid in smoothing airflow around this part of the rider. Still unreleased, no details have been divulged on the V-IZU TCM, but on the Hope x Lotus bike, these savings were said to be as much as 3% – certainly not to be sniffed at.
There are a number of interesting nuances on the Japanese bike that sets it apart from the Look P24 and the Hope x Lotus track bike. As well as wide fork blades, the V-IZU TCM also features carbon-fibre elements that sit horizontally on the side of the fork. These, we think, along with a fork shape that flares air slightly outwards, is an effort to throw air around the rider's leg, and reduce drag. It's a similar story at the rear of the bike too, the widened chainstays helping to smooth airflow behind the rider's legs.
The biggest thing that sets this bike apart though is a left-handed drivetrain. The design, which was first seen on the Felt TA FRD in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, is said to be more efficient in the velodrome due to the fact that the bike is often leaning left - though it hasn't taken off since 2016, so we speculate that gains could be less than marginal.
FRED WRIGHT'S MERIDA REACTO
Denne historien er fra August 24, 2023-utgaven av Cycling Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ?  Logg pÄ
Denne historien er fra August 24, 2023-utgaven av Cycling Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg pÄ
"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"
Fast, furious and furry tales from Australia
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE ÂŁ2,499
A Brompton for running riot in both town and country
How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?
There are a myriad of tyres on the market but selecting the right one is easier than you think
FEAST OF SWEDEN
Soon after landing in Gothenburg, I began to realise how little I knew about Sweden.
THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS
Globe-trotting gravel racer Joe Laverick chooses his eight favourite events, from coastal Wales to the wilds of Kenya
THE CALL OF THE WILD
Tempted to embark on a long-distance bike adventure? Let former round-the-world record holder and author Julian Sayarer inspire you to strike out and hit the road
Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes
Cornish team also alleged to owe former staff tens of thousands of pounds
JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE
I've ridden through hundreds of feed zones in my time racing a bike.
Lowden not ready to stop after retirement
Former Hour record holder eyes UK time trial scene
PogaÄar makes history (again) at Lombardia
Slovenian makes it four in a row at the late-season Italian Monument