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Levi Leipheimer’s Trek TTX 9.9 SSL time trial bike

Published: Feb. 14, 2009
Levi's TT's rig: The Project One paint job is in California gold and blue.
Levi's TT's rig: The Project One paint job is in California gold and blue.
Photo: Zack Vestal

If there is any doubt about Astana’s commitment to Levi Leipheimer as the undisputed leader and odds-on favorite to win the Amgen Tour of California, one look at his new Trek time trial bike will quickly dispel it.

In a show of confidence, the team leveraged Trek’s Project One custom painting capability to create a TTX 9.9 SSL adorned in the California state colors of gold and blue. An image of the California grizzly bear, state animal of California, lends a menacing visage to the head tube junction. Matching Bontrager Aeolus 9.0 wheels and time trial bar complete the one-off look.

Levi's TT's rig: A California Grizzly Bear adds a sign of strength.
Levi's TT's rig: A California Grizzly Bear adds a sign of strength.
Photo: Zack Vestal

SRAM PR and marketing manager Michael Zellman and Astana team liaison Ben Coates were kind enough to give us some time with Leiphiemer’s new bike the night before the prologue. Coates noted that several aspects of the setup were likely to change, including final wheel and gear choice, depending on race day conditions.

The Aeolus 9.0 wheels shown on the bike have not yet been officially launched, but according to Coates will be going into production this spring. Depth of the rim section has not been made official, but if prior editions of the Aeolus line provide a gauge, the 9.0 series will likely measure 90mm deep. The wheel is based on the XXX rim and a Steve Hed-designed fairing, which contributes to aerodynamics. Regardless of wheel choice, Bontrager XXX lite tubular tires will be used.

Levi's TT's rig: The handlebar set-up includes Bontrager and Hed components.
Levi's TT's rig: The handlebar set-up includes Bontrager and Hed components.
Photo: Zack Vestal

Leiphiemer’s handlebar setup is built from a combination of Bontrager and Steve Hed components. The base bullhorn bar is a Bontrager Race X Lite and Hed clip-on bars complete the package, with high-S bend carbon extensions. This combination permits exceptionally narrow placement of the elbow pads, and keeps Leipheimer’s shoulders together for a tight, compact position.

Levi's TT's rig: A 54-tooth chainring and a team-only Red front derailleur with stainless steel cage.
Levi's TT's rig: A 54-tooth chainring and a team-only Red front derailleur with stainless steel cage.
Photo: Zack Vestal

As with all Astana bikes, the component group is SRAM Red. Leipheimer’s bike is set up with a 54-tooth TT chainring on 172.5 crankarms. Zellman pointed out that the front derailleur is a team-issue piece, not available to the public, featuring a stainless steel cage (rather than titanium as on the stock Red component). This combination of the large, stiff chainring, and the stiffer-than-stock front derailleur cage, is meant to provide the best shifting and performance possible under the extreme gear combinations and power output of a time trial effort. Shifting is achieved using SRAM Red all-carbon TT 900 shift levers.

Look for further details on Leipeimer’s time trial bike in the days to come, and also on VeloCenter, the video news segment airing each day on our Web site.
Email Zack Vestal

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