English
On Thursday 11th Feb we took delivery of the much anticipated range of Museeuw Bikes with the legend himself, Johan Museeuw, taking time-out of his busy schedule to revisit Wiggle and help promote the range of bikes.
With the help of Fanjio, technical expert, they both spent a good few hours explaining to various Wiggle employees the construction of the frames which uses a mixture of carbon fibre and Flax fibre. Fangio explained that weaving these two fibres together creates a composite material which is stronger and more able to absorb vibration and coupled with a 7 layer make-up on the carbon lugs gives the frame stiffness as well as the ability to absorb far more vibration than conventional carbon fibre frames. The frames are slightly heavier than full carbon fibre frames, but Johan believes that rider comfort should come first especially over rough roads.
As the photo shows (see photo below), Fanjio is explaining the Flax used on the MC2 road bike, which is an Wiggle exclusive as we asked Museeuw Bikes if they could alter this bike slightly by introducing a semi-integrated aero seatpost instead of a full integrated seatpost. The reason behind this was 2-fold.
Firstly a sizing issue as regards to fitting into a bike box etc and secondly to eliminate the possibility of incorrectly cutting of the seatpost when trying to correct your sizing. This is also the case with the MF-01, not so with the MF-1 frameset, also available at Wiggle. Also the MF-1 has a colour scheme (white) which is exclusive to Wiggle.
Johan also kindly took the time jump on his bike, in Wiggle Team Kit, so we could get some photos of himself and the MF-1 (naked Carbon/Flax) which he rides.
It’s all about Flax!
Below is a video where Fanjio talks about the benefits of Flax!
More About Flax
“to feel is to believe” is the company motto. Too true as when viewing and sitting on the bike in Wiggle HQ, you wouldn’t tell this was more than your average Carbon road bike. One tell-tale sign is a unique material pattern underneath the lacquer that tells you this isn’t carbon, rather Flax, an old material finally being utilised as it should.
Only when you jump on a Museeuw Bike and jet off down the road do you notice the difference. And it’s an instant difference too, one hard pedal stroke and you find yourself propelled at high speed like the fastest of race bikes, yet the usually coarse, decrepit road surface was ironed out to feel like freshly laid tarmac. An instantly unique ride, you will never have before experienced.
Flax is a plant which was extensively cultivated in ancient Egypt and has been used in multiple uses ever since, including on the wings of the famous Spitfire fighter plane. Two materials are found in flax, the first being flax oil, used in the production of linseed. The second is flax fibre, used in the production of textiles and bank notes. The chances are, you have flax in your wallet right now.
Today, flax is predominantly produced in the north of France. Museeuw bikes have perfected a process to combine flax fibre with carbon fibre to produce a composite material exclusive to Museeuw. At last, an environmentally friendly material that can be 100% recyclable. That’s why Museeuw are licensing the technology to the car industry to help reduce the car industries carbon footprint.
Unlike 100% carbon fibre frames, Museeuw bikes can be easily repaired and carry a lifetime warranty. When carbon fibre fails, it usually brakes clean, failing totally in an instant. Because flax has longer strands and is laid in a random order, unlike the uniformed layout of carbon, if the frame were to ever fail, it would fail slowly and not suddenly. Museeuw would then take the frame back, repair it fully to be as strong as new and return it. What’s more, for a premium, custom geometry and paint options are available.
Check out this nice video of Flax being tested.