After spending the past seven years as a domestique with the BMC Racing team, for 2015 Martin Kohler is staying in red and joining the fast expanding Australian Pro-Continental team – Drapac Professional Cycling.
The former Swiss national champion has said he’s happy to have a little more wriggle room for results and, with Drapac receiving entry into large races such as the Tour of California, this may be possible.
Kohler on his Drapac debut at the Tour Down Under. It was a good race for the Australia Pro-Conti team, which won its first ever WorldTour stage on the final day
Looking at the bike specifications list below, you’d be excused for thinking that Kohler’s 2015 Drapac team bike hasn’t changed one bit since we looked at Jonathon Cantwell’s Swift Ultravox Ti last year. While this may be true for the componentry, the Swift frame hides a few changes within.
BikeRadar caught up with SwiftCarbon’s owner Mark Blewett during the Tour Down Under. He gave us some insight into the frame, revised once again as a result of direct feedback from Drapac.
From the outside it's hard to tell the revised frame from its predecessor. One clear identifier is the front of the head tube logo placement on the latest model
“The latest version still shares the same mould, but now uses an updated production process using silicone formers inside the head tube and bottom bracket area,” Blewett said. “This ensures maximum compaction of the carbon tube walls and reduces chances of wrinkling”.
This new technique is not the only change though. “The (carbon) layup was changed slightly to accommodate this new process, and we included more T1000 fibres to increase the stiffness-to-weight figures by six percent," Blewett went on. "The fork crown was also reinforced with an additional layer.”
Swift being a small operation, and former pro Blewett being based in China, frame changes can be enacted quickly. This being the Ultravox Ti’s second revision in as many years is proof of this.
Blewett hinted that this would be the last year for the Ultravox Ti as the brand’s top race machine, suggesting there’s something very special on the way (we'll be sure to update you when we know more).
The rest of the Drapac team bike remains unchanged from 2014, with all componentry sponsors carrying over. One major sponsor is SRAM, which despite pulling back on its WorldTour sponsorship, has remained strongly in Pro-Conti and women’s racing.
Power data is provided by Quarq
Kohler’s ride features a SRAM Red 22 mechanical groupset and matching Quarq power meter. SRAM-owned Zipp supplies the cockpit and wheels, with Kohler on the 45mm deep 303 Firecrest tubulars.
As seen in our ‘day in the life of a pro race mechanic’ feature, Kohler – coming from Shimano with BMC Racing –is still getting dialled in with his Speedplay pedals.
Complete bike specifications
- Frame: Swift Ultravox Ti Medium
- Fork: Swift Ultravox Ti tapered
- Headset: FSA internal tapered
- Stem: Zipp Service Course SL 130mm, -6 degree
- Handlebar: Zipp Service Course SL-80 42cm
- Tape: Zipp Service Course
- Front brake: SRAM Red 22
- Rear brake: SRAM Red 22
- Brake levers: SRAM Red 22 DoubleTap
- Front derailleur: SRAM Red 22, with chain catcher
- Rear derailleur: SRAM Red 22
- Shift levers: SRAM Red 22 DoubleTap
- Cassette: SRAM PowerGlide 1170 11-25T
- Chain: SRAM Red 22
- Crankset: SRAM Red 22 Quarq 53/39 172.5mm
- Bottom bracket: SRAM PF30
- Pedals: Speedplay Stainless
- Wheelset: Zipp 303 Firecrest tubular
- Front tyre: Vittoria Corsa Evo CX 25c
- Rear tyre: Vittoria Corsa Evo CX 25c
- Saddle: Fizik Antares R3, K:ium rail
- Seatpost: Zipp Service Course SL 20mm setback
- Bottle cages: Arundel Dave-O (2)
- Computer: Garmin 510 (not pictured) with SRAM out-in-front mount
Critical measurements
- Rider's height: 1.77m (5ft 9in)
- Rider's weight: 67kg (147.4lb)
- Saddle height from BB, c-t: 760mm
- Saddle setback: 87mm
- Seat tube length (c-t): 540mm
- Seat tube length (c-c): 505mm
- Tip of saddle to midpoint of bar: 590mm
- Saddle-to-bar drop: 110mm
- Head tube length: 147mm
- Top tube length (effective): 553mm
- Total bicycle weight: 7.19kg (15.82lb)