Dedacciai launches Atleta aero road bike

Italian company Dedacciai might be better known for their high quality handlebars, stems and tubesets, but they also make a range of frames. Their newest is the Atleta, the first aero road frame they have ever offered, and it was on display at the recent Cycle Show.

They claim a size medium frame weighs in at 980g with a 370g fork, which is about what we'd expect for an aero road frame these days, most are only just skimming under 1kg. A Campagnolo Athena build will cost you £2149.

Dedacciai have used computational fluid dynamics to develop the shape of the head tube, down tube and seat tube. They claim these tube profiles reduce air resistance by 15% compared to regular round tubes. Their claim, not ours.

“Muscled with an aero shape profile it is well suitable for flat stages and for the combative sprints, gritty and unfailing it is superior in the longest uphill and descents,” says Dedacciai.

The frame is made from Toray unidirectional carbon fibre with aero shaped tube profiles, used primarily in the main tubes of the frame. The seatstays join the seat tube well below the top tube/seatpost junction and are spaced widely apart. The seat tube also follows the curve of the rear wheel allowing it to sit closer.

The skinny top tube maintains a clean line all the way to the aero seat tube with an internal seat clamp. The seatpost, which weighs a claimed 235g, is off-set and offers micro adjustment. Up front there is a tapered head tube (1 ⅛ to 1 1/2in) and down below is a press-fit 30 bottom bracket.

The frame, as most modern frames are these days, compatible with mechanical and electronic groupsets with the cables routed internally. The Atleta is available in five sizes from XS to XL.

This is a bike we're hoping to get in for Mat to test soon, when it's available, so watch out for that in the near future. More at www.dedacciaistrada.com

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