Pair it with their 50/34 chainrings and it’s just 729g, or mix and match from any of their round and oval direct-mount 1x and 2x chainrings (or 104BCD spider) to get the exact gearing you want.

Rotor’s crank arms are machined from 7075-T6 aluminum, then drilled out from the ends to remove excess material inside the arms. For these, they machined a little extra from the edges, too, and the arms are slightly shallower than the non-SL version.

Compared to their non-power meter cranksets with a fully modular system with swappable spindles, these have the spindle permanently attached to the driveside since it houses the battery.

It gets a new self-extracting mounting bolt to make installation and removal easier, with a more secure bolt on the backside to attach the chainring or spider.

Hiding under a dust cap is a rechargeable battery good for 250 hours and fully recharges in 3 hours, using a magnetic cable attachment. All electronics are sealed inside with an IP67 dust/waterproof rating and operating range from -20ºC to 50ºC (-4ºF to 122ºF).

They boast +/-1.5% accuracy with round or oval chainrings, and their app shows advanced pedal stroke and torque data beyond what your GPS cycling computer can display. The app is also used for OTA firmware updates.

The antenna sits off the back of the driveside arm to maintain their slim profile, communicating via Bluetooth and ANT+ to any modern head unit. The cap on the non-drive side simply keeps debris from accumulating in the three holes drilled down the length of the arm.

Rotor’s lightweight one-piece 2x chainrings come in a ton of compatible chainring combos, including new 12-speed tooth profiles to fit both Shimano and SRAM Flattop chains. with plenty of 1x options for gravel, too. They have a narrow 147.5mm Q-factor and come in 165/170/172.5/175mm arm lengths.

RotorBike.com

The post Rotor 2INpower SL is a 530g dual-sided power meter crankset appeared first on Bikerumor.

Buckle up, there’s a lot of new bike tech on the horizon…

Eurobike 2023 tech teasers from Frankfurt

The cycling industry still feels like it’s in a transition out of a few years of unpredictability, so we’re not sure exactly what to expect. And again, the show is in a slightly different time of year – pushed a few weeks earlier this time, maybe better aligned with bike companies’ purchasing schedules for next year?

What we do know is that a lot of gear has been in the development pipeline for a while, and it’s itching to hit the market. But rumor has it that many bike companies have a lot of extra products still waiting to be sold, so there’ll likely be a number of products we had seen hints of before that are actually finally available to buy now.

We’ve received a bunch of embargoed news in the past week or so that is scheduled to go live on Wednesday. And there’s already been plenty of early pre-Eurobike launches – like Bosch’s new lightweight SX ebike motor, Pinion’s potentially revolutionary ON.E ebike motor and gearbox combined into one, last week’s debut of SRAM affordable 12-speed Apex XPLR/Eagle/AXS.

So what’s new? What’s coming soon?

Frantically pulling bike boxes out of moving vans, UPS & DHL deliveries coming down to the wire, furiously building bikes and expo stands… most brands aren’t quite ready. But we spotted some goodies…

Like this new ultra-aerodynamic carbon track bike from Aero Design Swiss. We’ve been following this small company since they debuted a wildly adjustable aero cockpit setup six years ago. And it looks like their track bike concept has become real, now that UCI frame and fork regulations have relaxed in recent years.

Will this be ready for the Paris Olympics? We’ll find out this week.

More and more braking systems have evolved in recent years to improve rider safety. This latest one for cargo bikes is Magura’s new CBS combined braking system, where both brake levers activate both front & rear brakes in an optimized ratio designed for maximum stopping power and maximum safety.

OK, I’m a sucker for a no photos sign – it is after all why journalists are allowed to enter the tradeshow. But even better than the no pictures please pictogram under this Moustache bikes integrated mid-drive gravel ebike prototype… the handwritten sign asking the event cleaning crew to please DO NOT CLEAN their dusty display bike.

Here’s a sneaky sneak peek. Notice anything special about this new 3T Exploro Ultra gravel bikepacking and adventure bike? 3 important bits:

1. It is actually labeled as an Exploro Extrema Italia, which means a new model name AND that it is made-in-Italy with 3T’s unique automated fiber winding construction.
2. It has no visible cables. So far, only the 3T Strada road bike has gotten a fully-internal routing option thanks to wireless-only drivetrains needing just to route the brake lines inside.
3. That’s also a new 3T stem that cleanly routes those brake lines into the frame. The smooth shaping suggests it might be carbon, and a tiny Italian tricolore flag on top suggests it is also made in-house by 3T.

What does Re-cycling mean for Igus, makers of a lot of the bushings that go into your bikes?

Igus has been working with other cycling industry producers to create more bike components that are made of recyclable and recycled plastics in an effort to lower the carbon footprint of the bikes we all ride. We’re curious to see how they are getting along.

A premium Riese & Müller commuter ebike or cargo bike is expensive. So the German brand is introducing a subscription service – where for around 100€ a month you essentially lease the ebike you need including a service program – all without having to buy what are often 6-10,000€ setups. Then, you can always swap out to a new version when your needs change.

I’m also a sucker for new tools. Unior has more than a dozen bits labeled as ‘NEW’ on the wall of their workshop. It looks like 2 out of 4 of these are for opening beers while working on bikes. I don’t disagree with that as a worthwhile function.

But I’ll check out what other functional bike tools are new too, since I’m pretty sure I can already open a beer with either those pliers, zip-tie nips, or even that BB wrench.

What do two of the most successful recent road racers to retire do when they hang up their cleats?

For Marcel Kittel & Tony Martin, it’s developing bikes to make sure their kids and yours stay safer when they ride. Their new li:on brand of kids’ bikes feature integrated high-visibility lighting, retroreflective paint, and tech meant to communicate with active collision avoidance systems in modern cars. Plus, the bike is made of recycled AND recyclable carbon composites, and they are built tough to survive the abuse that kids put their bikes through.

OK, we all need an ebike to pull our Airstream trailer, right? If so, Benno bikes has got you covered. Remember, aluminum Airstreams are light.

How about some new mountain bike drivetrain tech?

We first covered the complete TRP EVO 7-speed & 12-speed MTB groupsets back in March. Now it looks like they are finding a bit more traction, and we’ll see what bikes spec the all-new shiny gold drivetrain for the coming year.

Gas Gas may be a moto brand for many, but as part of the Pierer group that also includes Husqvarna, KTM motorcycles (but not bikes or ebikes), and also Felt… they’ve now got some well-developed eMTBs too.

OK, let’s leave it at that. There are still plenty of empty spots to get filled out in the next few hours. The show officially kicks off Wednesday.

There will be a lot of new tech to delve deeper into in the coming days and weeks ahead.

Stay tuned. Maybe even follow our Eurobike tag for the latest hits as they drop.

Eurobike.com

The post Eurobike 2023 Sneak Peek: Get Ready for a Flood of New Bike & eBike Prototype Tech! appeared first on Bikerumor.

3T Exploro Italia gravel bikes get fully internal cable routing

OK, here’s the detail we’ve all been waiting for!

The new generation of 3T Exploro gravel bikes ditch the old cable routing port that sat just behind the headset, resulting in an unfortunate cable loop that made it tough to have a tidy toptube bag setup, and was frankly ugly. It has been one of the few truly annoying nits that I have picked while riding every generation of 3T gravel bike since the beginning. It had reasoning behind it – keeping the headtube narrow, cable bends smoothly for mechanical shifting, and ensuring easy servicing of your bike. But oh wow, how glad I am to see it go.

I got this sneak peek earlier today while creeping around the halls of Eurobike as brands unpacked their boxes, built up bikes, and put the finishing touches on their stands. 3T has an interesting booth that highlights the cool fiber-wound tech that they use to automate some of their in-house carbon bike manufacturing in northern Italy. And while they were winding carbon around the booth, I was serendipitously taking photos of their newest bikes leaning here and there.

It’s also interesting to see the new Italia edition bikes fitted with a new 3T stem cleanly routing both front & rear brake lines into the frame & fork. The smooth shaping and finish suggest it is carbon, backed up by the Italian tricolore flag on top indicating that it is also made-in-Italy by 3T.

This new gray Exploro Ultra caught my eye for its lack of external cables. A closer look revealed a new name – Exploro Extrema, which may suggest a rebranding of the more comfortable adventure bikepacking version of 3T’s gravel bike family. But it’s the Italia naming that confirms that the fully internal routing will come to those top-tier carbon gravel bikes that 3T manufactures in-house in Italy.

The new bike is leaned up against a standard 3T Exploro RaceMax gravel bike, all but confirming that the imported carbon frames will stick with the same cable routing port behind the stem. That ensures these more affordable frames will still be compatible with lower-cost mechanical shift groupsets, while the Italia bikes will be wireless electronic shift only.

Of note, all levels of the latest Strada road bikes since last December went fully-internal with their routing, so Stradas are now wireless shifting-only.

Not only the pedal-powered gravel bikes get the upgrade. The top-tier Exploro RaceMax Boost Italia gravel ebike with an internal battery in the downtube and a motor in the rear hub, also gets fully internal routing. The Boost edition still gets its ebike control button in the toptube, so direct mount bags still have to slide pretty far back.

But at least you don’t have to deal with a cable loop, as well.

Lastly, the standard Exploro RaceMax Italia gravel bike also gets the internal routing treatment. Here is the latest bare version of the made-in-Italy bike that 3T calls Raw Carbon Weave to reveal their intricate wound fibers.

We’ll have to wait for official information to confirm pricing and availability. But expect it to cost the same as their other top-tier Italia edition bikes, and we’d imagine it will be a rolling production update that should be available to customers by the time their Italia pre-orders ship out early in the fall at the latest.

3T.bike

The post 3T Exploro Italia Gravel Bikes Upgraded to Internal Routing, a Made-in-Italy Sneak Peek appeared first on Bikerumor.

Racers are competing and riding alongside the local wildlife as the race runs through Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Preserve over four days and across four challenging stages.

The folks at Brooks England want you to take part in the celebration with this special C17 Limited Edition saddle. The warm rust-colored organic cotton fabric is inspired by Kenya’s clay roads. The natural-rubber undercarriage is a deep green, a hue drawn “directly from the Maasai Mara’s verdant, rich vegetation”.

Brooks’ latest Cambium saddle doesn’t just look adventurous, it holds the same performance, comfort, and support that cyclists have come to expect from the line.

What sets Brooks apart from other saddles is the signature “hammock-like” saddle suspension. It naturally absorbs the bumps and ruts of rough roads and/or trails. It doesn’t have to be in East Africa, it can be on a local trail across the street from your house.

You can obtain your own C17 Special Migration Gravel Race saddle exclusively through the Brooks England website. Keep in mind, quantities are limited to 150 pieces.

Retail is $200 and comes with its own coordinating musette in a matching palette.

Saddle Specs:
Length: 283 x Width: 164 x Height: 52 mm
Weight: 464g

See all of the products from Brooks England by hitting below.

BrooksEngland.com

The post Brooks Limited C17 Saddle Celebrates Migration Gravel Race appeared first on Bikerumor.

Always one for an adventure, bottles were filled, pedals installed, and we were off for a mostly pavement loop in the hills inland from Monterey, California.

Quick background: Alchemy’s first gravel bike, the Ronin, is more of a race bike, with geometry closer to a road bike and a short headtube that allows aggressive body positioning. The Lycos is their sophomore effort, aimed at riders who like to mix mountain bike trails into their rides, with slacker geometry and much larger tire clearance (which we were maxing out with 700×50 Maxxis Ramblers).

Both bikes feature top tube bag mounts and three bottle mounts, one being under the downtube near the BB shell. The key difference is the geometry and layups.

Once we rolled out, any concerns about the Lycos’ road manners quickly dissipated. Starting in a paceline full of strong riders, it held a line and behaved well riding two abreast once we reached low-traffic country roads.

The real fun began once we hit dirt, with a long, gradual climb through the hills before a ripping fast descent that had its share of stutter bumps, loose pebbly ground cover, and winding curves.

Handling was stable and predictable, allowing me to look around and enjoy the scenery a bit.

The Lycos’ fork has three mounts for extra storage, plus fender mounts for foul-weather riding. It’s not pitched as an “adventure” or bikepacking bike and lacks the extra frame mounts to support racks or fixed bags, but there’s no reason you couldn’t strap a variety of frame bags to it and head out for multi-day excursions.

The thin seatstays are set low, and the bottom half of the seat tube thins and flattens, adding compliance and comfort over rough roads. I’ve found that the Ronin is surprisingly comfortable for having a racy attitude, with seatstays that go straight to the top, but the Lycos improves upon this while maintaining spirited performance when you need to beat your buddies to the county line.

Alchemy offers stock colorways with your choice of stealth or standard logos, plus custom paint from their in-house studio.

I rode the GRX Di2 build ($6,499), which even with a 1x drivetrain was fine on the road sections and gravel…which is good, because the frame has no accommodation for front derailleurs. Just change the front chainring size to suit your needs, or swap to a MTB cassette and derailleur for more range.

Complete bikes start at just $4,999, and other than the GRX build all others are SRAM with your choice of XPLR gravel or Eagle MTB cassettes and derailleurs out back. All frames use a UDH rear derailleur.

It’s something I could see riding long miles, on road or off. If you’re looking for a single drop-bar bike to pull double duty, it’s worth a look. I certainly wouldn’t mind one of these in my own stable.

AlchemyBikes.com

The post Review: Alchemy Lycos Gravel Bike is Road & Trail-Worthy appeared first on Bikerumor.

If you’ve ever wondered how tire size and rim profiles affect aerodynamics, this episode is for you! My guest is Dov Tate, founder of Parcours Wheels, a UK brand that’s been pushing the envelope on wider rims optimized around wider tires.

The story of how he got to that point, from putting 360º wind sensors low on the bike to intentionally doing wind tunnel tests without a bike frame attached to the wheels, is really cool.

We dive pretty deep on leading edge, trailing edge, optimizing for gravel tires, and a whole lot more, with stories about how he’s built his company mixed in for the entrepreneurs among us.There’s even talk about some new wheels (like the first-ever full disc wheel with the Classified internally geared hub) and where they might be headed with future product development.

This episode sponsored by:

Spring is the perfect time to upgrade your ride. From top brands to niche names, TPC has a curated selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes for every discipline. Each Certified Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced by expert mechanics, and every bike includes risk-free 30 day returns. Visit theproscloset.com/bikerumor and enter code BRPODCAST to save $40 on every order over $200.

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The post Podcast #083 – Parcours on Aerodynamics of Wide Rims, Gravel Tires & More! appeared first on Bikerumor.

A while ago I wrote a piece on Ron’s new cycling shoe collaboration with Stomp Lox. The SPD-compatible bicycle shoe was called Slack. It was a cycling shoe that sported a nice alternative look when compared to a typical cycling shoe. Plus it looked like it had a nice, wide-toe box… I really dug the looks of it and wanted to try a pair.

Unfortunately, Ron wasn’t able to send over a pair of the brown top grain model for me to review but was able to introduce me to Mamyia at Stomp Lox Japan directly to get a pair of the olive suede style sent over to me to try out.

Note: The version of the Stomp Lox Slack that’s sold through Ron’s Bikes is made exclusively for them in Japan, and comes in sizes 8 through 13. Ron’s Bikes version has the LeRon Tulip label on the tongue and comes with brass hardware. The version of the Slack that I got directly from Stomp Lox is made in China, and doesn’t have brass hardware, or the tulip label, and only comes in black suede or olive suede.

Slack Out of the Box

When I received the Slack and opened the box, I found that the shoe looked much narrower than the photos. They were packaged well and arrived undamaged. I was surprised that the shoes didn’t come with a rubber “block” or cover for the cleat area, in case you didn’t want to use them to clip in.

The Slack is made of durable genius suede cow leather for the outside of the upper and uses a breathable, wear-resistant pigskin on the inside.

These shoes are compatible with any 2-bolt cleat system, come with cleat plates, and are pre-laced and ready to roll. The Vibram sole seems to be a nice touch and looks thick and durable. The suede is not waterproof and Stomp Lox suggests that they should be sprayed with waterproofing spray before use.

I received the Slacks way back in February and have finally gotten through some other reviews and was able to slip these on and take them for a first ride.

The Slack’s First Few Rides

One of the things that attracted me to these shoes, besides their looks, (I love the way they look like they just walked off the Dolomites circa 1966), was the wide-toe box and laces. I honestly hate the way most cycling shoes feel on my feet. It’s one of the reasons I had switched to flat pedals, after 25+ years of riding clipping in

The traditional cycling shoe is like everything else the bike industry offers in wearable goods, they seem to be made with only smaller individuals, who race, in mind.

The Slack has a medium stiff sole which has proven good for on or off-the-bike walking as well as the few hike-a-bike sections I have in my riding area.

I ordered the USA 11, and the fit seems pretty true to size. They hold my foot snugly without having to crank down on the laces to tighten them. On the first few rides, I noticed zero heel lift and no hot spots on my foot.

The Slack’s full leather upper and supple pigskin made them really comfy right out of the box. I would imagine that the shoes may stretch, making the shoes even more comfortable as they get worn in.

The Slack’s Vibram sole is part of Stomp Lox’s Power Ride Core System. This is a system that offers the “perfect balance of stability and flexibility”. Stomp Lox says the Vibram sole is also replaceable.

Upon my initial impression and the first few rides, the shoes checked all of the boxes for me.

They’re comfy right out of the box, they have a great non-traditional look to them, they’re made with quality material and they have laces, which I feel are infinitely more adjustable than other fastening systems for varying foot sizes and needs.

They’re really quite comfortable off of the bike. They seem to be made well, which is to be expected with the lofty price tag. Overall they seem to be a great pair of bicycle shoes. We’ll see how they continue to perform when we get into more detail in my full review in the next few months.

The Slack Sizing and Retail

Retail: $250 (Stomp Lox version direct)

Color: Olive suede or Black suede

The Slack comes in two shapes; “normal fit and Asian fit”

The sizing is as follows:

USA: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

UK: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11.5

EU: 40.5, 42, 43, 44.5, 46, 46.5

Japan: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Stay tuned here at Bikerumor for my full, long-term review of the Stomp Lox Slack!

StompLox.com

The post Stomp Lox Slack, a Bicycle Shoe for the Rest of Us appeared first on Bikerumor.

We who ride the bicycle know that muscle recovery is important, and I am not a stranger to the benefits that a massage gun can offer. But, I didn’t know that much about Ekrin Athletics, so I did a lil’ homework to get familiar with the company.

According to the Ekrin website, they have a lot of professional athletes using their products, from the WMBA, and NHL, to the NFL. I didn’t see any cyclists though, which I felt was a little surprising.

Do massage guns work? They seem to, I’ve personally found benefits while using a massage gun after both long rides and rides with big efforts. I even use the gun on the no-ride days that fall between the riding days. I use it on my back and neck as well. It works well, and I am a proponent of the tech.

But, let’s talk a little bit about percussive therapy.

Some Thoughts from UCLA Health

According to UCLA Health, percussive therapy, which is also called percussive massage, uses “rapid and repetitive pressure combined with vibration therapy. The massage head moves quickly and forcefully, applying pressure directly to your soft tissue, while the vibrations engage the outer layer of skin”.

A good massage has been proven to help with stress reduction, easing pain, and improving circulation, says UCLA Health. But, not everyone can afford or has the time to partake in a professional-level massage. For this reason, a massage gun is a great “DIY” alternative. But before purchasing one, UCLA Health suggests the following features to consider:

• Speeds: More options give the gun versatility.
• Weight: Since you could be holding the gun for up to 10mins, they suggest a gun falls in the 2 to 4 lbs range.
• Noise: This may affect where you use it and how “relaxing” the experience is.
• Battery: How long the battery lasts between charges can affect whether it’s ready to use when you need it.

Benefits of Percussive Therapy

You don’t have to be an elite athlete to enjoy the benefits of percussive therapy. Some of the gains you achieve are just good for your overall health. Contrary to what you may think, I am not a medical professional, and I won’t be doing a super deep dive into the full medical benefits of percussive therapy, I will however list a few that UCLA Health mentions:

• Improved mobility – Stiff necks, sore back or aching muscles may be due to fascia, layers of tissue and fluid that can surround and stabilize your bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels can lead to limited mobility. The repeated pressure at high speeds of percussive therapy thins and distributes the thickened fascia fluid helping your muscles move easier.
• Reduced post-exercise soreness – Lacitic acid builds up in muscles after exercise which causes pain and soreness. A massage gun’s percussion forces the muscle fibers to release lactic acid reducing the soreness you’ll feel.
• Decreased delayed onset muscle soreness – The pain and soreness that we feel 24 to 72 hours after doing a new exercise, or unfamiliar physical activity like moving or lifting something heavy is called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) resulting from tiny muscle fiber tears. Research has shown that vibration therapy increases skin temperature, blood flow, and hormonal response to reduce inflammation and pain associated with DOMS.

To summarize… it is safe to use a massage gun, before a workout, after a workout, or whenever you have muscle tension or stress. UCLA Health does say that if you are suffering from ongoing muscle soreness or stiffness, reach out to your primary care physician.

On with the Review Already

Being the lil’ bro to the B37, the Ekrin Bantam massage gun is the smallest, most compact massage gun that they offer, weighing in at a little under 500g (1.1lbs)… half the weight of the bigger B37.

On top of being lightweight, it’s really compact and easy to use. The carrying case is small measuring 7.5″ x 7.5″. Being lightweight, the Bantam made for an ideal on-the-go massage companion… although I haven’t had a reason to use it like that very much. But the times that I did travel with it, it packed away nicely in my suitcase.

It’s even small enough to actually fit (without the case) in my wife’s purse with zero problems. It’s really small and light enough to take with you on a long bike tour or bikepacking adventure if that suits your needs. Backpacks and gym bags would also be a perfect match for the Bantam.

When it comes to dealing with my pre/post-ride muscle routines, I usually rely on stretching to relieve any muscle aches, but I’ve used the Bantam quite a bit in the last 8 months since receiving it, and that’s changed the game a little. And after actually reading about the benefits of percussive therapy, I’m going to be using the Bantam much more often and on a regular basis.

Right away I noticed that despite its small stature, the Bantam packs way more “punch” than my Amazon special, which was almost twice the size. With its quiet motor, quality build, and rubberized grip area, the Bantam is easy and relaxing to use.

It came with four attachments:

• Flat (silicone): For overall use
• Bullet: Pinpoint usage for hands, feet, and knots
• Round (silicone): Low impact for treating sensitive and sore areas
• Fork: Designed to treat spine and neck

These attachments quickly and easily can be pulled from or snapped into the gun without the need for tools or any real effort. It also uses a USB Type-C charging cord making it easy to charge anywhere. Erkin says they use a premium lithium-ion battery and claims a 6-hour battery life.

I can attest to the 6-hour battery life claim, as the battery in my Bantam lasts a very long time between charges. The power didn’t fade while I used it two or three times a week for weeks at a time without having to charge it. However, it does have a convenient indicator light on the bottom of the gun, that will let you know when it needs to be charged and when it’s done charging.

The Bantam uses a redesigned brushless motor that has three speeds, low (2000 rpm), medium (2600 rpm), and high (3200 rpm). I found all three speeds to be the perfect amount for me. All three of the speeds were useful, and I found it easy to find the right speed for the task at hand. In contrast, when compared to my Amazon special gun’s 5 speeds, where basically only two of its speeds were useful.

Ekrin Athletics Bantam Features and Retail

Retail: $150 (free shipping)

• Compact Design
• USB Charger
• 4 Attachments
• 6 Hour battery life
• Slim, Easy-Grip handle
• Three speeds (2000 to 3200 rpm)
• Travel case included
• Ultra Lightweight (1.1pounds)

Conclusion

I am a firm believer in the benefits of percussive therapy, I have been using and enjoying the results of massage guns for the better part of three years. The Erkin Bantam is the best one I’ve used. I love that it’s so small and can go anywhere I may need to bring it. Its power is unmatched when compared to the other massage guns I’ve used. It doesn’t bog down when applying a lot of pressure to trouble areas. It’s a great little massage gun that’s not terribly expensive and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone in the market. Its lightweight, and quality build will no doubt last a long time.

Check out Ekrin’s other massage gun options and accessories below.

ErkinAthletics.com

The post Beat The “Sore” Out with the Ekrin Bantam Mini-Massage Gun appeared first on Bikerumor.

It’s now 1×12 only, dropping the front derailleur and adding a cog, making it SRAM’s first 12-speed DoubleTap mechanical road group (finally!). And there’s a wireless AXS group, too, letting you use batteries, or not, and choose between 11-44 XPLR gravel gearing or 11-50 Eagle mountain bike gearing.

Apex 1×12 Gearing

SRAM’s XPLR gravel groups have a cassette that sits between road and mountain bike range, with 10-44 cassettes, giving groadies the closer gear steps they like for drop bar bikes, but with the necessary range for off-road exploration.

Eagle riders, however, want all the range and might want to pack more stuff and need the easiest gear they can for bigger, bolder adventures. For them, the 10-50 and 10-52 cassettes work.

For the new Apex groups, the only key difference is the cassette fits on a standard HG freehub body, using an 11-tooth small cog for both XPLR (11-44) and Eagle (11-50) cassettes:

• XPLR 11-44: 11-12-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-38-44
• EAGLE 11-50: 11-13-15-17-19-22-25-28-32-36-42-50

Shared Parts & Differences

The beauty of the new groups are that almost every part is interchangeable with their other groups. Any XPLR cassette, crank, or (AXS) derailleur can be subbed in for other XPLR parts.

Basically, anything from the new Apex XPLR group is compatible with any of their XPLR parts. The Apex XPLR AXS derailleurs will shift the 10-44, 11-44, and the smaller 10-36 road cassette, but the Apex Mechanical will only shift the 10/11-44 cassettes.

And any of the Apex Eagle parts are compatible with other Eagle parts (except T-Type), and both AXS & mechanical versions work with the larger 10-52 cassettes, too. So, you could upgrade the crankset or cassette (or both) and still have a 1×12 mechanical group, only lighter.

All of the Apex derailleurs have Cage Lock and a spring-loaded clutch (not the hydraulic Orbit damper from the road groups), and AXS derailleurs get their Overload Clutch that decouples the shifting motor in the event of an impact, then resets automatically.

The Apex Crankset is essentially the same as Rival, but with new graphics and finish, including the aftermarket direct mount alloy chainring. For OE, you may find a new steel chainring, too. There’s even a spindle-based power meter option, same as the Rival group.

It comes only with the longer spindle to fit both road and MTB bottom bracket standards. It’s designed around a 47.5mm chainline, which offers more tire clearance than the narrower 45mm chainline available on higher performance road groups.

New Apex FlatTop chain is the same as the others, but without the Nickel-Chrome finish.

The brakes are all Flat Mount now, too, and they’re basically a Flat Mount version of their Level MTB brakes. It uses the same pads as their other road brakes, but doesn’t get the Bleeding Edge bleed ports like the higher-end stuff.

There’s also an Apex flat bar brake lever, which can pair with any of their Eagle 12-speed mountain bike shifters, mechanical or AXS depending on which derailleur you choose.

The new brake levers are broad, with a flatter radius providing a bigger area for your finger to pull on.

Compared to Rival, the Apex brake lever is stamped, not forged, the derailleur pulleys have bushings rather bearings, and the cassettes start at 11 rather than 10. And Apex isn’t as shiny.

Apex AXS Wireless Details

The XPLR derailleur uses the same spring clutch chain management as the Rival derailleur for both AXS and mechanical versions, similar to their mountain bike derailleurs, but with no Cage Lock. These will use the standard road Flattop chain.

If you wanted to do a “mullet” drivetrain with a mountain bike cassette and derailleur, there’s a new X1 Eagle rear derailleur that’s similar to GX but with different materials, and it’ll be an OE-only option. If you wanted to build your own, you’ll need to get a GX AXS derailleur and a standard Eagle chain (not the new T-Type MTB Flattop chain).

Put another way, if you buy a complete bike with an Apex Eagle AXS build, you’ll get this X1 derailleur. If you’re buying an aftermarket “Apex Eagle” group to add to your existing bike, you’ll get a GX AXS derailleur.

Shifters have the same ergonomics as the latest Force and Rival groups, with a smaller hood circumference and easier-to-reach levers.

Apex Mechanical Details

Why did it take so long for them to make a 12-speed mechanical road group? Because they wanted to get the gearing and the details right, and make sure it was properly positioned in the market.

When their first 1×11 groups came out and started getting used for the nascent gravel scene, people were pairing road shifters with mountain bike cassettes and cobbling stuff together. Now, with SRAM’s XPLR groups having dialed in their gearing and concepts, they’ve got two new derailleurs and an all-new shifter to give you the options you want.

The shifters are paired with the same hydraulic brake levers as the AXS group, but they click through 12 cable-actuated gears. The hood and body are shaped the same as the latest Rival and Force groups, designed for riding more on the hoods.

They use an EAGLE 12-speed gear actuation inside, which means it works with their remaining 12-speed mountain bike derailleurs (more on that compatibility in a minute). The DoubleTap mechanism is pushed up higher into the “pommel” (that part at the front that sticks up), which they say gives you plenty of leverage for easy shift actuation.

To make this work, they modified their GX mechanical derailleurs by adding a barrel adjuster on the derailleur’s B-knuckle…because SRAM’s mechanical mountain bike groups put the barrel adjuster on the shifter, not the derailleur. And they made two versions of it, one for Eagle cassettes and one for XPLR cassettes.

For Eagle, it’s essentially a GX mechanical MTB derailleur, but with the barrel adjuster. This means that the new Apex mechanical shifters are compatible with GX, XO & XX1 mechanical derailleurs, too, as long as you add an inline barrel adjuster in the cable housing.

For XPLR, there’s a different pulley position and fin to adjust its cable pull ratio, because the cog spacing and position on the 11-44 road/gravel cassette is different than the 11-50 Eagle Cassette.

Which means you can’t just swap cassettes, you’ll need to swap derailleurs, too, if you want to go between XPLR and Eagle. And probably chains to get the proper length.

Pricing & Availability

Apex AXS is available June 2023, expect it to show up on bikes ranging from $2,500 to $2800 with Apex AXS.

Crank lengths offered are 160/165/170/172.5/175mm. Chainrings come in 38-46 tooth counts, and OE parts have a new steel chainring option, aftermarket will get alloy chainrings.

Apex Mechanical follows in September. Expect it to show up on bikes ranging from $1,850 to $2,000 with Apex Mechanical.

Complete group prices are (include VAT for £/€):

• Apex AXS XPLR – $1,195 / £1262 / €1411
• Apex AXS Eagle – $1,294 / £1303 / €1460
• Apex AXS Flat Bar XPLR – $1,063 / £1099 / €1225
• Apex AXS Eagle Flat Bar – $1,162 / £1140 / €1274
• Apex mechanical XPLR – $987 / £1060 / €1176
• Apex mechanical Eagle – $971 / £1035 / €1149
• Apex mechanical XPLR Flat Bar – $696 / £730 / €811
• Apex mechanical Eagle Flat Bar – $680 / £705 / €784

Complete group claimed weights are:

• Apex AXS XPLR – 2,890g
• Apex AXS Eagle – 3,181g
• Apex mechanical XPLR – 2,872g
• Apex mechanical Eagle – 3,062

Individual parts weights have not been announced, but we have groups on the way for long term testing.

SRAM.com

The post SRAM Apex is now 1×12 with Eagle, XPLR, AXS & Mechanical Options! appeared first on Bikerumor.

The design has a road-focused appearance from head-on, but a tiny visor is visible as the view comes to the side. The Lazer Cerro has many add-ons that make it more versatile than most, especially paired with the $99 price tag.

The Lazer Cerro KinetiCore has built-in eyewear docking slots to keep glasses in place on bumpy roads. And if you get too gnarly on said roads — KinetiCore technology should protect you against direct and rotational impact.

What’s KinetiCore Technology?

Lazer’s KinetiCore technology features built-in rotational-impact protection thanks to unique Controlled Crumple Zones incorporated into the internal structure of the helmet. KinetiCore also uses less overall material, adding improved ventilation, a lighter-weight helmet design, and fewer plastics used in construction (not to mention more friendly to long hair).

Magnetic Buckle

Lazer adds a magnetic buckle to keep the Lazer Cerro KinetiCore on your head. Plus, along with a small visor, an insect net will protect riders from rain, gravel, mud, and many flying insects.

Lazer Cerro KinetiCore Specs

• Available in three sizes (S / M / L)
• Lightweight 270g M CE
• MSRP: €99,99 / $99,99
• Available: Now

Lazersport.us

The post New $99 Lazer Cerro Helmet is Gravel Focused with Road Benefits appeared first on Bikerumor.

Weight-saving upgrades come at a price, and that price increases exponentially as cyclists refine their equipment to make their bikes as fast, light, and efficient as possible. Saving just a couple of grams can cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars – have you looked at any Titanium, high-end carbon, or electronic components lately? They’re not exactly cheap.

In this economy, more riders may find themselves pinching pennies while still hoping to find an affordable upgrade that will take their riding to the next level.

According to Hayes Bicycle Components, dollar for dollar, that upgrade is brakes.

Why should you upgrade brakes?

Sure, a shiny-new electronic drivetrain will make a bike more efficient and carbon wheels will change the feel of the road or trail considerably, but new brakes can make riders feel incredibly well connected to a bike and confident to push themselves to the next level.

It’s difficult to ride confidently if you don’t trust your stopping power. Sadly, many brakes that come on new bikes, especially on the entry-level side of things, tend to be a little underpowered. Now, that doesn’t mean they don’t work, but they’re often not as responsive as some of the other options out there.

Brakes are an upgrade that all levels of riders can appreciate. While certain creature comforts and technologies may be more valued by high-level riders, reliable and powerful brakes provide real benefits to riders of all levels – from the newer untrained riders all the way up to World Cup champions. Poorly functioning brakes aren’t just a safety risk; they can also be a huge nuisance. Constant bleeding, unreliable performance, and low power are a few pitfalls that can completely ruin the riding experience for the novice and the pro alike. Better brakes can completely change the experience in the saddle.

Instead of racking up a few thousand dollars in carbon or electronic upgrades, most brake systems will only set a rider back a few hundred bucks, so if you’re looking for the best dollar-for-dollar upgrade to your ride, look no further.

What makes a good brake system?

Stopping power is the most important aspect of brakes, and there’s a lot that goes into it. Since most riders weigh between 100 – 250 pounds, there is a tremendous amount of force required to slow that momentum down.

Hayes Bicycle Components has been manufacturing high-end brake systems since the late 1990s, slowly refining its designs over more than two decades to create a product that does exactly what it is supposed to do: stop.

Hayes’ latest range of the Dominion family of brakes, including the A4, T4, T2, and A2, provides a great snapshot of the impact new brakes can have on a ride. The Dominion A4, which has long been a staple of the brand, uses a motorsports-inspired two-stroke dual-port bleed system, along with a hydraulic system that works consistently in a wide variety of temperatures and conditions. Whether you’re in the heat of the desert or the cold of the mountains, your brakes will function as expected.

The T4 and T2 models include titanium hardware and carbon-fiber levers to keep weight at a bare minimum. The A2, the newest offering in the lineup, also includes a compact two-piston caliper designed for XC and trail riders.

The Dominion line features a master cylinder that is fine-tuned to eliminate the dead space riders can feel from when they first squeeze the brake lever to when the brake pads actually clamp down on the caliper. This means riders will feel an immediate response, a powerful bite without hesitation, and modulation all through the way through the stroke.

Fit and feel

While the stopping power is the most critical element of any brake system, it’s important to remember that brakes are also a vital contact and interface point on the bike. The ergonomic qualities and handlebar position of brake levers and how a rider engages them can lead to fatigue, pain, or even injury. They also can prevent it.

For brakes with less power, riders often have to use multiple fingers, or all of them, to squeeze as hard as they can to come to a stop. This is especially true on downhill courses. The Hayes Dominion line comes with an ergonomic finger lever that doesn’t require extreme levels of force. It also comes with an optional Short Reach Lever that brings the lever closer to the bar for easy single-finger braking for riders with smaller hands. Its design also enables riders to adjust the reach of the lever with no tools for quick, no-hassle tuning even while on the trail.

Considering the amount of time folks spend interacting with their brake levers, they really need to be well-designed to ensure they remain comfortable and easy to use, even during long rides.

Style

Aside from the aforementioned performance improvements a new set of brakes can bring to a bike, they also can bring a touch of flare that can take a bike from something that looks like it came off of a shelf to a custom build. The Dominion A4 brake comes in a handful of colors including Bronze, Stealth Black / Grey, and an eye-popping limited edition Purple Hayes.

Hayes Brakes are a component that checks all of the boxes of performance, fit, and style all in one package.

The Hayes Dominion line sells for an MSRP ranging from $250 to $350, making it one of the places to look for riders aiming to get the most bang for their buck when upgrading their ride. Even after adding new rotors, a complete set could still come in well under $1,000 and completely revamp the feeling of any bike.

The post AASQ: What is the Best Bike Upgrade for the Least Amount of Money? appeared first on Bikerumor.

Commencal 365 aluminum do-it-all gravel bike

That’s just what the 365 looks like – a light and carefully optimized triple-butted 6069 alloy frame paired to a matching 6069 aluminum fork, inspired by mountain bikers and built for everyday riding… hence the 365 name. This is a bike that wants to serve as your regular commute-to-work bike, crank out fast-paced hour-long lunch rides, explore gravel tracks after work in the evenings, then head out on big adventure rides for the weekend.

And complete bike build start at only 2000€… just not this one.

Tech details

Commencal says since everyone says that a gravel bike is simply “a mountain bike from the early 90s, just with the addition of modern technologies“, they took that literally and built the 365 like a modernized premium alloy hardtail.

As much as we know alloy continues to evolve, it’s still hard to wrap my brains around it, but Commencal assures that the 365 was really developed for comfort. Careful premium alloy tubing selection, butting, and shaping ensure that bumps aren’t all transmitted up to the rider. Specifically, the frame gets thin, round & dropped seatstays to absorb vibration with a bit of flex.

Pair that with tall chainstays and a boxy downtube with a concave bottom that’s both stiffer and designed to deflect road spray off the rider.

Even the 365’s matching alloy fork is said to filter out vibration. But just to be sure, Commencal do give the gravel bikes some cushy bar tape wrap, too.

Into the details, the frame and tapered steerer fork feature fully internal cable routing through the Acros headset, even for a dropper post, with the front brake routed inside down through the left fork leg. The frame also includes a custom crown-mounted fork fender, an integrated downtube protector, and a molded chainstay protector. The 365 includes a standard pair of bottle cage bosses inside the main triangle, a mount under the downtube, and direct frame bag mounts under the top tube. But no fork leg mounts, no toptube bag mount, and no rack or full-coverage fender mounts.

Standards-wise, it gets flat mount disc brakes with 180mm rotors for max stopping power (FM160 + standard adapter plates), 12mm thru-axles, a 27.2mm round seatpost, a PressFit 86.5mm bottom bracket, 1x-only setups, plus short stems & wide bars. Max tire clearance is 700 x 47mm. And claimed combined weight for the alloy frame AND fork is 2800g.

Off-road focused geometry

Commencal says they reached back to their mountain bike roots to make sure the 365 was capable not only of city commutes and easy gravel road rides, but also the odd singletrack, too. It’s not especially slack with a 71° head angle (varying with size), instead geared more for long-distance riding. But with short chainstays, a bit longer wheelbase, longer Reach, and a more upright position, they see it as a versatile middle ground that can serve mountain bikers as a chill all-road bike, and still be fun to slide through loose dirt road turns at speed.

Plus, Commencal gives the smallest XS frame 650b wheels to preserve those handling characteristics for smaller riders without toe overlap or any other negative head angle & fork trail impacts.

Commencal 365 – Pricing, options & availability

The Commencal 365 is offered in three spec levels to suit all sorts of riders. The 2000€ 365 Ride is by far the most affordable in Chalk white with a mixed-spec GRX 11speed 11-42T group, a Spank Flare bar, tubeless-ready DT/Formula wheels with 45mm Maxxis Rambler tires.

For another half more, you can pick up the 365 Race for 3000€ in Frozen Brown with a higher-spec GRX RX810-sereis drivetrain but the same 11sp gearing, the same Spank bar, but a KS Lev Si dropper and alloy DT Swiss GR1600 wheels.

And at the top of the spectrum, if the 4500€ Commencal 365 Signature with a shiny SRAM Force AXS XPLR groupset, a wireless Reverb XPLR dropper post, and alloy DT Swiss GR1600 gravel wheels wrapped in 45mm Rambler tires.

All three bikes are available to pre-order today in 5 sizes (XS-XL) with deliveries slated for September 2023.

Commencal.com

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Canyon Grail CFR prototype gravel race bike

Just to be clear, I don’t actually know the name of this new carbon Canyon gravel bike, and when I asked Canyon for more info, they told me I would have to wait to find out any details beyond what I happened to see out on the Finnish gravel roads or spotted around the event venue. I suspect I will know more soon, but for now this will truly all be a lot of assumptions.

But with Tiffany Cromwell’s race bike leaned up outside of the Canyon pit area while she was giving interviews to the racing press, a couple more pro prototypes spotted leaning against the legs of various other riders, and riding around a version that appears to belong to one of Canyon’s product development team… I can glean a lot of fun details.

For lack of a better name, I’m going to call it a Grail CFR – based on the fact that Grail is Canyon’s gravel race bike, and CFR because that’s their top-tier race-ready carbon layups, and also because CFR is printed on the toptube.

What’s New? Tech details

First thing of note to cyclists who know the Grail is that this new Canyon CFR gravel prototype does NOT have the wild double-decker Hover bar. But it still has an interesting integrated cockpit solution, just a more conventional one. Also, the fork looks much deeper (more aero?) and bulkier much like the Grizl‘s fork without extra mounts. But there’s also some wild boxy up top, truncated airfoil down low downtube shaping hidden under some effective camo graphics.

A glove box in the downtube?

There’s also a D-shaped semi-aero seatpost that looks borrowed from Canyon road bikes like the new Ultimate. And a direct mount mini chain guide that appears to also mean this is 2x compatible since there is a little routing port for the Di2 wire of your electronic front derailleur.

And what’s that?

A door in the top of the downtube big enough to stuff a spare tube, mini-tools, and other gravel roadside repair essentials inside so you don’t need a saddle bag or to fill up your jersey & bib shorts cargo pockets.

A new integrated 1-piece gravel cockpit?

There’s also a modern one-piece carbon integrated bar+stem cockpit, and internal cable routing through the upper headset cover.

The bar on Cromwell’s bike looks especially well-suited to gravel racing, with a gently curving backswept top and a medium level of flare to the drops.

As for that cable routing, it is not completely internal through the bar, instead tucking under the virtual stem and entering a very large upper headset cover. It’s big enough that I can’t quite tell if it directs the cables inside of or outside of the upper headset bearing. I’ve got my fingers crossed for outside for the easier maintenance potential. The cockpit also has a molded-in recess to attach a new style of out-front GPS mount. Cromwell’s bike was sporting a 3D-printed mount for her cycling computer, but the product development guy’s bike looked to have a more finished solution that fit his device.

And even though there are not anything cage mounts on the fork, there are still tons of attachment points to play with. Start with direct toptube bag mounts, then Cromwell’s smaller bike gets a frame bag (?) mount above the snap-in glove box door, plus 2 standard sets of bottle cage mounts inside the main triangle, and a cage mount under the downtube.

The bikes also feature bosses under the seatstays where in the past Canyon has bolted on a removable stay to support full coverage fenders. And the back of the fork crown has two side-by-side mounts suggesting a more moto-style self-supporting front fender.

Aero bikepacking bags for gravel racing?

Another one of the slickest details is this super integrated partial frame bag from the R& D team bike, with a very-aero snug fit against the boxier shaping at the front of the main triangle. It looks a lot like the Aero Pack System that Apidura developed with Ridley last summer for their optimized Kanzo Fast gravel racing setup.

Canyon worked with Apidura for a customized set of Racing Series bikepacking bags to fit the Grizl two years back, so this looks like a next evolution of that project – literally down to the same orange and black zipper pulls.

On this larger-sized frame there is space under the aerodynamic partial frame bag for the glove box door to peek out, but it’s not clear if you could easily access both at the same time.

I also happened to get the lucky chance to spot a less-painted version of the new Canyon Grail CFR gravel prototype stripped down as the team mechanics were building up a new bike for one of their athletes racing a Shimano Di2 2x drivetrain.

That gives a bit more of a raw look at the opening for the glove box port in the down tube, and a clearer view of the transition from boxy to aero downtube shaping, without camo tape hiding it. It also shows the removable front derailleur braze-on tab vs. the filler plate or chain guide solution on the other bikes.

Canyon Grail CFR gravel timeline and expected availability?

Here’s some more speculation, and something I am less sure of…

Depending on which bike you look at, a lot about these Canyon CFR gravel prototypes look very well finished and close to production-ready. The pro bikes with shape-obscuring graphics look so close to finished, that I wouldn’t be surprised to see this new bike launch in the next month or two. That aero racing bag looks pretty dial-in as well.

But…

The fact that Cromwell is racing with a 3D-printed GPS mount suggests that part may still be in development. And I doubt Canyon will release a bike that you can’t confidently attach any major cycling computer to it with a proper mount. And the general finish on the frame, and specifically the little glove box door of this development team member’s bike suggest some more refinements remain.

I’d guess ‘end of summer’ for a launch, and since Canyon tend to launch once the bike is actually available, you likely could be racing around your local gravel roads in autumn 2023.

Stay tuned, a new Canyon CFR gravel bike is coming soon!

Canyon.com

The post Is This a Prototype Canyon Grail CFR? New Carbon Canyon Gravel Race Bike Spy Shots appeared first on Bikerumor.

The paint scheme on the Klunker is inspired by gazing up at the twilight sky from your favorite campsite.

This edition of the Meekat Klunker is sprinkled with kick-ass components by some of your favorite, iconic brands… check below for the amazing spec sheet.

The best part is that a small suggested donation of $5, enters you into a chance to win this one-off beauty, throw a leg over and Klunk your heart out.

Donate HERE.

This Meerkat Klunker will be awarded to the winner of the donation drawing, benefiting the Sierra Butte Trail Stewardship (SBTS) and its mission of bringing sustainable recreation-based revenue to the Lost Sierra.

Meerkat Klunker Spec List

• Frame and Fork: State Bicycle Co. Klunker
• Handlebar: Dynaplug/BTCHN Covert Bar w/ Repair Tool
• Crankset: White Industries G30 170mm Polished
• Stem: Paul Components Boxcar ⅞” Polished
• Hubs: White Industries “Daisy” Bolt-on 36h Polished Front / Rear State Coaster
• Rims: Astral Outback Polished 650b 36h
• Seatpost: Thomson Elite 25.4mm Silver, 0mm Offset
• Tires: UltraDynamico Mars 2.2 Racing Grey
• Frame Bag: ​ State Klunker Specific Frame bag
• Seat Collar: Thompson Silver

“Thanks to the following for their generous support for this project, Dynaplug, State Bicycle Co., Paul Component Engineering, White Industries, Astral Cycling, Thomson, Ultradynamico, and Btchn Bikes. Paint by Save The Postal Service.”

The post Win The Latest Dynaplug x State Bicycles Meerkat Klunker appeared first on Bikerumor.

Rooted in cycling, but dedicated to outdoor pursuits that motivate athletes year-round, Pinebury apparel is made in the USA, helping to ensure that the products meet environmental standards, fair labor practices, and safe working conditions while preserving traditions and manufacturing capabilities.

Staying sharply focused on craftsmanship through American manufacturing minimizes environmental impact, reduces waste, and strengthens their community.

The launch of Pinebury’s Spring/Summer Collection is manufactured with the innovative Nuyarn Merino, a bike industry first for cycling jerseys and apparel. Nuyarn is a spinning technology that “releases the natural performance characteristics of wool fiber twisted out by traditional spinning methods”. The result, Nuyarn says, is “wool products made from natural fibers that outperform synthetics”.

Making gear that is inspired by a love of four-season adventures, Pinebury’s use of natural fibers fits perfectly with the activities natural to the coastlines, mountains, and trails of Maine

The Spring/Summer Collection offers a range of cycling and multi-sport apparel that harnesses the cutting-edge technology of the Nuyarn Merino. Because Nuyarn is drafted not “twisted”, it “absorbs better in the vapor state, managing moisture more, as it does in its loftier fiber state (or on the sheep’s back)”.

Nuyarn Merino is 5x faster to dry, 8.8x more durable and has 85% more elasticity/stretch than conventional ring or core-spun Merino (the industry standard).

The Pinebury Collection

Including jerseys for either road or gravel and high-performance multi-sport tops in either long or short sleeves, the collection is tailored for optimal fit, breathability, and freedom of movement. The Pinebury collection is also non-gendered, allowing the end user to choose a product that is based on their measurements to get the best fit.

Kyle Rancourt, Founder and President of Pinebury had this to say:

“For our initial launch collection, Nuyarn emerged as the ideal natural materials partner, they are surpassing all other merino and natural fiber technologies in terms of performance and longevity. The potential of this technology is boundless and we are merely scratching the surface of what it can achieve. This is just the beginning for us.”

Pinebury Cycling Jersey

Pinebury says they believe in apparel that “provides comfort and durability to all athletes in changing conditions”. Choosing to focus on products that offer a comfortable fit, and are able to adapt to moisture and temperature fluctuations while feeling great on your body, instead of the most compressive fit for aero gains which are virtually meaningless to non-professional cyclists.

Made in the USA

Retail: $158 (short sleeve), $168 (long sleeve)

Colors: Granite, Atlantic Blue, and Pine

Sizes: XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, XXL

Jersey Sizing Chart

Pinebury Performance Tee

Springtime can be a challenge when doing outdoor activities, one day it’s sunny and hot, and the next it’s breezy and chilly. These Springtime performance tees are made from Nuyarn Merino wool offering the perfect warmth-to-weight ratio to keep you comfy from late Winter through early Summer.

Pinebury says that they can be worn while running, hiking, or cycling. You can also use them as a base layer in colder conditions. Nuyarn Merino wool is 53% more wind resistant than conventional Merino.

Made in the USA

Retail: $88 (short sleeve), $98 (long sleeve)

Acadia Tee (no front pocket) Portland Tee (w/ front pocket)

Colors: Granite, Atlantic Blue, and Pine

Sizes: XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, XXL

Performance Tee Sizing Chart

Pinebury Signature Merino Wool Arm Warmers

The Signature Merino Arm Warmers have been proven to be an integral piece of cool and cold weather kits for cyclists and runners alike. Providing compression and warmth for those cold starts, while offering the versatility to be removed as you warm up.

These arm warmers are made in collaboration with DeFeet to offer the user an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio while providing moisture-wicking, durability, and comfort.

Pinebury says that this Merino wool blend is ideal for both Spring and Fall conditions with a temperature range of 35F to 60F (2C -16C)

Made in the USA

Retail: $38

Colors: Gray (stripes are Forest Green) and Loden (stripes are Forest Green)

Sizes: SM/MD, LG/XL

Pinebury Signature Merino Wool Socks

A good pair o’ socks are the unsung hero of a comfortable day in the saddle, a long trail run, or a technical hike. The Pinebury Signature Socks are comfortable in all conditions. These socks are engineered in collaboration with DeFeet to offer a thin, yet warm and comfortable that wicks moisture and remains durable to last a long time. This makes for an ideal piece of year-round footwear

It uses a low profile meta-pad, unique textured weave cuff, and a no-feel toa seam.

Made in the USA.

Retail: $24

Colors: Navy, Loden Green, Blue, and Natural

Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL

Check out more below.

Pinebury.us

The post Pinebury Spins Out USA-Made Nuyarn Merino for Spring/Summer Apparel appeared first on Bikerumor.

Sour Business ultra-tough carbon gravel bikepacking fork

On the outside, the new Sour Business fork looks pretty standard for a well-featured modern carbon gravel bikepacking fork. But Sour sweated the details even more, to bring adventure riders another level of strength and durability, so it can go anywhere you dream to roam.

Why is it called the Business fork? Well, last year Sour made a heavy-duty BMX-style steel bikepacking fork for their Pasta Party off-road adventure 29er – dubbed the Party fork. This new carbon model is still adventure-ready, but a lot lighter and likely to be ridden quite a bit faster… all business.

Why the EFBE Tri-Test?

When a company wants to really see just how tough it can build a bike or bike component, for almost thirty years they have often turned to the trusted EFBE test lab. Their benchmark Tri-Test doesn’t stop at conventional limited bicycle testing standards, but subjects a component to tougher fatigue tests, maximum load tests, AND overload tests – all designed to push a new component to the extreme and see how it really would hold up to a lifetime of actual riding and abuse. The Tri-Test has truly become the new benchmark for design engineers looking to create the toughest bikes and components.

The carbon Sour Business fork was tri-tested to cyclocross & gravel’s condition 2 back in February – passing EFBE’s bending fatigue test, brake mount fatigue test, static bending test, static brake test, and maximum load/ overload test.

Want to learn more about what EFBE does? Read more at their Tri-Test process description.

Tech details

The full carbon Sour Business gravel fork features a 1.5″ tapered steerer, semi-internal brake line & dynamo wire routing (not through the steerer), lots of mounts, and 700c x 55mm max tire clearance. The dynamo routing in the right fork leg exists through a 3d-printed guide under the fork crown to direct wiring to a front light and back to the frame for a taillight, too.

The mounts include 3-pack anything cage eyelets on each leg, with the lower of these 3 eyelets going entirely through the leg so that it can support a low-rider rack together with the mount at the front of the crown. That means that each cargo cage could carry up to 7.5kg per side, or a low-rider rack connected at 3-points can haul up to 15kg. The fork also gets fender mounts down at the bottom too, and a replaceable threaded insert for the 12mm thru-axle.

The fork gets FM160 direct flat mount disc brake mounting for increased strength, and fewer parts that can fail. That does mean that it mounts a standard (typically 140mm) caliper through the fork leg without an adapter, much like a rear flat mount brake. But it does mean that you can’t run smaller than a 160mm rotor, and for example, if you use Campagnolo brakes, you need to use the 140mm caliper, not the 160mm direct mount front caliper.

The fork has a 403mm axle-to-crown length, and 45mm offset. Sour claims a weight of 550g – the fork with 300mm uncut steerer tested by EFBE weighed an actual 552.9g according to their testing report.

Sour The Business fork – Pricing & availability

Technically, the new Business fork was meant to be the new standard carbon fork option for Sour’s 1050€ made-in-Germany Purple Haze gravel frame, adding just 250€ on top of the frame, and even including a headset. A pretty good deal, I think.

And Sour offers a lot of painted-to-match and even custom painting options like on this customer’s crazy custom bike – feel free to discuss that cut-in-half-bar clamped into a wacky custom steel stem in the comments.

But, Sour recognized that custom frame builders and folks already with a more basic fork, might want to get an off-road adventure-ready upgrade, too. So, you can also buy one separate from a Sour frame for 450€. It’ll be up on their webshop soon, but in the meantime, you can reach out to them directly here to order one.

Sour.bike

The post Sour Carbon Adventure Gravel Bike Fork is The Business, Tri-Tested for Ultimate Durability appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Incredible touts being fully customizable claiming that “not only can bits be combined exactly as needed. Bikers can also take it with them in the way they prefer. Whether in the bike, on the bike, in the pants/jersey pocket, or in the backpack – the choice is yours“.

Check out their Kickstarter here. the Incredible Multitool is available now with special deals. And if you’re quick you can get over 30% off. It looks like you can get both the Incredible Multitool, Incredible Tubeless Tool, and 2 handlebar mounts for a pledge of $139.

Shipping will be global and deliveries are predicted to start Jan 2024.

The concept of the Incredible Multitool is that it has the advantages of an Allen wrench, being able to reach all of the screws on your bike while offering two different levers to apply the right amount of torque.

At the same time, the spring-loaded and lockable levers are foldable making the tool easy to store in indiscreet, out-of-the-way areas on your bike. There’s also integrated bit storage, using a sliding, magnetic mechanism that opens and closes allowing for quick and easy access… with or without gloves.

The MixMatch bits, allow you to customize the bits that you take with you on your ride. Using a proprietary lock interface, the bits can be combined allowing you to bring only the tools you need without bringing the unnecessary. The stainless, hardened steel bits are also available for sale separately as well.

The Incredible Tubeless Tool/Chain Breaker

The Incredible Tubeless tool is another offering that is designed to provide a quick and convenient solution for tubeless tire repair. The tubeless tool is designed so that the plug is already equipped with the plugs while being stowed in the handlebar, making it immediately ready for use.

It uses an aluminum design for durability even when being used with force, important to consider when fixing a broken chain using the tool’s patented chain guide.

To top off the tubeless tool, you’ll find a handy, included blade to remove the protruding plug ends. The blade actually looks large enough to partake in preparing some trailside charcuterie…

There are a few different options to store the Incredible Multitool on your bike. The handlebar mount expands to match the inside diameter of your handlebar with a set screw. Removal is easy with the clever quick-release system.

Features

Incredible Multitool

• Hardened stainless steel
• Approx. 60 gram
• 96.5 x 14.5 mm
• Bits included: HEX 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 (integrated in the tool), T25. Additional bits T10, T15, T20, T30, Plus (JIS), can be purchased

IncredibleTubeless tool

• 6061 T6 aluminum
• Hardened stainless steel, fiberglass reinforced polyamide
• Approx. 40 grams
• 99x16mm
• Includes chain breaker, blade, tubeless plug

Incredible Mount

• 6061 T6 aluminum, fiberglass reinforced polyamide
• Approx. 8 grams
• Handlebar end: diameter 26 mm, 2.5 mm thick. For handlebars with inner diameter 17-21mm

DaySaver.fun

The post Help Kickstart the New Incredible Multitools by Daysaver appeared first on Bikerumor.

It’s here, and the fork is pretty sick in all its segmented, steel glory. Plus Wilde is offering this new Rambler frameset built up complete with a 1x SRAM Apex group, with a set of solid DT Swiss G 1800 Wheels for only $2300.

This is their most affordable complete bike offering yet.

The Wilde Rambler is a fully modern adaptation of the genre that can run disc brakes, thru-axles, and generous-sized tires. It sports all of the mounting points you’d expect, with a geometry that Wilde says is “nimble and comfortable for long days in the saddle”.

This new Rambler, like all of Wilde’s bikes, uses a taller stack height, following their philosophy that “comfortable is faster”. This is a production bike, meaning that is able to be offered at a more affordable price point. It is manufactured in Taiwan’s hugely popular Maxway factory.

The new steel fork carries a slightly longer axle-to-crown measurement than Wilde’s Wayfinder carbon fork giving the bike a bit higher trail number and slightly elevated bottom bracket. This will be welcomed by those that choose to take the Rambler on more challenging off-road terrain or are running it with a 650b wheelset.

The frame and fork are built with Wilde’s proprietary TLC (Tough, Light, Compliant) steel tubing, selecting a size/model specific, optimal blend of tubing diameters, wall thicknesses, and butting profiles to yield a frame that Wilde says is built to last, as light as practical, and comfortable for the rider.

With a pretty paint color called Ocean Sparkle “which changes color from green to blue in the sun”. The new Rambler is sure to be a head-turner. the frame and fork are also phosphate-dipped and E.D. Coated.

In stock and ready to ship immediately, The Wilde Rambler is expected to be their most popular model along with being a great addition to their current offerings.

Rambler Frame Features and Retail

Retail: $1200 (frame and fork)

Comes in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large

• Three pack mounts on top and bottom of the down tube, bottle boss on the seat tube
• Top tube feedbag mount
• Fender mounts
• rack Mounts
• Compatible with 2x and 1x drivetrains
• Frame weight: 5lbs (medium)

Steel Fork Features

• Fender mounts
• Double eyelet dropout
• Three-pack mounts with center braze-on doubling as a mid-blade mount
• Internal dynamo routing
• Mounts for Surly 8 and 24-pack racks
• Tire clearance 700c X 48mm or 650b X 2.2″

Geometry

The Rambler has got what Wilde says is “gravel geo with all-day comfort in mind”. The taller stack height, slightly higher bottom bracket, and “chatter-absorbing” chainstays, paired with the “road-ish” head and seat tube angles are said to keep things “quick and maneuverable”.

Frame Spec

• Clearance for up to 700c X 50mm or 650b X 2.2″ tires
• Traditional straight 1 1/8″ headtube
• 68 mm bottom bracket shell
• Flat Mount
• 142mm rear spacing
• Seatpost: 27.2mm
• Seat Collar: 30.0
• Cable Guides: Modular guides under the downtube, and full loop braze-ons on the stays (No Zip Ties)
• 12mm Thru Axle – 1.5 x 174mm

Fork Spec

• Flat Mount
• 100mm spacing
• 12mm Thru Axle – 1.5 x 124mm

Different Complete Build Options

SRAM Rival AXS

• SRAM Rival AXS shifters with hydraulic brakes
• SRAM Rival AXS XPLR rear derailleur
• SRAM Rival 1x Dub Wide 170mm crankset
• SRAM XG-1251 cassette, 12 speed, 10-44
• Wolf Tooth Performance headset
• Thomson 90mm stem
• Thomson Elite setback seatpost
• Salsa Cowbell handlebar
• Stan’s Crest S2 wheelset
• Teravail Rutland 700cx42 tires
• WTB Volt saddle
• AXS charger
• SRAM Centerline 160 mm rotors

Shimano GRX810/600 2×11

• Shimano GRX600 shifters with hydraulic brakes
• Shimano GRX810 derailleurs
• Shimano GRX600 crankset, 46-30, 170mm
• Shimano cassette, CS-HG700, 11-34
• FSA Orbit X headset
• Zipp Service Course cockpit
• WTB Volt saddle
• FSA AGX i25 wheels
• Teravail Rutland 700c x 42 tires

SRAM Apex 1×11

• SRAM Apex shifters with Tektro dual-piston mechanical brakes
• SRAM Apex rear derailleur
• SRAM Apex 1 crankset – 170mm
• SRAM 11-speed cassette, 11-42t, black
• FSA Orbit X headset
• Salsa Cowbell handlebar, 44 cm
• WTB Volt saddle
• DT Swiss G 1800 Wheels
• WTB Riddler 700 x 45 tires, 60 TPI, tan

Wilde wants you to know that they are happy to build this bike any way you want, just reach out here to get started.

WildeBikes.com

The post The Wilde Rambler Gets More Affordable with New Steel Segmented Fork appeared first on Bikerumor.

Let There Be Mud

In the flagship 200-miler event, the mud started around mile 11 and continued unrelentingly for several miles. The unrideable section caused riders to run, walk or shuffle — any way to keep momentum. Unfortunately for many — this muddy sector was as far as they would make it, with mechanicals a-plenty. For those that made it through the mud unscathed, the front groups were selective and filled with anxious riders, not letting anyone get up the road.

Elite Women’s 200-Mile Race

In the women’s 200-mile race, Jenna Rinehart opened an early gap of about two minutes. Unbound 2022 winner Sofia Gomez Villafane overtook Rinehart and gained about a minute by mile 40. Around mile 70, Carolin Schiff of Germany caught Villafane with Ruth Winder, Marisa Boaz, Sarah Sturm, and Alexis Skarda in pursuit. Schiff started to find her stride about halfway through, ultimately winning by more than 15 minutes.

“I realized that I could maybe make it,” Schiff said at the winner’s press conference. “My team from Canyon was just pushing me at the aid station. They told me, ‘, Okay, you have a gap, and keep on going,’ and I did.

Elite Mens 200-Mile Race

The mud took its toll in the men’s 200-mile race, but a group of 10 riders, including many of the race favorites, made a clear break around mile 20. The group included Kiel Reijnen, Keegan Swenson, Howard Grotts, and Russell Finsterwald. Early on, Lachlan Morton and Ian Boswell pushed the pace to establish the gap further, disheartening any would-be chasers.

Near the end of the race, the group was whittled down to seven. As the group approached Commercial Street, the riders began showing their cards. Keegan Swenson started his sprint early, beat out the chasing pack, and one-upped his second-place finish from 2022.

“It’s nice to win this race,” Swenson said at the press conference. “Second was a great result last year, and I was content with it, but to come up that short after almost 10 hours of racing is a bummer to lose it in a sprint.”

Dont forget the 350-Mile XL

The 350-mile XL event was a battle of attrition and willingness to survive, with riders spending over 24 hours on the bike. XL racers experienced all the rain, mud, walking, and darkness they could handle. The men’s winner Logan Kasper finished in 22:54:25, and the women’s champion Kristen Legan finished in 26:06:35.

Full results for all categories can be found here.

The post Unbound Gravel Sets Record Attendance and Pushes Bikes to the Limit appeared first on Bikerumor.

The wheels are built with 20 Sapim CX-Ray Bladed spokes per wheel, with a paired spoke pattern that they say lets them build with fewer spokes and lighter rims while still having the lateral stiffness and necessary strength. Despite the very light 1,510g wheelset weight, these have no rider weight limit.

The new rims are 25mm wide internal, 31mm external, and 40mm deep. The hubs use taller flanges where they can for improved bracing angles, and get the same titanium freehub body as White’s CLD hubs. They’re available in standard road spacing with thru axles or QR, with ceramic bearing upgrades available.

Designed to excel in everything from crits to gravel races, the Rolf Prima Ares4 AR wheels are meant to be your all-around, do anything drop bar wheelset with tires from 28mm up to 50mm wide. MSRP is $2,199, available now.

RolfPrima.com

The post Rolf Prima Ares4 AR Pairs Paired Spokes with Wider Rims appeared first on Bikerumor.

The reason it only had non-blinking modes? They made it for every market, which includes Germany, and Germany doesn’t allow blinking lights. But much of the rest of the world does, and those blinking patterns not only extend battery life, they help drivers notice us. So, they’ve made an “International Version” that includes two blinking modes – a 400-lumen Day Flash and a 185-lumen Night Flash.

The form factor remains the same, and it keeps the four solid modes ranging from 185 to 520 lumens (30 to 90 lux) with run times from 1.5 to 7.3 hours. Blinking modes extend that to 10 to 31.7 hours. It includes a shield to keep the light from becoming a distraction to the rider, assuming your computer doesn’t block your view of it.

The light using a dual projector design to throw a wide but distinct beam pattern, mimicking what vehicle headlights do for drivers, while keeping the upper edge below eye level for oncoming traffic. MSRP is $270, claimed weight is 163g.

Lightskin.co.kr

The post LightSKIN NACAROAD Aero Headlight Gains Blinky Modes (Except in Germany) appeared first on Bikerumor.

The wheels are available with their Approach hubs as the standard option for $1,899, and with White Industries CLD hubs for $2,099. White Industries actually makes both hubs, as Astral is now a sister brand since the component manufacturer acquired both Astral and Rolf Prima earlier this year.

The rims measure 25mm internal, 31mm external, and 40mm deep, and weigh 420g each. Built with their Approach hubs, claimed wheelset weight is 1600g with Sapim CX Speed bladed spokes.

The CLD hub-equipped wheels come in at 1520g (695g/825g) with Sapim CX Ray bladed spokes. The key differences between hubs are the CLD’s titanium freehub body (versus heat treated steel) and a bit more machining on the hub shell. Internals are the same on both, including the Enduro steel bearings.

Both can with 12/15mm thru axle front, 12mm thru axle rear, and 9mm quick release versions. And, because the CLD hub comes in boost sizes, too, those wheels are available with standard and boost widths.

The Lunas only come in 700c sizes, designed to fit tires from 28mm up to 50mm wide.

That tire allowance lets you run them for anything from road to gravel. At just 24 spokes per wheel, they look like a great option for both, but Astral told us they’d be awesome for smooth gravel and dirt roads, but might be a little stiff for really rough terrain or singletrack.

They’re available with your choice of XDR, HG, or Microspline freehub bodies for both, with Campy’s standard and N3W versions on the CLD builds. All wheels are handmade in Eugene, OR, at their HQ.

AstralCycling.com

The post Astral Luna Carbon All-Road Wheels Come Ready for Anything appeared first on Bikerumor.

Now, they’re launching the A-Road, their first stock-sized model, and it’s an all-road bike that splits the difference between their road and gravel bikes.

Founder Tony Pereira says the geometry is a mashup of averaging all of the custom builds they’ve ever done and comparing that to what all the other key brands are putting out there, and designed something that gives it the right handling and performance for an all-around, all-road bike.

Most custom builders are quick to acknowledge that a well-designed stock bike will work great for 90% of riders, and Breadwinner has high hopes for the new A-Road to give a lot more riders their signature style, but quicker and more affordably.

Pereira adds “The way most people are using a gravel bike, the A-Road is the perfect bike for them. Stays are a little tighter, it looks and rides faster, is super fun, but without being overkill.”

The frame is made of Columbus Spirit steel tubing with Paragon stainless steel thru axle dropouts, and is paired with an ENVE AR carbon fork.

The cables, wires, etc., run inside the downtube, and it’s sold with electronic groups only, so with Di2 the wire will hide inside the seat tube and chainstay. It’s running a T47 bottom bracket, and has three bottle cage mounts (one under the downtube).

The frame clears 700×40 tires, or add fenders to the mounts and run 32mm tires.

The bikes are still made to order, but stock sizing lets them keep tubes pre-cut and at the ready. Most frames are made the week following an order, then sent off for paint. Choose from stock color finishes, or go custom for a bit more. Complete bikes start at $6,790 and are delivered in six weeks or less.

BreadwinnerCycles.com

The post Breadwinner Goes Stock with New A-Road Steel All-Road Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 6-bolt or Centerlock rotors

We got most of the details right, but we had seen the new Carbon-Ti X-Rotor Steel Carbon 3 rotor itself, or its new centerlock adapter.

We also now know that Carbon-Ti has the new rotors in three sizes 140mm, 160mm & 180mm to bring lightweight stopping to all bikes. And they made sure to develop a low-profile centerlock adapter solution that should work with all hubs and all thru-axle standards, on- and off-road.

What’s new?

The newest key bit of tech here is that Carbon-Ti has shaped the machined interface of their carbon carrier to fit perfectly with a new aluminum 6-bolt adapter on the hub side and an all-new ridged titanium spacer on the outside, with an alloy lockring with a super thin steel compression washer to tighten everything securely in place.

But equally important, Carbon-Ti has also completely revamped the stainless steel braking surface, too vs. their previous 2nd generation. The new brake track uses the same shaped cutouts, but the webs between each hole are wider for enhanced braking power, better heat dissipation, longer brake pad life, and greater rotor durability.

Carbon-Ti also thinned the braking surface by a tenth of a millimeter to 1.8mm thick – while still allowing a max 0.3mm of wear before the rotor needs to be replaced. Lastly, the outer sawtooth shape has been smoothed out a bit, and Carbon-Ti has machined the edges round for improved rider safety and compliance with UCI road racing regulations.

Tech details

Contrary to the look of the sanded-down UAE rotors, the stock Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 features the same matte 3K carbon weave for the new center carrier, and the same Grade 5 titanium rivets & washers that connect the steel brake track for the semi-floating design. The rotors are still 100% made in Italy.

With the improved braking surface performance and updated carbon carrier design, the new X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 rotors gain on average about 3g per rotor over gen 2.

Carbon-Ti X-Rotor – Pricing, options & availability

You can buy the new Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 rotors now in three sizes – 140, 160 & 180mm – either as a 6-bolt setup for 185€ or as a centerlock setup including the new adapter for 220€ (same pricing for all sizes). If you are going 6-bolt, you can also pick up a set of 6 titanium T25 rotor mountain bolts for 25€ (7.8g for the set, per wheel). Or if going centerlock, the complete 23g adapter kit sells for 38€, or just the 8g lockring for 18€.

Find Carbon-Ti components at dealer bike shops around the globe and through a number of online retailers.

Carbon-Ti.com

The post Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 Ultralight Disc Brake Rotors Become Real for 6-bolt & Centerlock appeared first on Bikerumor.

Offered in 700c and 650b, they’re sold as separate front and rear wheels built on two variations of Synthesis hubs, depending on rim type.

Unlike the mountain bike wheels, which use different rims front and rear, these use the same 26.5mm internal rim width (21mm deep) for both models, optimized for 40-48mm wide tires.

The rims’ tune is optimized for compliance on both ends of the bike since (most) gravel riders aren’t ripping berms and hucking jumps like on MTB, where the Synthesis rear wheels are tuned more for stiffness and bomb-proofness.

Synthesis Carbon Gravel Wheels

The carbon version gets their Synthesis Ratchet hubs with 10º engagement and come in at a claimed 1517g (650b) and 1544g (700c) per set.

They use Centerlock rotors and retail for $599 front and $899 rear with 28 spokes per wheel.

Both modesl are available with XDR and HG freehub body options, no Campy version for now.

Synthesis Alloy Gravel Wheels

The alloy models get Synthesis Standard hubs (also Centerlock) with 17º engagement. Claimed weights are 1769g (650b) and 1917g (700c), also with 28 Sapim D-Light spokes.

Neither wheelset is rated for e-bike use, but both are available now in limited quantities.

CrankBrothers.com

The post Crank Brothers Synthesis Gravel wheels debut in carbon & alloy appeared first on Bikerumor.

The first model remains in the line and has an external switch that lets you turn it on or off, effectively a lockout for your stem. This new model removes that switch for an always-working design, providing up to 20mm of travel.

It comes with multiple elastomers to let you tune its performance for your body weight, riding style, and terrain, and there’s no need to remove it or your handlebar to swap them out.

It’s designed to smooth the bumps and vibrations for your hands, arms, neck, and shoulders. Pair it with their eeSilk suspension seatpost to smooth things out in the rear, too.

Available in 80, 90, and 100 millimeter lengths, claimed weight is 219-235g, and MSRP is $199.99 and it comes only in black. It has a -6º angle and a tall 49mm stack height thanks to the elastomer’s placement under the stem body.

CaneCreek.com

The post Cane Creek eeSilk suspension stem adds a simpler option appeared first on Bikerumor.

Titici Progetto Sessanta 60th anniversary Italian-made steel

“Tradition and technology, art and Italian craftsmanship of a material that for decades has been skillfully worked at the Castelnuovo di Asola plant, to create hand-welded frames and shipped all over the world, before being set aside for more modern materials such as aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber.“

This Progetto Sessanta came out of two years of R&D collaboration between Titici & Columbus to create exclusive Spirit & Life tube sets for the Strada road & Sterrato gravel frames (respectively), each with Titici’s signature flattened toptube for additional comfort. In steel bikes, they call it PAT.P (Plate Absorber Technology Pressed), developed to reduce vibration before it gets to the rider, without compromising overall frame rigidity & performance.

Titici Strada steel road bike

The road-going Strada is the lighter of the two, made from custom-shaped, triple-butted and super-thin Columbus Spirit tubing created exclusively for Titici. It is made by hand in northern Italy by Titici with a classic mix of TIG-welding and brazing.

The Strada is a classic Italian steel road bike updated for the modern age with the oversized straight headtube that Titici developed for their Vento aero carbon road bike, featuring completely hidden internal cable routing that passes through the straight 1.5″ headset into the inside of the frame.

Of course, the Strada gets a flattened PAT.P top tube for comfort, plus modern flat mount disc brakes, 12mm thru-axles, 27.2mm seatpost, a T47 threaded bottom bracket, and room for 28mm tires. Claimed frame weight is 1990g (M), painted with all hardware.

Titici describes the Strada’s geometry as “made to race”, even if it promises unbeatable comfort.

Titici Sterrato steel gravel bike

Like the road bike, the gravel Sterrato gets its own custom-shaped tubeset. This time it’s the slightly thicker, more durable triple-butted Columbus Life tubing, again developed exclusively for Titici with their PAT.P flattened toptube. The Sterrato is made by hand in northern Italy with a similar of TIG-welding and brazing mix.

The Sterrato is more of a versatile all-rounder able to be built up for crunching mixed-surface Euro backroads, as a full-tilt gravel racer, or loaded down as a bikepacking adventure bike. All benefit from that classic steel is real feel, enhanced by the extra PAT.P vibration-eating comfort boost. We actually already teased the Sterrato last summer when it debut Shimano’s rare polished silver GRX group – and that bike is still officially available in ultra-limited quantities for 6000€ complete.

But the Sixtieth Project also brings a production version of the new steel Titici gravel bike. Like the road bike, the Sterrato inherits a straight oversized headtube from its carbon Relli gravel analog, now completely hiding fully internal cable routing inside the steel frame through the upper headset bearing.

The Sterrato gets its flattened PAT.P top tube, flat mount disc brakes, 12mm thru-axles, toptube bag & rear rack mounts, a 27.2mm seatpost, and T47 threaded bottom bracket – with clearance for up to 700c x 40mm or 650b x 45mm tires. Claimed frame weight is 1999g (M), painted with all hardware.

Titici Sessanta bikes – Pricing, availability & options

Titici’s bikes are built-to-order, but the 60th anniversary Progetto Sessanta steel bikes are also offered with stock geometry in four sizes (S-XL) and premium stock builds to keep prices reasonable.

A stock Titici Strada steel road bike frameset in classic metallic copper with blue accents around a silver panel paint job sells for 2990€ including a painted-to-match carbon Columbus Futura Disc fork. Complete Strada road bike builds feature a mechanical Campagnolo Record carbon groupset with Shamal Carbon wheels and Deda Zero100 cockpit for 7990€.

A stock Titici Sterrato steel gravel bike frameset in 1990s retro-fade Tinge 90 paint sells for 2590€ including their carbon Gravel DCR fork with anything cage mounts. Complete Sterrato gravel bike builds feature Campagnolo’s lightweight 13-speed Ekar carbon groupsets, plus Fulcrum Rapid Red 300 wheels and Deda Gravel100/Zero100 cockpit for just 5490€.

Titici.com

The post Titici Sessanta Steel Strada Road & Sterrato Gravel Bikes, Handmade in Italy for 60 years appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Italian tire manufacturer primarily creates road, cyclocross, and gravel tires — mainly focusing on supple handmade tubular and open tubular construction — even with the mountain bike tires they offer, too.

The Getaway tread has been around for a few years now — we were some of the first to ride the fast gravel tread — and it’s now Challenge’s top, most-popular gravel offering. It’s a dry-ish focused, fast do-it-all design with many dedicated gravel followers. The tread has a tightly packed, fast-rolling center for straight-line tread for speed and open transition knobs for sandy or wet courses.

Challenge Getaway XP reinforced gravel racing tire

The only piece missing from the Getaway was a beefed-up version to take the abuse of an ultra-long day out in sharp rocks and logging roads. Challenge has been quietly adapting their reinforced tubeless tubular tech into a more durable tubeless tire over the past year, working on just that — the Challenge Getaway XP (Extra Protection) for endurance rides on rougher terrains.

The tire is part of Challenge’s new reinforced Gravel XP Series, which focuses on all those looking for an overall robust and durable tire, without compromising comfort and handling.

To arm the new XP Series of tires, Challenge opted for a bead-to-bead makeover of protection and compound to enhance its new endurance tires.

All-new Corazza Armor Gold protection tech

The resulting Corazza Armor Gold is a specific extra layer of tightly woven material on the inside of the tire that helps reinforce it against aggressive conditions. The new Getaway XP is the first Challenge tire to have the Corazza Armor Gold, but all tires in the XP Series will share this technology moving forward.

Challenge SmartPlus Compound

The Challenge Getaway XP has a special higher durometer natural rubber than others in the Challenge line called SmartPlus Compound. While providing reduced wear and enhanced durability, the SmartPlus rubber compound retains all the natural rubber properties — offering grip, shock absorption, control, and reduced rolling resistance.

Chafer Aramid Bead Protection Strip

The new Getaway XP includes a bead protection strip to aid in tire life by reducing the effects of rubbing against the rim’s carbon bead hooks — especially helpful on any rim with sharp edges. The black chafer band also acts as a precise line around the rim to confirm the tire is seated properly when inflating.

Challenge Getaway XP – Pricing and Availability

The all-new Challenge Getaway XP will be available in 40mm and 45mm in a Handmade Tubeless Ready casing and is hookless compatible.

• Price: $94.00
• Sizes: 40mm and 45mm
• Weight: 632g – 45mm
• Available: June 3rd, 2023

Challenge Getaway — First Impressions

This new Challenge Getaway XP is a handmade open tubular, so it’s different than most traditionally vulcanized gravel tires on the market. The XP casing creates a thick, more robust tire, keeping the handmade nylon tubular (cotton-like) feel.

The casing is very supple to the touch but notably thicker than all other Challenge tires I’ve ridden. The tread sits high on the tire’s carcass but comes down enough to offer legit cornering knobs. The shoulder knobs are enough for digging into the mud when sunk in, but not as large as the Chicane, as to feel overwhelming.

Getaway — Install & Setup

Setting up open-tubular tires tubeless can be tricky, especially when they are wide, like the Challenge Getaway XP 45mm tires. They are essentially flat before use, unlike the pre-curved shape you get from conventional tires. You have to have a plan of attack, and with unreleased tires, usually, that plan has yet to be discovered.

For me, the plan was to get the full tire over the rim and then push the bead on from over the top. Since the tire is flatter than most, this tactic seemed the best. After wrestling with it for a minute, the first side went on, and I knew I was dialed. The second side popped into place, and I was good to inflate — no compressor needed.

I installed the Challenge Getaway XPs on: Roval Terra CLX II, CADEX 36 (hookless), and Bontrager RSL 36 wheels. The tires were easy enough to install on all the aforementioned, especially on the hookless wheels.

The tires inflated to a nice 46mm wide at 30psi on the Roval Terra CLX II. And they are just enough volume to max out (but still with mud wiggle room) the clearance in my 2022 Specialized Crux.

Riding Impressions

I’ve had little time on the Getaway XPs so far, but I am fairly stoked from my brief time on them. The ride feels much like a tubular tire, with a muted yet supple quality. The open tubular feel differs quite a lot from the gravel-style tires I’ve ridden over the past year.

On the open road, the Getaway is a fast tire; the tightly spaced center line keeps a fast roll, and the overall tread is minimal. The knobs offer a round tire with predictable corning on the road, compared to some “flat top” style gravel treads that are all or nothing.

The volume was a bit much for me on my initial road-ish rides, but the Getaway hit its stride when I hit the gravel and dirt. The volume aids in traction and comfort, noticeably. The open tubular casing is very active and sensitive over bumps and terrain. The thickness of the XP casing takes away a bit of the suppleness (compared to the original Getaway casing), but it’s hardly noticeable with such a wide 45mm of this tire.

I can’t 100% speak to the puncture protectiveness of the Getaway XP tire and new Corazza Armor. Though I have ridden this tire in some sketchy places, the sidewalls are still very much intact, and I’ve yet to flat. I’ll have a full report and updated complete review shortly.

In the meantime, Challange has a new contender of a tire for the likes of Unbound and epic endurance gravel races. We’re eager to get more rides on them.

To find yours, check out ChallengeTires.com or swing by the Challenge tire booth at Unbound Gravel on June 3, 2023.

ChallengeTires.com

The post All-New Challenge Getaway XP Gravel Tire Offers Tubular Comfort with Extra Protection appeared first on Bikerumor.

We’ve pulled out highlights from Co-op Cycles as well as accessories from top brands like Smith, Bontrager, and more. There are even deals on stationary trainers.

Not everything is on sale, but REI Co-op members can still save. Use coupon code ANNIV23 at checkout to save 20% on one full-price item and an extra 20% on one REI Outlet item May 19 – 29.

Co-op Cycle

Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 & e1.2 Electric Bikes

The Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 electric bike provides pedal-assist power up to 20 mph. It has a rear cargo rack, a step-through frame, and wide tires for stability over paved and unpaved terrain. It has a range of 30-40 miles with pedal assist.

The Generation e1.2 builds off the e1.1’s design but adds a removable front rack and a battery capacity of 672-watt hours for a range of 40-50 miles with pedal assist.

The removable battery comes with a lock to secure it while parked away from home. Other specs include hydraulic brakes, built-in front, and rear lights, and of course, a kickstand.

Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 Step-Through Bike

The Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 sports city bike details include a sloped crossbar for stepping over and riser handlebars with wider grips for ergonomics. It’s a 16-speed with a 2 x 8 drivetrain on a Shimano 46/30T crankset and runs a Shimano Altus group. It has an aluminum frame with 700c wheels, disc brakes, and a suspension fork with 63mm of travel.

There’s room for add-ons, too. The frame has mounts for a bag on the top tube, a water bottle, mounts for fenders, and a rear rack.

Co-op Cycles ADV 2.2 Bike

This 20-speed gravel grinder has an aluminum frame and carbon fork, for a balance of durability and weight savings. It comes equipped with gravel-specific components, including the Shimano GRX 2 x 10 drivetrain and the GRX Shadow Plus rear derailleur, which reduces chain slap and noise on choppy terrain.

The ADV 2.2 also has Tektro mechanical disc brakes 12-degree flared handlebars, and rides atop WTB Nano Comp 700c x 40mm tires with a hybrid tread that’s sleeker in the center and knobby on the edges.

Co-op Cycles REV 20 Kids’ Bike

This bike is all about transitions. It comes with two brake systems, which provide young riders the opportunity to graduate to hand brakes while relying on more familiar coaster brakes as a fallback. Similarly, it comes with training wheels which can be removed once your kid is ready for life on two wheels. The aluminum frame makes it lighter for kids to handle and the handlebar is a BMX-style setup.

Biking Gear

Thousand Chapter MIPS Bike Helmet

This helmet by Thousand has urban styling. It’s complete with a visor and has the in-mold construction and MIPS safety rating you’d want in a road or MTB helmet. It has eight vents to airflow channels, a magnetic chinstrap closure, and a lock channel for securing the helmet together with your bike.

Additionally, a 30-lumen magnetic taillight turns on automatically when magnetically attached to the helmet and has a 1-hour runtime (2 hours if flashing).

Ergon SMC Sport Gel Saddle — Men’s

This MTB gel saddle balances relief from pressure with a range of motion. It’s designed with a large contact area, Orthopedic Comfort Foam, and a composite shell built around chromoly rails. (S/M fits sit-bone width of 9–12cm; M/L fits sit-bone width of 12–16cm.)

Maxxis Assegai F60 3CT/EXO/TR Tire

The Assegai is the signature tire of World Cup champion, Greg Minnaar. It’s a tubeless tire with a tall tread for cutting through loam while still offering traction on roots and rock. Sized for 30-50mm rims, the tires are also bolstered with EXO Protection to resist cuts and scuffs on the sidewalls.

Maxxis uses its 3C MaxxTerra rubber here, which is an intermediate compound. The layout puts firmer knobs on the centerline and softer knobs on the sides.

Electra Townie 7D Step-Through Bike

Made with comfort in mind, this Electra Townie has a step-through frame, semi-slick 26″ tires, platform pedals, and a plush saddle. Its geometry allows a rider to sit upright for a heads-up view while providing full leg extension, and a low center of gravity that lets you put both feet down at a stop.

The bike runs seven gears with a Shimano Revo shifter and rear derailleur and stops with linear-pull brakes.

Bontrager Solstice MIPS Helmet

Bontrager positions the Solstice MIPS bike helmet as a multipurpose, value pick for riders taking to trails and town commutes. It includes a one-handed adjustment system, a magnetic chinstrap fastener, and a removable visor. Inside, there are recessed channels for moving airflow as well as moisture-wicking (and washable) helmet pads for keeping your head cool and dry.

Smith Engage 2 MIPS Bike Helmet

Updated for 2023, the Smith Engage 2 MIPS bike helmet includes more safety tech for everyday trail rides. The addition of Zonal Koroyd claims to offer more kinetic energy absorption upon impact than traditional helmet materials. It builds upon the helmet’s MIPS Brain Protection System that reduces rotational forces caused by angled impacts to the head.

Smith tweaked the dial-adjust fit and extended back coverage for a more custom feel. The in-mold construction combined with low-profile lining and webbing should create a closer, performance-minded fit. It has 20 fixed vents, including sunglass-friendly front channels, and a two-position visor.

Wahoo Fitness KICKR Core Bike Trainer

The 2 lb. flywheel offers a range of inertia to resemble outdoor riding conditions and can handle up to 1,800 watts of power with +/-2% accuracy. It can also adjust resistance to simulate up to a 16% incline.

The KICKR Core can juggle three simultaneous Bluetooth connections so you can connect to a screen and performance sensors. LED indicators let you know when it’s powered on and connected.

For a deeper simulation experience, the trainer can pair with a KICKR Climb grade simulator or KICKR Headwind smart fan. Additionally, it’s compatible with third-party power meters and the Zwift online platform.

Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic Panniers – Pair

Protect your laptop or weekend rations with these waterproof Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic rear-rack bike panniers. They use coated polyester fabric and a roll-top closure to keep out water. The pair has a 40-liter capacity. Each bag has an interior pocket, reflective patches, and a shoulder carry strap.

The panniers use a QL2.1 mounting system to fit racks with up to a 16mm tube diameter and come with reduction adapters for 8-, 10-, and 12mm tube diameters.

Race Face Chester Pedals

Race Face Chester pedals sport new traction treads on a concave platform with 8 replaceable hex traction pins on each side. Inside is a sealed steel axle with cartridge bearings and DU bushings.

Biking Discount Summary

REI Co-op Member Discounts

• 20% off Co-op Cycles adult bikes and e-bikes
• Up to $100 off Co-op Cycles kids’ bikes
• 25% off all Bontrager Bike Helmets

25% Off

• Shotgun bike accessories for kids
• Thousand bike helmets and bike lights
• Bike saddles
• Maxxis tires
• Ortlieb panniers, bags and accessories
• Revelate designs bags and accessories
• Pure Cycles bikes

20% Off

• Burley trailers, strollers, and accessories
• Electra Bikes (Except e-bikes)
• Smith bike helmets
• Wahoo Fitness KICKR SNAP Smart & KICKR core bike trainers

This post is sponsored by REI. Find more bikes and outdoor gear during the REI Anniversary Sale.

The post Save on Bikes & Cycling Gear During the REI Anniversary Sale appeared first on Bikerumor.

Update: Carbon-Ti has now officially launched the new X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 rotors. More info below…

Carbon-Ti X-Rotor Steel Carbon 3 centerlock rotors

Long attracting the attention of mountain biking weight-weenies, Carbon-Ti has been making 6-bolt carbon rotors for many years. We’ve been openly hoping for a centerlock version for years, ever since we saw them update their lightweight X-Hub SP with a centerlock interface to save weight.

Now, thanks to a “new partnership for the 2023 cycling season” as “an official supplier of the UAE Team Emirates”, Carbon-Ti has teased a closer look at their next rotors and given us a glimpse at some of the other tech the team are racing.

Are they really Centerlock though?

Carbon-Ti officially is referring to them as “new center lock X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 disc brake rotors, which will be released on the market soon”. But they clearly are still attached with a 6-pin carrier, a protective spacer, and an alloy lockring. Just now there is a reshaped carbon carrier that is continuous around the common 6-bolt interface, likely for safer compatibility with both 6-bolt & centerlock mounting.

What do we know?

The new rotors carry the same X-Rotor SteelCarbon name as their predecessor – confirming the same basic tech – just with a #3 added for this third generation making the switch to centerlock, or Center Lock as Carbon-Ti calls it. In reality, it seems that what makes these officially centerlock is the fact that Carbon-Ti will now make them available with an approved 6-bolt to centerlock adapter.

The new carbon carriers have a bit more material to them, suggesting they might weigh a couple of grams more than gen2. They also look to be more or less made from a similar 90° alternating carbon weave. But… all of the UAE Team Emirates rotors seem to have curiously been sanded after the carbon was finished, buffing the raised spots in the weave.

Otherwise, the outer “semi-floating” stainless steel braking surface of these prototype 160mm discs appears to share the same shape and cutouts as the current gen 2 rotors. They also use the same titanium rivets with Carbon-Ti’s name laser-etched on them to isolate the braking surface and its heat buildup from the carbon carrier.

Other Carbon-Ti upgrades for UAE Emirates

Besides the new rotors, the Colnago V4Rs race bikes of UAE Team Emirates were fitted with Carbon-Ti X-Carboring EVO chainrings that mate hard-anodized aluminum toothed rings onto a carbon fiber carrier to shed weight & increase stiffness over the stock Shimano Dura-Ace rings.

Their ENVE SES 4.5 aero wheels are also bolted on with machined alloy X-Lock EVO 12mm thru-axles.

Carbon-Ti says their lightweight components have already been raced by Tadej Pogačar during Amstel Gold Race and Tour of Flanders victories this season. We already knew he was a weight-weenie, spotting the Darimo seatpost on his prototype Colnago last summer. We’ll be curious to see what other gram-shaving tech Carbon-Ti will have for him next.

Update: Now that Carbon-Ti has officially unveiled the new X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 rotors we have quite a bit more details, including a new carbon carrier, new braking surface, and new centerlock mount. The rotors are now available for 185€ in 6-bolt and 220€ in centerlock configurations. Check out the full details here.

Carbon-Ti.com

The post UAE Emirates Tease Prototype Carbon-Carrier Carbon-Ti Centerlock Disc Brake Rotors – Update! appeared first on Bikerumor.