Team Bikes: Madison Genesis

Madison Genesis racing the new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 9150 groupset on the Genesis Zero frameset

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Team Bikes: Madison Genesis

At a recent get together for the Madison Genesis team before their last training camp, we got to speak to their mechanic Chuck about the new bikes for 2017.

Pic: Madison Genesis

The basis for the bike is the Genesis Zero frame which is made from 30/40-ton high-modulus uni-directional carbon fibre. With race bikes close to the UCI weight limit, the Zero frame is comfortably under the 1kg mark and is not only a racers racer but also a bike that a club rider can jump on and feel comfortable on says Chuck.

Each of the twelve riders will have three bikes, one at home to train on using last years Dura Ace Di2 electric groupset. The other two bikes remain in Chuck’s custody including the race bike which features the brand new Dura Ace 9150 Di2 electric groupset. All the bikes have this years or last years Di2 on them.

Genesis is also known for its steel bikes and one of the riders, Taylor Gunman, favours the steel bike for training on and has that at home.

Having just spent a lot of his time preparing the race bikes for the second training camp held recently, Chuck said it was pretty exciting for the team having the new Shimano Dura Ace. “Some of the world tour teams don’t have it yet so we’re pretty lucky we got that and it’s been cool to be one of the first guys to have a play with it having 12 bikes to do in the matter of a few days. It’s certainly nice stuff” Chuck explained.

“It is so easy to set up. Shifting is impeccable and very forgiving too. It’s like getting into an automatic or semi auto car with almost thoughtlessly shifting. The new stuff also has a lot of features like being able to change the set up with buttons that will do specific things like synchro shift where the system can be set to control both derailleurs through the action of one shift lever.”

And for those looking for the battery, look again because unlike early models, it’s held in the seatpost and Chuck says if there is one ‘con’ to the system, it is that he has to remember to keep the battery charged!

With us as we discussed the new bikes was new signing Jonny McEvoy and when asked what he thought of the electric system, he replied “electric is easier. Press a button and it changes gears. It just works spot on with no messing about”. Jonny added that whilst those with the cabled group set are not at a disadvantage, the electric group set is a higher spec one so if given the choice, he’d take the electric one.

Wheels…
When it comes to how the Madison Genesis riders roll, it will be on Shimano Dura Ace wheels and as well as playing with the Dura Ace groupsets, Chuck was also busy before the training camp gluing Continental Pro Ltd tubulars on the new Shimano Dura Ace C40 wheels.

These he explained have a wider section rim to be more aero and on those wheels will be 25mm Continental Pro Ltd tubulars. Shimano also have another new wheel, the C60 which will also have the new wider rim. Chuck did say it was important if getting the new wider rim wheels, riders need to make sure spares at races are also the same width or the brakes will need adjusting to make sure they work with each of the wheels.

The rider’s training bikes have clinchers whilst all the race bikes have wheels with tubulars. “You can’t beat the tubular for racing” says Chuck. “It’s more labour intensive for me and we are so lucky to have a great tyre sponsor (link in HERE)”.

The team have two tubulars. The Pro Ltd and the one with the orange side walls which says Chuck is used in races like the CiCLE Classic because it’s a tougher tubular. Last season, the team also used the orange side walled Continental tubular for races with cobbles and wet races like the Edinburgh Tour Series round. “It’s not as fast as the normal tubular we use but the grip is up a level” says Chuck.

Asked how long the tubulars last, Chuck replied it varies depending on the rider and the surface of the roads ridden but at a training camp, some of the riders will go through a set of tubs and his guess was 1,000 km plus.

Pic: Madison Genesis

When it comes to fitting a rider to a bike, the riders have a choice of four size frames and to help them fit the bikes, the riders will use the usual methods of using different size cranks (170 to 175mm), seat posts, saddles and stem lengths.

Keeping track of each riders bike specs isn’t that hard says Chuck with all the info in a spreadsheet and with only 12 riders to look after, and working on the bikes on a regular basis, means the specs for a rider soon become second nature.

The two bikes that Chuck has at the service course for each rider are the main race bike and the spare. To make sure both are ready for the racing ahead, the riders have had two training camps on each.

“The riders have had a chance to do plenty of miles (600 plus) on each of their two race bikes” says Chuck. This, says Chuck, makes sure that both bikes are well set up. “After each training camp, I know they are happy on them and they’re sorted so when it comes to a race, I know they will be familiar with the spare and race bike” Chuck explains giving an insight into the forward planning he makes for the rider’s bikes ahead of a very busy season from April onwards.

Thanks to Chuck for the chat and good luck for the Tour of Normandy which is the team’s first test of the season.

TECH SPECS
Frame 30/40T Monocoque Carbon Road Race w/ Tapered Headtube & Fully Internal Cable Routing
Fork Genesis Carbon SL Road Race w/ 1.5″ – 1-1/8″ Tapered Steerer
Headset FSA Orbit C-40, NO.42, PRO bearing cover, expander
Shifters Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150
Rear Derailleur Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150
Front Derailleur Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150
Chainset Shimano Dura-Ace 9150, 53/39T
Bottom Bracket BB86 Press-fit
Chain Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 11-speed
Cassette Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 11-speed, 11-28
Wheelset Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 C40 tubular
Tyres Continental Competition Pro Ltd. tubular 25mm
Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace 9150
Levers Shimano Dura-Ace 9150
Handlebars PRO Vibe Stealth Ltd.
Bar tape PRO team edition w/expander plugs
Stem PRO Vibe Stealth Ltd. carbon
Saddle PRO Falcon carbon
Seatpost PRO Vibe Stealth Ltd. carbon
Pedals Shimano Dura-Ace 9000
Weight (kg) 7.2

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