Kuota - an exhibitor on Cyclorama, the online guide to outstanding and specialised cycles

Athletes and the management team of AG2R La Mondiale expressed great enthusiasm upon delivery of the bicycles that the team will ride for the 2010 season. Two models will support the athletes during the most important international competitions on the Pro Tour.

Exhibitor Profile: Kuota

Passion, functional design, new technology, an eye for beauty and a deep practical understanding of the demands on products for the sport of cycling; these are the elements that combine to create the world of Kuota Bicycles. Kuota's carbon fiber products are the result of an in-depth creative process that starts at Kuota's headquarters within Sintema Sport, Albiate Italy.

A product begins life as an idea. The idea becomes a sketch and then evolves through the use of CAD 2 and 3 dimensional computer rendering. The development continues with the creation of prototype molds that will manufacture individual preproduction models for laboratory and independent testing. Then the “black” prototypes hit the road for some real world stress… It's a long and sophisticated process that involves existing technology and, as we push the boundaries of performance, frequently requires new technology in both production processes and material engineering. All of this combines to bring you tomorrow's products from the hands, heart and mind of Kuota Bicycles.

Kuota Composite Technology: three words that are the foundation of Kuota. The material composites created by Kuota start life when select weaves of carbon fiber, each chosen for specific functional properties, are impregnated with advanced aerospace grade epoxy polymers. The weaves are chosen for individual character, taking into consideration their physical structure, density, strength and weight. Kuota engineers its designs using these structures and mechanical properties in a complex, multi laminate (multi layer) process that demands a combined understanding of cycling and science to maximize benefit. Eight different weaves of fiber are layered in carefully prescribed direction and thickness based on the performance demands specific to each area in individual frames.

This process of fiber orientation allows Kuota's engineers to better dictate the character of a frame, with areas dedicated to performance (rigidity and twist resistance), comfort (compliance) and reasonable durability while maintaining the lowest practical weight. Kuota's goal is a genuine balance of performance and ride quality, harmony in each frame.

In 2006 Kuota began to enjoy the fruit of a tremendous amount of labor in scientific research and material advancement; Carbon Nanotubes. Carbon Nanotubes are structures that are microscopic in size but with a massive strength to size/weight ratio. Nanotubes simply fill more of the spaces between individual long carbon fibers and between the layers themselves making a more solid structure. Simply put, added strength allows for less weight in the frame.

Kuota have added this next level of material technology to its existing depth of knowledge and applied it generously to its design and production processes (rather than simply applying it sparingly enough to support it's marketing…) to produce Next Generation Products, not just next generation advertising.

Visit this exhibitor's website: http://www.kuota.it