"May 10, 2006 - Campagnolo unveils Ultra-Torque, the system that combines the crankset and bottom bracket in a single component, available in various versions in the Campagnolo 2007 range.

The road bike market has been waiting for a response from Campagnolo on cranksets for some time and Campagnolo had reiterated that it would not resort to systems already in existence as they do not meet its desired standards. The times are now mature and the result is truly remarkable.

Ultra-Torque

Ultra-Torque is the name given to the new range of Campagnolo cranksets and immediately puts the spotlight on the extraordinary ability of this crankset-bottom bracket combo to transfer torque. Both cranks have a bottom bracket semi-axle integral with them in such a way as to form two "Ls"; these are then joined in the middle of the bottom bracket shell by means of a Hirth joint. The two semi-axles have a large section so as to be light and rigid at the same time. The Hirth joint which joins them is known for its use in the automobile field where it is used to join together pieces of engine shafts which develop enormous power. This solution has made it possible to unite the two bottom bracket axles and transform them into an extremely rigid assembly. The Hirth joint is self-centring and self-aligning and is kept in one piece by a screw which preloads the assembly to over 500 kg.

Greater lightness
Campagnolo cranksets which adopt the Ultra-Torque system will be 100 grams lighter on average than their 2006 crankset-bottom bracket equivalent. Such a weight saving has been obtained thanks to the new crank design and the "Ultra-Torque" solution for the integrated bottom bracket.

Greater torsional and lateral rigidity
The Ultra-Torque system has been designed to obtain a markedly superior result in terms of torsional and lateral rigidity compared with the previous and already excellent Campagnolo system. The two semi-axles, joined together by a Hirth joint, form an extremely rigid assembly capable of transferring very high torque values.

Q factor and lateral dimensions unchanged
The Q factor remains identical to the value which set apart the cranksets in the 2006 range. If this is already an excellent result in itself, it is even better when you discover that there has been no increase in the lateral dimensions of the cranks. Unlike other manufacturers who because they use external bearings were obliged to increase the dimensions of the cranks in the interface zone with the bottom bracket axle, Campagnolo was able to overcome the problem by resorting to semi-axles. This is because this solution allows the bearings to be inserted from the internal connecting point and therefore significantly increase the diameter of the interface between the semi-axles and cranks. The result is that the cranks can be flatter in the connection zone with the same static strength and life cycle, thereby compensating for the greater thickness of the external cups. Thanks to the Ultra-Torque system the cyclist will not experience any reduction in the space available and will not be obliged to make reparatory adjustments such as repositioning the pedal cleats to prevent rubbing between shoe ormalleolus and the middle part of the crank.

Extremely low rotation friction
Rotation friction is extremely low with the Ultra-Torque system thanks to the quality of the bearings used, the seal system, the refined design and the constructive rationality.
Fast and simple installation Installing an Ultra-Torque crankset on your bike is amazingly straightforward: it involves screwing the two cups onto the frame and joining the two cranks together by means of a single screw. It's as easy as that! With an eye on standardization that makes life simpler, Campagnolo decided to use tools already in existence. The cups are screwed in using tools available on the market and only a normal 10 mm socket wrench is needed to tighten the cranks.

Fast and simple maintenance
The crankset can be disassembled in just a few seconds: unscrew the screw which unites the two semi-axles using the 10 mm socket wrench; pull the cranks off the bottom bracket shell; clean and lubricate the bearings again; and that's that!"

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