The newest Bontrager wheel line has an updated rim shape, new rim depths, and introduces an entirely new OCLV NEXT thermoplastics material. There is much to unpack here, so let’s start with the new material.

What is OCLV NEXT?

Thermoplastics are polymers that can be melted and recast almost indefinitely. This type of carbon construction is becoming increasingly popular in the component world. Bontrager is the latest and largest manufacturer to employ the construction process. It allows for less wasted material, with scraps that are reusable. The material and construction also have a unique quality to absorb vibrations and offer a resonance-free ride, making them an excellent material for rims.

Bontrager didn’t reveal many secrets in creating the OCLV NEXT rims. We know the rim is manufactured with a laser-machined mold. The precise mold produces a final product exactly as it’s made — no need for sanding or finishing. Like most thermoplastic rims, the Bontrager OCLV NEXT rims have a matte finish and a subdued branding.

This finish is part of the laser machine molding process, eliminates the need for decals, and saves weight. This thermoplastic manufacturing process also helps reduce up to 95% of the volatile organic compounds (VOC) and carbon dust emissions associated with traditional carbon rim finishing, e.g., sanding.

New Aeolus Rim Shape

This new version of the Bontrager Aeolus wheel boasts a new beefed-up rim profile. The rim itself is wider, at a 32mm outer width and a 25mm internal width.

The bead is 3.5mm and hooked but with a flat top, presumably for impact protection. The wheels come taped with Bontrager TRL tape but also ship with Bontrager tubeless rim strips.

Regarding aerodynamics, the new Aeolus shape seems to be trending in the right direction, besting its predecessor.

Thermoplastic composite rims are touted for their unique ability to dissipate some road vibrations. The team at Bontrager tested this against its Aeolus 37V in a traditional thermoset construction. The thermoplastic construction boasted a 5% decrease in vibration over cobbles, with nearly no change on gravel or tarmac.

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37V Wheels

The Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37V wheels are a practical size that will fit most all riding and gravel. The rim is a 37mm deep OCLV NEXT hoop paired with Bontrager Rapid Drive 108 road hubs. The combo should be a great option for those looking for a wheelset to climb and roll the flats without drawbacks.

The Aeolus Pro 37V/49V internal rim width is 25mm and pairs well with higher-volume road and gravel tires. The matte rim finish should match any bike, and the subtle branding is classy.

We didn’t have a wheelset in the house, but Bontrager posts a weight of 1450g for the Aeolus Pro 37V wheels, about 105g lighter than the previous version.

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37V Wheels Details:

• Rims: OCLV NEXT Rim 37mm depth and 25mm inner width, Tubeless Ready (TLR)
• Hubset: Rapid Drive 108 road hubs provide quick engagement for faster acceleration and increased control 12mm thru-axle Centerlock disc
• Spokes: DT Swiss Aerolite14, 17 spokes, and Prolock alloy nipples
• Freehub body: Compatible with Shimano 10/11/12 speed, SRAM 10/11 freehubs, 12sp XDR
• No rider weight limit
• Weight: 1450* w/o Bontrager rim strips
• Price: $1800.00/set

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 49V Wheels

The Bontrager Aeolus Pro 49V wheels are nearly the same as the 37V but with a deeper rim that boasts some aero gains. Bontrager says the new Aeolus Pro 49V is faster than the deeper Aeolus RSL 51 wheel with the same 28mm tires.

As for construction, the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 49V Wheels get the same Bontrager Rapid Drive 108 road hubs and DT-Swiss Aerolite spoke treatment.

Our demo Bontrager Aeolus Pro 49V Wheels set came in at 1579g for the pair, including valves, but not including the Bontrager rim strips, which will add an extra 60g to each wheel.

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 49V Wheels Details:

• Rims: OCLV NEXT Rim 49mm depth and 25mm inner width, Tubeless Ready (TLR)
• Hubset: Rapid Drive 108 road hubs provide quick engagement for faster acceleration and increased control 12mm thru-axle Centerlock disc
• Spokes: DT Swiss Aerolite14, 17 spokes, and Prolock alloy nipples
• Freehub body: Compatible with Shimano 10/11/12 speed, SRAM 10/11 freehubs, 12sp XDR
• No rider weight limit
• Weight: 1555g* claimed
• Price: $1800.00/set

Is the Bontrager Carbon Care the Same for OCLV NEXT?

Like all Bontrager carbon wheels, the new Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37V and 49V are warrantied for life for the original purchaser and come with the added protection of Carbon Care. If you structurally damage your wheels while riding in the first two years of ownership, Trek will replace them.

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37V and 49V Availability

The new Aeolus Pro 37V and 49V crafted with OCLV NEXT thermoplastics should be available at your local Trek Dealer or at TrekBikes.com.

Look for a full review coming shortly.

The post New OCLV NEXT Thermoplastics Material Debuts on Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37V & 49V Wheels appeared first on Bikerumor.

While at the new Shimano GRX 12-speed gravel bike group launch, we sat down with the product and brand managers responsible for helping bring it to life to talk about what’s changed, what didn’t (and why), and how the group has evolved to fit the needs of modern gravel riders.

We also discuss the global gravel scene’s evolution, how Shimano fits into it, their new wheels and freehub standards, and the usual assortment of tech geekery.

Check our launch coverage for all the tech details, and Zach’s post for actual weights for the complete 1x group, and stay tuned for our first impressions from the camp.

This episode sponsored by:

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The post Podcast #087 – Shimano Explains the new GRX 12-Speed Gravel Group appeared first on Bikerumor.

I have been taking on the daunting, and often overwhelming post-bike-show ritual of trying to go through, sort, and make sense of the hundreds of photos I snapped during my time at the MADE Show last week.

After seeing quite a few shots of head badges in my photos (I’m a fan of a good head badge), I decided I would do something a little different, a little light-hearted, and out of the norm. Share some of them with you.

Often overlooked, the bicycle head badge can be something the brand has spent a good amount of time thinking about and executing… making sure that it’s just right. In some cases, contracting an outside source to get it just right for you – like Wilde Bikes sterling silver head badge made by Jen Green.

Below you’ll find a lil’ gallery of some (but not quite all) of my favorite head badges of the show, plus a little somethin’ special at the end.

So, let’s pay some attention to the art of ornate bicycle head badges.

Monē Bikes

Out of Silver City, New Mexico, Monē Bikes is a single person, Cjell Monē, who does all of his amazing frame building and visible brass brazing out of a repurposed 1990 Wonder Bread Truck. Making Monē mobile, Cjell prides himself on “keeping overhead low and quality high.”

This head badge is simple with understated details. I also get a feel of retro 80s in the design.

Neuhaus Metalworks

Located in the birthplace of mountain bikes, Marin County, California, Neuhaus Metal Works believes in Fit + Function = Form. They built steel and titanium bikes with 3D printing being the foundation to “make bikes better for riders”.

I especially like this head badge because it has a real industrial, art deco feel to it… matching the name of the company.

Tomii Cycles

Born in Japan, Nao Tomii has an incredible eye for detail. He came to the US to study sculpting, graduating in 2000. After being inspired by other hand-made, custom frame builders, he is now “sculpting” his own custom frames and accessories.

I had to include two of Tomii Cycles‘ head badges, as they are so different and yet still similar in layout. These head badges are a couple more impressive examples of Nao’s attention to detail.

Mosaic Cycles

Mosaic Cycles of Boulder, Colorado, specializing in high-quality, custom bicycles (like this one), and stock-sized bicycles (like this one). They are “dedicated to providing the best possible riding experience”.

This head badge is machined to show the color of the bike through the details in the badge. The badge lets you know it’s a Mosaic without seeing the rest of the bike. As iconic as a Schwinn head badge? Maybe.

Sycip Designs

Jeremy Sycip of Sycip Designs is located in Santa Rosa, California and has been building beautiful custom frames since 1992. He can build custom steel, titanium, or aluminum frames for your road, all-road, cx, commuters, or mountain biking needs.

Now, in my opinion, this is an example of an iconic head badge. And it’s one that I have personally always liked and coveted.

Ira Ryan Cycles

Ira Ryan Cycles is Ira Ryan and he’s been hand building each frame, fork stem, and bicycle by hand in his Portland workshop since 2005. “With one foot planted in a rich history of bicycle racing and what technology works well, I blend those styles with modern components using brass, silver, and steel”, as he describes it.

The Ira Ryan head badge represents the brand perfectly. It is understated and simple but speaks volumes to the power of simplicity, precision, and quality.

Wolfhound Cycles

Hailing from Talent, Oregon, Fred Cuthbert, of Wolfhound Cycles lives in a town that seems to be the perfectly named place for this framebuilder. His fillet brazing work is next level and “brazed with love since 2001”.

This head badge is simply beautiful and a perfect cherry on the bikes that Fred painstakingly builds.

Donkelope Bikes

Started in Wisconsin in 2002 building BMX frames, Donkelope Bikes has since moved the operation to Bellingham, Washington. Builder/owner Greg Heath can build you a welded or lugged steel frame, forks, stems, or even racks all “built by hand to suit your riding style”.

This head badge is the perfect representation of this brand; simple, classic, and purposeful lines with nothing extravagant.

An attentive reader tells us that Jen Green also made this head badge, that reader being Jen Green. 😉

Wilde Bikes

Minneapolis, MN is home to Wilde Bikes, and is owner Jeffrey Frane’s “love letter to cycling”. Previous founder of All-City Cycles, Jeffery says that “if it can be done, and it’s your bicycle dream, we can create it utilizing our amazing network of talented collaborators“.

This head badge just pops in its 3D-ness. Plus, as mentioned prior, it’s an example of the artistry that is a Jen Green head badge.

Bender Bicycles

Ft. Collins, Colorado is home to William Bender of Bender Bicycle Co. William began with a background in design and an innate need to “make and tinker”, saying that he “started Bender Bicycle Co. with the goal of creating functional, purposeful, and beautiful bikes“. And, that he does.

This head badge is different in the way that it’s heaped in design. If you look closely you’ll see that although it looks non-descript, it’s actually four stacked “B”s. Nice.

Fat Chance Bikes

Chris Chance of Fat Chance Bikes is considered a staple in the birth of mountain biking on the East Coast. And the Yo Eddie is an iconic name in the story that is the beginning of mountain biking.

This is the one-of-a-kind head badge from Fat Chance’s latest iteration of the Titanium Yo Eddie Team Fat Chance frameset. It’s wicked good.

Soulcraft Cycles (Honorable Mention)

And lastly, I’ve included a photo of a less ornate head badge, more of a logo, and a worn one at that, from a custom builder that is no longer making frames, but I feel needs an honorary mention. The builder is Sean Walling and the company is Soulcraft Cycles out of Petaluma, California. Sean stopped Soulcraft and ceased making frames about 8 years ago or so, I believe.

I was not only a fan of the brand, but I was also a customer… as I had purchased two frames from him, the single-speed specific Soulcraft Plowboy back in ’99 and the Soulcraft Royal Road frame in 2006.

So, when I saw him poppin’ wheelies at the MADE Show, on a (what he personally dated a 2001) Plowboy that he had just purchased from someone at the show, I was overcome with nostalgia. We reminisced a bit and I snapped a few shots on my phone. Enjoy.

Made.Bike.com

The post The Art of the Ornate Head Badge, a MADE Show Round-Up appeared first on Bikerumor.

While walking around in the bike-nerdy paradise that is the MADE Show, I ran into Jeffery Frane of Wilde Bikes, and this lugged beauty. You remember we covered their new Rambler SL back in April. Anywho, he was displaying a new Gravel Bike with an amazing paint job by NYF Paint.

Here’s the kicker, the new gravel bike was built on a lugged steel frame… but, with modern gravel geometry and modern features. Jeff was telling me that this new lug set was designed by Chris Bishop of Bishop Bikes and is solely designed for the purpose of building a lugged gravel bike with modern geometry.

The Lugged Wilde Gravel Bike

This lug set may be the first of its kind. The downtube-to-headtube lug is steeper, allowing for a taller fork and lower bottom bracket height. The show bike was equipped with Wilde Bikes’ own Wayfinder Carbon fork.

Its top tube lugs are available with the option to run a horizontal top tube or a 5-degree sloping top tube.

This bike is such a cool blend of modern and that classic “skinny frame tubes and chrome lugs” of the old Italian frames of yesteryear. Then blending that look with modern geometry made this bike one of my favorites of the show… throw in the Jen Green, sterling silver head badge and it completes the complete classiness of this bike.

Oh, so shiny!

Tech Specifications and Retail Pricing

According to Jeffery, this bike will retail for a $3500 frameset price with a standard painted finish. We’d call that a steal for this gorgeous bike.
Or why not go all out, for $5500 to get this amazing show finish – in real chrome and subtly sparkling paint.

This show bike was AXS wireless specific and could fit a 700x45c rear tire, and up to a 700x 2.1″ up front. It was built up with White Industries hubs and headset, Sim Works bar & stem, and a complete SRAM Red AXS drivetrain.

My photos don’t really do the bike justice, the bike was beautiful.

Take a look at the other offerings by Wilde Bikes below.

WildeBikes.com

The post MADE Show: Wilde’s Lugged Gravel Bike with Modern Geometry appeared first on Bikerumor.

The new Shimano GRX 12-speed drivetrains are officially here. As gravel has evolved, so have the drivetrains and as a result, Shimano is offered three distinct options for the new GRX. You have the choice of a 1×12 with a 10-45t cassette, a 1×12 with a 10-51t cassette, or a 2×12 system with an 11-36t cassette.

I mostly use my gravel bikes for exploring and riding easy MTB trails, so I chose the 1×12 group with a 10-51t cassette for my build (Tyler chose the same). However, even gravel racers are starting to look to wide-range 1x drivetrains – just look at SBT GRVL which was won this year on a 1x drivetrain with a 10-52t cassette, and 52t chainring!

It’s notable here that this group uses the existing 12-speed MTB cassettes and chains for better cross-compatibility and fewer part numbers. Better still, the RX822 rear derailleur has the option to swap out the derailleur cage so you can run either 1x cassette option without having to buy an entirely new derailleur.

You also have the choice with the 1x group of choosing either a left brake lever-only, or a left brake lever with a ‘shifter’ that acts as a dropper post lever. I went with the dropper lever version as I wanted to see if you could run it both with, and without a dropper installed.

Finally, there are some Shimano PRO components to finish off the build.

Shimano RX820 Actual Weights

Starting with the shifters, it’s 296g for the right ST-RX820-R, and 274 for the left ST-RX820-LA . The non-dropper post version (ST-RX820-L) would likely be even lighter if you never plan to run a dropper. The brakes come disconnected and are both exactly 166g. The addition of the front mounting plate makes up for the extra housing length for the rear (1000mm vs 1700mm). And since this is not an electronic group, you’ll need some cables and housing. The shifter includes split housing and a cable that weighs in at 46g. For a lot of bikes, you’ll likely need an additional cable kit if your bike uses full housing.

Going along with the brakes, you’ll need some brake rotors. In this case, Shimano uses the same RT-MT800 rotor for Ultegra, GRX, and Deore XT. This one is a 160mm Centerlock rotor with Freeza tech which weighs 108g. Depending on your frame, you might need the SM-MA-R160D/D brake mount adapter which will add 17g. Included longer brake mount bolts are 14g, while the short ones are 7g.

Moving to the gearing, the rear derailleur for the 51t cassette checks in at 294g. The XT CX-M8100 10-51t cassette weighs 469g. The CN-M8100 12s chain is 283g for the 126L e-bike-rated version with the connecting link.

For the crankset, the RC-RX820-1-12 is a 1×12 crank with a 40t chainring (42t is also an option). This example is a 172.5mm length, and weighs in at 648g without a BB. Shimano still does not make a bottom bracket for BB386. Since I’m planning to build up the T-Lab X3-S I just reviewed, I needed to source my own. Fortunately, Enduro Bearing makes some of the best bottom brackets out there. So they sent over an XD-15p thread-together BB386 for the build that weighs 125g.

Shimano GRX Wheel Actual Weights

Shimano also has a new tubeless wheelset for GRX, mostly because of the new hub requirements. In order to use the exisitng MTB cassettes, the hub needs a Microspline freehub. So, the C32 WH-RX880 wheelset features hooked carbon rims with at 25.32mm internal width, 24 spokes, and sealed bearing hubs with a Microspline freehub. The rear checks in at 779g, while the front is 663 – both weights include tubeless rim tape and valve cores.

Shimano PRO Component Actual Weights

If you want to run a dropper and keep it all in the family, the Discover dropper post is available in a 27.2mm diameter with 70mm travel. The 414g dropper post includes cable and housing which adds another 83g uncut.

Finishing off the build from Shimano, the PRO Discover bar and stem along with an off-road saddle. The stem is an 80mm length with 6º rise with a weight of 160g. The 440mm aluminum bar with a 12º flare is 296g. Both have 31.8mm clamping diameter. The Stealth Off-Road saddle checks in at 202g.

For the complete tech overview on this group, read our launch coverage here.

The post Actual Weights for Shimano GRX RX820 1 x 12 Speed Drivetrain appeared first on Bikerumor.

One year ago I was writing about 105 going electronic with more affordable Di2, but maybe more importantly now you can get the latest in Shimano road bike gearing with a new 105 mechanical groupset upgrade to 12-speed!

What more do you need to know than that Shimano has not forsaken mechanical shifting! New 105 mechanical 12-speed is almost as light as 105 Di2, it’s lots cheaper, and battery-free.

Hurrah!

Shimano 105 R7100 mechanical 12-speed road bike groupset

First, there were quiet rumblings that Shimano may ditch mechanical shifting for any of their performance suite of road bike groups. That is to 105, Ultegra & Dura-Ace – the three that tend to get the top level of gearing. Then, 105 finally getting its own Di2 12sp upgrade with NO mechanical option last summer certainly didn’t silence those fears. I mean, who doesn’t love wireless electronic shifting, right? (Hint: anyone on a budget, or who doesn’t like having to charge their bike to ride!)

But more rumors started to float around that a new 105 mechanical group was on the way. A recent slip-up in entry-level carbon Bianchi road bikes all but assured us that the new group was about to drop.

And now it’s finally here. Luddites, rejoice!

So what do you need to know?

New Shimano 105 mechanical offers all the same 12-speed gear ratios – and trusted brakes – of 105 Di2. So, you don’t have to remember to charge your derailleur OR replace the batteries in your shifters. (Oops, I just had an Ultegra Di2 shifter battery die mid-ride, losing rear shifts, then realized it’s not so easy to replace the less common CR1632 battery.) And it costs a lot less.

How much cash will you save?

In essence, a complete Shimano 105 mechanical group will set you back $1223 according to our accounting.

You save more than 1/3 the cost of 105 Di2. It’s less than half as expensive as Ultegra Di2. On the whole, you could buy 3 1/2 105 mechanical groupsets for the cost of 1 Dura-Ace Di2 setup.

Interestingly, while 105 mechanical is the most affordable 12-speed Shimano group, SRAM’s latest Apex 12sp offering seems to have it beat on both weight AND cost whether you go for mechanical XPLR (2872g at $987) or wireless electronic AXS XPLR (2890g at $1195) options, according to claims (assuming those figures from SRAM include rotors & a BB).

What’s new?

You get all-new but familiar-looking 12-speed mechanical front & rear derailleurs, and subtly updated new 12-speed 105 mechanical shifters with the same trusted brake hydraulics inside.

FD-R7100 2x Front Derailleur

• Brazed-on or Band-clamp
• Fast, precise front shifting for 50-52-tooth big rings
• Weight: from 96g
• MSRP: $44.99 / €49.99

RD-R7100 12-speed Rear Derailleur

• Super low profile Shadow RD shape, with single tension construction
• Direct mount attachment
• Single GS medium-length cage for 11-34T or 11-36T cassettes
• Weight: 249g
• MSRP: $64.99

ST-R7120 12-speed Mechanical Shift / Hydraulic Disc Brake Set (levers & calipers)

• 12sp Dual control levers
• New blade shape gives a shorter lever access curve
• Refined ergonomics and shaping create a new lever position
• Weight: 612g/pair (levers only)
• MSRP: $354.99 / €319.99

In summary… what it doesn’t have is an internal battery, electronic wiring, or replaceable batteries in the shifters.

What’s the same?

The beauty of the new Shimano 105 mechanical 12-speed group is in reality… a lot of this isn’t totally new.

The R7100 mechanical groupset includes the same compact crankset, bottom brackets, 12-speed 105 chain & 11-34T cassettes we saw introduced last summer with 105 Di2. It also shares the same flat mount disc brake calipers with 10% extra pad retraction, same brake hoses & rotors, too.

Shimano 105 mechanical 12-speed – Pricing, Options & Availability

In general, much like we usually see with any new Shimano groupset – pricing varies, options are aplenty, and availability depends. Shimano’s PR didn’t actually include a valid groupset price, and was missing some bits. But, by our calculation, buying a complete new 105 mechanical groupset will cost you $1223 piecemeal.

Your options are essentially the same as 105 Di2 2×12. Pick from 50-34 or 52-36 chainsets, 160/165/170/172.5/175mm long crank arms, and 11-34 or 11-36T cassettes.

As to availability, we’re only really looking at new derailleurs and shifters, so the outlook is good. But in any case, you’re most likely to get ahold of a new Shimano 105 mechanical 12-speed group as OEM if you buy a new bike. There will be many available starting today. For example, this £2199 Ribble Endurance SL Disc carbon road bike, one of five bikes available today from the UK brand.

Bike.Shimano.com

The post Shimano 105 Mechanical Goes 12-Speed, Batteries Not Required appeared first on Bikerumor.

The new Shimano GRX RX820 series looks surprisingly similar to their original gravel group, but there are plenty of subtle (and not so subtle) updates that give it more range, better ergonomics, and even some system modularity that makes it easier to switch things around.

Let’s start with what stays the same: It keeps the 2.5mm chainline offset, sitting a bit wider than their road groups to improve chain/tire clearance. It also keeps some cross compatibility between it and their road and mountain bike groups, albeit with the newer 12-speed ones, and it still has a mechanical option. In fact, only the 12-speed mechanical GRX group is launching now, Di2 will come later.

“We think GRX is for everyone, and about 75% of the market is using mechanical and wants mechanical.”

– Nick Legan, Shimano Road/Gravel Brand Manager

There are still 1x and 2x options, both equivalent to Ultegra-level road, and there’s still an RX610 (105 equivalent) series, which also upgrades to 12-speed. Now, here’s what’s new…

Updated Gravel Gearing

What made the original GRX group so refreshing was that it matched up with their road and mountain bike lineup, allowing you to mix and match cassettes, shifters, and derailleurs to create a group that worked for you. GRX parts were more gravel specific, but if you already had a big cassette, you could add the clutched rear derailleur and offset crankset to gain more offroad capability.

Since then, Shimano’s road and MTB cassettes have grown, with 105 Di2 introducing an 11-36 cassette (bigger than the original 11-34), and MTB cassettes jumping to 10-45 and 10-51 (up from 11-42). So GRX has grown, too, using those same cassettes with either a 48/31 double chainring or 40- and 42-tooth 1x chainrings to give riders more gear range. Here’s how it all compares:

Not only do you have more range, but the added cog improves gear steps in the lower part of the cassette for more refined cadence management.

For 2x groups, you can choose an 11-34 or 11-36 cassette, both borrowed from Ultegra and 105, respectively (105 is the only road group with an 11-36 option). Both use their new HG L2 spline interface, which means they’re backward compatible with standard HG freehub bodies and the newer, lighter L2 versions that debuted with Dura-Ace (and the new gravel wheels…keep reading).

For 1x groups, you also have two gearing options (10-45 and 10-51), but you’ll have plenty of trim level options – Deore, SLX, XT, and XTR.

Yes, all of the 1x cassettes are simply mountain bike cassettes, there’s no “GRX” cassette, though they do “spec” XT as the recommended level to match the rest of the group. That means you’ll need a Micro Spline freehub body on your gravel wheels to use the 1x GRX groups.

The chainrings are all new and optimized for 12-speed chains, but the crankset is basically unchanged save for a new finish. It fits both 1x and 2x chainrings and comes in 170, 172.5, and 175mm lengths. Bottom bracket sold separately.

A Modular Rear Derailleur

The original 11-speed GRX group had two derailleurs, one for 1x and one for 2x. That 1x group focused on the 11-42 cassette, so if you wanted to run the larger 11-46 MTB 11-speed cassettes, you had to upgrade to the GRX Di2, which could hack together with an XT Di2 rear derailleur assuming you used the right junction box and all firmware was updated. But officially, the biggest option was 11-42, which is smaller than either of the new cassettes.

Now, the new 12-speed GRX gives you two GRX derailleurs for 1x groups, one for each of the cassette sizes. Or, more accurately, it’s two derailleurs in one – all you need to do is switch the pulley cage to make it work with the other cassette size.

Sold with two distinct model names, the RD-RX822-GS (medium cage) works with the 10-45 cassette, and the RD-RX822-SGS (long cage) works with the 10-51 cassette, but…

The only difference is the cage, and you can swap them out, swap cassettes, and (probably) swap chains as you’ll need a couple extra links for the bigger cassette and longer cage.

It’s a bit of work, but it’s still better than having to buy a new derailleur.

The RD-RX820 rear mech is purpose built for the 11-34/36 cassettes and double chainrings and is not modular. Technically, you probably could swap out the pulley cage, but the parallelogram and movement pattern are optimized for the smaller cassettes, so, don’t.

Updated Brake & Shifter Levers

The new GRX brake levers keep the same wide, flat frontal surface and have an anti-slip coating that was borrowed from Shimano’s fishing division. They’re optimized for gravel bars with a 16º flare, putting the shift and brake levers in easy reach with an angle that mimics the bar’s flare.

The braking and shifting internals are the same, but the exterior gets a few refinements. The top section of the hoods where you rest your hands has been flattened out. The originals also had levers that angled outward somewhat, but they accomplished that by basically putting the entire body at an angle. Now, the tops are flatter to create a better perch for your palms:

The surface is still a bit rounded, but the effect is a flatter area for your hands.

The textured pattern remains the same, but they seemed keen on pointing out that the height of the ribs is 0.8mm, a number that came about from testing a range of heights from 0.5mm (not enough) to 1.0mm (too squirmy).

The right hand shifter lever is the same for all groups, but you’ll have three options for your left hand: Shifter (for 2x groups), brake only, or a single paddle to operate a dropper seatpost.

They’ve offered the dropper remote version before and it looks just like a 2x brake lever, but without any ratchet inside. The internals are updated to pull more cable, increasing from 8.3mm to 10mm. They say it should work with about 99% of all mechanical droppers on the market, as long as the post pinches the cable at the dropper.

Brakes get a bit better

Shimano’s brakes were already good, and now they’re a bit better. The pads retract farther, increasing pad clearance by 10% so they’re less likely to rub.

They’re paired with (but sold separately from) the Ice Tech Freeza CL rotors, which have a 3D-shaped aluminum carrier on the CL rotors, which maximizes stiffness and resists heat deformation better, keeping them straight and quiet even after a long, hard descent.

New not-GRX Carbon Wheels

Building off the carbon RX870 wheels introduced in early 2022, the new RX880 carbon gravel wheels use the same rim and are technically a non-series item, without the GRX designation, but they are indeed meant to pair with the new group.

What sets them apart are the new hubs, which feature their Direct Engagement drive system that’s nearly silent and rock solid. Shimano doesn’t claim any particular degrees-of-engagement speed, but says they’re fast enough, which I’d agree with after our test ride.

They’re also Shimano’s first hubset with interchangeable freehub bodies, with Micro Spline and HG L2 options. That means they’re only compatible with Shimano cassettes, and only the latest 12-speed versions at that.

They have 24 spokes and a 32mm rim depth with 25mm internal width (30mm external) and come in at just 1394g with a MicroSPLINE freehub body. The HG L2 freehub body only adds 3g, making either option a very lightweight gravel wheel.

Pricing & Availability

All of the new GRX group parts and wheels are available and shipping at launch, pricing as follows:

• Shifter/Brake Levers w/ Brake Caliper
  • Right side/rear shifter – $444.99
  • Left side/dropper remote – $414.99
  • Left side/brake only – $384.99
  • Left side/front shifter – $441.99
• 1x Crankset – $249.99
• 2x Crankset – $249.99
• Rear Derailleur – $126.99
• Front Derailleur – $61.99
• 160mm ICE Tech Freeza Rotor – $121.98
• Cassette
  • 10-45 XT – $164.99
  • 10-51 XT – $164.99
  • 11-36 105 – $87.99
• Chain – $48.99
• Wheels – $1,549.99 set ($699.99 front / $849.99 rear)

This puts all three groups right around $1,700 with two brake rotors, sans bottom bracket. Zach and I both have groups in for long term testing, and he’s weighed his parts (we have the same group). Check out the GRX actual weights in his post.

GRX RX610 goes 12-speed, too

Mostly for OEM customers (as in, you’ll find it on lower-priced new bikes), there are also new RX610 cranksets and shifter levers that can be mixed and matched with the RX800 derailleurs and cassettes. It’ll have 1x and 2x options, with a new 38-tooth 1x chainring (steel, not alloy) but no dropper post lever option. And that 38-tooth chainring will fit on the RX820 crankset if you want something smaller than a 40-tooth.

The levers paired with them are RX400 level brakes and upgrade to the textured hoods and anti-slip levers, but they lack the Servo Wave action and flared handlebar-optimized shaping…meaning, they’re basically just the original 600-series levers, just grippier and with 12-speed clickers.

What about 11-speed GRX?

Shimano will keep those original 11-speed GRX bits available for a while, but as with road bike groups and their competition, everything is definitely moving to 12-speed and they suspect that in about 5 years, all new stuff will be 12 speed. Mechanical disc brake levers might take a while longer to see 12-speed compatibility, but they’re probably maybe on the long-term road map for a very budget level group.

Bike.Shimano.com

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With the addition of this new carbon stem, CADEX now has a complete cockpit offering in its Race series component line. The new stem uses a hook & 2-bolt removable faceplate design and a hidden top cap for an integrated look while maintaining component adjustability. This new stem bears the “Race” naming, but don’t toss it aside for road-use-only — it’s rated for gravel and all drop bar disciplines.

What is it? — CADEX Race Stem

CADEX’s new stem offering rounds out its component line-up – in addition to their various ultralight handlebars – and gives riders another slippery option against one-piece bar & stem integrated cockpits. It’s no secret that CADEX wanted to solidify an entire cockpit. And the new Race stem matches their palette and ethos: matte carbon, stiff, and lightweight.

Carbon Stem Construction

The CADEX Race stem is fully carbon, crafted from T800 and T1100 carbon strands balancing stiffness and weight. The gently curved shape is similar to a few others on the market, offering a slippery front end while keeping bar angle adjustability.

It comes in eight different lengths, starting from 70mm and growing in 10mm increments, ending at a World Tour-ready 140mm length. The stem has a -10-degree angle and is compatible with both 1-¼ and 1-⅛ steerer tubes.

The two pairs of stem & steerer clamp bolts are all titanium, and help keep the CADEX Race stem respectable at 120g (100mm, claimed). The carbon top cap nestles inside the stem, creating a clean-looking combo once you’ve dialed in your fit… not necessarily with a big stack of spacers like this bike, here.

Race Stem — Tech Specs

• Lengths: 70/80/90/100/110/120/130/140mm
• Weights: 114/116/118/120/124/128/132/136g, claimed respectively
• Rise: -10°
• Steerer Tube: 1 1/4″ or 1 1/8″ (with included carbon adapter)
• Stack: 41mm
• Material: T800 and T1100 carbon laminate
• Price: $300

The CADEX Race stem is available at retailers and online in select markets worldwide now.

CADEX.com

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Much like the equally revamped Mitte Steel, 8bar makes simple but significant updates to their bikepacking Tflsberg Steel, too. An equally affordable bike well-suited for riders looking to wander further off-the-beaten-track, and to carry heavier loads, the all-terrain adventure Tflsberg Steel v2 is a dedicated off-road bikepacking machine.

But it still can be quite versatile – with 29er or 27.5+ tires – 8bar would see you build it up as a backcountry adventure bike, an old-school MTB touring rig, or even as a monster urban commuter. And with 8bar’s online bike builders, you customize exactly how your Tflsberg will get built up…

8bar Tflsberg Steel v2 bikepacking 2.0 bike

Like the adaptable Mitte Steel v3 gravel bike, 8bar’s steel Tflsberg bikepacking bike is also affordable, adventure-ready, and flexible for more than one type of build. Built for off-road bikepacking and mountain bike touring on 29er x 2.25″ or 27.5 x up to 2.8″ tires, the Tflsberg is more of a beast.

Unlike 8bar’s more race-oriented bikes, the Tflsberg is also only offered in heavy-duty, reinforced & butted chromoly steel to handle real off-road loaded abuse.

So what’s changed in the steel bikepacking bike?

What’s new in v2?

The big update here is that 8bar redesigned the new generation of the Tflsberg bikepacking bike around a shorter, non-suspension corrected fork. I guess off-road adventurers looking for an affordable steel bikepacking bike just didn’t see any real value on paying extra for suspension and the added maintenance costs to keep it running well.

So, save some money on the fork, drop a bit of weight, and gain more hauling capacity – all at the same time. Win, win, win.

With the move to a 400mm a-2-c fork length, the Tflsberg Steel v2 frame shifts to a curved downtube. Plus that means it gets a longer headtube and longer seat tubes, too. But it mostly keeps the same frame Stack for a relaxed, comfortable upright riding position on flat bars. Altogether that means more space inside the front triangle for storage. It means a stronger frame, a cleaner headtube gusset, and better dropper post compatibility.

In the end, 8bar says the new bike will now hold up to 5 water bottles. 2 offset mounts on the sides of the down tube will fit cages even with a full frame bag.

Factor in all the Anything cage mounts on the fork & curved seatstays, you could fit up to 9 bottles even.

The updated steel frame also now includes a built-in seatpost clamp. And while routing is still external, it includes internal routing for a 27.2mm dropper.

At the same time the v2 Tflsberg does tweak its geometry a bit, too – across the 3 size range (S-L). Angles, BB drop & chainstay length do not change. But Reach decreases on the small frame & increases on the large for a wider fitting range.

8bar Tflsberg Steel v2 – Pricing, options & availability

The revamped Tflsberg Steel v2 frame starts at 763€ on its own in glossy charcoal grey or matte sand tan. Custom colors are also always possible.

Thanks to the shorter fork move, there are more fork options. For bikepacking a 254€ alloy fork, or a 305€ steel fork are solid options. Or you can pick one of 8bar’s gravel forks. With the shorter axle-to-crown, a 30mm RockShox Rudy XPLR fork is also possible for an extra 712€. Yes, that’s essentially the same cost as the frame only. What are you gonna do?

If you are looking for complete bikes, 8bar does both flat bar and drop bar builds of the new Tflsberg Steel v2 bikepacking bike, with pricing from around 1100€. You can also customize a build with racks front and rear, plus a full lighting setup for classic hybrid MTB looks and commuter versatility.

As always with 8bar’s versatile bikes and online customizer… thus, the possibilities are limited only by your budget & imagination.

8bar-bikes.com

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I saw so much at the MADE show these past few days. And it was… honestly, it was a bit overwhelming (in a good, bike nerd kinda way). For this story, I will get right to the gist of it. I ran into Charlie Murray, the man behind Heavy Bikes, early on in the show. When I saw the bike that was on display, I was pretty skeptical.

But, after talking with Charlie, it was clear that he was on to something. And his enthusiasm and genuine stoke about it was contagious. So, let’s talk about the bike.

Heavy Bikes: The Hypocrite Gravel Bike

Heavy Bikes utilizes Foundry Casting System’s ‘Pascal Process’ for the pressurized solidification of sand casted parts. They start the process with a custom bike fit. That fit drives a 3D-printed sand mold design. The mold is then filled with molten A356 aluminum.

Heavy Bikes says that “the pressurized solidification ensures a properly filled part with enhanced mechanical properties“. Then, they bust open the frame mold with a sledgehammer before going off to heat treating.

Heavy then machines the interface and “art surfaces” after heat treating the frame. Charlie told me that the dimples that are on the show bike are just there to show the kind of details that can be accomplished with the casting technique.

Heavy Bikes says that they “built the Hypocrite to explore the limits of thin wall casting while adding compliance to a single-piece bike frame“.

On their website, they describe the Hypocrite’s ride as “one of a new sense of momentum not found on hollow tubular bikes“. This, paired with the bike’s nimble wheelbase, provides a connected feel unique to Heavy Bikes.

What’s it Weigh You Ask?

According to Charlie, they can “get the Hypocrite frame at the show, inside of 6lbs based on a rider’s measurements of 6′ with a 32″ inseam”.

HeavyBikes.net

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Rose Bikes is kind of killing it right now with good-looking practical bikes that are easy on your wallet, and this new Sneak hybrid alloy commuter is another no-nonsense example. Calling it an “urban fitness bike with a sense of aesthetics”, the new Sneak is an affordable bike for zipping around town, with all the latest modern integrated standards and gravel-like tire clearance to guarantee a versatile ride…

Rose Sneak modern aluminum hybrid urban commuter bike

Rose officially calls the Sneak an “urban fitness bike”, but make no mistake, this is another lovely take on the modern hybrid – like the Hobo. Then, extend that down to the availability of traditional and step-through frames for easy usability.

Meanwhile, this new Sneak isn’t actually an ebike like Rose’s more-swoopy and unsurprisingly heavier & more expensive Sneak+.

The last few years have taught us to call that a flat bar gravel bike. But really, this just is that no-nonsense universal bike for both cyclists and non-cyclists to use to get around town during the week, then hit the bike path, or explore a bit further on gravel roads over the weekend.

So what makes it unique?

The Sneak sneaks pretty much all the best modern features you’ll find in top-tier road & gravel bikes, and drops them into a bike for the masses.

So, you get integrated 68cm wide flat bar cockpits – 1 piece carbon combos with integrated SP Connect mounting for your smartphone on the top models. You get fully integrated internal cables routed through the headset.

There’s a sleek hydroformed alloy frame and full carbon fork with 12mm thru-axles. Besides, the Sneak also gets proper 40mm gravel race tires, 3 cage mounts, plus even hydraulic flat mount disc brakes and modern wide gravel-ready drivetrains.

All in all at affordable prices, and weights under 10kg.

Tech details

The Sneak features quick-handling gravel-like geometry in 4 sizes (S-XL) and conventional ‘HighStep’ or step-through ‘MidStep’ frame styles.

These Sneak frames feature a BSA threaded bottom bracket, full 1.5″ headset & 31.6mm seatpost. Additionally, all Sneaks ship with Knog Oi bells. The bikes get rear rack and kickstand mounts, but no reference to full-coverage fender mounts.

Rose Sneak – Pricing, Options & Availability

The Rose Sneak comes in 4 sizes, 2 frame styles, 3 models & 3 colors. Pick from Faded Denim blue, Light Mint green, and Chalk grey.

Complete bike builds start at 1400€ for the Sneak 1 with an extra durable Shimano Cues 2×11 LinkGlide groupset. Or, on the other hand, there’s the other mechanical shift Sneak 2 for 1800€ with a GRX 810 2×11 drivetrain and the 1-piece carbon cockpit.

Then, at the top-tier, the Rose Sneak 3 upgrades to SRAM Rival XPLR wireless 1×12 for 2600€.

The new hybrid flat bar city commuter gravel bikes can be pre-ordered directly from Rose now. Then, deliveries start in 4-12 weeks’ time, depending on spec.

RoseBikes.com

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8bar rolls out some subtle but beneficial upgrades to the most affordable iteration of their popular mixed-surface road-into-gravel adventure bike – the 3-in-1 all-road & gravel Mitte Steel v3. Available in an aluminum, titanium, or steel frame, this adaptable bike can be built up for almost anything you can imagine, without breaking the bank. Pick from road to all-road to gravel to bikepacking adventuring, even to a versatile urban commuter bike. And owing to 8bar’s online customizer, you can tailor your individual build for any combination in between…

8bar Mitte Steel v3 all-road, gravel, or even a commuter bike

The Mitte is 8bar’s most versatile bike. With its adaptable geometry thanks to adjustable dropouts and 6 forks to choose from (one with uniquely creative flip chips), the Mitte Steel v3 can be almost anything you could want. Build it as a classic road bike with all-road tire clearance. Or go for a dedicated gravel bike setup. Build it as a 2-in-1 all-road and gravel bike that you can easily swap back and forth with two wheelsets. Or configure a flat bar urban commuter for riding to work, and sneaking in some gravel roads on the ride home.

The do-it-all convertible Mitte has been around for more than 7 years in aluminum. And got its own v3 alloy & v1 titanium updates in recent years. Yet, the most affordable double-butted chromoly steel version hadn’t been updated for more than three years.

So, what’s been updated?

What’s new in Steel v3?

Compared to v2, 8bar updated the new Mitte Steel v3 with some curious new track end style horizontal dropouts for 12mm thru-axles. With built-in tensioners/adjusters, these new dropouts allow for chainstay length adjustability in either road or gravel modes. Plus, they mean singlespeed compatibility, as well. The new 8bar dropouts also retain full rack & fender mounts, and now update to flat mount disc brakes.

The updated steel frame also now includes a built-in seatpost clamp. And it adds an additional set of bottle bosses under the downtube.

8bar also tweaked geometry a bit in the 4 frame sizes on offer (S-XL), retaining max 45mm tire clearance. Headtube, seattube angles, BB drop & standover are unchanged. Yet, while frame Stack is effectively the same, frame Reach and subsequently overall wheelbases increase by 4mm to 2cm depending on size.

8bar Mitte Steel v3 – Pricing, options & availability

The updated 8bar Mitte Steel v3 keeps pricing reasonable, with frames available now from 661€ in standard silver or black. Sparkling purple glitter paint adds about 50€ extra. Or fully custom single colors add 200-300€ extra for a more unique look. Including a fork adds anywhere from 200-450€ in steel, aluminum & carbon for road, gravel, bikepacking, or 2-in-1 adjustable forks on offer.

Complete bike builds start around 2100€ with mechanical GRX. Effectively the same whether you want a 2x drop-bar gravel build or 1x flat-bar urban commuter build. After that, the sky is the limit if you want to swap in fancy electronic, lightweight carbon bits, or to fully outfit a bike with lights, fenders & racks.

De rigueur for 8bar via their online customizer… build possibilities are almost limitless.

8bar-bikes.com

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Whether gearing up for a multi-day bikepacking trip or just a big day out, cargo cages make it easier to carry more. An obvious addition to their Morse bottle cage lineup, the new cargo cage is typically Wolf Tooth – meaning well thought out and packed with versatility.

Morse cages get their name from the dot-dash mounting pattern. The Cargo cage is no different with four different bolt-hole combinations for the standard 64mm bottle boss spacing. It will also fit on three-pack mounting, and offers up to 35mm of vertical adjustment thanks to the Morse pattern.

For more versatility, the cage also has mounting holes on the left or right side of the cage which allows it to be mounted at an angle. WTC says this is great for forks that have mounting bolts on the front or back of the fork leg, and will even allow you to mount two cages next to each other in certain situations. The cages are made in Minnesota, USA from 5052 aluminum.

Along with the bottle cage, WTC is introducing its own Cargo straps that will be sold with the cages or separately. With the addition of the straps, you can carry 32oz Nalgene bottles, stuff sacks, burritos, you name it.

Available now, Wolf Tooth will sell the cages alone or with two cargo straps.

WTC Morse Cargo Cage Specs

• Vertical positioning adjustment up to 35mm with Morse dot-dash mount pattern
• Mount options in center of cage, as well as on right and left sides
• Designed to fit fork bags, 32 oz. Nalgene bottles, and more
• Three stainless steel bolts included
• Cage weighs 60g without straps or bolts
• Made in Minnesota, USA
• Replacement parts available
• Pricing:
  • Morse Cargo Cage: $39.95 USD
  • Morse Cargo Cage + two Cargo Straps: $51.95 USD
  • Cargo Strap individual: $8.95 USD

wolftoothcomponents.com

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Mosaic’s booth at the MADE handmade bike show over the weekend had a number of new bikes to ogle. Included in the lineup was this updated MT-1 made-to-order titanium hardtail. Beyond their revamped mountain bike, the GT-1 45 gravel bike got a UDH upgrade, and the newly integrated RT-1 ITR showcased a new colorful Artist Series paint job option. Additionally, all bikes can now Colorshift, too…

Mosaic MT-1 updates custom titanium XC hardtail MTB

Just under a year ago, Mosaic updated their more affordable batch-built MT-2 ti hardtail with modern geo and bigger tires. Now, they are back with a similar update to their lighter, made-or-order flagship MT-1 titanium XC hardtail. Also designed for 120mm forks, Mosaic describes the MT-1 as that perfect blend of “modern XC geometry with a hint of rowdy trail riding“. What’s more, this MT-1 is their lighter double-butted ti mountain bike with a bit more of a race-ready spirit.

What’s new & different in the revamped Mosaic MT-1?

First up, the new Mosaic MT-1 gets the exact same stock geometry update as the MT-2 did, for improved modern XC-into-Trail capabilities. But every MT-1 is handbuilt-to-order in Boulder, Colorado. So you can also customize that geometry if you need to tweak your fit or want to go faster or get more rowdy.

What else sets it apart is the custom lightweight double-butted T3A/2.5V titanium tubeset Mosaic uses to handbuild the MT-1. The new MT-1 also gets a UDH upgrade to bolt-on the latest SRAM T-Type transmissions.

MT-1 Tech details

The MT-1 is designed as a light race bike, so Mosaic designed it around 29 x 2.4″ tires. Yet, there’s still clearance for up to 2.6″ tires if needed. The frame is Boost-spaced, gets a 73mm threaded bottom bracket, 30.9mm seatpost, and comes with a tapered Chris King Inset 7 headset.

Mosaic MT-1 – Pricing & Availability

The updated Mosaic MT-1 sells for $6600 for the titanium frameset, with a 6-week leadtime. It comes in 4 stock sizes (S-XL), or you can get custom Rider Specific Geometry at no extra cost, as well. Pick from your choice of standard Mosaic paint layouts in your colors of choice, raw ti, or go for one of Mosaic’s premium Factory Finishes, all included in the standard pricing. Routing is up to you, depending if you need/want internal cabling in the downtube or opt for more of a pared-back wireless or simpler external setup.

Complete bike builds are always possible, too. This XO Transmission build with a custom-painted (Beautiful Chaos) Fox 34 SC Factory fork & Enve M525 carbon wheels would sell for $13,575.

GT-1 45 gravel bike gets a UDH upgrade & Artist Series finish option

Mosaic’s top-tier GT-1 45 gravel bike also gets an update, moving to the UDH standard for improved drivetrain compatibility or ease of derailleur hanger replacement. The GT-1 45 is Mosaic’s premium level-1 custom titanium gravel bike, designed for 42-45mm tires. Pick a GT-2 for more affordability, GT X series for bigger off-road tires, or a GT AR for faster all-road gravel builds.

But it seems like only the custom GT-1 gets a UDH for now, although you can also still get an old-style replaceable hanger if you want for some reason. Although, we’d guess all of the level-1 ti bikes should have the UDH option soon.

Built together with their Chicago dealer shop Velosmith, Mosaic’s MADE show bike gets more than just a UDH with an Eagle mullet transmission. Mosaic finished it in a new Artist Series paint job named ‘Beautiful Chaos’.

This new level-1 finish option mixes crisply masked lines with splatter drip effect paint details. Put that all over a fade paintjob, customizable in your fav color palette.

RT-1 ITR integrates road bike routing & shows off that Artist Series option

Another updated bike with killer custom paint is the recently integrated Mosaic RT-1 ITR road bike. The new ITR moniker means Integrated Thick Road. Thus, it combines mega 35mm slick tire clearance with fully hidden internal cable routing.

The custom double-butted ti RT-1 ITR features Enve’s new Integrated Road fork/bar/stem combo. Furthermore, there’s that lust-worthy Chris King classically-styled Aeroset headset, plus new Mosaic road chainstays

This RT-1 ITR show bike also sports a new Artist Series finish.

Here, it is ‘Prismatica’, e.g. a nod to MADE’s Portland neighbor Chris King. Hence, they decorate it with small colorful bubbles, bumble bees, and crowns in a rainbow of splatters.

Of course, Mosaic also includes an appropriately colorful set of purple Chris King components to round out its custom build.

All types of Mosaic can get a Colorshift paint job now, too.

Lastly, every level-1 Mosaic can now get a Colorshift paint job, too. At MADE, Mosaic painted 6 GT-1 AR all-road gravel bikes in these new 6 Colorshift colors from their Finishwork lineup. Thus, now pick from the color-changing chameleon look that best suits your custom style.

MosaicCycles.com

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Before the inaugural MADE show is even officially underway, we have big news from Portland. First reported by The Ride with Ben Delaney from SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Moots has a new bike. It’s not just any bike though, it’s a bike with an all-new wheel size.

Not 700c. Not 650b. The new bike is rolling on a slightly bigger wheel size called 750d. The wheels and tires seem to be only manufactured by WTB at this point, so we reached out and asked if they could give us more details. As luck would have it, WTB was on hand in Portland with Moots getting ready for the show and sent us pictures of the new bike.

When asked about the wheel size specifically, WTB stated. “In short, we developed a large diameter 750d tire and rim that currently only fits custom-built-to-spec bikes. WTB is constantly prototyping to determine the next advancement in bike technology, but there is currently no production timeline for 750d. While we made this tire many years ago, our plans to move forward are dictated by brands’ interests in this new wheel size. If brands begin manufacturing and spec-ing bikes that accomodate 750d tires, then we will have the opportunity to move forward with the project. There are no plans to offer 750d products aftermarket until there is OEM spec. We’ll be ready if that moment comes. Until then, we’ll continue to roll with the diameters currently in the market!”

Why Would We Possibly Need Another Wheels Size?

Based on what we’ve seen so far, the 750d size could fill a gap between 700c and 36″. We’ve seen a few brands and small builders create 36ers for exceptionally tall riders, so 750d could be useful for riders that want something bigger than 700c, but smaller than 36″.

Would that be a big enough market to convince WTB to go into full production of 750d? That seems questionable, but 750d does seem like it would be a more realistic wheel size than 36″ for most riders.

This Isn’t the First Time WTB Launched a New Tire Size at a Trade Show

One of the more interesting details to this story is that way back in 1999, WTB did something similar – with the same tire model. At Interbike, WTB unveield the first-ever 29″ tire with a custom WTB bike to fit the 29 x 2.1″ Nano Raptor. It seems that history does repeat itself, only this time with a 750d x 40mm Nano Raptor. Just like the 750d now, the 29″ wheel size was then greeted with immense skepticism. And now?

See It At MADE Show

We’ll have plenty more to show you from MADE Show, but we’re expecting this particular Moots to be very popular this weekend. Not only does this Routt CRDD have the 750d wheels, but it’s also fitted with the new Moots MOD bar and stem. It’s not clear what fork this bike is running yet, but we’ll have more directly from MADE!

The post A New Wheel Size? Moots Prototype Debuts at MADE w/ 750d WTB Wheels & Tires appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Sage Titanium Storm King gravel bike gets a full makeover, adding stealth internal routing and massive tire clearance, with two options based on your preferred drivetrain.

The geometry gets an update, too, with longer reach paired to shorter stems for a snappy yet stable feel. Here’s all the details…

The Storm King v2’s changes cascade through the frame, each one leading to other updates, starting with the increased tire clearance, which was made possible by a new 3D-printed titanium drive side chainstay yoke.

Available in two versions, the standard “Gravel” yoke opens up clearance for huge 700×50 tires while maintaining double-chainring compatibility.

It’ll fit the popular 48/31 Shimano GRX and 43/30 SRAM Wide 2x chainring combos, or up to a 46-tooth 1x chainring.

Want more? Opt for the wider “Gravel+” chainstay yoke and you can fit 650×2.4″ tires in there, but will be limited to 1x drivetrains up to 44-tooth chainrings.

The new chainstays worked with their existing bent seat tube to keep chainstay length at 42.3-42.7mm across the eight frame sizes, same as on the original model. But they did update other aspects of the geo…

Reach and effective top tube lengths increase by 20mm, and stems are shortened by the same amount. This keeps the rider in the same spot, but improves toe/front tire overlap clearance, which is especially important when running the largest tires.

That means the wheelbase is stretched out by 20mm, too, which founder Dave Rosen says makes the bike a bit more stable at speed, but the shorter stems maintain snappy steering at lower speeds.

When purchased as a frameset or complete bike, the 44mm headtube now comes with a Chris King AeroSet headset and a choice of stems and cockpits. Most bikes will come with ENVE setups, but the smaller frame sizes come with shorter stems than ENVE offers, so FSA and Deda options are also available…as are FSA and other headsets that offer stealth internal routing, because…

…the new frame runs everything inside, from the headset back. Or directly from the levers back with compatible handlebars and stems (like ENVE’s). This includes dropper seatpost routing, and, perhaps surprisingly, mechanical shift cables and housing if you’re opting out of electronic shifting.

It also gets their sleek new 3D-printed titanium dropouts, which fork the rear disc brake mounts into the same piece (and trail off with a gorgeous tear-drop shape).

Their owl logo looks pretty smart on the back side, keeping an eye on anyone trying to pass.

Not shown on this bike, all new Storm King v2 frames will ship with a UDH and T-Type compatible drive side dropout. The key distinction here is that more and more gravel and road frames are UDH-compatible, and getting spec’d with the Universal Derailleur Hanger, but not all of those are T-Type compatible with SRAM’s latest Transmission drivetrains. True, those groups are only for mountain bikes (for now), but if you wanted to build a mixed drivetrain with MTB cassette and derailleur, it matters.

Frames are made in the USA from US-sourced 3/2.5 titanium and start at $6,000 before adding paint, anodizing, or Cerakote (this frame has a custom Cerakote finish, click any image to enlarge). Framesets include bar, stem, and ENVE Adventure Fork, from about $6,500. Complete bikes typically range from $9,500 to $14,000 including stock finish options.

Headed to the MADE show? Be sure to swing by Sage Titanium’s booth for a sneak peek at more new bikes and bits.

SageTitanium.com

The post Sage Storm King Gravel Bike 3D-prints Mega Tire Clearance appeared first on Bikerumor.

A quick glance at the new saddle from Specialized would suggest that may be your ordinary road saddle. But look closer, and you’ll see the telltale pattern of a 3D-printed structure underneath the cover. That’s because the new Power Expert with Mirror uses the same 3D-printed tech (in spots) as the S-Works Power, Power Pro, and Romin EVO with Mirror models, but this one gets a cover.

While some have come to love the look of an airy 3D-printed saddle, others may find it a challenge to keep clean. For those riders who want the added comfort of the optimized 3D-printed matrix without the holes, the new Power Expert with Mirror saddle fits the bill. The 4-way stretch cover is designed to allow the saddle to conform to your body as the other models, only with extra protection on top.

That cover also helps hide the blend of 3D-printed matrix and traditional padding. The other saddles in the Mirror range are fully 3D-printed, but the Power Expert uses “3D-printed inserts” under the sit bones. Around those inserts is more typical PU foam, which is likely responsible for reducing the price tag.

The Power Expert with Mirror drops the price substantially for a Specialized 3D-printed saddle. Priced at $200, the Power Expert model is by far the most affordable while still being respectably light at 214g (143mm).

That weight is partially due to the hollow titanium rails, which are the only rail option here. There are four sizes offered with 130, 143, 155, and 168mm widths. At the back of the saddle, you’ll find SWAT-compatible mounts for accessories.

First Impressions

While I personally haven’t tried any of the Power with Mirror saddles, I am a big fan of the Power saddle shape overall. The standard S-Works Power saddle has become my favorite for my all-road bike, so what would I think of the Power Expert with Mirror?

At first ride, the saddle felt immediately comfortable. I’m sure a lot of that was familiarity with the shape, but the support and cushion around the sitbones was really nice. I also appreciate the grip-level of the cover. It’s not so tacky that you can’t easily move around on the saddle, but it also keeps your rear from sliding back on hard efforts.

I would like to compare it to the S-Works Power with Mirror saddle to see if there is a difference in comfort on the edges of the saddle nose. But the difference in comfort would have to be huge to make up for the $250 price difference. Overall, I’ve been very happy with the new saddle, and I think it will permanently replace the standard S-Works Power model I had on there previously.

specialized.com

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Want the new SRAM Transmission, but don’t want to buy a new crankset? It was only a matter of time before brands started offering different T-Type compatible chainrings, and not surprisingly, Wolf Tooth Components has stepped up to the plate.

Race Face Cinch

For their Race Face models, WTC took their existing Cinch direct mount rings and updated them for T-Type. That means designing them for the new 55mm chainline, and adding their Drop-Stop B tooth profile that is optimized for T-Type chains.

The Race Face Cinch T-Type rings will be offered in 32, 34, and 36t round rings, and 32, and 34t oval rings.

SRAM 3-Bolt Direct Mount

Since all of the SRAM Transmission chainrings use the newer 8-bolt mounting pattern, WTC is also making 3-bolt chainrings for SRAM’s own cranksets. That, or any other crank that uses the older 3-bolt direct mount pattern.

These rings will be offered in 30, 32, 34, and 36t round, and 30, 32, and 34t oval options.

And if you have any questions about what exact chainring you need to install a new SRAM drivetrain on your bike, WTC put together this handy guide.

wolftoothcomponents.com

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Headquartered in Laguna Beach, Southern California’s Crankbrothers released a new line of multi-tools called the F-Series. The F-Series tools are meant to be the perfect multi-tool for riders with tubeless tires.

The F11 and F16 will make it easy to plug a punctured tire and store extra plugs plus a chain link. Both the F11 and F16 have a magnetic case that doubles as a handle providing the “convenience of a full-size set of tools at all times”.

Crankbrothers F16 Multi-Tool

Retail: $59.99

Color: Matte Black

Features:

• 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8mm hex
• t25 Torx tool
• Phillips screwdriver
• Standard screwdriver
• Tire plug tool + 3x plugs
• Chain tool
• #0,1, 2, 3 spoke wrenches
• Weight 182g
• 5-year warranty

Bonus features:

• Chain link holder (chain link not included)
• Magnetic case/handle
• Bottle opener
• Valve core remover

Crankbrothers F11 Multi-Tool

Retail: $49.99

Color: Matte Black

Features:

• 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8mm hex
• t25 Torx tool
• Phillips screwdriver
• Standard screwdriver
• Tire plug tool + 3x plugs
• Weight 136g
• 5-year warranty

Bonus features:

• Chain link holder (chain link not included)
• Magnetic case/handle
• Bottle opener

CrankBrothers.com

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The MADE Bike Show, is being held in Portland Oregon. There, bike-bling-gurus Chris King Components are revealing its latest eye candy. The new Limited Edition “Splash” consists of a deep bronze base color with the classic Chris King turquoise splashed over it. And it looks amazing…

The whole run of this new color will only be 50 complete kits. Kits will include a headset, bottom bracket, and King wheels, with configurations for all-road, gravel, and mountain bikes available.

Jay Sycip, Chris King’s Design Manager said, “The inaugural MADE show is here in Portland, so we just had to do something special, something we hadn’t done before, and that was the motivation for Splash. It will be both a component finish and a soft goods collection. There will be a LOT of King components and wheels on bikes all around the show. For us, it’s like a homecoming“.

Chris King has been anodizing bicycle components as early as 1988, with limited colors being added and removed from the line each season. Remember earlier this year, they brought back their prized 1988 color, 3D Violet… nothin’ says “bling” like purple anno.

Sycip continued, “We’ve seen what others have done with splatter and drip anodize effects in the past, not just on bike parts, but in other industries as well, and wanted to create a more refined version incorporating some favorite colors from our palette. Our Matte Bourbon color was incredibly popular and a favorite of many here at King, and we loved the way that warm bronzy color worked with many paint and component choices, especially on handmade bikes, and how well it complemented vibrant color accents. We wanted to take the subtle sophistication of a bronze base color and add a ‘Splash’ of something bright and complementary to take it to the next level: our Matte Turquoise“.

The new Splash colorway will make its global “in-person” debut on show bikes that were produced for the MADE Show this week. The Chris King booth will be displaying Splash-themed bikes from Mosiac, Argonaut, and Tomii.

How Much?

Each Splash kit will contain a headset, bottom bracket, and King FusionFiber® Wheelset, built to order

Retail: $3450 (road/gravel build kits)

Retail: $3275 (mountain build kits)

The limited edition Splash components will be available, as a complete kit for the above disciplines through Chris King dealers and the Chis King website. The kits will be sold on a “first-come-first-served” basis.

ChrisKing.com

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