Cipollini NKTT Triathlon Frame

Cipollini NKTT: Amazing Time Trial and Triathlon Bike

Though Super Mario may have initially started his bike brand as a passion project, once you start sponsoring professional teams, you gotta have a seriously good time trial bike. The Cipollini NKTT certainly proves to be no slouch for pros and amateurs and can easily translate into an ideal triathlon bike as well.

A time trial bike has to be aero, first and foremost. Cipollini has not ignored even the smallest detail to get things passing through the wind as smoothly as possible. The monocoque fork has been sculpted to offer an sharp leading edge to the wind. It has also been integrated into the front end with the one-piece stem and flat bars, while the top of the downtube and the back of the fork are kissing distance from each other to smooth out the airflow at this important juncture. And with an eye to the aerodynamics as well, they have channeled the brake and shifting cables through the bars and pass them internally through the headset so that there is no chance that they will disrupt the airflow at the front end of the bike. All this will work to help you hide from the toughest winds.

Multi-Monocoque Design of the Cipollini NKTT for Enhanced Performance

This is no bike for shrinking violets, though. You’ll certainly stand out from the crowd with this one, but it is so fast and efficient that you will quickly be able to distinguish yourself in the races. With a mix of extremely high quality carbon T800 and T1000, the frame has been given a layup that is intended to enhance both its rigidity and its compliance, but only in the right places. Using a clever multi-monocoque design that they pioneered with the Bond, the front triangle is monocoque while the rear triangle makes use of what they call their Atomlink where the chainstays are constructed as individual pieces and then bonded and wrapped to the bottom bracket area while the rear axle assembly connects the chainstays to the super sleek seat stays that elegantly meet lowdown on the seat tube. Though they have incorporated this design to provide a desirable level of compliance in the ride, the BB386 has been used for the bottom bracket and promises a rigid responsiveness that will make sure every acceleration knocks seconds off your race time.

Even if the pros are racing these bikes for 20 to 50 km at most at any one time, most of the rest of us will be looking to use this bike in much longer triathlon races, and so comfort definitely becomes at least as important as stiffness. You’re never going to get out your maximum power if you are sitting uncomfortably. Getting the fit right is very important, of course. The geometry is appropriately aggressive, and anyone who wants to race this bike should definitely be working on flexibility since you’ll need to be able to get into a very low tuck to make the most of this bike’s potentials. However, they have allowed for a 12mm height adjustment possibility at the headset, so you can fiddle with the fit till it’s perfect.

The Cipollini NKTT is compatible with electric and mechanical groupsets with complete internal cable routing. The NKTT will offer the sort of magical ride that will have you looking forward to the race pain to make the most of your fitness and your bike.

Also check Pinarello Triathlon and TT bikes.