Tom White writes:
I built this bike up just three days before the national espoire championship,
and immediately was taken back by the build quality and finish of the frame.
Straight away I noted the aluminium inserts in the rear brake drilling, for
me a bonus as carbon bikes I've used in the past with no inserts
have often looked tatty after just one season - as the lacquer has been pulled
off the frame around the brake.
I wasn't sure I would be able to get used to it for the championship, but
on the first ride it was evident to me that this wasn't going to be a problem. The position was perfect and felt better than the team bike I have been riding
all year in France. Onboard this bike I came 4th in the championship with only two short rides beforehand as preparation before the mammoth 170km.
Since then I have raced on it again at Crystal Palace and found the frame to
respond very positively to the tight tricky bends of the circuit. With full
gas up the climb it's incredibly rigid with maximum power being
transferred to the back wheel. I've found in the past that some carbon
frames can transmit every vibration through the saddle, but whilst being rigid
the Kuota also has the ability to be comfortable. I tested this fully during the
South East series road race at Frant followed by a 60+ mile ride home, a total
of 6.5 hours in the saddle.
This is the first bike in a couple of years that has actually been mine, and
not just loaned by a team and since collecting it from Ciclos Uno I have been
in fear of that inevitable first scratch on such a beautiful machine.
I would like to say a big thank you to the UK distributor of Kuota at DHW Agencies
for his help.
Tom White hails from South London and came up through the ranks via VC Londres and rode
for the continental team Konica Minoltain in 2006.
Here's some of his results from 2006
4th National Under 23 Road Championship
1st Southborough Wheelers road race
1st Crystal palace number 7
12th National crit champs
4th Free State Race (south Africa)
9th Bakwena Post Office Super Classic (south Africa)
Results from 2005
2ND UCI Sydney World Cup (Team Pursuit) 4:09 4km
3RD UCI Sydney World Cup (Madison)
1ST Prix de Ville de St. Florentine (France)
1ST Prix de Ville de Vertus (France)
1ST Prix de Ville de La Municipalite Flavy Le Martel (France)
3RD Grand Prix de la Libération de Chaumont (France)
2ND Bendigo Criterium (Australia)
4TH Girvan Stage Race (premier calendar event)
1ST Girvan Stage Race Under 23 Rider (premier calendar event)
6TH Archer GP (premier calendar event)
18TH Tour of Mayorca Time trial
2ND Stage 1 Tour of Berlin (UCI Under 23 Event)
6TH National Elite Points Race Championship
Bike spec - Dura Ace throughout
Frame - Kuota Karma
Forks - Kuota
Handlebars/stem - kuota and pro stem
Seat pin - Kuota
Saddle - SLR
Chainset - Dura ace
Pedals - Dura ace Sl's
Gearing - 53x11 49x23-21
Wheels/hubs - zipp 303
Tyres - vitoria cx tub
Brakes - Dura ace
My best moment on this bike was - 4th national espoir road champs
I would swap it for? - 1960's VW split screen campervan
" & _
