BMC - IMPEC

The Design

When building a BMC bicycle, we want its origins to be proudly on display in the frame. And the impec is no exception. The design of the impec identifies it as a true member of the family – even if its frame has evolved in a totally different way...

From the technical point of view, the frame of the impec is a minor revolution. The carbon structure of the frame tubes is woven seamlessly, while the frame joints at the nodal points each consist of two half-shells. No-one has built a bicycle frame like this before. it is absolutely new. Equally new and revolutionary is the entire design of the frame.

The impec conceals nothing. Quite the opposite, in fact – it wears its insides on the outside. The frame joints are based on the Shell Node Concept and are the frame’s striking feature. Purely in terms of design, SNC is an absolutely consistent refinement of our Skeleton Concept which differentiates many BMC developments from all the rest. The skeleton strut between the seat tube and the top tube makes absolute sense in design terms and what is more has now become our trademark.

Another stunning feature of the impec are the precision-woven carbon structures of the frame tubes which reveal the inner perfection of the frame.

As the first bike of its kind, the impec is even now something of a technical icon. Everything about it is pure high-tech. Everything about it is solely for the purpose of turning the vision of the flawless high performance bike into reality. This requirement has also been a key factor in the design of the impec.

The impec transforms technology into design and bare facts into pure emotion. Or in the words of architect Louis Sullivan: Form follows function.

The Technology

To rethink the bike. To optimize the genetic code. That was the job of our engineers. Resulting in the impec: a standard-bearer for technology that combines the latest developments in the construction of carbon frames with components that are in a class of their own...

The impec is a textbook example of a racing machine. The bike has been strictly tailored to conform to UCI regulations. Total weight: 6.8 kilos. While accommodating the demands of everyday racing, the entire bike is configured for maximum performance and load. it starts with the design of the frame and does not end with the choice of technical components. The basic rule for the impec is that only the finest of everything will do.

The impec’s frame is an absolute first. Never before have there been frame tubes whose carbon structure is seamlessly woven onto molded carriers. Never before have there been two-piece frame joints made from a high-density carbon compound material. And never before have there been high-tech frames produced in an industrial zero-error process.

At the heart of the revolution are the Load Specific Weave – LSW process and the Shell Node Concept – SNC. Both technologies are BMC’s own developments that we have carried out exclusively for the impec. The bike also has many other high-tech features, such as a tapered fork and low seat stay.

To make the qualities of the flawless high performance frame really tangible, only the finest components are used on the impec. For example, high-end products by Campagnolo, Shimano and Sram are available to choose for the group, while Di2, Shimano’s digitally controlled gear system, can be supplied from the factory. The wheelsets are from Easton or Mavic and the preferred saddle is from Selle italia. But whichever variation you finally decide to go for, it will be perfect.

The Innovations

Load Specific Weave LSW

Load Specific Weave – LSW is one of the two technologies we have developed specially for the impec. in this process, the tubes for the frame of the impec are woven first of all from carbon fibers and then in a second step are converted to a highly rigid structure using a special resin compound. The load-specific weaving process is fully automated and delivers precision visible to the naked eye. The frame of the impec is a carbon fiber and resin structure which is accurate to one tenth of a millimeter.

What is new about LSW is the processing of carbon fibers from the reel. The tubes are woven seamlessly and with a perfect fit onto positive molds of pinpoint accuracy. What is new is that each of these tubes is designed, programmed and and produced
to be perfectly optimized for the load it will bear. This results in absolutely flawless frame tubes for the impec.

Shell node concept – SNC

The Shell node concept – SNC guarantees maximum stiffness and stability of the frame joints on the impec. These high-density half- shells are made from a newly developed carbon compound material and are bonded under precision control with the frame tubes during assembly of the frame. At the same time, the interior design of the half-shells is optimized to provide for optimum adhesion between all the individual parts of the frame.

The benefit of the SNC half-shell technology lies in its total control over the junctions. A robot is also used when the impec’s frame is joined together and in addition an optical system controls each individual joint.

What is new about the SNC above all is that a composite compound material produces an extremely rigid material. What is new is that we process this material in a precision injection molding process. This results in absolutely flawless frame joints on the impec.