- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Mikel Landa using LOPS (Muc-Off)Muc-Off oversized pulley wheel system to debut in Tour de France time trial
Today’s Tour de France time trial will see Muc-Off's Lightweight Oversized Precision Shifting (LOPS) oversized pulley wheel system make its debut on the bike used by Team Bahrain-McLaren leader, Mikel Landa.
Seemingly a direct rival to CeramicSpeed’s oversized pulley wheel system, LOPS was developed by Muc-Off in partnership with McLaren.
Larger pulley wheels are considered more efficient because the less the chain has to articulate as it engages and disengages the wheels, the less friction is produced.
The trade-off is weight, but Muc-Off says LOPS is lighter and stiffer than pulley wheel systems from leading competitors.
The 13-tooth upper pulley wheel and 19-tooth lower one are made from aerospace grade aluminium, which are then coated to further reduce friction. The cage is titanium.
“Project Landa” will also see the rider benefit from the firm’s, “fastest ever lubricant and chain combination.”
Geared specifically towards the 36.2km time trial, this basically means they decided, “to tip the efficiency-durability axis heavily in favour of the former and go all-in for speed.”
The bearings are ceramic, lubricated with “a special synthetic hydrocarbon.”
Speaking about the project, Muc-Off managing director, Alex Trimnell, said: "Our partnership with Team Bahrain-McLaren presents us with opportunities to work with world-class athletes and world-class engineers.
“Together, in the earliest days of the partnership, we identified an opportunity to develop an oversized pulley wheel system. To lead on its development and delivery during a pandemic is a testament to the people I'm proud to call colleagues.”
He added: “Our people dug deep to meet a non-negotiable deadline, and Mikel will now start what might be the most important time-trial of his career with a significant technical advantage.”
Landa begins the Stage 20 time trial in fifth overall, 3m28s behind leader Primoz Roglic.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- ktache 6 hours 46 min ago
The batteries were not the easiest to find, and the brackets broke easily. The switch was far better than the D cell quick release ever readys that...
- ktache 7 hours 12 min ago
There are people out there who will make you the belt out of your old tyre.
- chrisonabike 7 hours 13 min ago
Furry dice and an air freshener for your helmet.
- AidanR 7 hours 26 min ago
Looking at the pictures in the linked article, the bikes aren't actually inconsiderately parked. The only issue is that they're on private property...
- Simon E 8 hours 1 min ago
Ah yes, those are hopefully not the 'master craftsmen' that has constructed a wide range of shoddy Italian cars and motorbikes over the years with...
- Simon E 8 hours 23 min ago
A SuperSix is definitely not an all-rounder....
- JLasTSR 8 hours 30 min ago
Since most of.my clothes come.from.charity shops.or the eBay nearly for.nothing clothing section I don't tend.to.worry if they wear out, I am also...
- chrisonabike 9 hours 15 min ago
Just get them to walk a treadmill - or better, ride exercise bikes to power path lighting.
- AidanR 9 hours 51 min ago
So his advisers were trying to move funds around to cover losses, but in a way that needlessly created additional liabilities? It would have been...
Add new comment
6 comments
Like the colour looks very nice.
As I'm sure I've read on this very site, if the marketing spiel includes "aerospace grade", you are being sold snake oil. Unless you are going into space.
In theory it means if it breaks, then Muc Off can trace exactly the batch, process and all other things used in its manufacture. It doesn't exactly mean it is better then a standard materials. Why they would want to do this though......
There is some smoke and mirrors out there, and the amount of crap specken buy the trade, these pully wheels have been avaliable, Carbon or Titanium or Alu from China for year& with ceramic bearings for less than £20, ive got some, just look at the trade selling add,s BUT the Tour was Won, In fact, first & Second, with NO disc Brakes, NO huge tyres, NO aero this and that, NO computers of any kind, AS IT SHOULD BE, just an athlete and a bike ???
Not sure where you are getting no computers and no aeros from for the win. Yes Pog didn't use a computer for the final TT but was on an aero bike with aero clothes and aero helmet, and he did use a computer in other races because there are strava records.
"Project Landa" needs more than marginal gains when it comes to TT bikes.