Yet again Terry Dolan has pushed the boundaries of track design with a brand new endurance specific track frameset, the Forza.

Traditionally, endurance-specific track frames were not made as stiff as those designed for sprinting. However Dolan has again raised the industry standard to a new level with the stiffness and stability of the Forza.

The Concept:
When work started on the Forza in late 2007 it was going to be solely a lo-pro pursuit specific bike, but, after extensive testing with high profile international riders, the Forza was redeveloped into an endurance specific frame that, due to it’s sloping geometry, is suitable for use as a lo-pro in the Pursuit and in endurance events such as the Points, Scratch, and Madison.

Terry, in close consultation with his specialist team’s extensive knowledge of the needs of track bikes, increased the stiffness of the frame by adding thicker tubing, especially around the chainstays and bottom bracket area of the frame. This maximizes power transfer from rider to bike, without wasting precious energy fighting the angles of the track.

In addition to it’s primary use as an endurance frame the Forza can be used as a sprint bike and is also suitable for use as a lo-pro in the Kilometer/500m TT and in sprint events such as the Sprint, Team Sprint, and Kierin. Naturally, the Dolan DF3 is specifically designed for these events, but the Forza will perform quite aptly as well.

The sloping geometry of the Forza provides a more relaxed position than the sprint-specific DF3. Thus it will perform superbly in the longer events such as a 50km Points Race or Madison.

The Testing:
Like other Dolan championship frames, the Forza was designed using state of the art fluid modeling and wind tunnel experimentation. (The development and testing took place in the same wind tunnel that services the UK’s Formula One teams.) During testing in the wind tunnel the Forza was placed on a static trainer that simulated a rolling road at 50 kilometers/hour. The bike and test riders, all Pursuit specialists, were slowly faced with an increasing artificial headwind that increased to 140 kilometers/hour. Built into the floor under the rider/bike was a large digital display screen (Voltmeter) that provided the rider with a reading that represented their aerodynamic efficiency. The smaller the number, the less aerodynamic drag the rider/bike was creating and, in turn, the faster they traveled.

During testing with the Forza the riders decreased their drag levels to the lowest they had ever established, and the testing consistently allowed the riders to lessen drag beneath the levels they had achieved with any other track frame.

The Technology:
The Forza’s semi-monocoque carbon design, meticulous carbon lay-up procedure, and choice of high-modulus fibers, give the frame stiffness without sacrificing torsional and vertical compliance. The Forza has shown it is on par with the technical level and ride quality of Dolan's DF3 and many National teams are adopting the Forza and the DF3 as their pursuit and sprint bikes of choice.

The Carbon Fiber composite used is the highest quality composite currently available in track cycling frame design and is the same weave and lay-up used in the construction of the famed British Cycling EIS Bikes and, essentially, the finest available for purchase.

Like the DF3 (ridden to countless track championships around the world), the Forza is fitted with Terry Dolan’s patented stainless-steel dropouts, thicker and stronger than any other dropout available. The increased durability of the ‘Terry Dropout’ means they are more than capable of coping with the countless virtual gear changes that track cycling involves. For 2010 new adjusters have been added for perfect alignment of the wheels.

Already ridden to one championship during testing, the Forza is set to change the face of what a rider can expect from his track bike.