Last fall, Silca released their Tour de France Stage-winning hollow 3D-printed titanium derailleur hangers to the general public. But they were mostly limited to riders with Shimano drivetrains or UDH-equipped bikes – seriously limiting on-road applications. Well, Silca listened. And after quickly selling out those initial ti hangers, they are back with universal fits for 9 popular road & gravel bike makers. And the original run are available again too.

Do you think an $85-99 titanium replacement derailleur hanger will improve your bike’s shifting?

Silca 3D-printed titanium derailleur hanger fits more bikes

Developed as a project to improve the shifting on WorldTour road bikes… a lighter, stiffer hanger upgrade promising faster, more precise shifts for your road, gravel, and mountain bikes…

Silca claims that “modern electronic derailleurs shift so fast and with such force that conventional hangers made from low-grade aluminum plates will flex up to 4 degrees during a shift, resulting in less precise, noisier, and slower shifting. Traditional hangers also bend easily, even in minor incidents, resulting in unnecessary bike changes and additional workload for mechanics.“

If you had a Shimano derailleur, these direct mount hangers promised faster, more precise shifting. Silca promised a whopping 8-10x higher stiffness when using the direct mount ti hanger vs. a standard replaceable aluminum hanger and the extra link on the derailleur. On a UDH-compatible bike, they said their hollow 3D-printed titanium hanger was “5-6x stiffer than conventional aluminum hangers”. We assume those quoted UDH gains will apply to their new universal fit derailleur hangers for more road and gravel bikes, too.

Sounds like a no-brainer upgrade, right?

Of course, the 3D-printed hanger is meant to be a sacrificial element that breaks before your frame does. But Silca assures that even though their ti hangers are ultra-stiff, there’s still an internal structure designed to break before your frame.

So, what’s new?

The new bit here is, that Silca expand their offering for the same 9 bike makers as before. So, you can either get a 100-series Shimano direct-mount-specific hanger. Or get a 200-series Universal Fit one that you can use with SRAM, Campagnolo, MicroShift, TRP, Ingrid, or whatever you have lying around…

Plus, there’s still the Shimano or Universal Fit option for UDH bikes.

And they are all in stock again.

Or if you had a UDH-compatible frame, you could use one with either any conventional derailleur or a Shimano Direct Mount.

Silca 3D-printed derailleur hanger – Pricing, options & availability

The Silca 3DP Derailleur Hanger is available to fit 9 brands of bikes for $85 a piece. That then, includes Cannondale, Canyon, Cervelo, Factor, Giant, Pinarello, Scott, Specialized & Trek. Check out our original Silca 3d-printed derailleur hanger article for a full breakdown of compatible bike models.

Pick from 100-series for Shimano or 200-series for Universal Fit for SRAM, Campagnolo or other drivetrains. UDH-compatible hangers are also available for $99 in Shimano-specific or Universal Fit.

Silca.cc

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Italian tubing and component maker Columbus has an all-new Trittico system of carbon bars, stem & fork developed to bring modern fully internal cable routing to the custom handmade bike market. Designed to fit inside a conventional 1 1/8″ upper headset cup, the Columbus Trittico features a unique Trefoil fork steerer tube that outperforms many other shaped steerers. Plus, a creative stem solution delivers unmatched cockpit adjustability, without messing with your brake lines…

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpits integrate handmade bikes

The idea behind these new Columbus Components carbon Trittico parts was simple. Give handmade bikes the option to build fully internal cable routing with existing tubing – specifically headtube – sizing.

Columbus sells a lot of steel and (increasingly) titanium tubesets to custom frame builders. And even though most of those now use so-called ‘oversized’ tubing diameters relative to old school 1″ steel tubes. We’re still talking about a maximum 44mm headtube for tapered 1.5-1.125″ steerer tubes.

While oversized carbon bikes can often get away with going to a massive 1.5″ upper headset cup to fit shift & brake lines inside. Metal bikes start to look weird with bigger headtubes.

So, Trittico means keeping whatever 1 1/8″ upper headset cup you prefer. And routing cables inside it. Electronic shifting only though, so we’re only talking about internal routing of hydraulic brake lines, or electronic wires on older groupsets.

How does it work?

To make that fit, Columbus developed a new Trefoil steerer tube shape for their own full carbon forks. Their patent-pending design lops off the front 2 corners of the carbon fork steerer for the cables to slip down into the frame. And of course requires a proprietary expander to go inside.

As compared to similar 1.125″ internal routing solutions with D-shaped or I-shaped steerers, the Columbus Trefoil design is uncompromisingly stiffer both front-to-back AND resisting lateral forces.

Unmatched integrated cockpit adjustability

Now, it is relatively straight-forward to route just a couple of hydro brake lines inside a separate bar and stem, assuming the correct size routing holes all line up. But Columbus goes one step further with their carbon Trittico stem. Here, they use a oversized steerer clamp diameter, and fill out that space with an alloy sleeve spacer.

The result, one -8° stem can be adjusted in length by 5mm and its angle by 5°. All without removing any hoses. The regular black steerer sleeve can be left in its 0 position, or rotated 180° to offset stem length by +5mm. Or swap in the red -5° angled insert sleeve, which keeps the original stem length, but lowers the handlebar creating an effective -13° stem angle.

That sleek carbon stem gets a removable alloy faceplate with hidden 3-bolts, and hidden GPS mount. So you get both streamlined looks and real-world ease-of-use.

Combine it with ergonomically-shaped “Smart Fit” handlebars, and you can fine-tune your cockpit positioning, exactly as you prefer. Columbus gives their Trittico carbon bars unique shaping. With a divot for extra space behind the lever for more secure braking from the hoods – especially for riders with small hands who’ve adjusted their lever reach – and triangulated shaped drops for extra grip while sprinting.

Trefoil forks

The Columbus Trittico system is built around the Futura Trefoil full carbon 1.5″ tapered steerer road fork.

425g with 32mm tire clearance (367mm axle-crown, 45mm rake), flat mount 160mm (or 180mm) brake rotor compatibility, and a magnetic cover to hide the front mounting bolts.

There also will be a Trittico-compatible Futura Trefoil Gravel fork with bigger 700c x 57mm tire clearances, anything cage & fender mounts, and dynamo wiring routing. The Futura Trefoil Gravel fork gets a 405mm a-c and adjustable 47/52mm offset, at a claimed 565g.

Trittico component specs & sizing

The carbon Trittico stems are customizable in both length and angle with their adjustable steerer tube sleeve. The 5 sizes are 90-130mm (in 10mm steps) with the standard -8° stem angle. Rotate the stock black steerer sleeve 180° to offset length +5mm. It keeps the -8° angle, but shifts the stem lengths to 95-135mm. Or an optional red angled -5° insert sleeve keeps the original lengths, but lowers the front handlebar clamping area to create a -13° angle.

Columbus also created a direct out-front GPS/GoPro mount. Called the Race Spoon, it mounts to 2 bolts on the bottom of the Trittico stem.

The Trittico carbon road bars come in 40/42/44cm widths at the hoods, with subtle 4° flare in the drops (below the levers) for an extra 2.7cm of width (center-center) at the ends. The 31.8mm bars feature 71mm reach and 128mm drop, with a claimed weight of 215g.

Wider carbon Trittico gravel bars will add more dramatic 15° flare. Plus, they feature an extra ergonomic loop at the ends of the drops, yet only a shade heavier at 225g. The 75mm reach/110mm drop gravel bars will also come in 40/42/44cm at the hoods. But, in the end, 11cm wider at the drops thanks to the flare and further 4° oustweep at the ends.

There’s also a matching carbon Trittico seatpost to finish out your contact points. It’s available in 27.2 or 31.6mm diameter (200g or 210g). The seatpost features swappable 2-bolt head guts for 15mm or 25mm offset, round or carbon rail compatibility, and an asymmetric carbon shaft layup for optimal rider comfort.

Columbus Trittico – Options, Pricing & Availability

Columbus designed the Trittico cockpit system as an integration solution for custom handmade bike builders. So for now, your best bet it to buy a new custom road bike. Then, tell your frame builder that this is what you want. Columbus says a number of builders are already using the Trittico system. Beyond the Jaegher bikes I photographed above, you can also already find Trittico-equipped bikes from Barco, Beach Club, Belle, Bixxis, Cinelli, Condor, Festka, Ioklin, Legot, Onguza, Passoni, Repete, Stelbel, Titici, Victoire, Wittson, and more.

Officially, only the road bike series with the Futura Trefoil road fork has launched so far. But Columbus shared renderings with us of a gravel series with a Futura Trefoil Gravel fork and flared carbon bar. And we’ve seen the gravel product names already pop up with some distributors. Those likely are already making their way to bike builders early this year.

As for aftermarket retrofit installation into your existing bikes… Columbus has a “Pre-Order Now” contact form on their microsite for consumers looking to buy the Trittico system components. But we’ve also seen the individual components already being offered online separately. With fork prices around 475€, stems/seatposts/bars for around 420€.

Columbus1919.com/Trittico

The post Columbus Trittico Brings Modern Full Internal Routing to Classic Handmade Looks appeared first on Bikerumor.

Classified has 3 new carbon road & gravel wheelsets, ready to turn your 1x drivetrain back into a 2x bike. The revamped stock carbon road and gravel wheels make setting up a bike with a Classified Powershift internal 2x gearing hub easier. And now those wheels are wider and faster thanks to the improved aerodynamics optimized for 30mm road tires.

Classified’s wider, faster R36, R50 & G42 wheels for Powershift

An update to their 3 debut carbon wheelsets from 3-years ago, the new road R36, R50, and gravel G42 wheels are all wider, aerodynamically faster and more stable, plus they are just as light as ever. In fact, the new gravel wheelset is even lighter than the original, shallower Classified gravel wheels. And the new wheels get the same pricing as the old ones.

Why get Classified wheels in the first place?

Classified wheels are not a universal fit designed to just drop into any road or gravel bike. What they are is the starting point to put Classified’s uniquely innovative 2-speed internal gear hub onto your bike. The wheels are “Powershift-ready” meaning you get a wheelset, with the big empty oversized rear hub shell, ready for you to pop in the Classified Powershift rear hub, and convert your 1x bike setup back to a 2x, but without a front derailleur.

Read our full, detailed tech breakdown of the wirelessly-actuated, internal reduction gear, virtual-front-derailleur-inside-the-rear-hub Classified Powershift system here. It’s some genuinely cool tech, all made in Europe. And as the cassette options have grown in the last few years, a Classified Powershift setup has become even more enticing than ever.

Upgraded Aerodynamics & All-terrain capability

Core to the overhaul of the carbon Classified wheels was making them wider to better fit modern wide tires. But at the same time, Classified worked to make them more aero than before, too. Both reducing aerodynamic drag, and improving crosswind stability.

Classified shared several aero graphs illustrating that the new wheels are better or pretty much on par with leading aero wheel competition in the market. And they show the clear aero performance improvement of opting for 30mm tires vs. 28mm tire on the new wheels. They also illustrate good relative crosswind stability.

The new R road wheels are also rated for classics cobble riding, and teh G gravel wheels for gravel racing & adventure riding.

Wheel tech details

The new carbon wheels all feature hooked tubeless-ready rims. And they are all laced by hand by Classified in The Netherlands.

The road rims are now 3.5mm wider internally, but just 1.5mm externally to create a smoother transition to wider 28 or 30mm tires. Classified wind tunnel data confirms they are actually aerodynamically faster with 30mm road tires. Not even counting the reduced rolling resistance or improved comfort of the wider tire. Plus, the complete road wheelsets have the exact same claimed weight as the original generation, making them bolt quite light. (Although the weight excludes the Powershift hub. So you might need to add a few tens of grams in your mind to directly compare them to conventional wheelsets.)

The new R36 (a mm deeper than the R35) is 36mm deep x 22.5mm internal and 28.5mm wide externally, at 1315g for the pair. The new 50mm deep R50 is the same width (22.5mm internal, 28.5mm external). And then, just a hundred grams heavier at 1415g.

The gravel wheels are now measurably lighter and deeper, with vastly improved aerodynamics. Plus, they also feature upgraded stiffness thanks to a new asymmetric rim profile. Classified says the 42mm deep hooked tubeless gravel rim itself weighs 415g, with a new 25mm internal width & 30mm outside. Claimed weight is just 1350g, yet Classified rates them for everything from gravel racing to loaded bikepacking touring.

Classified R36, R50 & G42 wheels – Pricing, options & availability

All three new Classified Powershift-ready R36, R50 & G42 carbon wheelsets sell for the same 1500€ price tag with simple black on black graphics. That’s a bit of an increase since Classified first debuted their own carbon wheelsets, but it is the same price across the board for all the wheels they offer – old & new.

Now to actually get a functional Classified Powershift drivetrain setup, you need to add those wheels to a Powershift hub, the shifter, control axle, and the appropriate Classified cassette to match your rear derailleur. That complete Classified setup with these wheels will run you 2600€ in total. Which actually gives you a decent discount on the smart drivetrain bits vs. buying it separately and getting a wheelset from someone else. Really you only buy the 1500€ wheelset on its own, if you already have a Classified-equipped bike. And are looking to get a 2nd set of wheels for it.

Now, the new R36 & R50 road and G42 gravel wheels aren’t quite ready to order just yet. Officially they debut at the Velofollies consumer bike show in Belgium this weekend. So you’ll be able to order a set through Classified’s dealer network, starting next week.

Classified-cycling.cc

The post Classified Revamps Wheels with Wider, Light, More Aero Road & Gravel Wheelsets appeared first on Bikerumor.

We already got a sneak peek at Old Man Mountain’s new carry-anything Axle Pack back at the MADE show last fall – giving any fork more accessory mounts. But now they are available to buy. And we’ve strapped a couple onto a Mastodon fat bike fork to carry more and take our winter adventures further…

Old Man Mountain Axle Pack bolt-on fork accessory mounts

Two-position 3-pack mounts that fit any fork, no eyelets needed.

The Old Man Mountain (OMM) Axle Pack easily bolts directly to the end of your axle (requiring OMM’s own thru-axle Fit Kit ). That means they are strong and have nowhere to slide down or spin around your fork legs as you ride. The direct mount also means they get rated for a full 10kg in total 5kg/11lb per side. More than the 3-4.5kg per side that eyelet mounting is able to deliver.

The super-secure off-road-rated setup is relatively light, and gives you 4 mounting bolts to get that weight low. Two position options for a 3-pack Anything cage OR the ability to install two separate 2-bolt mounts. For ex. a regular water bottle cage up top, and a tool cage down below.

What you carry is really up to your imagination. I’ve bolted a couple up to a Manitou Mastodon fork with a couple of cages. And strapped on a tent & sleeping bag. Or a couple of 1l Nalgene bottles. The most I’ve attached so far has been about 1.6kg per side. So, I’ll have to get more creative with packing to push up close to that 10kg weight limit.

Anyone have any ideas what I should carry in the snow?

Tech details & Actual weights

The core of the Old Man Mountain Axle Pack are the two brackets that extend up the side of each fork leg. CNC-machined from 6061 aluminum in Taiwan. They then mount directly to a custom thru-axle made in the US by The Robert Axle Project with threads to bolt onto from either end. Up top, a pair of plastic fork Pucks get strapped around your fork leg with “ultra-strong” UV-stable Panduit zip-ties, providing a set of upper eyelets to attach the brackets.

All that, and an Old Man Mountain Axle Pack setup adds 265g to my fork, including all steel mounting hardware and the 3-pack bolts. OMM claims a weight of just 73g per side, which is just a single bracket without all the necessary hardware and special axle. Still, 265g is likely as light as other clamp-on mounting solutions. And the axle mounting is rock solid, with huge carrying capacity.

Figuring in a complete weigh-in… A couple of titanium King Manything Cages would be 68g a piece. Or a pair of the adjustable length aluminum Apidura Cargo Cages at 85g a piece. My Old Man Mountain 25″ Voile straps weigh 28g a piece.

All in my setup with 4 straps & one of each cage totals 531g, less than the weight of the water in my smallest bottles.

Easy mounting & setup

Installing the Old Man Mountain Axle Pack was pretty much as easy as replacing any bolt-on thru-axle. Then bolting on a 3-pack mount Anything Cage. With that said, between the Axle Pack & Fit Kit – it came with 12 bolts of 3 different sizes, 6 washer/spacers of 3 different sizes, a couple of Axle Pack brackets, 8 heavy-duty Panduit zip-ties, and a replacement axle.

What it didn’t include were installation instructions, just a couple of QR codes that link to the OMM support page. Part of the adventure of testing things before they officially launch… Of course, I ignored those QR thingamabobbers, and plowed ahead.

Of note, the Axle Pack instructions are now online (here) – even though persinally, I still prefer the trial-and-error method.

Sure, I switched up a couple of the longer bolts/spacers from top to bottom, at first. But it all fit and worked pretty well.

Then, I realized that installing the longer bolts and the spacer up top between the bracket & plastic fork Puck better aligns everything. So, I sorted that out before my next ride. It’s all steel bolts and sturdy aluminum brackets, and I’m hauling much less than the max weight. So, it wasn’t a big deal.

But, correcting my install mistake meant I could drop the King Manything Cage to the lower position and get the 1kg weight of my 1L Nalgene bottle a bit lower.

So, I would recommend looking at the install photos on the Old Man Mountain Axle Pack product page. Or this double Nalgene photo – here only – to get it right on the first try.

Unlike me.

Old Man Mountain Axle Pack – Pricing, options & availability

The new Old Man Mountain Axle Pack is available starting today and ready to ship for $60 for the 2-leg mount kit. They also come with a lifetime warranty for use on- or off-road.

To install it on your bike you will need an OMM front Fit Kit with its custom The Robert Axle Project thru-axle. Our Fit Kit for a Manitou Mastodon fatbike fork sells for $82 or $80 for our Fox 36 kit. Old Man Mountain also makes classic quick-release kits, but the new Axle Pack was only designed to use with thru-axles and their special Robert axles.

Old Man Mountain says the new Axle Pack makes any bike a bikepacking bike. Whether it has a carbon, aluminum, steel, or suspension fork. It’s already helping us load up some fat bikes for bigger winter adventures!

Axle Packs and Fit Kits to fit virtually any fork in existence are available now, direct from Old Man Mountain.

OldManMountain.com

The post First Look: Old Man Mountain Axle Pack puts Bikepacking Anything Cages on Any Fork appeared first on Bikerumor.

Velogic’s Studio 4 release brings dual-sided 3D motion capture to the game, offering a more advanced bike fit report that covers everything from power, cadence, and pedaling dynamics to aerodynamics!

The data capture provides a complete report, giving bike fitters everything they need to speed up the process and deliver better results. And, now, they’ll have unique data for each side of your body, then apply it to almost any bike on the market.

Velogic’s database of 18,000 bikes lets fitters take the data and overlay it with video to show a rider how they can better fit their own bike, or create the right fit on almost any new bike they could want. It can even overlay your motion from different settings, letting you compare changes visually as well as through data.

The process uses Orbbec Femto Mega cameras linked to a computer, where software reads the input and spits out a report with exact measurements and shows both client and fitter the results on screen as video. The aerodynamics data should prove interesting for roadies and triathletes when it comes online in Q2 2024.

Pricing for studios ranges from $1,200 to $1,800 per year depending on the plan, with an upfront first-year price of $3,000 to $4,500 for setup (monthly pricing also available, and subscription does not include hardware costs).

VelogicFit.com

The post Velogic Doubles Up on 3D Motion Capture Bike Fits appeared first on Bikerumor.

9point8 grow to their Slack-R angle adjust headset family with new press-in ZS and EC cups that can slacken your ride out between 1-2.8°. If you’re riding a bike that you wish wasn’t quite as steep to better tackle tougher trails, a 9point8 Slack-R Get Slack-R headset might just be the ticket to getting slacker…

9point8 Slack-R ZS & EC angle adjust headsets

A few years ago, Canadian component maker 9point8 launched the first angle-adjustable headset that worked on bikes with IS Integrated headset cups. That original thread-together affair worked by relocating your existing IS bearings above & below your headtube, into new eccentric offset cups that sat in the old bearing races. Now, riders of bikes that have Zero Stack headsets – where alloy cups are first pressed into your frame, with their own pressed-in bearings – can get the same slacker Slack-R conversion, as well.

What do you need to know?

Modern tapered press-in headsets come in essentially 2 varieties – Zero Stack (ZS) where you don’t really see the cups and External Cup (EC) where you do. The 9point8 Slack-R headset solution again works by moving the bearings of your headset, outside of the headtube and offset a few millimeters from the centerline to effectively change your headtube angle.

Doing so results in between a 0.8-2.8° slacker head angle. (Or the same amount steeper if you want to go that direction.) It is dependent on headtube length, so shorter headtubes will see more dramatic changes.

Swapping in the external cups means a taller combined stack height of your headset. So, it’s important you have a spacer or two you can pull out from under your stem. Lest your steerer tube be too short. It will also most likely raise your headtube by up to 10mm, increasing frame Stack. And in addition to slackening your headtube, it will also increase fork Trail a bit.

Quite a bit of small geometry changes will take place. But that’s why you want to give it a try, right?

If you want more of a geo change explanation, 9point8 offers a deeper look at their Slack-R system, here.

Tech details

9point8 calls the Slack-R design “creak-free”, made with machined 6061 aluminum cups and sealed stainless cartridge bearings. Headset kit weights range from 57-104g depending on your desired ZS/EC combo.

The 9point8 Slack-R now comes in press-in options to fit ZS headtubes. Upper bore diameter is available as 44mm, and lower bores of 49 or 56mm. With that, you can mix-and-match. Internal ZS44 or external EC44 up top. Then ZS 56, EC49, or EC56 down below, to get the angle change you want, within acceptable stack height increase.

ZS cups have minimal added height and less angle offset; while EC brings bigger changes.

9point8 Slack-R ZS & EC – Options, pricing & availability

There’s a “Filter Your Slack-R Kit” tool on the left side of ZS/EC Kit page. It will show your options based on headtube length. Select 44mm upper and 49mm or 56mm lower, then it will show the resulting angle change and headset stack height of all possible options.

All Slack-R ZS/EC headset kits sell of $99USD including upper & lower cups with bearings, a crown race, star nut & top cap, and 9point8 installation and alignment tools. These new Slack-Rs, and the wide range of $109 IS integrated Slack-R headsets are available now. 9point8 includes free shipping in North America direct from 9point8.

9point8.ca

The post More 9point8 Headsets Get Slack-R for ZS appeared first on Bikerumor.

Gemini calls their new Rigel carbon ring the “most technologically advanced chainring” to ever be made. And says it is “truly the lightest chainring in the world.” Crafted from continuous fiber ‘forged’ carbon over an aluminum skeleton, the narrow-wide 1x Gemini Rigel carbon chainrings are stiff, long-wearing, even aero, plus of course incredibly lightweight.

Gemini Rigel carbon 1x MTB chainrings

We’ve seen a number of carbon and composite chainrings over the years. I even made a full carbon chainring for my singlespeed mountain bike more than 2 decades ago that seriously outlasted alloy rings. Carbon lightness and stiffness have been promising in the chainring department. But none have really solved the issues of creating sharp & complex teeth from carbon that can handle varying chain angles, aid chain retention, and survive regular wear and tear. The most successful until now have resorted to making the outer ring of teeth out of various metals. And limiting the carbon to structural reinforcement or a lighter spider design.

Until now…

Gemini crafts the Rigel direct mount chainrings mostly from carbon, but with alloy at the chain’s contact surface with the chainring’s teeth.

Who is Gemini again?

We mostly know Gemini Composites for their premium carbon mountain bike bars and 1-piece cockpits. Started in 2015 to develop advanced carbon MTB components by Roland Baides, a bike design engineer out of the Cero design studio. Baides became the chief design engineer for Unno for the first 2 years of the new mountain bike brand, before returning full-time to Gemini.

Now, situated in a small industrial zone a 1/2 hour up the coast from Barcelona – on top of auto repair & paint shops – Gemini combines their design and carbon production in a single combined studio and workshop. Everything from idea to components, made in-house.

How is Forged Carbon made?

Gemini’s secret sauce is multi-part construction, dubbed ‘Forged Carbon’, aka compression molding. First, a continuous aluminum ring of hollowed-out 7075-T6 alloy is cut. Then, they sandwich the toothed ring between precision-cut prepreg carbon discs, pressed inside a mold, and heated, under more than 100 tons of force to arrive at the final shaping.

The real secret is not entirely revealed – but is patented. The detail of how Gemini orients the fibers in the teeth. Based on our understanding of the patent, the pressure of molding squeezes the unaligned fibers (Discontinuous Fiber Composites similar to what we know as UD) in the precut carbon discs. This aligns the fibers concentrically (3 in Fig. 8-B), as they squeeze into the narrow channels of the teeth in the mold.

Gemini says the result is “an organization of continuous fiber structure in the tooth that is unattainable with traditional carbon fiber manufacturing processes“.

Out of the compression mold, there’s still plenty of hand finishing to clean up excess resin flash squeezed out. And to polish the finished Rigel ring.

Tech details

According to Gemini, the resulting Rigel is the lightest Direct Mount chainring available. They claim a weight of just 39g for a 30T SRAM 3-bolt ring. “This is primarily thanks to the use of carbon fiber for both the structure and the teeth, despite having an internal metal core dedicated solely to extending its lifespan.”

The Rigel rings ultimately expose the edges of the inner alloy ring. That provides direct chain roller to aluminum contact, to transfer pedaling loads through the carbon body.

This means long-term durability against wear. At the same time, the carbon sandwich reduces friction, quiets the chain, and improves the overall aerodynamics of the system.

Gemini doesn’t explicitly state how many miles or kilometers you can expect to get out of their new carbon Rigel chainrings. But does advise cleaning & maintaining it like a regular ring – preferably using a dry chain lube. They also claim that real conditions durability is effectively similar to conventional aluminum chainrings.

All are manufactured in Barcelona, Spain right where they were designed and engineered.

Gemini Rigel carbon chainrings – Pricing, Options & Compatibility

The new carbon Gemini Rigel chainrings seem surprisingly affordable actually. OK, at 125€ a piece, they aren’t cheap.

But plenty of machined alloy direct mount chainrings already sell for 70-90€. This is officially cheaper than a stock SRAM XX SL replacement chainring. Even a heavier, non-DM Carbon-Ti 1x chainring made from a similar material mix will set you back 181€.

Gemini limits options to just three tooth sizes for the time being, each with Boost standard 3mm offset: 32, 34, or 36T. If you think you are faster than that, you’ll have to wait until Gemini develops bigger rings…

Gemini has been coy with the details, but suggested gravel-ready 38, 40, 42 & 44T rings will come “Soon“, as will a 52/36T pair. And they are also thinking of oval rings, and a version for SRAM’s latest thread-on ring-around-a-powermeter.

Compatibility is wide, though. Gemini makes the carbon Rigel chainrings in 5 direct mount interface standards – SRAM 3-bolt, SRAM 8-bolt, Shimano, RaceFace/Easton & Cannondale Hollowgram. That covers the vast majority of direct-mount MTB crank arms out there today. They are said to work with 11 & 12-speed drivetrains from Shimano & SRAM, including T-Type Flattop chains.

Get them now, direct from Gemini.

rideGemini.com

The post Gemini Forges Rigel Carbon MTB Chainrings, the World’s Lightest at 39g Make You Faster! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Back at the start of December, Ratio unveiled their new drivetrain universal-fit Aero DM 1x chainrings, but also quietly rolled out a tiny alloy cable spool to bring life back to old SRAM dropbar shifters. And it’s a tiny little widget that’s the perfect example of what Ratio Technology does best.

• Develop low-cost solutions to extend the life of, or even significantly upgrade, the drivetrain components you already have. So…

What’s a Ratio Cable Spool? Why your SRAM shifter needs it?

Alright, so inside every SRAM 10-speed and 11-speed righthand shifter is a little plastic cable spool. That serves as the connection point between the end of your inner shift cable and the toothed ratchet inside the shifter that controls the indexed shifting of your rear derailleur.

Ratio says, “the most common failure mechanism for a SRAM shifter appears to be the cable pulling through [this] cable spool“. But SRAM doesn’t typically offer this as a service part, so a damaged shifter would most often be trashed.

A couple of years ago, Ratio made a 3D-printed nylon replacement spool with the double benefit of keeping old shifters on the road AND allowing further upgrades with custom Ratio ratchets. And they routinely sold out.

See, Ratio’s 3D-printed steel ratchets allow you to upgrade SRAM 11-speed mechanical shifters.

First, that was an upgrade to Eagle 12sp, then 1x or 2x road 12sp, then Campy Ekar-spaced 13sp, and most recently to road 12sp Shimano cassettes for even cheaper upgrading. That’s a lot of new life for old 11sp shifters.

But even first gen SRAM 10-speed that debuted in 2006 (two years older than Bikerumor!) can get those same upgrades, if you replace their original cable spool & ratchet with Ratio’s new versions.

Now, Ratio machines this new aluminum version from 6082 alloy in the UK’s Lakes District for extra durability.

And of course good looks. At least for those moments you see it during the DIY upgrade installation. And maybe for the glimpse you might see when changing your shift cables.

Ratio Cable Spool – Pricing & Compatibility

The new machined and anodized blue Ratio Cable Spool sells for just £24.50 (~$26 / 24€). That just includes the spool, install bolt & a sticker. Ratchets sold separately.

It will fit inside every 10 and 11-speed version of SRAM’s dropbar road, cyclocross & gravel righthand shifters as a replacement for the stock white or red plastic cable spool if damaged. That’s Red, Force, Rival & Apex. It is compatible with the stock SRAM 11sp ratchet, or… You can also install the alloy Ratio Cable Spool in the oldest (white spool) 10-speed shifters to upgrade them to one of Ratio’s newest 12 or 13-speed ratchets.

Note: 11sp SRAM shifters do NOT need this spool in order to upgrade to 12/13sp. That is, if their red plastic spool is not damaged. Read more here if you need extra clarification.

Get the new spool, upgrade ratchets, derailleur cage upgrades, and 1x chainrings that work with ALL 12 & 13-speed drivetrains – all UK-made and direct from Ratio now at:

RatioTechnology.com

The post Indestructible Alloy Ratio Cable Spool Revives Old SRAM Shifters, Opens Up 12-speeds too! appeared first on Bikerumor.

This is always one of my favorite posts to write because I get to gush over the things that really impressed me each year. No need to sound impartial here, these are the things I love.

A quick primer on me to put my choices into perspective. I’ve been riding most of my life, as a “cyclist” for 30 years, and enjoy all the things, from road biking to gravel to enduro, with most of my time leaning more toward the XC/trail side of MTB. Not because of a preference, that’s just what we’ve got locally.

I also really enjoy e-bikes, particularly for city commuting, cargo bikes, and long-travel mountain bikes. I’ve noticed that the only people who don’t like them are the people who haven’t tried them. I know at least one guy who doesn’t want to try them for exactly that reason. I love to travel, and did quite a bit of it this year, which is almost always an opportunity to ride new bikes in new places with new people, and it’s awesome. Highly recommend it.

On that note, here are my picks for the best products of 2023…

Experience

An overland, MTB & gravel road trip with my son

This trip’s itinerary kept changing almost until the day we left, and I don’t think it could have been better. Out of 16 days on the road, more than half had some sort of adventure. We mountain biked Mt. Nebo (AR), Bentonville (AR), Palo Duro (TX), and South Mountain (AZ). We rode gravel in Organ Pipe National Monument (AZ), after offroading for two days from Yuma to Ajo on El Camino del Diablo (check out that story here). And we hiked the North Rim and Guadalupe Mtn.

We saw friends and family in numerous states, ate amazing Mexican food (perhaps the best we’ve ever had), and boondocked among lava rocks and alpine forests. I got to upgrade the van with a GMRS radio, water tank, and fuel can and play with new apps for route planning. We even got to (finally!) use my recovery gear to get out of soft sand. If you know me, you know I love gadgets and tech, but none of these were the highlight.

The best part of the trip was spending time adventuring with my son. He constantly surprised me on the trail with an uncanny (and typical 18yo fearless) ability to stay on my wheel no matter what the terrain, even pushing ahead and leading through some seriously rocky, techy sections with a lot of exposure. I taught him to drive through soft sand and negotiate rough terrain in the Vandoit, and we both learned how to tow it out (thanks Ron!).

I have a lot of friends, but there are only a handful I could hang with 24/7 for more than a few days. So the absolute best part of this trip is knowing that my son is one of them.

Pisgah Monstercross gravel race

The Pisgah Monstercross barely registers as Type 2 fun. It’s that hard. The 73-mile course has almost 9,000 feet of climbing, but not just any climbing. It’s chunky, rough Pisgah Forest “road” climbing. Some of it’s quite steep. Or loose. Or both. And there’s a lot of it, with most of the mileage found far off the paved roads.

I thought I was prepared. My bike was, and the new Shimano GRX 12-speed group and wheels performed flawlessly (bike shown further below). But it was a stark reminder that I am not a climber and that such courses are meant to make me suffer. The reason I include it here is because I think we all need a reminder that we can do hard things and appreciate them for what they reveal about us. Eric and his crew put on an excellent event. It’s not as highly polished as some, but it’s well-run with great feed stations and burritos and beer at the finish. The campground across the street is fantastic (and convenient!), making this a low-key sufferfest that’s perfect to do with friends.

Bikes

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Lauf Úthald Road Bike

One of the (many) things I love about Lauf is that they aren’t afraid to do weird things if they believe in them. Their leaf spring gravel suspension forks are highly visible proof of that. Less obvious is the new Úthald road bike, which certainly has a unique look thanks to the curved and bent seat tube and deep-drop seatstays. But those are only a tiny part of what makes it special.

The geometry is more akin to XC mountain bikes than road, with a slack head angle and long fork trail, that makes it unbelievably stable at speed. Lauf’s goal was to actually make riders faster rather than just make a bike that “felt” fast, and they succeeded beyond measure. Normally I get sketched out over 42mph. On my first test ride, we hit easily 50mph and I was wishing I had more gear so I could go faster. I’ve never in my life felt so stable, confident, and safe on a road bike at speed, and I don’t think I’ve found my limit on this one.

It’s easy to adhere to tradition and simply meet expectations. Lauf gets my Editor’s Choice not only for making an amazing bike, but also for showing that there are still ways to surprise and delight riders. If you’re in the market for a new road bike, you owe it to yourself to try this one.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Ride1Up Prodigy V2 Commuter e-Bike

I’m as surprised as you are. I’ll have a full review up soon, but suffice it to say this budget e-bike delivers way more quality than should be possible for its price. The Ride1UP Prodigy V2 comes with Gates Belt Drive, Brose mid-mount motor, Enviolo CVT (continuously variable stepless gearing) rear hub, Maxxis Rekon Race tubeless-ready tires, and Tektro 4-piston hydraulic brakes. That’s a lot of high quality, brand name parts for a $2,400 e-bike.

It even comes with a decent-if-unbranded air suspension fork, broad-coverage aluminum fenders, front and rear lights, and a metal rear rack. It’s a Class 3 bike that gets up to 28mph (feels like more, actually), with smooth power delivery and a great torque curve that matches output with effort in a way that feels on par with bikes costing much more. It’s not just me, either, my whole family loves this bike, and all we have to do is adjust the seat height to fit everyone in our house. At 6’2″, I could use another inch of seatpost, but that’s literally my only complaint, and it’s an easy fix.

HONORABLE MENTION: Santa Cruz Heckler SL eMTB

I rode one of Santa Cruz’s earlier e-mountain bikes and was nonplussed, I think mainly because the coil shock never felt right for me, but who knows. I just didn’t feel dialed riding it. So I wanted to give them another shot with the new Heckler SL, and I’m glad I did. It gets an Honorable Mention because I’m still figuring a few things out and need to get more miles on it, but first impressions are very good.

The Heckler SL is reasonably light, weighing 43.1lbs for an XL with Reserve carbon wheels and SRAM Transmission. And it’s reasonably powerful, with the Fazua Ride 60 system getting me up the hills much faster, but still requiring some work on my end, so it feels like I’m really mountain biking. What impressed me is how nimble it is. Climbing a rapid succession of very tight, steep, technical switchbacks at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Texas, I fought the urge to dab and the Heckler SL rewarded my trust with perfect traction and just the right amount of assist. If you’re a fan of the brand, this one feels very much like a Santa Cruz, just faster.

Drivetrains

EDITOR’S CHOICE: SRAM Transmission

SRAM’s Transmission drivetrain shifts exactly as well as they promised, which is perfectly. It’s pretty easy to set up, seems bombproof, and perfectly leverages their long march toward a universal mounting interface, which benefits every rider whether or not you ever ride this group. Even the shifter pods are growing on me, with a design that’s clearly made for a future full of electronically controlled devices.

That they could bring it to market in the height of everyone else’s supply chain woes is impressive, too. And then they trickled it all the way down to GX group ($1,099 at Backcountry) just a few months after launching the top levels. Additional Kudos for seeing the move to internal stealth brake routing and being first to market with levers that send the hoses parallel to the bar. Even if your frame uses standard cable ports, they make for a very clean cockpit! Well done, SRAM.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: TRP EVO 12 mechanical group

If you’re squarely in the mechanical camp, the new TRP EVO 12 group is worth a look, too. It’s hard enough dancing around Shimano and SRAM patents, but they did that and introduced clever new features (Hall Lock) that keep the derailleur rock solid and completely quiet, even on the roughest trails. Shifter feel is good, with a satisfying mechanical clink and the ability to customize paddle position and the number of gears per push. There’s a lot to like about this group, and it’s refreshing to see competition coming back to the high-end mechanical drivetrain category. Read my full review here for all the details.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: MicroSHIFT Sword 1×10 gravel group

Another mechanical group that really impressed me is MicroSHIFT’s Sword drivetrain. It’s fully mechanical, has 10 speeds, and works like a champ. The best part? The complete 1×10 group, including cranks, chainring, cassette, derailleur and shifter/brake levers is as little as $400 with options to add a higher-end cassette, left-hand dropper remote brake lever, or make it a 2×10 group with a double chainring and front derailleur.

Not only does it work great, I never really found myself missing the extra two cogs. The 11-48 cassette has plenty of range, the clutch keeps the chain onboard and quiet, and the hood and lever ergonomics are fantastic. I paired it with TRP’s HyRD disc brakes and a KMC chain and it’s been flawless. The bike aficionado shop folks that have tried all love it, too. If you wanna gravel without grinding away your savings, this is a great option.

HONORABLE MENTION: Shimano GRX 12-speed

Shimano’s latest GRX 12-speed group wasn’t a groundbreaking change from the 11-speed version, but it is an important update worth recognizing. It brings all of their top-level drop bar groups to 12 speeds. The hood ergonomics are even better than they already were. They get dedicated gravel derailleurs for all cassette sizes, with the ability to swap pulley cages to go between 1x and 2x rather than replace the entire part.

And they stuck with a mechanical option to keep it affordable (don’t worry, Di2 is coming in 2024). I appreciate that you don’t always need to be dramatic with your improvements (or your marketing) to offer something new and better, and this is proof.

Their updated RX880 carbon gravel wheels are also worth a shoutout. They’re as light as most other top-end gravel wheels (1394g), have Shimano’s smooth-as-butter cup and cone bearings with their first-ever swappable freehub body, and are wide enough to handle 50mm tires. And they’re a very reasonable $1,549. I raced the complete group in the Pisgah Monster Cross and it finished stronger than I did.

Components

EDITOR’S CHOICE: OneUp Alloy Handlebar

I avoid alloy handlebars as much as possible. Compared to carbon, they’re harsher and stiffer, transmitting more bumps and vibrations to my hands. OneUp’s carbon handlebar is one of my favorites thanks to an ovalized profile on either side of the stem, creating a flex point that allows just enough compliance to soften any blow. So I was intrigued when they launched an alloy version of it…how could it possibly compare?

Turns out, pretty darn good. It’s immediately my favorite aluminum mountain bike handlebar ever. I swapped it for another handlebar on my Fezzari La Sal Peak with a Rockshox Zeb. Even with 170mm of travel, vibrations and bumps still get through, but it was a noticeable improvement as soon as I installed the OneUp bar. It shares the ovalized tube shaping, and it works almost as well as their carbon bar, but for $70 less. If you have carbon dreams on an alloy budget, the Oneup Alloy Handlebar is the way to go.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Prologo Scratch NDR XC saddle

I’ve generally liked Prologo’s NDR saddle line, but the new Scratch NDR XC race saddle is the best thing they’ve ever made. The various foam densities are perfectly placed, with a softer center over a cutout to relieve pressure points and a flat, wide nose that’s easy to perch upon on the steepest climbs.

The padding on the back is supportive, with a good shape for powerful pedaling but flat enough to easily get behind it. Not sure what the extended carbon tail is for, but it makes a nice little mud flap. It comes with Tirox (hollow steel) or Nack (carbon) rails, and the latter creates a wonderfully light 166g saddle. MSRP is $200 as tested, and the Tirox version is $127.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Granite Designs Aux Bottle Cage

Granite’s carbon-and-thermoplastic Aux Bottle Cage is a side loader that’s compact to easily fit in tight spaces, particularly on smaller and full suspension frames. I love the stealthy matte finish, but the best part is that it’s incredibly easy to get the bottle in and out, yet it holds it super secure. I have it on my trail bike and have never lost a bottle, even a larger 24oz bottle, over any terrain. And it’s only $21.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Industry Nine iRiX headset

Headsets seem like the hardest spot to bring innovation to, but Industry Nine did it with two cool features on the iRiX. Dual lip seals top and bottom keep crud from reaching the bearings, and tiny spacer rings let you adjust the gap between the upper cap and the frame.

That’s a small thing that makes a big difference. Where a standard top cap would need to maintain a larger gap to accommodate different frame tolerances, now you can get an extremely flush appearance without having it rub your frame. Combine that with the brand’s signature good looks, style, and color options and it’s a winner. (Read my review and launch coverage for more)

Wheels

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Hunt Proven Race XC UD Carbon

Hunt’s top-of-the-line Proven Race XC UD Carbon wheels get a very wide 30mm (internal) but shallow (22mm deep) ultralight rims with front- and rear-specific layups, laced with UD carbon spokes, to come in at just 1,271g on my scale (Micro Spline, rim tape, but no valve stems). That’s exceptionally light for a 29er mountain bike wheelset, and they accelerate exactly as good as you’d expect. They’re also very laterally stiff but also comfortably compliant.

I rip corners so fast with these wheels, and climbing feels effortless (as much as it ever will for me). I’ve ridden other ultralight MTB wheels, but these are something special because they give nothing up to achieve their low weight. And they’re only $1,699.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Scribe Elan Carbon 32D

Weighing just 1,345g on my scale (with rim tape but no valve stems), and retailing for just $1,499, the Scribe Élan Carbon wheels are a helluva good deal for a lightweight set. But it’s their performance that makes them a top pick. Wide carbon rims (21mm internal) are paired with ultralight carbon spokes (2.6g each), ceramic bearings, and a 54-tooth single-sided ratchet (6.6º engagement).

That combination of lightweight, stiff-but-not-too-stiff construction, quick engagement, and smooth rolling makes them a potent partner in chasing speed. I tested the 32mm deep model, they also come in 42, 50, and 60-millimeter depths. They also offer options for race bearings with lighter seals and grease, and even 15mm front and QR axle options on top of the standard 12mm thru axle. I want to get more miles on them before writing a long-term review, but I’ve got enough good rides on them to know I like them. A lot.

HONORABLE MENTION: Astral Luna Carbon Approach

The Astral Luna Carbon Approach wheelset is handbuilt in the USA with their Approach hubs, which are made by sister brand White Industries. So you’re basically getting White Industry hub internals, but with a steel freehub body rather than titanium. And they have the same frictionless, effortless spin as White’s hubs, too, with Enduro bearings inside.

Their carbon rim design uses mini bead hooks to make tubeless setup easy and secure, but with a modernly wide 25mm (internal) rim that gives 28-30mm tires a great shape. Or throw gravel tires on them and head off road. They’re reasonably light at 1,538g (on my scale, well under the 1,600g claimed weight, and the included valve stems only add 16g). They’re also reasonably priced at $1,899. If you’re looking for an all-road, all-purpose wheelset that’ll do it job all year round, year after year, this is it.

Tires & Inserts

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Vittoria Air-Liner Light

If I had to name a “Product of the Year”, this would be it. I’ve always understood the benefits of tire inserts, but never wanted to pay the weight penalty. But, the Vittoria Air-Liner Light inserts ($70 at Backcountry) are only 50g each, and they elevate the tire’s performance to a new level. Here’s why: Their semi-permeable closed-cell design will slowly absorb air, meaning that it’ll initially compress when you inflate your tire, but then expand back to normal size over ~8 hours. Then if you puncture, it’ll expand to fill your tire so you can keep riding. Freakin’ magic.

It’s enough to finish a race, or at least get back to the trailhead, without destroying your rim or tire. Not only that, but it supports the tire so well that I can run 3-5psi less than normal, which gives me monstrous amounts of traction and comfort. These are amazing and I want them on all of my mountain bikes. Now they just need to make a gravel version.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Maxxis MaxxSpeed XC tires

Years ago, I got to ride a set of team tires from Maxxis with a ridiculously high TPI casing. They were amazingly supple and felt like they literally melted around every bump and imperfection in the trail. But they weren’t for consumers, sadly, and they would’ve been prohibitively expensive.

Fast forward to 2023 and the new MaxxSpeed lineup gets us pretty close. They’re “only” 120tpi, not the 180-200tpi I recall riding, but the new MaxxSpeed rubber compound makes the most of it, especially since it’s only available on the widest 2.35-2.4″ sizes. That extra volume allows for lower pressures and a supple ride, even with the EXO sidewall layer, and the ultra-grippy MaxxSpeed rubber keeps them planted. I feel faster than ever on these tires. I paired a Rekon Race (front) with an Aspen (rear), but the compound is also available on Ikon and Severe XC tires. If you’re looking for an edge, this is it.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Vittoria Corsa Pro cotton casing road tires

The Vittoria Corsa Pro is their top racing tire, with a ridiculously soft 320tpi cotton casing, grippy Silica & Graphene infused rubber, and tubeless-ready design. They come in 24/26/28/30/32 millimeter widths. I’ve been riding the 700×32 and they’re glorious. They weighed 306g & 309g on my scale, less than the 320g claimed weight.

Many of my road rides include stints on gravel connectors or dirt country roads, and I’ve been able to bring them down to 52psi, at which point they make small gravel and chip seal disappear. Like, totally disappear. It’s uncanny. And that’s with a double ply of Aramid for puncture protection, so they’re tough on the inside. I was worried that the lightly coated sidewall exteriors wouldn’t hold up to those gravel sections, but so far there’s no signs of wear. The only downside? They’re $105 each.

Clothing & Gear

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Velocio MTB clothing

Velocio got into mountain bike clothing this year, and they nailed it. I’ve been wearing their Mesh Bib Liner, Trail Ultralight Short & Micromodal Trail Jersey (pictured above) along with their Merino Tee, and they’re all fantastic. The shorts come with an Arcade belt, which is super low-profile and works way better than velcro straps for keeping the waist comfortably snug. They also dry quickly, making a fine swimsuit in a pinch.

On cooler days, I really like their Ultralight Trail Hooded Jacket and Anorak, the former easily stuffing into a pocket. The Trail Access Hardshell is a heartier jacket, good for the really wet days, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite raincoats for daily use, too. It fits great on the bike, but also off of it, helping to justify the $389 price. Some road brands struggle to do MTB well, but Velocio’s collection is dialed for everything from downcountry to enduro.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Rab Cinder bike clothing

Outdoor clothing and gear brand Rab’s debut Cinder cycling collection is an impressive freshman effort, showing that they paid attention to what cyclists (and particularly gravel cyclists) need rather than just slapping their label on something. The short-sleeve jersey (center image, on my buddy Greg from Pedal Vision) has hidden reinforcements down the back to prevent it from sagging with loaded pockets, and a large center zip pocket makes it easy to stash cash and cards.

The Cinder Cargo Bibs have mesh pockets that’ll just fit a (non “plus”) iPhone with case, but the top edge is flipped inward to create a lip that prevents contents from slipping out. The windbreaker rolls up and its integrated stretch loop and hook lets you wrap it around a top tube, saddle rails (both shown on right), or handlebar. It’s hood has a bendable plastic strip that magically holds its shape even after you smash it into a ball for storage.

The rest of the collection, from a long sleeve tee to insulated jacket and baggie shell shorts are all great, too. I owe them a full review, and there are a couple of things I’d like to tweak, but overall it’s a great bit of kit that I’ve been wearing quite a bit. Also available in women’s versions.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Trek Velocis helmet

The Trek Velocis MIPS road bike helmet is possibly the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever worn. It’s also really light, has huge vents, and is feature rich. Rubber docking ports hold your shades, and a BOA dial wraps its retention system evenly around your head. The cradle folds forward into the helmet when you’re not wearing it, making it easier to pack or rest on a table at the cafe.

MIPS Air adds a bit of rotational safety without adding weight, and OCLV carbon overlays add a bit of strength while actually saving 6g over the prior version. A beveled front edge not only keeps it out of view when you’re biting the stem on a tough climb, and it sits high enough on the forehead to work with the most ridiculously oversized cycling sunglasses. It even has a 5-Star rating from Virginia Tech.

Tools & Such

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Park Tool Flat Snip

The Park Tool Flush Cut Pliers are my new favorite tool. They have a flat side that cuts zip ties perfectly flat, no more pointy remnants to scrape my calves or snag my shorts. They’re the perfect finishing tool, giving your bike a clean, professional look. They’re $25 and worth every penny.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Chap-Snap lip balm holster

I thought the Chap-Snap was silly when I first saw it, and then I went riding in the desert and had to keep fishing my lip balm out of my pocket every 10 minutes. Now I get it. The silicone housing straps to your stem (or wherever), then you remove the cap from your favorite Chap Stick flavor and stick it in there. It keeps it at the ready, and you don’t have to fiddle with a cap while you’re riding, either. That also makes it perfect for riding in winter, making it easy to use even with thick winter gloves, too, and it’s only $10.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Bluetti AC60 Portable Power Station

It took me using the Bluetti AC60 side by side with several other brands of portable battery power stations to appreciate what makes it unique. There’s no charging brick or special adapter, you just plug it into the wall to recharge it. That’s a small thing, but it’s a big deal if you ever lose those proprietary charging cables. The built-in light (on the back) is bigger than others, too, and it can recharge in as little as 60 minutes.

The AC60 is compact and light, but stores 403Wh of power and outputs up to 600W, enough for most little outings and portable devices. All outlets are covered against moisture, dust and dirt, too, and it works with their (or any) 200W solar panels for off-grid recharging using standard MC4 connector cables. It’ll power a smart trainer for pre-race warmups, and I use it in my car to charge my laptop more efficiently (and more quietly!) than a plug-in DC/AC converter. If your goal is simply to work remote or have an affordable backup for the fridge at home, this is a great little unit.

Many more great products have passed through our hands this year, but this collection highlights the best I’ve seen or ridden. Full disclosure: Each of these products has been chosen purely on their performance and/or technological merits for the reasons described above. Under no circumstances were any of our selections paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to advertisers or brands who invite us on trips. Our selections are limited to products that we’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So, a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples, does make it more likely that we will have considered their products simply because we’ve had a chance to try them firsthand.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2023 – Tyler’s Top Picks appeared first on Bikerumor.

A new Rotor INspider Shimano direct mount spider can turn your existing XTR, XT, or even SLX cranks into the sleekest-looking MTB power meter. Made in Spain, this is one of the lightest powermeter solutions we’ve seen from Rotor yet. And thanks to the new 4-bolt 100BCD, you can go as small as 30T with round or oval 1x chainrings…

Rotor InSpider Shimano MTB power meter cranksets

We last saw the lighter, sleeker new INspider MTB powermeter for Rotor’s own carbon crank arms this past spring. Now, those same upgrades come to any mountain biker riding a modern Shimano 1x direct mount crankset.

What’s new? And how does it work?

This new CNC-machined 7075 aluminum Shimano powermeter spider version is even 6g lighter than for Rotor’s own crank arms, shaving it down to just 99g claimed. The power meter’s electronics are housed in an IP67-sealed alloy body with a gel impact protection layer. Both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart handle universal communication. Then, a magnetic charging port makes recharging it quick and easy, with Rotor claiming 350 hours of run time per charge.

And it does that without paring down the features, offering combined dual leg power measurement with +/-1.5% accuracy and sending power, cadence, and L/R balance to your cycling computer. Open the app and it’ll show you a 360º pedal stroke analysis with torque vectoring, and even guide you toward the optimum chainring angle if you’re running their Q-Ring oval chainrings.

This new Shimano INspider also comes with Rotor’s new MTB 100×4 BCD chainrings, offered in 30/32/34/36 tooth counts in both round and oval shapes. The rings feature Rotor’s Universal Tooth Design to work with 11- and 12-speed chains from both SRAM and Shimano.

Rotor InSpider Shimano power meter – Pricing, compatibility & availability

The new Rotor InSpider Shimano power meter is available now for a debut price of $499 / 449€. That’s the same price as InSpider for Rotor’s own crank arms when it debuteed. Which has since gone up almost 20%. The new InSpider power meter is directly compatible with the latest Shimano SLX, XT & XTR direct mount 1x crankarms. Then you just need to pick your preferred chainring.

For now, it seems chainring options are relatively limited due to the unique Rotor 4-bolt 100mm bolt circle diameter. Which aren’t even currently available separately from Rotor. But when you buy the power meter, Rotor lets you select a 30-36T round ring included in the price. Or a 30-36T oval Qring for an additional 10€.

Rotorbike.com

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