There is so much Italian pride in the words of Paolo Bisceglia, Sales Manager at Miche, the Veneto company that has been supplying the transmission for the Italian track bikes for four yearsThe long-awaited moment of the Olympics is approaching for them too. We had already told you somethingToday we're going further. Since there's no detail that shouldn't be taken care of to perfection before such an important appointment, We came to see what their work alongside the Italian national team consists of..
«It all started – says Bisceglia – from a series of meetings with Marco Villa and the other Federation techniciansWe defined the material they would need based on their needs and our internal production. Essentially It was agreed that we would supply everything related to the drivetrain. So cranks, chainrings, bottom bracket, chains, sprockets.. Not wheels. There are only a few of us left producing track equipment, so what may be a niche for others is a very important sector for us."
Keyed movement
Bisceglia's story continues. Miche had already developed a type of crankset that integrates with the movement pivot thanks to a keying, not with the usual square pin system.
«In this way – he explains – we are able to obtain great results in terms of rigidity and aerodynamics, which the athletes are very satisfied with. Normally our production reached 58 teeth crowns, on request of the Federation we have developed a line called Six Days with 59 to 63 tooth chainrings».
Two sprockets
In the same way, The national team's attention was focused on sprockets, which Miche produces in two typesThere are those with a keyed connection, which allow gear changes without having to disassemble everything each time and without damaging the thread. And there are the traditional, integral ones. Despite the constant gear changes and despite the fact that the new supply also includes gears with a keyed connection, thethe Federation's choice falls on integral sprockets.
Special chains
Imagine a track race, whatever the specialty. In addition to aerodynamics, for which the national team can now boast a complete and super-efficient package, the other reason for attention is the reduction of friction. Reasons why the chain is of primary importance.
«Miche does not produce chains – explains Bisceglia – but We have carried out several studies to develop the best chain for track cyclistsThese are chains that are subjected to a intensive use and without much lubrication, because they are continuously degreased and oiled to a minimum. A significant amount of work has been done. Don't imagine you're dealing with a classic bicycle chain. In reality, it's a component much closer to those used on motorcycles, with a very particular structure. However, these are items that must be part of the production, in order to be usable at the Olympics."
Track Power Meter
Among the new features regarding the supply to the national team, precisely on the indication of the teams a power meter has also been developed for track bikes, integrated into the crankset. It's called Active.
«The complication here – continues Bisceglia – lies in the fact that the Q-factor of the road bike is higher than the value for a track bike. So we had to work a lot on the dimensions and the bottom movement to obtain a Q-factor in line with track bikes. The result was a component compatible with all our gears».
All recorded
After hearing about it in a couple of passages, Let's instead delve deeper into the issue of freedom of use of materials for Olympic competitionsWe had already noticed that special attention had to be paid when setting up the handlebars for the pursuers, since It is necessary that the materials that will be used in Tokyo have already been entered in the specific register deposited in 2019.
«The same goes – explains Bisceglia – for our materials. There would be no way to introduce technical innovations anymore, because there is no technical time for the registration. So they will go to Tokyo with the materials they have been provided with up to now. This does not mean, however, that evolution stops.. So on the one hand the teams are happy with the level achieved with cranksets and gears, while we continue to work and make important steps for example for the chain».
Tricolour pride
Providing the material to the Italian track for the Olympics, Bisceglia makes it clear, is definitely a source of pride.
«Miche is a proudly Italian company – he explains – which produces its products in Italy. So the pride of equipping the national team is enormous, while I couldn't say what the commercial return would be. As I explained previously, there are few companies in the world specialized in the production of transmission components for track bikes, so We really have a lot of requests and it's difficult to understand how many of them come from the blue showcase. Furthermore, beyond the fact that the track is growing, these articles also apply to other contexts, such as single speed».
The Six Days chainrings, created for the national team, from 59 to 63 teeth The movement does not have a square-head pin, but a keying that increases rigidity Here are the threaded sprockets, preferred by the Azzurri But for the transmission the national team also has sprockets equipped with support
The Six Days chainrings, created for the national team, from 59 to 63 teeth The movement does not have a square-head pin, but a keying that increases rigidity Here are the threaded sprockets, preferred by the Azzurri But for the transmission the national team also has sprockets equipped with support
Blue Shipping
The last curiosity, however, remains (rightly) ignored. After having spoken in recent days with Giuseppe Archetti, mechanic of the national road team, of the material they will bring to Japan, Bisceglia cannot tell us how much material will travel on the track.
«You should ask their technicians – he smiles – because If they were to carry everything we've been supplying them with over the past few years, they would need a container.Every year they add to the equipment, but I don't think they'll bring everything, but I'm sure of one thing. As far as the transmission is concerned, they're fully equipped."
