Lance Armstrong’s Trek Speed Concept Unity

While Lance Armstrong's Trek Speed Concept TT frame is identical in design to those used by his RadioShack team-mates - stunningly aero, complete with brake calipers that are built into the frame itself - Armstrong's ‘Unity' paint job most certainly isn't.

Unity is Armstrong charity Livestrong's campaign to bring bike riders together in support of cancer sufferers worldwide. The RadioShack team's bike sported special 'I ride for' stickers which are available for the public to buy, with Armstrong also riding specially painted Unity bikes in 2010. His Unity TT bike displays a sticker for Hollywood actor Dennis Hopper, who died from prostate cancer at the end of May.

Armstrong uses SRAM Red components, with his rear mech cage replaced to incorporate larger jockey wheels for smoother chain routing. The shift levers appear to be the same SRAM prototypes, complete with half-rubbed off Texas star design, as he used last year, and which are now in production as SRAM-owned Zipp VukaShift levers. These are slotted onto Bontrager-badged Zipp VukaAero TT bars, with a Bontrager rear disc wheel and deep-section front wheel.

Like the riders of the RadioShack squad, Armstrong relies on Look's Kéo Blade pedals to lay down the power, but we're surprised not to see him using a pair of the new Kéo Blade Aero pedals which only his nemesis Alberto Contador has managed to grab for his TT bike so far.

Topping things off and supporting Armstrong's efforts is a tried, tested and clearly trusted Selle San Marco Concor Light saddle he has used this model for years updated with a simple white Mellow Johnny's logo the name of the Texan's Austin bike shop.

Creative mechanics have improvised a bracket for Armstrong's SRM unit.

Super-large jockey wheels are a custom touch to the SRAM Red groupset specced on all of team RadioShack's bikes.

Star power: Armstrong's Selle San Marco saddle bears his Mellow Johnny bike shop insignia.

This article first appeared in Cycling Weekly magazine Thursday 15th July 2010.