Serotta recently teamed up with the US Military Academy’s Triathlon team to fit and design custom time trial bikes - what inspired the relationship?
Bill Watkins was a West Point Cadet and the first athlete to ride a Serotta at the world championship level in 1977. He and one of our investors started talking about to how can we support these athletes.
What was your first interaction with them? Working closely with Officer Representative, Army Triathlon Team MAJ MURPHY “ANDY” CAINE. We worked out paint schemes and of course I began by learning as much as I could about the athletes - most of the cadets were Division I elite runners or swimmers.
How many bikes is Serotta building for the team? Currently 8, a mix of CXII Ti and CXII Steel. Eventually we hope to have them racing Serotta's new MeiVici AE.
What was Serotta’s design approach when considering the needs of this team of athletes?
Working with elite athletes who have the potential to perform at a national or world- class level drives us to a different place in terms of position - it is totally optimized around lowest drag and maximum power. As with any custom build, we pair the materials to the individual. With an elite athlete, materials and geometry is selected completely around performance as the first priority. With a recreational athlete, on the other hand, we'd focus on finding a balance of comfort, safety and handling.
What’s the difference between fitting a triathlete and fitting a road cyclist? The difference is Triathlon is composed of 3 different events and the position isn’t governed by any limitations like you have with a road cyclist. Triathlon bikes have a much steeper seat tube angle - the rider is much further forward. As the hip angle is opened up you have a straighter, flatter back for more aerodynamics. Beyond aerodynamics, a secondary benefit is that once the knee is rotated in front of pedal axle the athlete will produce much of the power using the quads – placing less demand on the muscle groups used in a run. By not exhausting primary muscle groups during the bike leg the athlete will have much faster and consistent runs. In constrast on a road fit you're using more glutes, quads, hamstrings - a higher degree of overall muscle recruitment.
Recent West Point results include Nicholas Vandam (4th) and Ashley Morgan (2nd) at the recent 2009 Collegiate National Championships. At the 2009 Duathlon Age Group National Championship in Richmond, VA., Nick Sterghos won the 2009 Duathlon Age Group National Championship, while setting personal bests, and West Point's Randy Wintermantelwon her age group title! Impressive results from these team members and others! What type of post-race feedback did they give about their bikes?Ashley reported having one of her best bikes ever - a super strong bike leg and Nick felt he rode considerably faster on Serotta due to the position - higher speed w/less effort.
I’ve fitted a lot of elite athletes, and designed a lot of bikes for them. These kids are unbelievable representatives of the Army and the values they represent – they are an inspirational group of kids - so well mannered, polite, professional and upbeat. They are our future leaders . . . amazing young adults.
Congratulations all!
What’s the difference between fitting a triathlete and fitting a road cyclist? The difference is Triathlon is composed of 3 different events and the position isn’t governed by any limitations like you have with a road cyclist. Triathlon bikes have a much steeper seat tube angle - the rider is much further forward. As the hip angle is opened up you have a straighter, flatter back for more aerodynamics. Beyond aerodynamics, a secondary benefit is that once the knee is rotated in front of pedal axle the athlete will produce much of the power using the quads – placing less demand on the muscle groups used in a run. By not exhausting primary muscle groups during the bike leg the athlete will have much faster and consistent runs. In constrast on a road fit you're using more glutes, quads, hamstrings - a higher degree of overall muscle recruitment.
Recent West Point results include Nicholas Vandam (4th) and Ashley Morgan (2nd) at the recent 2009 Collegiate National Championships. At the 2009 Duathlon Age Group National Championship in Richmond, VA., Nick Sterghos won the 2009 Duathlon Age Group National Championship, while setting personal bests, and West Point's Randy Wintermantelwon her age group title! Impressive results from these team members and others! What type of post-race feedback did they give about their bikes?Ashley reported having one of her best bikes ever - a super strong bike leg and Nick felt he rode considerably faster on Serotta due to the position - higher speed w/less effort.
I’ve fitted a lot of elite athletes, and designed a lot of bikes for them. These kids are unbelievable representatives of the Army and the values they represent – they are an inspirational group of kids - so well mannered, polite, professional and upbeat. They are our future leaders . . . amazing young adults.
Congratulations all!
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| West Point Triathlon's Nick Sterghos; 2009 Duathlon Age Group National Championship in Richmond, Virginia. |
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| West Point Triathlon's Nick Sterghos set personal bests of 32:24 in the opening 10k run and 15:16 in the closing 5k run to finish in 1:49:02, win the 20-24 men’s division and take a 1 minute 20 second margin of victory for the overall! |
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| West Point Triathlon's Randy Wintermantel on her way to winning her age group title at the 2009 Duathlon Age Group National Championship in Richmond, Virginia. |
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| West Point Triathlon's Randy Wintermantel atop the podium at the 2009 Duathlon Age Group National Championship in Richmond, Virginia. |
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| West Point Triathlon's speed machine - Serotta's CXII steel. Custom fit, designed and handbuilt at the Serotta Factory Studio and Fit Lab, Saratoga Springs, NY. |
Learn more more:
West Point Tri Web Site
http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/trit/
http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/Nick_Sterghos_-_vegetarian_champ_780.html
http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Sterghos_Huelster_win_overall_at_Duathlon_Nationals_778.html
