Sea Otter Classic Expo

Monterey, California, USA, April 16-19, 2009

Part 5 - April 22: Components and gear from the Sea Otter Classic

By James Huang in Monterey, California

Ritchey go one step further with Superlogic

Ritchey have launched a new WCS-trumping Superlogic line

Ritchey have trumped even their own WCS range with the recently introduced Superlogic range, which will include wheels, handlebars and seatposts for both road and mountain applications.

The top-end road wheelset uses a Paul Lew-designed 46mm-deep carbon tubular rim bolstered with boron fibers for additional stiffness. The ceramic-enhanced sidewalls will supposedly work well even with standard brake pads and the proven forged-and-machined hubs use interchangeable alloy freehub bodies, cartridge bearings and titanium skewers.

Claimed weight for the tubular version is 1171g for the pair and the Superlogic carbon clinchers are impressively only just slightly heavier at 1221g. Retail price for the tubulars is US$2799 for the pair and pricing for the clinchers is still to be determined.

Off-road riders get their own version as well, here built around DT Swiss 240s-based hubs and a disc brake-only rim again built with a mix of unidirectional carbon fiber and boron fibers. Claimed weight is 1328g for the pair and retail price is set at US$2250 for the pair.

WCS-level road wheels get a major revision as well with a new all-carbon 'Apex' clincher rim replacing the old carbon-and-aluminum one for substantial weight savings. Last year's WCS wheels now get rebadged as Pro-level hoops.

Other introductions seen at Sea Otter include a new carbon fiber rigid mountain bike fork with a massive hollow aluminum crown and integrated carbon dropouts, a new carbon 1Bolt seatpost, updated V5 clipless mountain bike pedals, a new Streem road saddle with carbon rails, and a range of innovative flat bars with a 10-degree sweep that don't require a stem swap.

New Cane Creek as light as air

Cane Creek's new AER headset

Weight weenies will delight in Cane Creek's new AER headset, which weighs just 46g in a traditional 1 1/8" fitment, 50g for the internal version, and as little as 33g for the integrated variety (all measured without top cap, bolt, and starnut).

The bulk of the savings comes courtesy of a Norglide composite upper bushing that weighs just 1.5g; a traditional split-lip stainless steel cartridge bearing is used down below. Additional grams are shaved with the aggressively machined 7075 aluminum cups. For integrated drop-in styles, Cane Creek have developed a trick aluminum 'sandwich' that replaces the traditional upper cartridge bearing.

Though seemingly not quite as smooth as a traditional bearing, Cane Creek say the Norglide material is tolerant of maladjustment, cheap to replace if/when needed, and is very resistant to contamination from dirt and water. As a side benefit, the paper-thin bushing makes for an ultra-low stack height: the standard upper cup measures a paltry 9mm high for a total stack of just 22mm.

Retail price for the AER is a surprisingly reasonable US$125 and product should begin arriving in stores June 1.

Carbon fiber wheels from Syncros, too

The new 25mm-wide rim is just a bit wider

Even Syncros are getting into the carbon fiber mountain bike wheel game with the new FLCF-25. The 25mm-wide disc-only rims are laced with DT Competition spokes to Syncros FLH hubs, complete with double-row cartridge bearings and 9mm quick-release or 15mm thru-axle front fitment options. Claimed weight is just under 1500g and suggested retail price is US$2075 for the pair.

Harkening back to their roots, Syncros have also developed the next generation of their venerable two-bolt seatpost head. The new FL v2.0 still uses a pair of opposing bolts and threaded barrel nuts but the concave and convex surfaces have now swapped relative to the original design and there is also more saddle rail support. Claimed weights were not available at press time as the product is still in development - though very close to completion.

In addition, the lightweight FL stem gets a revised shape and loses a few grams (down to 125g), there is a new FR/DH stem with a clever no-rise design, plus a new 790mm-wide FR 31 handlebar. The AM lineup gets new 'grunge' graphics, too, and the Meathook pedals get new anodized colors.

Downsizing at Easton

Easton fill a gap in their wheel line

Easton's carbon fiber tubular road wheel range now has a middle child with the new EC90 SL. The 38mm-deep rim neatly slots in between the current 25mm and 56mm models for a more versatile do-it-all option for riders that can't afford to have different wheels for various conditions. Moreover, 'cross riders looking for something with a bit of depth to cut through mud and sand might find these to be just the ticket without having to resort to something deeper and heavier.

Claimed weight is 1230g for the pair, built with Easton's latest R4 SL hubs, Sapim bladed spokes and hybrid ceramic bearings.

Easton have also added a compact version of their impressive EC90 road crank for riders living in hillier locales and a 'cross-specific version of the standard crank will be on tap in time for race season, complete with 38/46T chainrings.

New chainrings from Race Face

Race Face will offer an updated set of rings

Race Face debuted a long-awaited successor to their popular chainrings at this year's Sea Otter Classic. The new Turbine rings are still machined from durable 7075-T6 aluminum but now use a more refined pin and ramp system for faster and smoother chain movement. Expected delivery will be June 1 and the new Turbine rings will carry an impressively reasonable US$100 price per set.

Race Face will also add an Atlas FR bar with a massive 790mm (31") width and a revised Atlas stem with a more squared-off shape.

In other developments, the Atlas all-mountain cranks will now be offered in seven different anodized colors (black, grey, red, blue, purple, orange, and gold) and the Deus component line gets a new graphic treatment plus a limited-edition gold crankset.

Rotor Components with new road crankset and lightweight seatpost

Rotor's latest crank prototype is tentatively called the '3D'.

Rotor have apparently abandoned their eye-catching 'Swiss cheese' road crankarm design in favor of a slightly more conventional setup based around their existing Agilis model. The new prototype, tentatively dubbed '3D', features three channels drilled lengthwise through a significantly wider extruded and machined aluminum crankarm, in contrast to the multi-axis drilling of the previous version.

This construction style makes the new crank nominally hollow, stiffer than the existing crank, and presumably also slightly easier to manufacture. More importantly, the latest design passes the stringent European EFBe test standard, which the old one did not.

An exact weight was not available - Rotor claim it to be close to that of the current Agilis - nor was a projected release date or price. For now, Rotor plan to just evaluate the design with the help of their sponsored Cervélo TestTeam through September and then will decide from there. Even if it makes it to production, though, Rotor will offer the new crank as a supplement to the current model, not as a replacement.

Also on tap was a feathery new SP1 post and SD1 saddle. The SP1 features a lightweight aluminum mast coupled to a clever two-bolt integrated head with angled bolts for easy access and minimal aluminum cradles. Actual weight for a 27.2x350mm sample was just 180g with steel bolts - production posts will use titanium hardware - and larger diameter sizes should be lighter.

The SD1 saddle weighs just 136g (actual weight) by virtue of its composite shell, hollow titanium rails, and Lorica cover with minimal foam padding. Though there are no cutouts or other obvious comfort-enhancing features, most users accustomed to Selle Italia's SLR will likely find the shape rather agreeable.

Edge Composites move further into componentry with new stem and seatpost

The titanium hardware threads into aluminum inserts.

Carbon fiber gurus Edge Composites debuted a new stem and seatpost at this year's Sea Otter Classic, both of which were impressively light.

The new stem reportedly weighs just 113g (110mm) and is built with an all-carbon body with molded-in aluminum thread inserts, a four-bolt aluminum faceplate and titanium hardware. According to Edge Composites' Kevin Nelson, the stems are "intended to be stiff, light and simple" and at least based on appearances for now, they seem to have hit their mark. Production units will begin shipping around June 1.

The seatpost is still in the development phase but uses a one-piece molded carbon shaft with a hollow cylinder up top to house the guts. The upper and lower aluminum cradles are secured with a single M5 bolt for ease of adjustment and the cylindrical head offers a 360-degree range of adjustment. Final weight and pricing is yet to be determined.

Intriguing crank concept and new hub configurations from The Hive

The Hive now offer a clever-looking fifteen.G mountain bike crankset.

The Hive's new fifteen.G mountain bike triple crankset offers a tantalizing mix of features, such as a giant 30mm-diameter aluminum spindle, externally located BB30-sized cartridge bearings, forged-and-machined 7050 aluminum oversized crankarms, a race-ready 790g complete weight and a reasonable US$325 price tag.

Other details include a 'trilobe polygon' tapered spindle interface that is said to provide 100 percent surface contact for a slip-free fit and bottom bracket cups that install with either the supplied tool or a standard 1 3/4" 12-point socket. The fifteen.G crank will also be available in singlespeed varieties with or without an aluminum chainring guard with prices around US$325 for all. Expected availability is June 1.

The Hive are also expanding their range of Chub hubs with two geared mountain bike sets expected to arrive around December. Alloy flanges are bonded to a hugely oversized thin-wall carbon center section for rigidity and light weight while a 72-point ratchet ring offers quick engagement.

The all-mountain rear hub hits the scales at 320g and the matching front (convertible between 15mm and 20mm thru-axle fitments) a competitive 225g. Cross-country versions are markedly lighter at 290g and 140g with the front hub being swappable between 9mm quick-release and 15mm thru-axle configurations. Pricing is yet to be determined.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• Ritchey have launched a new WCS-trumping Superlogic line which includes carbon tubular and clincher road wheels co-developed by Paul Lew.
• The carbon rim also utilizes boron fibers for additional stiffness.
• Mountain bike riders get their own Superlogic carbon wheel as well.
• The disc-specific Superlogic mountain bike rims feature a snazzy unidirectional finish.
• The WCS range gets a new all-carbon clincher to replace the old carbon-and-aluminum version.
• The new carbon rim is significantly lighter than its forebear.
• Last year's WCS rim is now given to the Pro range.
• The carbon-and-aluminum rim provides mild aerodynamic benefits plus a predictable aluminum brake track without breaking the bank.
• The new Ritchey Pro carbon rigid mountain bike fork uses massive legs and a similar beefy crown for precise steering.
• The giant aluminum crown is drilled out from the sides to save weight without sacrificing rigidity.
• Carbon dropouts are molded in and protected with aluminum faces.
• Ritchey have added a carbon version of the zero-offset 1Bolt seatpost.
• The signature color for Ritchey's Pro line switches from blue to red for everything from stems to the new V5 clipless pedal.
• The new Carbon Streem saddle uses carbon rails to shave grams.
• Ritchey's 10D bar uses an innovative bend that provides extra wrist-saving sweep without requiring a longer stem to maintain the same fit.
• Naturally, many of Ritchey's components are offered in a 'wet white' finish.
• Cane Creek's new AER headset is phenomenally light at just 46g for the standard 1 1/8" version.
• Aggressively milled-out cups shave grams while presumably still maintaining a properly tight fit.
• Most of the weight savings comes courtesy of a unique Norglide composite bushing which replaces the conventional stainless steel bearing.
• Cane Creek will offer the AER headset to fit standard, internal, and integrated head tubes, all in 1 1/8".
• The venerable Cane Creek Double Barrel rear shock gets new valving with double the low-speed damping adjustment range.
• Cane Creek have also developed a new yoke to fit the latest Specialized SX Trail.
• Syncros jump into the carbon mountain bike wheel market with the new FL-CF25.
• The new 25mm-wide rim is just a bit wider than most pure cross-country rims to provide more support for wider tires.
• The lightweight hub accepts six-bolt rotors.
• Syncros use special double-row bearings for improved durability.
• Coming soon is a second-generation FL seatpost with a solid two-bolt head and longer lower cradle for increased saddle rail support.
• The FR line gets a new 'grunge' graphic.
• The Syncros Meathook pedal is available in four colors.
• Syncros have revised their FL stem (unfortunately it wasn't on hand at the show) and introduce a new FR/DH stem.
• Easton fill a gap in their wheel line with the new 38mm-deep EC90 SL.
• The carbon rim offers more aerodynamic efficiency than Easton's 25mm-deep hoop but less weight than the 56mm one.
• Easton add a compact option to their EC90 road crank plus 'cross-specific chainrings for the standard BCD version.
• Race Face will offer an updated set of rings with refined shift ramp position and shaping for smoother chain movement.
• Shaping is far more complex than before and a quick test ride suggests they shift more smoothly than the old version.
• There aren't necessarily more shift positions on the new rings but the more complex shape stlll yields a faster and smoother shift.
• Race Face will offer a limited-edition gold Deus crankset.
• The ultralight Next SL crank saves a few grams from the standard Next by virtue of a titanium spindle.
• The new chainrings match well aesthetically with the crank's new graphics treatment.
• Want some color?
• The new Atlas stem features harder edges than before.
• Rotor's latest crank prototype is tentatively called the '3D'.
• Rotor start with an extruded bar of aluminum then machine down the exterior and drill three channels down the length of the arm to effectively make it hollow.
• Two channels are milled in from one side while the third comes in from the opposite end.
• The resultant piece is mostly hollow for light weight but uses a broad cross-section for rigidity.
• The beefy chainring spider is also machined.
• Rotor's lightweight SP1 seatpost is finally under way.
• Angled bolts are easy to access.
• A new Rotor SD1 saddle uses hollow titanium rails, a composite shell, and a Lorica cover with minimal padding beneath.
• Rotor is now supplying the Specialized factory team with elliptical Q-Ring chainrings.
• Rotor had to design special rings just to fit the S-Works FACT crank's unique spider.
• Edge Composites showed off a new carbon stem said to weigh just 113g in a 110mm length.
• The titanium hardware threads into aluminum inserts.
• Edge Composites are also continuing to work on a seatpost with this being the latest prototype.
• The Hive now offer a clever-looking fifteen.G mountain bike crankset.
• A 'trilobe' taper design supposedly offers 100 percent surface contact between the crankarm and spindle for a slip-free fit.
• External bottom bracket cups hold oversized bearings shared with the BB30 system.
• The deeply scalloped arm shape suggests good rigidity.
• Pinned and ramped rings presumably offer god shift performance.
• The Hive also showed off their new range of geared mountain bike hubs.

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