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Pinnacle Aeos carbon 2008 - Pinnacles'
Ben Spurrier proudly shows off the new range
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Aeos Carbon 1.0
- 105 equipped |
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Aeos Carbon 2.0 -
Ultegra equipped |
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Aeos Carbon 3.0
- SRAM Rival equipped |
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Aeos Carbon Team
- Dura Ace equipped with FSA K-Force Light carbon chainset with ceramic bearings |
In 2005 Evans Cycles launched their own brand and called it
Pinnacle
Bikes. Soon there were 34 bikes in the range. For 2008 this has been increased
to 55, including gorgeous new hardtail and full suspension MTBs. There are also three new women's specific bikes, a steel 'free ride' and
four carbon road bikes.
Aeos Carbon road
The Aeos Carbon road models probably have the highest profile, being
the brand's first full carbon bikes and the result of two years' work on design
and development.
Ben Spurrier (London 'cross rider and roadie) and the rest of the Pinnacle team
are very proud to tell you that they could have just sourced a carbon frame
from the Far East and then conveniently badged it Pinnacle. Instead, Pinnacle told us, "Rather than buy a carbon fibre frame ‘off-the-shelf’,
paint and re-brand it as many bicycle brands still do, we went down the path
of custom mould design. We started with rider feedback from (among others) the
Plowman
Craven Evans Cycles professional racing team. We then produced concept sketches
to show the key details of the frame designs. Finally we produced a detailed
specification for the qualities of the frame so that the carbon fibre lay-up
could be tuned to our requirements." This philosophy continues with their
own fork and again it is tuned to suit the frame.
The Aeos Carbon range is based on unidirectional Mitsubishi and Toray carbon
fibre from Japan built up in multiple layers, with the bottom bracket and head
tube junction areas reinforced with a 3K weave carbon fibre layer. Said Spurrier, "We then
went further and applied High Modulus (HM450) unidirectional carbon fibre in
critical areas to ensure durability in areas of stress and High Tensile
Mitsubishi unidirectional carbon fibre in areas where torsion resistance is
required."
The range begins with the Aeos Carbon 1.0 and 2.0; both utilise
a 12K weave top layer to add durability to the frame package. For the Aeos
Carbon 3.0 and Team, this is omitted in favour of a straight unidirectional
finish. "We even run less paint on the Team model to save a few grams!"
Pinnacle Bikes is based at Evans Cycles' Gatwick offices, where we were shown the entire 2008 range, and we couldn't help but be impressed by the attention to
detail and feeling of satisfaction resonating from Ben and the rest of the Pinnacle
team. Although the monocoque bikes are built in the Far East, they have been
designed and developed in the UK, and with so much pride at stake they are keen
to ensure a high build quality from their suppliers.
Also of interest to us were the Pinnacle own brand items such as saddles, Ben
told us that it has been very rewarding working out ideas with some of the best
names in saddle, bars etc. manufacturing.
Pinnacle website - (newly refurbished) www.pinnacle-bikes.co.uk
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