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2017 Scapin Kalibra outfitted with disc brakes

Offering increased stopping power and tire clearance with all the classic elements of an Italian designed race machine

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The 2017 Scapin Kalibra is a revamp to be more versatile offering riders a lighter, smoother ride to meet the increasingly varying demands of road riders. Designed in collaboration with sister-company Olympia Cicli, the Kalibra borrows from the Olympia aero race disc bike that won the Innovation Design Award at Expobici Padua in 2013.

Scapin say the redesigned Kalibra is optimized for optimal braking and aerodynamics. Combining Scapin’s Italian engineered road frame with the research and manufacturing capabilities of Olympia the Kalibra is designed to be a versatile performance road bike. Offering increased control, more immediate stopping power, modulation and predictability in adverse conditions, disc brakes are increasingly appealing to consumers even if the UCI is hesitant to implement the wide-spread adoption of the technology in the professional peloton.

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Using flat-mount disc brakes, 12 mm thru-axles in the front and rear, internal cable routing for mechanical and electronic groupsets, asymmetric tube shapes, Scapin say the new race bike is ideal for racing and riding gran fondos. Offering a versatile ride that is as comfortable on the tarmac as on gravel adventures. Taking the bike onto rougher roads is encouraged and facilitated with clearance for 28 mm tires but the geometry remains classically Italian for fast riding and responsive handling in corners and on descents.

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Scapin use what they call a reverse carbon fork because of its unique shape, the company say this improves steering stiffness and makes room for more tire clearance. The bike uses different carbons in different areas allegedly helping the engineers shave off some weight. A Flow-Thru integrated seat clamp is used for vertical compliance and provides a neat junction making adjustments easy.

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Scapin are proud of the 2017 Kalibra saying it’s the companies stiffest and most aerodynamic model ever but retains the classic appeals of their past frames. The addition of disc brakes is catching on it road cycling and for good reason offering improved stopping power and clearance for wider tires that will offer better control on rough roads.

The frame is hand-painted and finished in Italy and starts at US$2,700.