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Interbike show
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA September 22-26, 2008
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Part 21 - October 24: We're almost there but not quite; more gear from this year's Interbike show
By James Huang
Blackburn wants everyone to get Fleas
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One of LED lighting technology's greatest draws is its compact size and few companies in recent memeory have capitalized on this better than Blackburn. The new Flea lights are among the smallest we've seen (each front or rear unit is less than 5cm long and only about 19g!) yet the four-emitter array reportedly packs up to 40 lumens of light. Both lights attach via a minimal hook-and-loop strap while the rear light also boasts a built-in clip for attaching to a bag or clothing.
Even more ingenious is the Flea's charging system. The tiny charger measures barely 2cm in size and weighs just 5g and can draw its source power from any 1.5V battery. Tiny magnets connect everything together, the LED emitters flash dimly to indicate an active charge, and built-in circuitry shuts everything off when the built-in battery is full.
Blackburn claims a brand-new D-cell battery will yield over 30 charges but the system can also conveniently suck out any remaining juice from partially used batteries as well. Retail cost is US$29.99 each or US$54.99 for the pair.
Blackburn has also downsized some of its mini-pumps as well. The 16cm-long AirStik SL weighs just 60g yet is still built with a durable anodized aluminum barrel and shaft. The head accommodates Presta valves only but as it's intended for road use only, we don't anticipate this to be an issue. The US$24.99 retail cost includes a bottle cage mount though given the pump's diminutive size, users are more likely to just stuff the pump in their pocket.
In contrast, the new AirStik 2Stage isn't particular small or light at 23cm long and 175g in weight but Blackburn does equip it with a switchable high-volume/high-pressure two-stage air chamber for easier inflating of both road and mountain bike tires. The AirStik 2Stage also comes with a Presta-specific head although in this case it also locks for more secure pumping. A bottle cage mount is included with the US$29.99 retail cost.
Acros moves on to US shores
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Germany-based component manufacturer Acros isn't necessarily a household name with most US consumers but given the company's diverse range of top-end products and apparently unyielding commitment to precision and quality that may very well change in the near future.
Acros produces headsets, bottom brackets, hubs, stems, seatposts, handlebars, and even suspension forks and tools. Most of the rotating products are also offered with hybrid or even full ceramic bearings as standard equipment. Rear disc-compatible mountain bike hubs reportedly weigh as little as 242g while the top road rear hub tips the scales at just 183g.
One of Acros' most appealing attributes, though, is the rainbow of anodized colors available for nearly the entire range. Hues include the usual black, silver and grey but also red, orange, blue and yes, even purple. Limited edition colors are also available through the Acros 'Candy Shop'.
3T offers a solution to slipping seatposts
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3T claims its new Palladio seatpost is the ultimate solution for riders who have troubles combating unwanted saddle movement during a ride. The unusual DiffLock head uses two separate saddle rail cradles mounted on to the ends of a splined central tube (picture the end of a Shimano Hollowtech II crankset spindle) which itself then matches up with a separate set of splines in the top of the seatpost mast.
If it sounds complicated, that's because it is. The Palladio provides tilt adjustments down to half-degree increments but making those changes is fairly convoluted and requires a near-complete disassembly of the head. Even so, the unique arrangement also makes it seemingly impossible for the saddle to move unless you want it to, even if the bolts loosen. This alone may be enough for some riders to justify the inconvenience particularly given that most riders will only set the position once.
New Roks and packaging from Clif Bar
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Clif Bar's Clif Shot Bloks offer a tasty alternative to the usual array of bars and gels but their packaging hasn't always been conducive to eating on the go. New for 2009 is a far handier 'fast pack' that conveniently lines up each package's six Bloks such that you can easily pop them out one by one with one hand. The new packaging is a small change for sure but one that will likely be far better appreciated on the bike than on paper. Also new is a Mountain Berry flavor which will hit shelves around November.
Clif Bar also introduced a wholly new line called Clif Shot Roks. Intended more as a 'customizable protein concept' than an on-the-bike energy food, each Rok contains 2g of whey protein and the chewy interior is housed in a hard protective shell that Clif says will withstand 200°F temperatures before melting.
Clif Shot Roks will arrive in stores around January and though they're not quite as tasty as the chocolate-covered Whoppers they resemble, we found the Peanut Butter Chocolate and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavors agreeable enough that they substituted for a proper lunch on more than one day while wandering the aisles at this year's Interbike show.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Blackburn's new Flea LED lights are among the tiniest we've seen yet they pack up to 40 lumens of light apiece.
- The insanely small charger draws its power from any 1.5V battery and connects via tiny magnets.
- The new Blackburn Airstik SL weighs just 60g and should easily fit in a jersey pocket.
- The bigger and more capable Airstik 2Stage includes selectable high-pressure and high-volume chambers for faster inflation.
- German outfit Acros isn't yet well-known in the US though given the high quality construction, top-end features and fetching looks we expect that to change quickly.
- Yes folks, like it or not, purple appears to be making a comeback.
- Supplementing Acros' standard headset range is the limited-edition 'Big Balls' collection.
- All 'Big Balls' headsets feature special laser-etched graphics.
- The Acros seatpost uses a unique head that fully separates fore-aft and tilt adjustments.
- The simply named Acros Clamp substitutes for a conventional starnut and compression cap.
- The adjustment screw rotates the two ramped halves of the Clamp relative to each other, thus effectively increasing or decreasing bearing preload.
- 3T's new Palladio seatpost looks a bit complicated but if it works as advertised, those with perpetual seat slippage issues might not care.
- The unique DiffLock head design uses separate rail clamps mounted on a central splined tube.
- Tilt adjustments require partial disassembly of the system but unintended movement looks to be nearly impossible.
- 3T also showed off its Ergonova handlebar complete with egg-shaped tops and compact drops specifically aimed at adding comfort.
- The new Clif Shot Roks provide a handy means of cramming more protein into your diet while new packaging for the Clif Shot Bloks make them far easier to eat on the go.
- RockShox had its newly redesigned Boxxer displayed under glass at this year's Interbike show.
- SRAMbassador Greg Herbold paraded around Interbike with this one-off SRAM X.0 rear derailleur.
- Spot Brand is continuing on its belt-driven quest for world domination, this time with this particularly clean-looking titanium hardtail.
- The Paragon sliding dropout on this Spot singlespeed is bolted to the seat stay from behind to allow for belt installation.
- Want a Yeti BMX frame?
- Yeti-sponsored rider Jared Graves already has his though you'll have to wait longer for yourself.
- The burly rear end features stout tubes and thick aluminum dropouts.
- Cantitoe Road's new BioFloat seatpost supposedly adds a noticeable amount of comfort via its semi-free floating head.
- Santana displayed this bicycle built for ten, or nine, or eight… simply add or remove as many S&S coupling-equipped sections as you need.
- Spooky is back! Among the offerings is this lightweight aluminum road racer.
- SwissStop's new disc brake silencer compound supposedly fills in the tiny gaps inherent to all disc brake pads to squelch noise and vibration.
- Hudz now offers a SRAM-compatible model of its ergonomic lever hoods.
- The external clamp of Jagwire's new BarCon 2.0 is lighter than internal systems and is compatible with both SRAM and Shimano shifters.
- Upstart company Sun Valley Bar was tucked away in the nether regions of the show but we found its energy bars to be extraordinarily tasty. The Goji Lemon flavor is definitely worth a try.
- All Lärabar Jocalat bars are based around chocolate and feature no more than seven ingredients for a tasty, wholesome, and organic treat.
- From the makers of Nuun comes U, a similarly self-mixing drink that is intended more for casual drinking than on-the-bike hydration.
