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On Show: Sea Otter Classic, April 29, 2008
Lighter and, um, 'light'er!
TRP debuts svelte new aluminum road calipers
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TRP showed off a new set of road brake calipers that supplants even its own fancy R950 carbon fiber clampers. This time around, the new R960 turns to forged and CNC-machined aluminum to bring the weight down to just 110g per caliper, including pads and titanium hardware.
Pivot points on the R960 are the same as on the R950 so we'd expect a similar amount of power and modulation from the reassuringly beefy-looking arms. A novel quick-release adds minimal weight and included SwissStop pads suggest a good bite. TRP will offer the R960 in red or black anodized finishes at a cost of approximately US$400 per pair.
On the muddier side of things, 'cross riders might be interested in TRP's new EuroX Mag cantilever brakes. These share the same high-profile configuration and mud-shedding clearance as the standard EuroX and EuroX Carbon models but with magnesium plates that are nearly as light as the carbon ones and also less expensive. Upgraded pad hardware will also allow for easily adjustable pad toe-in (usually the Achilles' heel for this sort of brake) and a built-in barrel adjuster will make for quick clearance adjustments.
The EuroX Mag brakes will begin shipping in July and will command about US$300 for a full bike's worth. TRP will also offer upgrade kits for existing EuroX brakes to add the pad toe-in and barrel adjuster features.
Fi'zi:k brings Arione weight and technology off-road
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Team Maxxis rider Geoff Kabush was supposedly so enamored with the shape and feel of the normally road-specific fi'zi:k Arione that the company decided to modify the shape for a new off-road version called Tundra.
Like the Arione, the Tundra features a rather flat top and triangular shape but the rear point has been lopped off for better off-road maneuverability (not to mention safety). Naturally, the company's trademark Wing Flex feature remains intact.
Fi'zi:k will offer the new Tundra in white Microtex with braided carbon rails or black with k:ium rails. Consumers will be able to pick up the sub-200g carbon version for roughly a dollar per gram while the slightly heavier k:ium railed version will be a bit less expensive at around US$159. Both will begin shipping around June or July of this year.
Lezyne slims down for new pump line
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Lezyne brings the weight and size of its novel hidden-hose mini-pump designs to the road with the new Road Drive model. While others go with lighter plastic construction, Lezyne errs on the side of durability with its alloy construction but weight still drops down to just 103g while still retaining all of the usual functionality. The pump clips on to the side of a corresponding integrated cage that will be available in either aluminum or carbon fiber.
Speaking of carbon fiber, new carbon-infused versions of the original mini-pump designs are also in the works. We doubt that they'll be much lighter but they look cool nonetheless.
We're also not sure if the new Micro Caddy bags will offer much in the way of weight savings but their clever style of attachment deserves a mention anyway. Instead of the usual relatively narrow nylon straps, the new Micro Caddy design uses broad neoprene-and-Velcro 'wings' that secure the bag beneath the saddle rails and also look to keep the bag (and its contents) more stable.
Light&Motion offers sneak preview of new Seca LED lamp
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Light&Motion will add another nail in the HID coffin with its upcoming Seca line of high-output LED lamps. While there weren't any working samples on hand to play with at this year's Sea Otter Classic, the detailed specs and early prototype models were enough to make us almost look forward to the shorter days of fall.
Each Seca system will feature a six-LED array and target output for the top model is an impressive 720 lumens. According to Light&Motion, the unique beam pattern will provide plenty of usable peripheral and straight-ahead vision. More importantly, the company claims the tuned optics will deliver real world output that finally matches the darkness-piercing 'punch' of top HID lamps that we've so often found lacking in other high-end LED systems.
The new Seca will also signal a new design course for the Monterey, California-based company. A new tool-free strap-type mount will more easily transfer from handlebar to helmet while also substantially decreasing its profile. The exposed heat sink will also be shrouded by brightly colored shrouds, in sharp contrast to the drab black-and-grey schemes we're all used to seeing. Seca prices will begin at US$349 and climb to around the US$600 mark.
We'll have to wait until later in the season for more details on the Seca but the new mounting system will also make its way on to the revised Stella single-LED systems.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- TRP's new R960 brake eschews carbon fiber in favor of machined aluminum for its lightest road brake yet.
- Aggressively machined arms shed grams without sacrificing much in the way of rigidity.
- Beefy pivots should help keep flex at bay.
- A new magnesium version of TRP's EuroX 'cross cantilever falls in between the aluminum and carbon versions in terms of weight.
- Demonstrating yet again that white is the new black , TRP will make its carbon fiber R950 brake available in the gleaming hue, leaving just a bit of carbon weave peeking through the logo.
- Geoff Kabush apparently liked the shape of the Arione so much that fi'zi:k saw fit to create an off-road version dubbed the Tundra.
- Claimed weight for the carbon-railed version is sub-200g.
- The fi'zi:k Tundra will also be offered in a less expensive version with k:ium rails.
- Save for the chopped tail, the Tundra should feel nearly identical to the Arione.
- Lezyne lightens up with its new 103g Road Drive pump which still includes the clever hose attachment. Integrated bottle cages will be offerd in both alloy and carbon.
- Naturally, Lezyne has added carbon models to its lineup.
- The new Lezyne Micro Caddy line of saddle bags uses a unique neoprene-and-Velcro style of attachment instead of the usual nylon straps.
- In keeping with its durability theme , Leyzne will launch a new all-alloy floor pump.
- Side plates on the Lezyne multi-tools have slimmed down to take up less room.
- Hmm… what's in here?
- Light&Motion has a new LED light in the works called the Seca but it's still in prototype phase.
Images by Light&Motion
- This is about as much as we have to show you for now but the specs on the upcoming Light&Motion Seca are awfully intriguing.
- A new strap-type mount will mean quicker transitions from helmet to handlebar as well as lower profiles on both.
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Light&Motion will redesign its other lamp heads , though, with a new scalloped back and strap-type fittings for a lower profile mount.
- The DT Swiss XRC380 carbon fiber mountain bike rim is ultralight and ultra-expensive.
- Go figure : DT Swiss has made its popular XR 4.2D MTB rim available in white.
- DT Swiss has jumped on the 15mm thru-axle bandwagon with several compatible front hubs, several of which use dedicated shells instead of converted 20mm versions.
- The new DT Swiss FR600 rim promises increased resistance to dents as compared to its predecessor.
- Rotor unveiled a new 2x9 version of its Ágilis crank. The two-ring version will deliver a narrower pedal stance width while the 74/110mm five-bolt BCD will still accommodate a number of chainring options.
- This ultralight carbon fiber seatpost is still in progress , but Rotor says it will be amazingly light once completed.
- All-mountain riders can take advantage of Rotor's unique DTT bolt technology with the S1X stem.
- Race Face continues to make headway into the road scene with products such as the Next SL carbon fiber drop bar.
- Naturally, Race Face is still deeply involved in the North Shore-style of riding and the floating lower roller on its two-ring guide will probably help it stay that way.
- Ritchey has given its WCS-level carbon parts a new unidirectional finish to shave a few grams.
- The Ritchey Break-Away line of travel bikes now includes a fixed/singlespeed version that includes the same clever down tube coupling and split seat tube as on the original.
- WTB's ultralight LaserDisc Lite hubs are now available in a polished silver finish.
- A new slimmed-down version of the Prowler tread yields the new WTB Prowler SL for 29" wheels.
- Hayes tackles the lightweight beast with its new Stroker Gram hydraulic disc brake. Weight saving measures include a milled-out master cylinder body, carbon lever blade and aluminum-backed pads.
- The new Hayes Stroker Ace shares the same basic architecture as the rest of the Stroker line…
- …but includes a more powerful four-piston caliper.
- Even with all that power, though , the Hayes Stroker Ace isn't all that heavy.
- Continental's new Race King mounts a fast-rolling tread pattern on to a relatively wide 2.2" casing yet still weighs around 460g in top trim.
- ESI's silicone foam rubber grips have been a long-time staple in the pro ranks for their scant weight and comfy feel. Now they're available in neon green for those so inclined.
- ESI's new Hand Off widget addresses the problem of solo racers in the feed zone. No more recruiting people to hold bottles for you! Just grab and go.
