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BMC unleashes new Timemachine, calls it the “fastest bike on Earth”

It's faster and more adjustable, says BMC of its new Timemachine triathlon/time trial bike

You wait ages for a new triathlon bike and then two come along at the same time. You’ve read about the radical new Cervélo P5X, right? Now let’s tell you about the new BMC Timemachine, which the Swiss company boldly bills as “the fastest bike on Earth."

While Cervélo has designed a bike that can only be used for triathlon events (it’s UCI illegal) BMC has developed a bike that both manages to be focused on the specific needs of triathletes, but thanks to clever seatpost design it can be UCI legal. The majority of time trial bikes can be used for triathlon with a few small changes, but the new Timemachine better addresses the needs of triathletes whilst still being UCI legal, so the BMC Racing Team can use it, according to the company.

bmc timemachine 2017 12.jpg

According to Mart Otten, BMC Switzerland Road Product Manager, “The new Timemachine is the benchmark for time-trial bikes. In its development, instead of putting the time-trialist in focus like its predecessors, we gave priority to triathletes. We leveraged the Impec Lab to explore unique solutions that would not just meet triathletes’ needs, but go a step further and create a product that truly enhances their performance. We are looking forward to seeing this new aero machine break some Ironman and middle distance triathlon records!”

BMC has spent the last two years developing the bike and much of that time in the Sauber Engineering wind tunnel. It has revised the tube shaping in every part of the frame with re-engineered profiles, using the popular truncated airfoil shape. There’s a new 3rd generation hinge-fork design (which it first developed a decade ago), a smaller frontal surface area and more integration, with cables, seat clamp and brake calipers hidden from the wind. No disc brakes, though...

bmc timemachine 2017 8.jpg

BMC also re-invented its Position-to-Perform (P2P) rider positioning system to provide improved adjustability and cater for a wider range of fits. One of the standout new features is the novel “V-Cockpit” split handlebar design that it says provides the most aerodynamic front-end position, especially for cyclists that require a higher stack. It also claims the forward offset position provides more vertical compliance. While the new V-Cockpit is supplied with all bikes, it’s completely optional - if you prefer a lower position, a regular handlebar can also be fitted, with a flippable base bar. It’s likely the V-Cockpit won’t fall within UCI guidelines.

Whilst BMC claims the bike is a fast, it doesn’t offer any aerodynamic data or improvements over the previous model, or compared to its key rivals. 

bmc timemachine 2017 6.jpg

To ensure the bike can cater for the different rules of triathlon and UCI racing, BMC has developed a novel dual-mount seatpost that provides two effective seat angles, 80-degrees in the triathlon position or 71.5-degrees to be UCI legal. When the seatpost is in the forward position, a storage box can be fitted to the back of the post.

There is also a top tube mounted storage solution for your bento box. There are two bottle cage mounts with two positions on the down tube, a higher one that is easier to reach and a lower one that provides improved aerodynamics.

bmc timemachine 2017 5.jpg

Like the previous Timemachine, the brakes are integrated into the frame for cleaner aerodynamics. At the front, BMC has developed a Hidden Brake Booster Technology that it says increases the “brake-lever-pull to caliper-free-stroke ratio” to provide more clearance. The new bike will also take up to 28mm tyres.

BMC has also sought to make it easier to swap wheels with a new “Quick-pad” cartridge system, because deep-section carbon wheels are often much wider than aluminium training wheels. It’s also made it easier to disassemble the bike for packing into a bike bag for travelling. 

bmc timemachine 2017 10.jpg

“With continued legendary SubA aerodynamics performance, it's recipe for success is clear - superior tube shaping, maximum component integration, and an extensive rider positioning system. For middle and long-distance triathlons or time trials, this is the must-have bike for races against the clock - like the one coming up this Saturday in Kona, Hawaii!,” says BMC.

The new BMC Timemachine will debut this week at the Ironman world champs, and will be available to buy from early 2017. There will be six builds available from Shimano 105 right up to SRAM Red eTap and Dura-Ace Di2, as well as two levels of technology in the Timemachine 01 or Timemachine 02. More at www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/timemachine and www.evanscycles.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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10 comments

Avatar
ficklewhippet | 7 years ago
1 like

Compared to the Cervelo P5X (not the one above), it makes angels weep.

Avatar
orderodonata | 7 years ago
2 likes

Fastest bike on Earth? Not if I ride it it's not. Oh and it's fugly.

Avatar
Matt_S | 7 years ago
2 likes

Is that a portaloo on the back?

Avatar
daccordimark | 7 years ago
2 likes

Just when I thought bikes couldn't get any uglier.....

Avatar
Must be Mad | 7 years ago
8 likes

Nice rant - 15% more truthfull and 3% funnier than the previous thread.

Avatar
Freddy56 | 7 years ago
1 like

Best thing I've read all year  Mylesrants!

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

Yeah I get quite ranty when I can't afford cool stuff too enlightened

 

Let it out!

Avatar
Yorky-M | 7 years ago
11 likes

I am officially allergic to bullsh1t marketing claims aimed at the wealthy novice and insecure cyclists. Same ballox from Cervelo this morning as well. Both claiming to be the 'benchmark for time-trial bikes' ...so one if you two are lying to us. Why not "We made a fast bike and it is lovely. We designed it to be fast on a big computer and I went to the factory in Taiwan 13 times to make sure it was correct. We are very proud and I have 3 small children, so please pick this fast bike over the other 26 fast bikes available in your city" 

If the Specialized Tarmac frame gets any stiffer (15% this year and 20% last year) it will be made of Concrete.

"Best shorts in the world..." really the whole, wide, world? for everyone's arse? Why not say the universe? "Martians love our chamois" The punter in the street has to go on trust and savy and hope that he is not being mislead. It feels like it is all smoke and mirrors, chuck in a few "There’s a new 3rd generation hinge-fork design" lingo and we will be impressed. I'm not impressed the first two  hinge-fork design's were actually superseeded to quickly!

"Alberto Contador uses these mitts..."he uses the fecking mitts because someone gave him 40 thousand pesos to use them.

"This frame saves 10 watts over the shite we just sold you last year for 5 grand which is totally redundant and should now be only used as a door stop."

 

ahhh...STOP

What about a return to honesty and respecting your customer.

This is a jersey, a nice red one, hope you like it, we worked hard to make it.

Its not a 'game changer', still a jersey. "PS, you can get the old jersey we have run out of a few sizes in for half price- AND it is still a jersey....... for cycling in."

Honesty.

This frame is now under 700 grams, it is lighter, but you are 13kgs over your racing weight, so you would be better with our cheaper carbon frame which is more resilient and won't crack if you drop a gel onto the HD latterly truncated airfoil shape.

Stop it.

 

Avatar
gbzpto replied to Yorky-M | 7 years ago
1 like
mylesrants wrote:

I am officially allergic to bullsh1t marketing claims aimed at the wealthy novice and insecure cyclists. Same ballox from Cervelo this morning as well. Both claiming to be the 'benchmark for time-trial bikes' ...so one if you two are lying to us. Why not "We made a fast bike and it is lovely. We designed it to be fast on a big computer and I went to the factory in Taiwan 13 times to make sure it was correct. We are very proud and I have 3 small children, so please pick this fast bike over the other 26 fast bikes available in your city" 

If the Specialized Tarmac frame gets any stiffer (15% this year and 20% last year) it will be made of Concrete.

"Best shorts in the world..." really the whole, wide, world? for everyone's arse? Why not say the universe? "Martians love our chamois" The punter in the street has to go on trust and savy and hope that he is not being mislead. It feels like it is all smoke and mirrors, chuck in a few "There’s a new 3rd generation hinge-fork design" lingo and we will be impressed. I'm not impressed the first two  hinge-fork design's were actually superseeded to quickly!

"Alberto Contador uses these mitts..."he uses the fecking mitts because someone gave him 40 thousand pesos to use them.

"This frame saves 10 watts over the shite we just sold you last year for 5 grand which is totally redundant and should now be only used as a door stop."

 

ahhh...STOP

What about a return to honesty and respecting your customer.

This is a jersey, a nice red one, hope you like it, we worked hard to make it.

Its not a 'game changer', still a jersey. "PS, you can get the old jersey we have run out of a few sizes in for half price- AND it is still a jersey....... for cycling in."

Honesty.

This frame is now under 700 grams, it is lighter, but you are 13kgs over your racing weight, so you would be better with our cheaper carbon frame which is more resilient and won't crack if you drop a gel onto the HD latterly truncated airfoil shape.

Stop it.

 

Well said that person

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

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