TOUR MAGAZINE COMPARISON TESTTOUR MAGAZINE COMPARISON TEST
Summary: The bikes were all tested individually on the track. Only one rider was allowed on the track at a time in order to avoid turbulence. The seating positions were adjusted to be identical on all the bikes. The riders were asked to ride six laps of the 285m track in as close to 21 seconds as they could, to give a speed of around 45 kmh (28.1 mph). The rider data (pedal rpm, actual speed etc) was read off by and stored in the computers. Each bike was put through the test twice. The results can be found in the table, as well as the calculations for an overall speed of exactly 45 kmh.
| BIKE (TEST 1 & 2) | SPEED KM/H | RIDER OUTPUT/WATT | CRANK FREQ'CY. RPM | REQD WATTAGE FOR 45 KM/H |
| GT 1 | 46.47 | 350.1 | 105.5 | 317.9 / 321.3 |
| GT 2 | 46.59 | 356.6 | 105.8 | =319.6 Average |
| STORCK 1 | 46.95 | 364.0 | 106.6 | 320.5 / 320.4 |
| STORCK 2 | 47.04 | 366.0 | 106.8 | = 320.5 Average |
| SOFTRIDE 1 | 47.41 | 367.8 | 107.7 | 314.5 / 316.7 |
| SOFTRIDE 2 | 47.53 | 373.2 | 107.9 | = 315.6 Average |
| LOTUS 1 | 46.48 | 352.5 | 105.5 | 319.9 / 312.5 |
| LOTUS 2 | 46.84 | 352.4 | 106.3 | = 316.2 Average |
| CHEETAH 1 | 47.75 | 399.9 | 112.2 | 314.5 / 315.0 |
| CHEETAH 2 | 47.88 | 379.4 | 110.2 | = 314.8 Average |
| PINARELLO 1 | 46.45 | 348.7 | 105.5 | 317.0 / 320.8 |
| PINARELLO 2 | 47.19 | 370 | 107.2 | = 318.9 Average |
The rider of the Storck had to produce 320.5 Watts to ride at 45 kmh. The list shows how much energy aero frames can save. Surpringly, the shape of the frame made little difference. Riding position and wheels are more important.
Carbon as smooth as a mirror - the CAT Cheetah is the epitome of the limits to which one can go with carbon fibre. Superb shape, perfect surfaces and - not to be taken for granted on design bikes - the functional details are just a few points which raise the Swiss Cheetah far above the mass of other design bikes and extreme bikes.
Kurth, who can look back on almost 40 years of experience working with synthetic materials, has developed details which utilise the greatest advantages of carbon fibre, namely, the freedom of design. An example is the fork and handlebar. Both components together form an "X". Minimalism which catches your eye, saves weight and is extremely aerodynamic. The disadvantage - the handlebar has to be custom set up for each rider. Subsequent alterations are possible, of course, but it takes a few minutes. Howver, the aeroprofiled seat post, also made of carbon fibre and inserted into the downtube, has a height-adjustment range of 8 cm (3.14"). Great ! Because, if you need to fit a different seat or adjust the bike for a taller or shorter rider, it takes just seconds.
The stability of the frame was very convincing. The small, rear frame triangle forms a very roomy structure which supports the bottom bracket very well. The hollow frame, built using two mold halves is very light, weighing only 1,300 g (2.86 lbs) and even the complete bike weight of 8.6 kg (18.9 lbs) with Speedplay pedals is astounding. The Cheetah is, in principle, custom built to the rider's size. Seat post angles of 72 and 78 deg. cover just about every athlete from the pure road racer to triathletes. The length of the frame and the height are also built to the rider's size chart.
Two trispoke wheels, 26", which Kurth also makes himself, belong to the equipment of the complete Cheetah. Brakes are Magura hydraulic - and they work and look well as a result of the invisible cables. Our test bike was equipped with prototype twist-grip brakes, normally the Cheetah is equipped with normal Magura brake levers. And if the gear-change doesn't look as high-tech as the rest of the bike, then blame it on Mavic. Kurth's preference for the electronic Zap System was nipped in the bud when Magura stopped production. Pity. A normal gear-change cable, even though it of course functions flawlessly, looks out of place on this avant garde racer.
Summary: The Cheetah is thrilling - it's more than just a frame with a handful of components and more than the biggest names in the business can ever hope to produce. The shape and the functionality are supreme and the price is fair - around 7,500 Swiss Francs for the complete bike, whose arrow-sharp looks encourage you to pedal even faster in public - to do anything else would be an embarrassment.