Tech News – November 22, 2006 Edited by James Huang Got tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech desk. Manitou's suspension products will still bear the Manitou brand name, Photo ©: James Huang Answer Products acquired by HB Performance Systems Inc. HB Performance Systems Inc., parent company of Hayes Bicycle Group, recently announced the acquisition of Answer Products Inc., including the Answer and Manitou brands of bicycle handlebars, stems, and suspension components. The company will be renamed HB Suspension Products and will be integrated into the Hayes Bicycle Group division, which currently manufactures Hayes bicycle disc brakes and Sun Ringlé wheels, rims, and hubs. The group also acquired Wheelsmith Fabrication just this past October. HB Performance Systems (formerly Hayes Brake) and Answer Products have collaborated on a number of projects over the years, including the now-ubiquitous 74mm post-mount disc brake standard back in 1997. Although this acquisition was just finalised on November 3, rumors of Answer Products' auction-block status have been circulating for some time now, with Cyclingnews receiving firm evidence as such as early as November 2005. Details on the integration strategy and business transition for the new acquisition will not be announced until early 2007, although company officials did confirm that the Manitou brand name would (wisely) be retained. According to HB Performance Systems President and CEO Rand McNally, "Bringing together complementary businesses that offer premium brands to the bicycle industry is part of our strategy in growing the Hayes Bicycle Group division. As an engineering company with 60 years of experience in design and manufacturing, HB Performance Systems delivers a superior level of engineering expertise and product manufacturing excellence, which it will now do for Manitou products." The El Guapo is a new 160mm platform from Titus, Photo ©: Titus Cycles Titus 2007 lineup Tempe, Arizona-based framebuilder Titus Cycles has added three all-new models to what was already a rather broad range of bicycles for 2007. Although best known for its Exogrid and Isogrid carbon fiber-and-titanium hybrid tubesets, the new model year will see Titus' first use of 100% molded carbon fiber for frame assemblies. The ubiquitous Racer-X 100mm travel full-suspension chassis receives a new carbon fiber front triangle for '07 to create the aptly named Racer-X Carbon. Titus claims the new frameset is its lightest FS XC-race bike ever produced, but the new front end should also beat out the aluminum version in terms of torsional rigidity for more predictable and immediate handling. An innovative R.U.B. (replaceable under belly) plate protects the underside of the down tube against impact. The carbon fiber seatstays and rocker arms carry over from last year. The Oseo is Titus' first all-carbon road frame, Photo ©: Titus Cycles A new long-travel El Guapo platform offers 160mm of rear wheel travel using a similar true four-bar Horst-link suspension design as on the rest of Titus' off-road stable. Titus makes liberal use of hydroformed tubes to eliminate redundant gussets, forged and machined swingarm yokes and a burly aluminum rocker combine with Titus' trademark four-bearing main swingarm pivot in an effort to squelch rear-end flex. Titus' Moto-Lite isn't all-new for '07, but it does receive significant attention in the form of new carbon fiber seat stays and hydroformed aluminum chainstays, as well as compression molded carbon fiber rocker arms. In all, the changes drop 130g from last year's frame weight. The Oseo marks Titus' first full carbon fiber sub-1000g road frame. The front triangle makes use of Titus parent company Vyatek's patented Isogrid carbon construction that incorporates a matrix of internal stiffening ribs. In addition to tubing technology, the Oseo also makes subtle use of shaping with a flared down tube for better bottom bracket response as well as curved seat stays, which are reported to improve vertical compliance. The Isogrid-equipped Ligero road frame now receives a flared down tube for 2007, and the Vuelo now comes equipped with Exogrid seat stays. IRD 10spd cassettes Interloc Racing Design recently announced the addition of three wide-range 10spd cassettes to its Elite steel lineup, including 12-32, 11-32, and 11-34T varieties, to go along with its 12-28T offering it introduced last year. Why bother with super wide range road cassettes? Loaded tourers, tandem riders, and cyclists who were simply seeking ultra-low gearing have been using 9spd mountain bike cassettes and rear derailleurs for years now, but the prevalence of 10spd drivetrains on the road had made it increasingly difficult to maintain the low transmission ratios with modern equipment. Co-Motion has already begun to spec the new cassettes on its touring tandems. According to officials at IRD, the new cassettes must be used with Shimano-compatible mountain rear derailleurs only. Although 9spd by design, IRD claims the derailleurs can be "coaxed" to shift 10 without much issue. The Frazz namesake also graces the rear Photo ©: MMBA Frazz jerseys Jef Mallett, creator and cartoonist for the popular syndicated Frazz comic strip, has collaborated with the Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA) to create a limited edition cycling jersey. Mallett, a Michigan native and avid cyclist, designed the jersey as a way to "give something back" to his local mountain biking community, saying, "It's no secret that cartoonists live life through their characters. Through Frazz I can ride trails I normally can't. And likewise, without the MMBA, I'd have even fewer opportunities to ride." The jerseys, made by Voler, are currently available in both men's and women's cuts in a full size range. However, the MMBA's license allows for only a limited number of Frazz jerseys to be printed, and according to Bill Mayer, MMBA Vice President, "When they're gone, they're gone!" Additional information and online purchase is available at www.mmba.org/frazz. Recognize this one? This jersey commemorates Photo ©: Retro Image Apparel Company Retro jerseys Speaking of jerseys, The Retro Image Apparel Co. has introduced a series of unique jerseys that feature vintage artwork, much of which is cycling-oriented. The Retro-Classic Team Cycling line includes separate men's and women's lines with such iconic imagery as the 1927 Metropolis silent film poster, the easily recognisable Cycles Gladiator advertising campaign of 1895, and the encouraging Rosie the Riveter depiction from World War II-era 1943. Even more interesting is the company's Horton Collection Line (named for cycling memorabilia collector Brett Horton), which features artwork from a number of vintage bicycle race posters. Highlighted events include the 1913 Berlin Six-Day Race and the 1943 Vuelta Catalonia. All of the jerseys feature wicking mesh fabric and three-quater length hidden zippers, as well as the standard accoutrement of pockets out back. Complete hangers are black-anodized and laser-etched Photo ©: James Huang Wheels Manufacturing offers problem solvers for the rest of us Broomfield, CO-based Wheels Manufacturing is perhaps best known for its impressive collection of machined aluminum derailleur hangers (84 versions and counting), headset spacers, reducers, and shims, as well as its comprehensive array of chromoly replacement hub axles and cones. For 2007, the company is making efforts to move upscale. Included in the new offerings are a variety of aluminum and titanium hardware (including Torx head rotor bolts), upgrade kits for Shimano's Hollowtech II cranksets (including machined aluminum caps and titanium pinch bolts), and ceramic bearings in both loose form and sealed cartridge in the most commonly used sizes, and newly available Grade 25 stainless steel ball bearings. As with the rest of its products, all of the hardware and aluminum components are precision CNC-machined in-house; bearings (both ceramic and stainless) are outsourced and manufactured to Wheels Manufacturing's specifications Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com Manitou's suspension products will still bear the Manitou brand name, but the company now a wholly owned subsidiary of HB Performance Systems, which also owns Hayes Brake, Sun Ringlé, and Wheelsmith Fabrication. Images by Titus Cycles Titus' venerable Racer-X cross-country full-suspension platform now has an optional carbon fiber front triangle for lighter weight and better rigidity. The El Guapo is a new 160mm platform from Titus, based on its trademark true four-bar linkage rear suspension design. The popular Moto-lite gets a heavy dose of carbon fiber for '07, including the seat stays and rocker arms. New hydroformed aluminum chainstays also help shed 130g from last year's frame. In addition to several of its mountain bike frames, the Moto-lite is also available in Titus' high-zoot Exogrid carbon fiber and titanium tubeset. The Oseo is Titus' first all-carbon road frame, and also marks its first sub-1000g model. Isogrid tubing is used on Titus' flagship Ligero frame, which gets a flared down tube for '07. The Exogrid treatment is extended to the seat stays on Titus' Vuelo for '07. Images by Michigan Mountain Biking Association Frazz comic strip creator Jef Mallett collaborated with the Michigan Mountain Biking Association to design a limited edition jersey to help raise money for the 501(3)c non-profit organization in an effort to help keep local trails open. The Frazz namesake also graces the rear of the jersey, which also comes complete with comic-strip sides. Images by Retro Image Apparel Company The Retro Image Apparel Company now offers three distinct lines of classic jerseys, all of which feature vintage artwork. Among the jerseys offered by the Retro Image Apparel Company are some that revisit some of the more notable bicycle race promotion posters of the past. Recognize this one? This jersey commemorates the 1927 silent movie, Metropolis. Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com Wheels Manufacturing does all of its machine work in-house, which results in a lot of aluminum and steel chips. Thankfully, all scraps are recycled. Wheels Manufacturing is perhaps best known for its line of replacement derailleur hangers, which are all precision CNC-machined from 6061 aluminum. Complete hangers are black-anodized and laser-etched for easy identification. For 2007, Wheels Manufacturing will also introduce Grade 5 ceramic bearings, in both loose and cartridge form in the most common sizes. Upgrade kits for Shimano's Hollowtech II system include machined aluminum caps and titanium bolts. A particularly handy knurled end cap tool is also available (and works really well, too). Want to lighten up? Try some aluminum or titanium water bottle bolts. Torx-head disc brake rotor bolts have been hard to come by in the past, but they will now be readily available from Wheels Manufacturing.