Technical specifications
framework: Kouga Miyata Kensei
Wheels: Mavic Comet F/Ghibli R Campaign
Handlebars: Pro Missile Base/Speedbar Accessories
Tires: Dugast Pista Latex
payment system: YBN chain, Vison 170 crank (170mm length) / Digirit 70T chain, Eurasia 15T sprocket
saddle: Arian Physics
Pedals: Shimano SPD SL
Jeffrey Hoagland set a new world record in the kilometer trial this week with a time of 55.433 seconds, beating the 10-year-old record by nearly one second – by a significant margin of discipline – previously held by France’s Francois Pervis.
He was a four-time world champion in the kilo setting the record in every division event at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Hoagland also made two unplanned attempts at the 200m world record after the kilometer, but missed it by about 0.100 of a second in the end.
Hoagland’s record-breaking Koga Miyata bike has some interesting touches in its quest for top speed. We took a closer look at the machine and got some insider knowledge and technical insights from Tim de Boer – head mechanic for the Dutch Olympic cycling team for the past 13 years.
Track bikes in general have become more extreme in appearance in recent years, and we’ve covered many wild designs in the past and expect more in the run-up to the Paris Olympics as countries seek to gain the maximum possible advantage on the boards. We covered Hope/Lotus Team GB’s most extreme track bike in July, a new Kickstarter project from Stromm, A Look and BMC, as well as the TRED X23 that Argentina was riding at Glasgow Worlds.
Video Bike Check: Jeffrey Hoagland’s Koga track bike
Dutch athletes have been using Kuga bikes for years now on the track, and Hoagland’s machine is built around a Kuga-sized Miata Kensei-sized frame. The Kinsei is available as a frameset and can only be ordered through the Kinsei Cockpit. The total price for the frameset and Kinsei drop handlebar is €9,499. De Boer told us that although the Kinsei’s frame sizes are listed as S-XL, the geometry is all based on analysis and feedback from the Dutch national team, so even though they carry loose size labels, the geo-location is very customised. For example, a small frame is longer than a medium frame.
Hoogland used Dutch Dugast tubular tyres, unlike Filippo Ganna who used Continental tubeless tires in his attempt to set the hour. The Dugast tubs in question are Pisa Latex models which feature silk covers and carry a retail price of £84.99 per frame. Standard pressures were 14 bar or 200 psi for 20mm front tires/23mm rear tires. The narrow tire still seems to outperform the wider, softer tire front in a controlled racetrack environment where pure speed is key.
I asked De Boer about grip on tubeless banks, and he explained that for a stronger, heavier runner entering a bank at about 84 feet per hour (which is Hoagland’s top speed during his ride) he has enough air in a tubeless tire to keep it from deforming Or even burping will be difficult and not something they want to gamble on. However, he explained that they are looking into tubeless technology for the future.
A combination of wheels was also used on the record-breaking ride with a Mavic Comete (Rio Edition) front disc wheel used and a Campagnolo Ghibli rear disc which had the stickers removed and the wheel nuts replaced with black Runwell ones. The approximate total for the two disc wheels is approximately $5,375. I assumed the disc-wheel combination was meant to get the most aerodynamic benefit from the frame and wheels as a package, but apparently, riders prefer the handling characteristics provided by the Mavic’s front wheel which has a slightly different shape.
The bike setup was actually very similar to what Hoogland usually uses and what he used at the Tokyo Olympics and so on. De Boer explained that one of the major changes came from the handlebars.
Hoogland uses a years-old Pro Missile base bar which is preferred for its stiffness but the team recently paired it with new time trial extensions for the Speedbar. De Boer explained that the custom nature of the Speedbar eliminates a lot of the pegs and shims you often have to use to achieve correct rider positioning, which helps with rigidity and reliability. Notably, Speedbar founder Edwin van Vogt is a long-time Dutch National Federation mechanic.
A C-Bear bottom bracket was used as well as Campagnolo bearings that De Boer explained were actually very good and possibly CeramicSpeed front bearings in the Mavic disc, although De Boer wasn’t entirely sure. I was expecting a lot of removing bearing seals and flushing out grease, but I suppose this highlights just how good some of the best bearings really are.
On the drivetrain side, Hoogland used a brutal 70×15 gearset with a custom carbon chainring from Digrit. The chain was a YBN SLA410 with Molten Speed Wax chain wax and racing powder which you can read about in our best chain wax guide. The sprocket was an import from Europe and Asia.
Aside from setup such as chasing the bottom bracket threads and facing up to the bb housing, De Boer said he doesn’t receive any special treatment to handle the Hoogland’s impressive power output but explained that he tends to inspect components to ensure there aren’t any malfunctions or damage caused by a standing start.
