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New Arrivals – December 6, 2008Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Welcome to New Arrivals, a section showcasing the latest equipment that's landed on the Cyclingnews tech desk. Look out for reviews over the next few months when we've clocked up some saddle time with this stuff.
Trek has blended some of the best attributes of its new Madone road frame and Fuel EX chassis for its latest short-travel cross-country racer, the Top Fuel 9.9 SSL. Borrowed from the Madone concept is the integrated bottom bracket with drop-in cartridge bearings and an adaptation of its no-cut extended seat mast while the new Fuel EX donates its new rear suspension layout that includes the Active Braking Pivot, Full Floater dynamic shock mounts and one-piece EVO link. Not surprisingly, Trek says this new edition is both lighter and stiffer than before: chassis weight reportedly drops a substantial 431g (0.95lb) from a similarly configured previous model but stiffness is said to leap by an equally significant 33 percent for what should be the lightest and fastest Top Fuel yet. "Our preproduction sample came to us with a few notable substitutions from the stock build kit: we got a Fox RP23 rear shock instead of the carbon-bodied DT Swiss unit, and our EVO link is aluminum instead of magnesium. According to Trek mountain bike brand manager Michael Brown, aftermarket demand for the originally specified Race XXX Lite carbon wheels has also far outpaced production capacity so the scandium-rimmed Bontrager Race X Lite wheels will now stand in on complete 2009 bikes, too." However, our tester is still fitted with the just-for-Trek extra-narrow FSA 2x9 K-Force Light crankset and a Shimano XTR transmission and brakes. The combination adds up to an enticing, albeit expensive, 9.86kg (21.71lb) package. Now all we need is for winter to hold off just a bit longer… Price: US$7149.99 (stock build with Bontrager Race X Lite Disc wheelset)
Schwinn Paramount 70th Anniversary
Schwinn is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its prestigious Paramount nameplate the best way it knows how - with a beautiful limited-edition frame crafted of Reynolds 953 stainless steel tubing and a matching Reynolds UL carbon fork. The classically proportioned full 953 tubeset is brazed by Waterford into a custom set of stainless steel lugs that artfully integrate the classic Schwinn four-pointed star right into the lug points. The head tube lugs and stays are then fully polished and the rest of the frame is coated in a deep metallic candy apple red. Beauty isn't just skin deep here, though. Our average-sized sample weighs just 7.50kg (16.66lb) complete with Mavic R-SYS wheels and a new Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 group, putting it neck and neck with many aluminum - or even carbon - bikes, and we're hoping the full-steel construction delivers the exceptionally lively ride quality in testing that only comes with a ferrous backbone. Appropriately, Schwinn will only offer 70 copies of the Paramount 70th Anniversary, and none of them will come cheap. You'd better sit down for this one: each frameset carries with it an asking price of US$7000. Price: US$7000 (frame and fork)
CycleOps JetFluid Pro and SuperMagneto Pro trainers
CycleOps recently revamped its popular line of trainers with new frames that are more stable, more accommodating of uneven surfaces, and pack up significantly tighter than before, for easier storage. New resistance units ring in the winter training season too, including the JetFluid Pro and SuperMagneto Pro. The JetFluid Pro is an update to the long-standing - and successful - Fluid2 unit and is also juiced up with a shroud that funnels air from the fan-shaped flywheel directly to the fluid housing, for cooler operating temperatures. Likewise, the SuperMagneto Pro builds on the technology of the exiting Magneto resistance unit but adds four user-selectable power settings depending on workout goals. The toughest 'mountain' setting is reserved for the most intensive interval training while a much easier 'spin' setting mimics the feel of rollers for gradual pre-race warm-ups. Ok, time to load up some songs on the iPod; we'll report back soon. Price: US$399.99 (CycleOps JetFluid Pro or SuperMagneto Pro)
Powercranks xLite Adjustable crankarms
We first checked these out way back in 2003 and significant updates since then warrant a revisit with this novel concept. Unlike traditional cranks that are securely fixed 180 degrees out of phase, each massive Powercrank crankarm houses a one-way clutch where it attaches to the bottom bracket meaning each arm can rotate independently of each other. As a result, there's no cheating with your pedal stroke and you have to generate power throughout the full range of rotation. According to Powercranks, training on these things will eventually make you smoother, more efficient and more powerful. That may be so, but one other thing is crystal clear: these things are heavy and expensive. Total weight for both arms and associated hardware (but no chainrings) is a whopping 1374g - even for our milled-out xLite version - and retail price is a painful US$1199. Our fully loaded Octalink-compatible sample is also adjustable for effective crank length from 165-180mm. Powercranks offers no illusions to the difficulties of the adaptation period so we'll first run these indoors on a trainer. Once we become a little more accustomed to them, we'll dare venture out into traffic. If Powercranks do what they say, however, they may be one of few items we've used that offer truly tangible benefits to our fitness and speed. Check back with us after the winter; our hip flexors are already starting to ache... Price: US$1199
Pearl Izumi Barrier GTX winter shoes
Pearl Izumi's all-new line of shoes now includes a dedicated cold weather model. The Barrier GTX features the same reinforced nylon plate and tread as the mid-level Attack summer shoe but with a unique upper construction that Pearl Izumi hopes will keep our feet both warm and dry once we begin testing in earnest. The ‘warm' part comes courtesy of 200g 3M Thinsulate insulation while the full Gore-Tex liner is certified by W.L. Gore as waterproof. A zip-up outer cover keeps bigger debris away from the speed lace interior. Total weight is a competitive 1028g per pair with insoles (sz44). Price: US$249.99
Knog Beetle, Skink, and Gekko LED lights
Knog carved out a niche for itself with its tiny Frog single-LED lights and their colorful silicone rubber bodies and innovative integrated mounts that somehow fit around just about anything. The new 22g Beetle is roughly the same size but steps things up with two high-powered LED emitters in either red or white. As with the Frog, this is still a 'be seen' type of light and not really something that can light the path in front of you very well but the Beetle's brighter output means people will at least notice you from much further away now. Knog claims a 35-hour run time in constant mode with the included batteries and up to 160 hours in one of the five flashing modes. If you need a little more candlepower, Knog also offers the 57g Skink which houses four red or white high-powered emitters for even more visibility and uses similar silicone rubber construction as the rest of Knog's lighting line. Claimed run time in constant mode is a healthy 30 hours, or up to 220 hours in flashing (two modes for white LEDs, five modes for red). A handy supplemental LED battery indicator lets you know when you're down to 25 percent power, too. Prices: US$19.99 (Knog Beetle); US$29.99 (Knog Skink); US$24.99 (Knog Gekko)
Park Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair, Second Edition
Park Tool and resident repair guru Calvin Jones have released the second edition of its comprehensive Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair just in time for the winter repair season. As with the original BBB-1, the new 245-page BBB-2 includes detailed instructions and countless images and diagrams to guide you through a surprisingly broad range of repair procedures. There are 17 chapters that start with the basics - tyre repair, brake and derailleur adjustments, wheel truing - and progress to more advanced jobs such as bearing overhauls and hydraulic disc brake bleeding, before finishing off with on-bike emergency repair and proper bike washing techniques. Detailed suspension tuning and maintenance procedures are notably absent, though even some shop mechanics consider that realm beyond their reach, so perhaps it's no matter. Price: US$24.95
PhotographyFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
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