Competition and performance are two strong characteristics of Lapierre: they are what push us to go further, to question our past choices, to innovate and to propose new and better solutions. This is the crazy project that led us to completely rethink the design and concept of the new Prorace.
Carbon Technology
Since 2010, Lapierre has been designing its frames in unidirectional pre-impregnated carbon fiber. For our new Prorace CF frames, we have further improved the heart of the bike: new, lighter and stronger Torayca unidirectional carbon fibers make up the frame, which is made from more than 300 carbon parts. Thanks to these new fibers, it is possible to optimize the thickness of the tubes where possible and save weight.
Carbon UD SLI
This new level of carbon technology, called UD SLI, is now the highest level of Lapierre's carbon range. Thanks to our UD SLI construction, our composite engineers were able to optimise the rear triangle by playing on both the lateral and vertical stiffness of the asymmetrical chainstays, but also the flexibility of the seatstays to gain traction and significantly improve comfort.
On the Prorace we have developed two levels of carbon lay-up. The UD SLI Team version which, through the use of more HM and VHM quality unidirectional fibre plies, is even lighter, more responsive and with an enhanced weight/stiffness ratio.
3D Tubular
The 3D Tubular concept has been used on our road bikes since 2015. It is based on a simple idea: dissociate the seatstays and the seat tube to improve their flexibility over a longer length and disperse vibrations and other shocks through the top tube instead from of directly to the seat tube.
The choice to keep a 27.2 mm diameter seatpost amplifies the flex of the seat tube and therefore the comfort. Applying the 3D Tubular concept to our semi-rigid mountain bike made sense to :
- Save weight
- Simplify the carbon design
- Give more freedom to the seatstays improving comfort
- Give more flex to the seat tube
Geometry
The needs of the riders, the evolution of the courses with both faster and more technical downhill circuits, impose choices in geometry. Small changes to almost every part of the frame transform the bike and make a real difference. Thanks to our careful choices, four frame sizes are enough to meet the requirements of the majority of mountain bikers.
Without being radical or extreme, the geometry of the new Prorace is pure racing bike with 7 major changes:
- Shorter chainstays (-8 mm)
- Top tube and reach slightly longer (evolving according to size) from 20 to 22 mm
- Headtubelowerby5mm(10mmonXL)
- Seat angle steepened by 1° on all sizes
- Head angle relaxed
- Lower stack for a lower centre of gravity
- 10-40mm shorter seat tube from S to XL with increased sloping
Build Kits
To learn more about the Prorace CF, please visit www.lapierrebikes.com
View key specs, compare bikes, and rate the new Lapierre Prorace CF in the Vital MTB Product Guide.
9/21/2022 9:51am
View replies to: Lapierre Introduces the Prorace CF Hardtail
Comments