The Austrian Franz Stocher is one of the world’s fastest track cyclists. After three second-place finishes in previous years he won the 2003 Points Race World Championship. The points race World Cup overall winner is a two-time cyclist of the year in Austria. For an overview of his impressive palmares go to his website (see below).

» "Track wheels must be light, stiff and offer great cornering precision."

Franz Stocher rides the new Lightweight track wheels in many of his races. He especially lauds the excellent acceleration and great power transfer of these wheels. We value his opinion as it allows us to be in close touch with the needs of racing pros when developing these new track wheels.

Mr. Stocher, do wheels play a decisive role on the track? Are there differences between the various events?
Of course! Like all moving parts the wheels play a very important role. Acceleration, handling, lateral stability all depend on the wheels. The time trial events like the pursuit are where wheels like the Lightweights shine the most because they accelerate so great!

» "When you are going for record lap times on a short 160 m track, with a speed of around 65 kph (40 mph), and you feel the wheels corner like on rails you know that you’re riding an indestructible set of wheels!"

» " For me lateral stability is the key! I need the direct handling that comes with it. The wheel does exactly what the rider wants it to – 100%!"

Which properties do you demand from a perfect set of track wheels?
For me lateral stability is the key! I need the direct handling that comes with it. The wheel does exactly what the rider wants it to – 100%! You need a wheel that goes where you point it. If you’ve got stiffness combined with such low weight as is the case with the Lightweights, then these characteristics add up to pure joy!

What did you notice especially when taking the Lightweight wheels out for a race for the first time? Are there differences compared to ordinary wheels?
They deliver exactly what pros have always wanted in a wheel set: Great lateral stiffness combined with low weight. You notice that right from the start! In comparison, regular wheels are soft and slow, they make you feel as if you were driving a large school bus. With Lightweights you are driving a race cart instead...

Most racers thighs are impressive. Were you afraid that these wheels were not going to hold up? What is your comment on the spoke count (20/20 front/rear)?
Of course you are always slightly worried when you are testing a new product. That has nothing to do with impressive thighs but more with the enormous pressure involved in banked turns at high speeds. When you are going for record lap times on a short 160 m track, with a speed of around 65 kph (40 mph), and you feel the wheels corner like on rails you know that you’re riding an indestructible set of wheels!

Franz put our first track prototypes to a real “World Championship” testing regimen. He not only used them for training, but he went right at it at the Six Day races in Munich and Gent. How tough he was on the wheels is shown in his critique of the tiny glitch with the prototype dust cover at the hub. (We’ve fixed that now, of course).

» Post your question here.
Please submit your email adress because we will answer via email.

	Franz Stocher on the net

» back to top