Lightweight bikes steal the show in new tech at Eurobike 2023

Mar 17, 2024

GCN’s Ollie Bridgewood checked out the latest lightweight offerings from Look, Swi and Stoll

Junior Writer

Known as the biggest bike show in the world, Eurobike is one of the most hotly-anticipated events of the year and regularly delivers new releases that sets the tech world abuzz. Held in Frankfurt, this year’s show has been no different. We sent GCN’s Ollie Bridgewood to go and discover the hottest new tech that Eurobike 2023 has to offer.

Look release their not-so-secret new 795 Blade RS

Eagle-eyed fans will have spotted Team Cofidis riding a new lightweight Look bike in recent months, and the French manufacturer unveiled their flagship WorldTour bike at Eurobike. The Look 795 Blade RS is an all-rounder that the company claims has “proven dynamic qualities for all types of courses and riders”, promising versatility for climbers, rouleurs and sprinters.

Look

The bladed drop seatstays have been designed with aerodynamics in mind

On show with a Mondrian livery at Eurobike, the 795 Blade RS prioritises aerodynamics with low bottle cage mounting points, bladed drop seatstays, and a seatstay junction that flows from the side of the seat tube rather than the front - replicating the approach taken by many Formula 1 teams in recent years. Look’s medium build weighs in at a remarkably light 7kg.

Look also displayed their new 796 Monoblade RS time trial bike, with a wide downtube that is reminiscent of the Pinarello Bolide and an incredibly deep head tube, that takes advantage of the UCI’s relaxed rules on frame design and tube proportions.

Swi and Stoll unveil their own lightweight builds

Although Look are bound by the UCI’s 6.8kg minimum weight limit on race bikes, Swiss brands Swi and Stoll adhere to no such regulations and have displayed their own super lightweight bikes at this week’s event. Made in Italy, the Swi Thrama Di2 Disc 12v clocks in at just 6.3kg and features NPTP™ carbon that is found in high-performance sailing boats at the America’s Cup. It’s no wonder the bike costs €24,500.

Swi

The Thrama Di2 Disc 12v features a cosmetic carbon weave

Developed in partnership with former professional Luca Paolini, the Swi bike is a functional climbing masterpiece with a THM Clavicula crankset, an SLF oversized pulley wheel system and 3D-printed computer mount. Whilst GCN’s hillclimbing expert Andrew Feather will be jumping at a chance to test out the Swi road bike, Stoll’s new R1 Super Light mountain bike looks right up GMBN’s Andrew Dodd’s street, weighing in at 5.9kg and featuring unique blip gear shifters on the handlebars.

Topeak, Pirelli and Abus join the party with their new gear

Not to be distracted by all the bikes on display at Eurobike, Ollie also delved into the accessories and components that have been revealed by the likes of Topeak, Pirelli and Abus at Eurobike. For those who like their tools, Topeak unveiled their E-TorqBar, a digital torque that displays a 1-10Nm scale through an LED display when in operation.

Elsewhere, Pirelli proudly presented their new Cinturato Gravel RCX tyres that weigh in at 480g and 560g respectively, in a 35mm or 45mm option, whilst Abus revealed the GameChanger 2.0 helmet that will be worn by Movistar, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Tudor Pro Cycling this season. Weighing just 270g in a medium size, the GameChanger 2.0 has a panelled vent on the top that Abus promises produces very little drag at high speeds, and allows for heat to escape at low speeds.

PhD Chemist turned cycling enthusiast, bringing the lab coat to GCN Does Science

Pirelli is a tyre manufacturer based in Milan, Italy. The company produces tyres for bicycles as well as motorcycles and cars. It is the sixth largest tyre manufacturer in the world, operating in over 160 countries.