Wilier Zero.7 in Use at Tour de France

Two Wilier Zero.7 bikes were delivered to the Lampre-ISD team on July 17th. Adriano Malori has used it in stages 16 and 17 thusfar, "It is a very beautiful bike and I could appreciate its lightness and stability".

More technical details about the Zero.7 from Wilier:
Wilier Triestina USA has officially announced new top model Zero.7 featuring BB386EVO, the new bottom bracket system Wilier designed in collaboration with component manufacturer Full Speed Ahead (FSA).

Wilier emphasized that innovation in the bicycle industry has been marked in recent years by fuller integration and improved standards. The company’s Cento1 and Cento1 Superleggera models, used by Lampre-ISD, have featured a proprietary 93mm-wide oversize bottom bracket to enhance lateral stiffness while providing compatibility with the industry’s most popular cranksets.

For 2012, the company had once again sought a bottom bracket solution that would facilitate the most prominent crank systems, while also enabling integration of an oversize spindle. Wilier built on its original concept through its development efforts with component manufacturer FSA, resulting in new bottom bracket standard BB386EVO.

“The most significant benefits that BB386EVO have enabled in the design of the Zero.7 are a 30% increase in lateral stiffness while enabling a drastic reduction in weight,” explained founder and president of Wilier Triestina USA, Angelo Cilli. “This is our lightest frame ever. The result is optimal pedaling efficiency and power transfer with “zero” wasted energy – hence the name,” he concluded.

The Zero.7 bottom bracket shell is 86.5mm wide and boasts a diameter of 46mm. The FSA BB386EVO crankset utilizes a 30mm-diameter alloy spindle which is longer to satisfy the wider oversized bottom bracket shell. Press-fit polymer bearings are utilized for precision installation of the crankset to ensure exact tolerances.

Utilization of the FSA BB386EVO crankset will yield maximum stiffness and function in conjunction with the new Zero.7 bottom bracket design. However, as with the Wilier BB93 (aka BB94) bottom bracket system implemented for the Imperiale, Cento1 and Cento1 Superleggera models, all prominent cranksets will be compatible with the Zero.7 bottom bracket via adapters.

The FSA BB386 crankset can also be used with a traditional 68mm-wide bottom bracket and threaded cups.

“Results yielded in testing surprised even us,” explains Michele Gastaldello, head of research and development: “In the laboratory, stiffness in the Zero.7 bottom bracket area proved at least 30% superior to all of the standard BB30 systems we analyzed. The frame itself weighs less than 800 grams, so we are proud to announce the creation of a bike that will absolutely empower riders to conquer whatever challenges come their way.”

The Zero.7 utilizes the same 60 Ton carbon composition, ZnO nano resin technology and LIT bladder molding process as the Cento1 Superleggera for maximum material compaction and integrity.

Taking composites construction a step further, Wilier has implemented Special Elastic Infiltrated (SEI) film technology, featuring a proprietary viscoelastic film between the foundational and unidirectional external layers of carbon fiber. SEI enhances the vibration dampening properties of the frame’s material composition, resulting in improved comfort even with the reduction in overall weight. SEI also increases the frame’s impact resistance by 35%, interlaminar shear strength (integrity of the bonded layers) by 18% and flexural strength by 12%.

Additional features include tapered head tube and carbon monocoque steerer tube (1 1/8” to 1 1/4”) as well as Wilier’s trademark asymmetric rear stays. The Zero.7 will be available in a unique matte black carbon with red highlights. New Zero.7-specific geometry comes in six sizes, XS-S-M-L-XL-XXL. Weight: 795 grams, size M.

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