DREAM BIKES: BMC Teammachine SLR01 DISC

The Teammachine performs like a thoroughbred, launching forward when you stamp the pedals; and it slows down just as quickly.


Jon Minster |

Frame
01 Premium Carbon, ACE Technology, TCC Race

Fork
Teammachine SLR 01 Premium Carbon Disc, TCC Race, Integrated Cockpit

Drivetrain
Shimano Dura Ace Di2

Gearing
52/36t chainrings, 11-30t cassette

Brakes
Shimano Dura-Ace hydraulic disc

Wheels
DT Swiss PRC 1100 DICUT db 35 carbon rims and hubs

Tyres
Vittoria Corsa 700×25

At this level, at this price, it’s almost pointless to write about how a bike performs.

Of course the Teammachine performs like a thoroughbred, launching forward when you stamp the pedals; and it slows down just as quickly, thanks to Shimano’s superlative hydraulic Dura-Ace disc brakes. The frame has a masterful carbon lay-up that smooths out jitters and inspires confidence, whether you’re jostling for position in the bunch or flying down a hill.

BMC Teammachine SLR01 DISC

Indeed, this is the bike that the Team Dimension Data riders use for long days in the mountains. A previous version of the Teammachine won the Tour de France under Cadel Evans, and it has won numerous other races – at the Olympics, at the World Championships, and in muddy Belgian villages.

Yes, the way the bike rides does justice to a professional rider at the peak of his or her sport. But that’s not what tips the BMC into dream-bike territory – it’s the way it looks. It’s a truly modern bike, with a geometric, almost industrial aesthetic. This is thanks to science: BMC used a supercomputer the size of a room to test a mammoth 34 000 prototype frames, analysing more than 200 different variables, such as tube shape, and the placement of various carbons, resins and other polymers. The good designs were rapidly prototyped and tested in the real world (by the likes of Cadel Evans) before the design you see here was finalised.

The top tube is an optical illusion – slightly sloping, even though it looks dead straight – and the other tubes are all beautifully in proportion. The chunky down tube hints at the incredible stiffness in the bottom-bracket area, while those dainty seat stays suggest all-day comfort. The paintwork is understated and super-classy, and the integrated stem also features an integrated GPS mount.

A cool feature is the adaptable port cluster on the down tube called DTi – Dual Transmission Integration – which allows cable routing to be swapped easily between mechanical and electronic drivetrains. This adds to the versatility of the frame, keeps mechanical fuss to a minimum, and bolsters the overall Swiss neatness of the bike.

Elegant, sophisticated, advanced. Everything we love about a modern road bike.

PRICE: About R180 000, depending on exchange rate
GET IT NOW: abloc.co.za

BMC Teammachine SLR01 DISC

Team Dimension Data’s SLR01 Disc

For 2019, the members of Africa’s pro cycling team are riding BMC bikes. The main difference between the stock SLR01 Disc and DiData’s version is the Enve wheelset – thanks to a long-time sponsorship agreement with the US company – and the ROTOR cranks and power meter. That gold chain also looks snazzy.

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