DIRT BOY/LIGHT-BIKES.COM

The 2009 Schwalbe Ultremos are here!

2008-08-25T13:17:00.003-05:00

Better than ever! Lighter and faster!

Shimano DA Di 7970 Full Electronic Shifting!!

2008-08-01T05:51:00.004-05:00

Japanese parts manufacturer Shimano is launching an electronic shifting system
for high-end road bikes that it claims will vastly improve performance and
reduce maintenance. By replacing the conventional levers that pull wound-steel
cables through protective housings with solid-state switches and rubber-coated
wires, there's no chance for road gunk to clog things up and interfere with
shifting, or, for that matter, your post-ride beer.

The principle of an electronically controlled drive train is to execute
perfect shifts every time, thus "reducing mental overhead," in the words of
Shimano marketing manager Devin Walton. This is a resource cyclists find in
short supply during epic rides.

Thursday's announcement that the system, called Di2, will hit shops in
January 2009 settles a question first raised in 2005 when prototypes began
cropping up on the bikes of select Shimano-sponsored racers in the pro
peloton. The system's development has been photographed, chronicled and
Angsted over ever since.

But if the existence of electronic shifting comes as no surprise, its
weigh-in certainly should. During a recent telephone interview, an industry
insider who spoke on condition of anonymity stopped cold amid a
why-do-we-need-this diatribe, upon learning that Di2 weighs less than
Shimano's current generation of parts. According to the company, Di2 will be 67
grams lighter than the current

Dura-Ace 7800 and only 68 grams heavier than Dura-Ace 7900, the snazzy
forthcoming 2009 suite of parts. "I'll be going to hell," said the source, who
then fell silent -- no doubt converting grams to ounces to fractions of a pound
to the limitless advantages of such weight savings. That's at least an extra
Clif Bar.

Di2's front derailleur automatically adjusts itself so
the chain doesn't rub as you shift.

Shimano plans to offer the electronic setup as an upgrade option within the
7900 group -- which is preselling for $2,600 -- so parts such as the two-tone
cranks and brakes will be the same. (No word yet on the additional cost for
electric; it could be double.) Di2 consists of two brake-and-shift levers, two
derailleurs whose springs have been replaced by servo-motors, a 7.4-volt
lithium-ion battery pack, and the wiring harness that connects everything.

The derailleurs, whose job is to move the chain from gear to gear as you
shift, talk to each other and automatically adjust so the chain doesn't rub.
They also calibrate themselves, so you don't have to play with cable tension to
maintain shift quality as cables stretch and the chain and cogs wear. And
although the control buttons have been placed in the traditional location behind
the brake levers -- so as not to confuse anyone or overly tax that mental
overhead -- they could be integrated with the ends of time-trial bars, the top
of the handlebars or just about anywhere a rider might find convenient.

Still, the advantage that people who've experienced the system talk about is
how little effort it takes to change gears. A quick nudge to one of the shift
switches signals a motorized worm gear in the derailleur to instantly move the
precise amount it needs to. Fractions of a second later, the chain snaps into
position.

Chris d'Aluisio, director of advanced research and development for
Specialized, likens the difference between mechanical and electric shifting to
the difference between driving a race car with a manual transmission and one
with F-1 style paddle shifters. "You can stay on the gas and flip through the
gears with no hesitation," said d'Aluisio. "It's seamless power."

Frankie Andreu, who raced in nine Tours de France, described the shifting as
"immediate and very smooth and accurate.... It's super nice."

Even my curmudgeonly unidentified source said, "The shifting is mind-blowing:
I mean, you just touch the button, and it shifts."

The shift buttons are located in the traditional place --
behind the brake levers -- but they could go anywhere without affecting
the performance of the system.

Like the 7900 mechanical derailleur, the 7970 has a
new carbon fiber rear pulley cage, and the new design is compatible with
wider-range cogsets, accommodating up to 27 teeth. Driven by a servo
motor instead of a cable and spring, shifts are identical and precise
due to the computer control unit analyzing each shift.

But let's not lose perspective. Shimano isn't the first company to attempt
electronic shifting. Mavic introduced

Zap in 1994 and then a wireless version called Mektronic in 2000, neither of
which survived. Zap's wires proved to be less than waterproof, and Mektronic was
finicky to set up properly. Shimano, notorious for its rigorous testing
gauntlet, is betting that its engineers have solved the electricity problem --
and so is Campagnolo, a competitor that is on a similar development path but has
yet to announce when it will release its system.

The crux of the engineering challenge is making the battery light yet
long-lasting, so Shimano's engineers turned to the hardest-working part in any
shifting system: the front derailleur. It's also the most temperamental, with a
nasty habit of dropping or jamming the chain if the rider doesn't modulate his
tempo properly while shifting. (Mavic didn't even go there -- only the rear was
electric.) To be fair, the front derailleur has the notably tough job of moving
a chain under heavy load between two gears of dramatically different sizes,
moving at different speeds. The Di2 crew knew going in that it would require
three or four times the juice of the rear derailleur.

So, when Shimano started out in 2003, the initial strategy was to throw a
bunch of power at the problem, and take advantage of the servo-motor's massive
torque. But this came at too high a cost, according to former Olympian Wayne
Stetina, a Shimano vice president whose primary job is to test equipment and
provide feedback to the engineers in Japan. "As I recall, in 2004 we had a much
larger battery that went dead on me several times during long rides," said
Stetina, who has logged 19,000 miles on various iterations of Di2. "It couldn't
last more than three or four hours between charges, and the battery pack and
control system weighed nearly a pound."

Shimano claims that the 7.4-volt lithium-ion battery will
go 1,000 kilometers between charges.

That wasn't going to fly in a sport where grams can translate directly into
seconds. The trick would be to conserve power, not squander it. Shimano's
engineers redesigned the geometry of the front-derailleur to amplify the force,
so they could get the necessary output with far less input. The greater leverage
of the new derailleur allowed for a much smaller battery and ultimately shaved
half a pound off the system. Stetina claims the battery consistently lasts 2,000
miles between charges (which takes 90 minutes). Officially, Shimano says the
battery will last for 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).

The front derailleur doesn't actually move with more force or more speed, as
you might assume. It does receive the signal to shift faster than you can send
one by cranking on your lever and fighting against friction, spring tension and
a lesser mechanical advantage. More important, it should do the same exact
thing, every time, without needing to be coaxed or cursed. Powered as it is by
an electric motor, the front derailleur simply moves a calibrated distance when
it's told. "It just jams the chain into the big ring, no matter how much load is
on it," d'Aluisio said. "You don't lose any momentum, and your legs never
stall."

Road-bike aficionados are much like trout: simultaneously enthralled and
mortified by anything shiny and new that enters their environment. And so it's
not surprising that the first two questions people tend to ask about Di2 are: 1)
What if the battery dies? and 2) What if it gets wet?

Stetina believes he's personally answered the first. And besides, he said,
there is a battery meter on the Flight Deck computer (which includes heart rate,
altimeter, inclinometer, calorie counter and the ability to download all these
details to your PC after the ride). His unscientific-though-admirable strategy
for testing the waterproofness of the system has been to blast the components
with the high-pressure hose at a coin-op car wash.

Presumably Shimano's engineers in Japan have more-traditional testing
methods. The company prides itself on systems engineering, and has been working
on this set of components for more than five years. How will it work? You can
find out for yourself when Di2 goes on sale in January. Call us when you've put
12,000 miles on it

2009 Schwable Ultermo news...

2008-07-18T10:38:00.006-05:00

Schwalbe is bringing some new versions of there best clincher tire!

There new Ultremo R will be a scant 180g with better puncture resistance. Also a "DD"
(Double Defense) model with be available.

Ultremo R will be available in colors as well. These will be available @ sales.light-bikes.com this August!

**Ultremo R - New Triple Nano Compound which reduces rolling resistance. A new HD Ceramic layer with improved puncture protection, 127 tpi

**Ultremo DD - (Double Defense=HD Ceramic Guard + Snake Skin) with stronger sidewalls and +/- 30 grams more than a Ultremo R version and 67 tpi.

Ultremo R will be available in many colors-

Campagnolo 11 speed SR, Record and Chorus pics

2008-06-18T08:41:00.004-05:00

are now available. Larger pics are located on our main site:
Campagnolo 09

Here are some sample pics -

Offical Super Record Pictures

2008-06-17T21:34:00.003-05:00

Released by Campagnolo today. I am not sure I will use or even love the new look, but the RD is MONEY! The internals of the shifters is all new and nothing is compatible with 10 Campy stuff.

Pictures of the new Campy 2009 Shifters...

2008-06-11T05:44:00.003-05:00

Wow, Campagnolo has lost it! I hate these! Yes, Super Record, Record and Chorus WILL be 11 speed. There will not be any backwards compatibility for Campy 10 speed.

http://light-bikes.com/BikePhotos/web_pics/NewsImageAl1_15565200831154.jpg

http://light-bikes.com/BikePhotos/web_pics/NewsImageBig_73965200831047.jpg

Shimano unveils the new Dura-Ace 7900

2008-06-01T20:45:00.008-05:00

Here is Shimano’s official introduction of the new 7900 Dura-Ace group, which will be available for purchase this fall.

Larger version: http://light-bikes.com/BikePhotos/web_pics/DA7900big.jpg

FC-7900 Dura-Ace crankset

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900: The new crank

Photo: Courtesy Shimano

The new Dura-Ace crankset features a hollow outer chainring. Likely due to the ring and further refinement of its hollow forging process Shimano claims the crankset is 20 percent stiffer and 15 grams lighter than the 7800 edition. Other changes include redesigned chainring teeth said to improve chain interface and power transfer, as well as improved bottom bracket seals to reduce contamination and friction. The new crankset does not adopt Shimano’s 970 XTR non-drive crank arm attachment; instead it retains the pinch-bolt style design of the old crank.

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900: The compact version.

Photo: Courtesy Shimano

After a long wait Shimano will also carry a Dura-Ace branded compact crankset (34/50) with the 7900 series group.

The latest word of Shimano’s yet-to-be-sold Carbon Dura-Ace crank is that it will keep the 7800 series designation and chainring style. Its revised release date is later this year, likely fall.

FD-7900 Dura-Ace front derailleur

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900: The new front derailleur.

Photo: Courtesy Shimano

Shimano claims its new Dura-Ace front derailleur cage design eliminates the need to manually trim the front shifting, therefore the extra detents have been eliminated. The redesigned front derailleur linkage is wider and the spring is tweaked to reduce the effort required at the shift lever. This is a tough one to stomach, as the absence of trim for both chainrings is one of our top gripes when it comes to SRAM’s road groups.

RD-7900 Dura-Ace rear derailleur

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900: The rear derailleur

Photo: Courtesy Shimano

The rear derailleur further illustrates the brand’s acceptance of carbon fiber with a carbon fiber pulley cage. The rear derailleur loses another 16 grams. The new mech is compatible with wider range cogsets and can accommodate up to a 28-tooth cog.

ST-7900 Dura-Ace Dual Control levers
The new STI Dual Control levers offer a refined ergonomic shape and are claimed to be 40 grams lighter. 7900 will be known as the group in which Shimano fully accepted carbon fiber. The new STI levers feature unidirectional carbon fiber lever blades, which are responsible for much of the reduced weight. Shimano also took the opportunity of a lever redesign to tuck both the brake and shifter cables under the handlebar tape, putting it in line with its competitors. The shifters are held to bars via titanium clamps and bolts. Shimano claims that the revised internal mechanism along with a new PTFE-lined casing keep the action as light as previous designs.

The shift stroke for the rear derailleur has been reduced by 20 percent for quicker shifts, but a 7800 rear derailleur will work with the new group and vice versa. A built in reach adjuster allows for fine-tuning the fit for riders with smaller hands.

The shifters continue to offer integrated controls for a new FlightDeck computer (SC-7900), which has been updated to include heart rate, altitude, grade, cadence, gear position, and is directly downloadable via a wireless connection. The new SC-7900 computer is completely wireless via the use of a coded frequency.

BR-7900 Dura-Ace brakes

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900: The new brakes.

Photo: Courtesy Shimano

According to Shimano its new Dura-Ace brakes have “Increased linear response, improved braking power and reduced weight.” In addition the company claims that its new brake pad compound doubles wet condition performance, while improving dry power by 20 percent. If this proves true, Shimano will have a brake that’s untouchable in terms of power; the current version still serves as the industry’s benchmark. The “increased linear response” is spawned from a redesigned caliper arch, while the cable stop is lower profile, creating smoother cable routing, which is said to reduce cable friction. The brakes feature a spring tension adjuster and adjustable toe-in for the pads while dropping nearly 30 grams from the combined front and rear calipers.

CS-7900 Dura-Ace cassette

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900: The cassette.

Photo: Courtesy Shimano

Shimano claims further shifting improvements by creating a stiffer and lighter aluminum carrier along with re-engineered tooth profiles. The largest four cogs are titanium. Shimano claims the cassette is 10 grams lighter. The 7900 Dura-Ace cassette will be available in the following combinations: 11-21, 11-23, 11-25, 11-27, 11-28, 12-23, 12-25 and 12-27.

Components	Dura-Ace 7800 Weight (Grams)	7800 (2008) Pricing	Dura-Ace 7900 Weight
Brakes	314	$320	284
Cassette (11-23)	173	$200	163
Chain (116 links)	280	$50	262
FD Braze	74	$130	74
RD SS	180	$160	164
Shifters	420	$480	380
Front Hub	129	N/A	N/A
Rear Hub 7850	267	N/A	N/A
Crank/BB (l70mm)	740	$480	725
Total	2577	$1820
Hub Weight:	396
Weight w/out Hubs:	2181		2052

(2009 Dura-Ace 7900 pricing is not available)

Campy 11 Speed confirmed!

2008-05-29T10:26:00.002-05:00

Look at the wheel compatibility! 9/10 and 11 speed!

2009 Shimano DA Mech photos again...

2008-05-21T10:42:00.004-05:00

More pics! Carbon Levers are now confirmed.

NEW 2009 Campagnolo - 11speed!!

2008-05-21T08:03:00.004-05:00

Well from many insiders and other sources, we have learned and will tell you for 2009 Campagnolo will release a 11 speed groupsets.

Super Record, Record and Chorus will now be 11 speed.
None of the 11 speed stuff is backwards compatible either!
The chain has been reduced to 5.5mm, and the 11 sprockets fit in the same space that 10 once did.

Yes, Super record is back with Ceramic bushing in the RD and Ceramic bearings among other spots.
Everything is new except the brakes and minor aesthetic changes to the cranks.

Centuar and below will get a complete overhaul, but remain 10 speed.

Wheels:

Bora and Hyperon will both see ceramic bearings.

2 New Tubeless wheelsets: Neutron Ultra and Shamal Ultra?

Wow, with 09 DA 10 Mech and DA 10 Electronic coming, Campy just raised the bar again.
Or did they?

Personally, I don't see the need for 11 speed gearings, unless you want straight block cassettes. Will this sell well or at alarming rates? Who know. But with 20-25% increases I have heard about from Campy, it will cost a pretty penny. What's Super Record going to cost?

Personally, I am staying with Camp 10 for a while.

Updated 2009 DA Mech Pics...

2008-05-07T13:03:00.002-05:00

Carbon levers now grace the shifters as well as the Ice Grey color on the brakes.
Very similar to Ultegra SL finish.

2009 SRAM News...

2008-04-18T15:11:00.008-05:00

New info for SRAM 2009 -

SRAM RED

The crankset gets an important upgrade: The axle is bigger, it is now 30mm of diameter instead of 24mm. The new BB 30 Standard. * Stiffer * The weight is reduced * Q-Factor is reduced * Bearings are larger, meaning stiffer and more durable as well.

There are two new cassettes offered beside the current 11/23 and 11/26: - 11/25: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 - 11/28: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 28

SRAM RED TT

SRAM offers some new time trial components.

- A PowerGlide technology chainring: * 55, 54 and 42 teeth * Grey tungstene finish to improve resistance * Aero chainring which increase the stiffness too - The 500TT shift levers have a new a red touch * cheaper than the carbon version * the rear shift lever is indexed, the front one is operated on a friction mode * 154g per set - Aero brake levers, the 500TT: * red color * 115g per set, which is 16g heavier than the carbon version

RIVAL

Certainly the most reworked for 2009. It uses a lot of the systems featured on the high range groupsets. This is probably a best-seller if the price isn't too high. - Black finish - Carbon levers (320g, 20g saved) * System Zero-Loss for the front derailleur (read further explanations above) * The brake and shifter cable housings can run along either side of the handlebar * Reach adjustment * Wider aluminum shifter paddle - Aluminum hollow cranks, OCT technology (open core) * 40g are shaved off the previous version * Available in compact (110mm), and standard (130mm) * Cranks length from 165 -180mm

Photo ©: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

FORCE

The SRAM Force groupset get several upgrades from the high range Red groupset.
Only the levers are modified:

* They are longer
* The shifter paddle is reworked, it is widened
* The brake and shifter cable housings can run along either side of the handlebar
* Reach adjustment
* The front derailleur with Zero-Loss technology which engages front shift immediately.

More 2009 DA Mech Pics...

2008-04-10T11:06:00.003-05:00

Spotted on the Rabobank riders bikes @ Gent-Wevelgem.

Photo ©: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

Shimano is really doing a great job with the new 2009 line. They will surely get some folks who left them for SRAM to come running back!! Even us Campagnolo guys are eyeing the new DA!!

New 2009 SRAM Rival Carbon?

2008-03-18T17:24:00.003-05:00

Shown at the Taipei Cycle Show.

2009 Dura-Ace 7900 News...

2008-03-14T17:34:00.005-05:00

The news SHIMANO does NOT want you to know!!

2009 Shimano Dura Ace 7900. New & improved gossip.

Most of the press we've seen in the last few months about the new-for-2009 Shimano Dura Ace has focused on the electronic version of DA. Stefan Schumacher medaled on eDA at last year's World Championship Road Race, and he and his Gerolsteiner team mates have served as guinea pigs for eDA ever since. While the pure novelty of electronic shifting tantalizes, we got our own medals (for bravery) for fighting at the Battle of Zap and Battle of Mektronic. While we're intrigued by the alleged telepathic shift quality of eDA, it's hard to shed our concerns for its weight, its durability, and its reliability.

The excitement over eDA has been noisy, and it's obscured an underappreciated fact: Along with eDA, Shimano is also releasing a new version of non-electronic DA. It'll be known as Dura Ace 7900, and we've finally seen our first confirmed technical details about 7900. The purpose of this What's New posting is to shed some light on what you'll be seeing in the new-for-2009 non-electronic Dura Ace.

Here's what we DON'T know about Dura Ace 7900: Weight and cost. As soon as we get this info, we'll pass it along. But, for now, all we have is basic technical info. And, sorry, we don't have photos either.

Here's what we DO know, on a component-by-component basis:

STI Levers -

Say farewell to exposed shifter housing. Shimano is making the change to under-the-bar-tape cable routing They refer to it as "integral shift cables". We wonder if Shimano-sponsored pros will find digging deep on the front a but tougher without shift cables to grab on for stability…
"Better access to the lever from upper side with closer pivot." Our interpretation of this means that the shape of the brake hood will be different. We've never enjoyed the deep hook of DA brake hoods, and to our ears it sounds like Shimano is modifying the shape to make it more SRAM/Campy-like. In other words, no more plunging hook, and instead you'll see a flatter hood. Beyond the ergonomic improvement, Shimano also claims this leads to smoother braking.
You get a reach adjustment mechanism. This is a nice feature of SRAM Red, as well. Folks with small hands should be very pleased.
20% shorter stroke to achieve shift engagement on the right lever.
Weight savings thanks to the use of a carbon brake lever and a titanium fixing band & bolt.

7900 levers and calipers
Photo © Tim de Waele

Rear Derailleur -

Carbon! The pulley plate will be made from carbon fiber. Shimano is a company built on their commitment to the forging of alloys, so any sort of branching out into composites is a big, big deal.
Increased chain wrap capacity. In other words, you can use a wide range of gears (e.g. a 50/34 & an 11/28) without having to resort to a "Triple" rear derailleur.
You get an "enhanced pulling cable method" with an audible click when the shift is complete. But the price of superior shifting is this: Dura Ace 7900 STI Levers and the 7900 Rear Derailleur will not be compatible with current 7800-series Dura Ace.

Front Derailleur -

Shimano claims that your days of trimming the front derailleur are over. No trimming will be required. This is a pretty big coup when you compare it to SRAM, since one big upside of Red (in comparison to their Force and Rival gruppos) was its inclusion of FD trim.
The FD spring tension has been re-tooled to achieve "featherlight downshifting".

Crankset -

Put aside your sugar-plum visions of a DA Carbon crankset. Rather, Shimano has forged their 7900-series aluminum crank with even thinner walls to make it lighter than any production carbon crankset in the marketplace.
When you use the 7900-series crankset with the new 7900-series chain, you'll get no front derailleur rub thanks to its new chainring/spider design. This also allegedly provides improved power transfer, thanks to the superior mating of chain and chainring.
More weight savings comes from its new aluminum/carbon composite BB axle.
Shimano will also introduce a 7950 version of the crankset, with 50/34 chainrings. This will be the first-ever Dura Ace compact crank (a full, what, 7 years since FSA introduced theirs?)

Chain -

The 7900 chain is known as the "Super Narrow" chain. The redesigned outer plate resists chain suck, and the new design of both the inner & outer plate mesh with the chainrings with such precision that Shimano claims it reduces mechanical friction by 0.6%. We're a bit unsure how to parse what that 0.6% converts to…Does that mean an extra 2.4w when you're making a 400w effort? We're unsure, and we're eager for a fuller explanation. Perhaps more important is the fact that Shimano also says it's a quieter chain.
The 7900-series chain has hollow pins and perforated plates to further reduce weight.
Shimano will introduce a "Quick Link" for its 10-speed chains. Our impression is that this means tool-free installation.

Cassette -

Like the chain and the crankset, the cassette sprockets get fine-tuned to optimize shifting, and the cog carrier is a lighter-than-ever aluminum.
You'll see a wider array of cassette ratio options. In addition to all of the options you get in 7800, you'll also see an 11/25, 11/27, and an 11/28. Before you laugh at the 11/28, keep in mind that this is SRAM's #1 selling cassette ratio! All the ratios made in the 7800 will be produced as 7900-series models as well.

Brake Calipers -

Dig this: "Enhanced brake arch proportion." We think this means that you get quicker caliper response when you hit your brake lever, and perhaps better stiffness under heavy braking. We suspect that this is a photo of the new brake. Interestingly, the boys over at the Weight Weenies forum pointed out that this poor rider appears to have his brake shoes on the wrong side…
Lower profile outer cable stop. This improves cable routing, which decreases drag and improves the snappiness of the lever. If you've ever installed a set of Zero Gravity brakes, you know that fine-tuned brake cable routing is something you should never take for granted.
The brake pad compound changes. Shimano claims that the improvement will be most noticeable in the wet, where stopping power improves 210%. In the dry, you should expect a 120% improvement in stopping power.
Add'l titanium hardware saves overall weight.

Flight Deck Computer -

It's still integrated into the STI levers, but the functionality gets much broader -- It includes a heart rate monitor, altimeter, and an inclinometer. It's a full-on 2.4GHz wireless system, and you can even download data wirelessly onto your PC.

A final note on our understanding about backwards compatibility:

Rear Drivetain -- The 7900 system is only compatible with other 7900 components. The 7900 rear derailleur is compatible with 7800-series cassettes, but that's it. There is no other cross-compatibility. This also means that 7800-series components cannot be used in piecemeal with 7900 if your plan is to upgrade one component at a time. More or less, you'll need to upgrade to 7900 STI, rear derailleur, cassette, and chain in one fell swoop.

Front Drivetrain -- Same story. There's an Iron Curtain between 7900 and 7800. The only kinda, sorta compatibility is between the 7900 front derailleur and the 7800 crankset. Shimano states "slower shifting may occur depending on frame dimension" if you choose to mix things like this. We're not sure if "dimension" means frame size or geometry or what. But we can't imagine someone running a full 7800 bike with the exception of a 7900 front derailleur, so it's not something we're terribly worried about.

Brake Systems -- The 7900 STI Levers are compatible with 7800-series brake calipers.

We're looking at a best-case scenario of a late September 2008 delivery timeline.

It's been a while...

2008-03-11T15:30:00.003-05:00

Since I posted some information here. Family, business and riding have been taking up a lot of my time.

I hope to get the latest and greatest news to you, along with some random thoughts weekly!

If you have Light-Weight Bicycle News, Weight Weenie Articles or pictures, send them to us!
We can use some reporters!

email: DIRT BOY

New spy shots of DA 2009

2008-03-11T15:26:00.003-05:00

These photos are from weightweenies.starbike.com

RD has a carbon cage. It said to be a bit LIGHTER than SRAM Red.

Rock Shox launches new SID!

2007-08-31T09:02:00.000-05:00

Rock Shox launches new SID

After winning eight consecutive world championships and cranking out over half a million SID forks over its ten-year run, Rock Shox decided it was about time to put the kids to bed and wake up to a brighter morning. The new SID is (almost) here, and Rock Shox looks to have benefited from the lessons it has learned over the past few years.

Naturally, light weight was a key metric in the redesign, but engineers were not willing to sacrifice chassis rigidity goals or overall suspension performance in the process. As a result, the target 1450g weight for the production 2008 SID World Cup remains about the same as the existing model. Some may lament the lack of improvement in that area, but there certainly won't be any complaints about Rock Shox's claim that the new SID will boast overall stiffness on par with the current Reba World Cup.As we all expected, the new SID wears 32mm-diameter aluminum upper tubes matched to cast magnesium lower legs that sport Lyrik/Totem-like styling cues. In comparison to the similarly proportioned Reba, SID's stanchions are substantially shorter to minimize excess material. This allowed for correspondingly shorter damper and air spring shafts along with reduced oil volume, all of which shed grams. The shorter stanchion length also yields a hollow section at the bottom of each lower leg. This isn't all that important in and of itself, but it does allow for a more compact and rigid set of post mount disc tabs.

There is no carbon fiber steerer tube or crown, but with the newly optimized chassis, Rock Shox was apparently able to minimize the weight without resorting to more expensive (and somewhat more delicate) composite construction. Carbon fiber does make an appearance in the lower legs, however. The lower legs are wrapped in select areas to reinforce the structure, namely at the base of the arch and around the lower bushings to create a carbon fiber version of the reference Power Bulge.

SRAM will continue to use its proven spring and damper technology, but the usual plastic Motion Control spring tube is replaced with a lighter titanium version. The new compression assembly also uses a nearly identical low-speed compression circuit as on current Motion Control dampers, but now also includes a separate shimmed high-speed circuit for a more refined ride.

Both crown-mounted and remote lockout levers will be offered as with other Motion Control forks, but the new SID World Cup will exclusively offer a carbon fiber crown-mounted dial or a cleaner 'Nip/Tuck' remote cable spool design that neatly hides the end of the cable from view.Did we get to ride it? Sadly, no, but production forks will ship around February 2008.

Exclusive to SID is a new carbon fiber crown-mounted lockout dial.

2008 Eurobike updates!

2007-08-31T08:51:00.000-05:00

Here are some info and pictures from various outlets of new stuff at this year's Eurobike Expo in Germany.

2008 Shimano Dura Ace carbon fiber crankset.

708g

DT Swiss

Several manufacturers have focused on clincher carbon wheels this year. DT Swiss is among them. A new rim made in their factory in switzerland. It weights around 300g. The complete wheelset is 1250g for 1300 euros including the Ti skewers ( price to be checked). The hubs are the 190 Ceramic.

Zipp

Zipp 255: the rim replaces the 250, it is the one we presented in yesterday´s article. It is 32mm deep, it is dimpled, it features a new technology to increase the upper tube bed impact resistance of 32%. The weight is the same as the old 250. The dimples make it behave as a 50mm deep standard V shaped rim.

- Zipp 1080: the rim is 108mm deep!!! Perfect for time trial or triathlon.

Zipp new crankset.

- The new time trial wheel: it looks like a 808 rim bonded to a carbon structure. Zipp claims it has a negative drag! It´s something like it pushes you: you can earn 5 Watts at 350W. If you remember, we already shown this wheel about a year ago...

- Some new TT stuffs like bar extenders, shifters...

Cervelo

The RS:

Michelin

The Michelin Pro 3 is 200g, it is 27% more adhesive than the Pro 2 while cornering. It features a vectran puncture layer.

Shimano

Some pictures of Shimano wheels. Nothing new but close pictures are always interesting.

Info and pictures via www.rouesartisanales.com

2008 SRAM Red pricing info...

2007-08-31T08:49:00.000-05:00

SRAM RED pricing info

Suggested retail of $2142

Pricing

Here's what Red will cost you when it becomes available this fall: The whole group price, paired with SRAM's PC-1090R 10-speed chain, which Red shares with Force, will cost $2142. Here's the breakdown.

Shifters: $555 280-grams
Front Derailleur $108 58-grams (braze on only)
Rear Derailleur$311 153-grams
Brake Set$297 265-grams
Crankset $370 750-grams (with bottom bracket)
Bottom Bracket $195
Cassette$230 155-grams (11-23)
Chain $76 255-grams

1928g

Campagnolo RECORD: $1749
1985g
(Highest I could find. Availabe for $1549 in the US.)

So SRAM RED comes in at a claimed weight of 1928g roughly 357g lighter than RECORD but at a price of $393-593 more!

Sure street prices will come down around mid 2008, but from what I hear, SRAM is sticking to thier guns when it comes to enforcing pricing. So we will see in time.

I hope they fixed their brake and RD issues from FORCE at this pricing...

Like like the shifters, but I hate the Truvative cranks!

The cassette look like the most interesting part of the group.

Also thier $76 chain is a JOKE!

I am a huge SRAM fan on the MTB side so....

There are also RED Flat-Bar 10spd 3x9 shifters coming based on the X.0 Trigger design. Can you say 10sp MTB???

Official 2008 SRAM Red Spec/Pics...

2007-07-29T12:36:00.000-05:00

SRAM Red 2008

Here it is finally, he official pictures of the
group set that is available. We gave you the specs earlier this year and the
final weights specs were basically spot on!

The final weight is 1928g

Here is the official one:
2008 RED
Specs

The shifters:

- Technology DoubleTap with ZeroLoss
Technology

- Speeds 10 rear / Double FC front

- Weight 280g

- Material Carbon Brake Lever / Carbon Shift
Levers

- Compatibility SRAM Red, Force, and Rival
Front and Rear Derailleurs, SRAM and industry-standard 10 speed cassettes

The crankset:

- Arm Material Carbon

- Chainring Material AL 7075-T6 Aluminum /
Alloy Chainring Bolts

- Weight 760g w/ BB

- Available Arm Lengths 165, 170, 172.5,
175, 177.5, 180mm

- Available Ratios 53/39 and compact drives
50/36 and 50/34

- Compatibility GXP Team BB w/ BlackBox™
Ceramic Bearings

The derailleurs:

- Rear mech

- Technology Exact Actuation

- Speeds 10

- Weight 153g

- Material Aluminum B-Knuckle, Carbon-Fiber
Inner Link, Titanium Parallelogram Spring, Ceramic Cartridge Bearing,
Carbon-Fiber Cage, BlackBox™ Ceramic Bearing Pulleys

- Compatibility Max tooth 28T

Front mech:

- Technology SRAM actuation

- Speeds Double front chainring

- Weight 58g braze-on, 72g clamp-band

- Material Aluminum / Hardened Titanium Cage

- Compatibility 50/34, 50/36, 53/39, max 16T

The cassette and
the chain:
- Cassette

- Speeds 10

- Weight 155g / 11-23, 166g / 11-26

- Recommended Chain PC 1090R, PC 1090, PC
1070

- Lock Ring Material Aluminum Anodized

- Sprocket Material Heat-Treated Steel

- Available In 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
19, 21, 23; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26

- Chain

- Compatible Gears 10

- Model PC 1090

- Closing Link PowerLock

- Outer Plate Nickel silver

- Inner Plate Nickel silver

- Pin Treatment Chrome-hardened pins

- Recommended Group SRAM Red / Force /
Rival, HG, EXA-Drive compatible

- Chain Weight 257g (114 links)

The
brakes:

- Dual Pivot design w/ convex washers

- Weight 265g

- Material Cold-Forged Arms / Alloy Pivot
Bolt

- Pad / Holder SRAM compound w/ adjustable
cartridge holder

- QR Indexed

I am DONE with Clincher tires....

2007-07-16T11:16:00.000-05:00

except for century rides dues to sag support if I really needed it. Even then I doubt it. I have a nice pair of customer clinchers, but I will add another tubular set so my main back-ups are tubbies!!

Reason: Every time I have a flat it seem to be at higher speeds an on a corner. Yesterday I had to avoid a car a swerve. This caused me to go over a patch of glass. As I went over I started to turn (I was hoping the Schwalbe Ultermo Vectran belt would keep me flat less) but the tube blew and I almost went down before turning back to straighten up and come to a stop. I guess because I use latex tubes and light weight tires, when I get a puncture, its an immediate blow-out and the tire will work loose form the rim. Even with butyl tubes (it's slower) but that tire will come off the rim at higher speeds or corners. Imagine this happening on a nice downhill @ 30+ mph .

Well I had a very small cut to the sidewall where there is not protection so that glass screwed me. First flat on the Ultermos in close to 1000 miles.

Then my repair goes bad with after I managed only to have half a C02 available.

With my tubbies:

The tire won't blow off keeping hopefully on the bike. Hopefully it won't loose air so fast allowing me to break.
I can use Satan's NoTubes latex to prevent flats. If I do flat Vittoria PIT STOP will repair it an I get going faster.
I can also ride how slowly on the flat and not hike it 2 miles home like I had to do Sunday.

Sure tubbies have their issues, but having 4 bad blow-out with latex tubes and not going down except once, I am done! Unlike self-proclaimed tire Gurus feel, I DO think latex tubes ride better on light-weight or racing tires.

2007 Shimano Ultegra SL...

2007-06-09T06:11:00.000-05:00

For those who have not seen this group yet here you go. 100g lighter than the current Ultegra. When Electronic Dura-Ace arrives in 2008, this will be Shimano's top Mech Group.

Schwalbe Furious Fred...

2007-06-09T06:09:00.001-05:00

A new racing tire from Schwalbe called Furious Fred.
Size 26×2.00 - Target Weight: under 300g!!!

Availabe through all dealers after Eurobike this year.

T-Mobile to ride Lew PRO VT-1 wheelsets!

2007-06-09T06:01:00.001-05:00

The official press release will be coming from LEW on Monday. Look for these wheels to be ridden i the TDF this year.

You can have custom wheels built with the same rims from our shop: sales.light-bikes.com

New 2007 Schwalbe Racing Ralph Prototype

2007-05-21T14:49:00.000-05:00

Here are some details on the new Racing Ralph tire... "The Racing Ralph was re-vamped for 2007 with Triple compound and a new SnakeSkin version was added in the 26 x 2.25 size." The Knobs are also bigger for even better grip than previous versions.

No release date yet.

SRAM RED update...

2007-05-18T11:21:00.000-05:00

The Leak: SRAM's Red group

In the tech world, there's always something newer, lighter and lustier right around the corner. In the marketing world, thousands of dollars are spent to create a good buzz at just the right moment to drum up sales for the new stuff without cannibalizing sales of a company's existing product. Recently, SRAM may have gotten its tech and marketing wires crossed, as a 42-page document detailing its yet-to-be-released, top-end road group, Red, began circulating on the Internet well ahead of SRAM's planned launch.

When SRAM unveiled its Force and Rival groups in April of 2006, company spokesmen alluded to another group coming down the road. Full details weren't disclosed, but pieces of the puzzle soon began to pop up: Time-trial shift and brake levers were introduced at the Tour of California. Ceramic bearings were released at the Sea Otter Classic. But again, the full picture was kept intentionally shrouded.

This spring, all was well in the SRAM camp as new technologies were rolling out smoothly and the company got its products into the ProTour with Saunier Duval-Prodir. Recently SRAM began trickling out other product onto pro racers' bikes where it could be spotted by a trained eye.

At the Tour of Georgia, Road magazine editor Neil Browne spotted prototype DoubleTap shifters on Millar's team issue Scott Addict and posted the photo on his blog, www.neilroad.blogspot.com, under the title "Which one of these doesn't look like the other?" Note that the shift lever has a different shape than a Force or Rival lever. Browne has a good eye, but rest assured SRAM knew the lever stuck out like a sore thumb - it was in Georgia to be seen.

But every once in a while the best-laid plans go awry.

SRAM's plans for a later launch for Red had already started to spiral off course during the previous week at the Sea Otter Classic. In mid-April, Bicycling magazine contributor Joe Lindsey posted a link to a PDF document flying around cyberspace in his weekly Boulder Report column under the headline, "SRAM Launch: What's Here, What's Not." The live link came down roughly a week later.

Lindsey had posted a link to a 42-page document entitled "SRAM Technical Specifications MY08 MTB and Road Components," which appeared to be intended only for bicycle manufacturers and wholesalers.

"I'm not sure if it was the guy that runs the Light Bikes blog or what, but somebody got it and it was posted there originally," said Lindsey. "If you want to credit someone, that's where I first found it; in my story that's who I credited. I had heard a rumor about a document that was leaked, and basically I Googled it and came up with the document on Light Bikes."

The document outlines the specifications for Force, Rival and a new road group called Red. Within the document weights and material specifications are outlined in detail.

SRAM representatives will not deny or confirm any specifications that have been reported on the Red group. But this is where things get interesting. While the official company line is that the specifications of Red do not yet exist, SRAM's "Will you make the leap?" [www.willyoumaketheleap.com/seered/] Web site on May 4 confirmed the existence of the Red group and gave three details: The group will be under 2000 grams, available in October and will be a no-compromise, high-performance racing group.

On May 15, cyclingnews.com published a report on the new group based on its technical editor's research. The story was live for a short time in the early morning then was promptly pulled offline. Cyclingnews.com reposted a report on the topic this morning.

"There was some information - posted, released, whatever - online," said SRAM media manager Michael Zellmann. "None of that information is officially ours nor are we going to verify anything."

So is the PDF the real deal or something that unintentionally slipped into cyberspace? Or is this 42-page document just more clever marketing? Regardless, the juicy details about SRAM Red and its alleged incorporation of carbon, titanium and magnesium into all sorts of nooks and crannies makes for good reading.

KCNC V-Brakes Update...

2007-05-09T09:13:00.000-05:00

A buddy of mine on MTBR's Save some Weight (nino) forum received some levers and v-brakes.

Here are some pics and verified weights!

Basso admits only to 'attempted' doping

2007-05-08T08:38:00.000-05:00

'All my wins have been achieved in a proper and clean manner'

Ivan Basso said Tuesday that even though he had planned to blood dope for the 2006 Tour de France, he had actually never taken banned drugs or used blood transfusions.

Basso readies to meet the press.

photo: Agence France Presse - 2007

Basso's comments at a press conference follow his admission on Monday to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) that he was involved in the Operación Puerto blood doping scandal that rocked last year's Tour de France.

"I have never taken banned substances and I have never employed blood doping," last year's Giro d'Italia told reporters in an emotional statement he read prior to the start of a press conference he had called.

"I did admit having attempted to use doping for the (2006) Tour de France and I am ready to pay the penalty for that," Basso said. "All my wins have been achieved in a proper and clean manner and I have every intention of returning to action and continuing with the job I love once I have paid the penalty."

The 29-year-old Basso, one of the favorites for this year's Tour de France was among dozens of riders implicated in the Operación Puerto doping affair.

Basso said he is willing to accept the consequences

photo: Agence France Presse - 2007

The scandal erupted before last year's Tour De France when Spanish police uncovered an alleged blood doping network run by doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

Police seized nearly 200 bags of blood and a collection of doping products on a raid on Fuentes's laboratory in Madrid. Police also seized Fuentes's diaries full of codenames of cyclists and documents which suggested the doctor had been paid to manipulate and store blood.

The 2006 Tour was deprived of its top names such as Basso and 1997 winner Jan Ullrich who were barred from competing after their implication in the Puerto case.

This year, all three grand tour organizers have been piling the pressure on cycling authorities to act against implicated riders in an effort to avoid a repeat of last year's Tour fiasco in this year's major national tours, the first of which begins on Saturday in Italy.

Basso had consistently denied any wrongdoing, but last week he parted company with the Discovery Channel team after CONI reopened its inquiry into allegations against him.

He was initially acquitted by CONI of any involvement in the scandal after the first hearing due to what Italy governing body for sport had described as insufficient evidence. But CONI reopened its investigation after German officials successfully connected nine bags of blood to Ullrich.

Basso, with lawyer Massimo Martelli at his side, admitted that he had had dealings with Fuentes calling them "moments of weakness which will stay with me for the rest of my life and for which I intend to pay the price."

"Yes, I am ‘Birillo,'" said Basso, referring to a codename that appeared in Fuentes's records.

"I am fully aware that an attempt at doping is tantamount to doping, but I am asking to be excused for this and that should be enough," he said. "All my victories were obtained in an honest manner and nobody can contest what I achieved in the 2006 Giro d'Italia no more than the other results I achieved during my career."

Basso admits involvement in Puerto scandal

2007-05-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

Lawyer: 'He wanted to lift a weight off his conscience'

Basso

photo: AFP (file)

Ivan Basso on Monday confessed to the anti-doping prosecutor of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) that he was involved in the Operación Puerto blood doping scandal.

CONI said the 2006 Giro winner came to them of his own accord and offered to cooperate with their investigation and clarify his part in the scandal. Basso will face the media Tuesday at a midday press conference at Milan's Michelangelo hotel.

The 29-year-old Basso now faces a ban from cycling of up to two years and an additional two-year exclusion from riding on ProTour teams. If his doping is connected to his 2006 Giro win, authorities could also strip him of that title.

"He wasn't feeling good and he wasn't calm, and he wanted to lift a weight off his conscience," said Basso's lawyer Massimo Martelli. "During the interrogation he was shaking, but then he regained his composure to show great character."

Ivano Fanini, owner of Italian cycling team Amore and Vita, was happy to see Basso come clean.

"I knew it would finish this way and it could be a great chance for things to change," he said. "Basso has shown his intelligence and understands that this is the right road to take.

"He mustn't only think about saving himself, and I hope that what he has done proves to be important."

Basso, last year's Giro d'Italia winner and a pre-race favorite for the 2007 Tour de France, is one of dozens of riders implicated in the Puerto investigation.

The scandal erupted before last year's Tour De France when Spanish police uncovered an alleged blood doping network run by doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

Police discovered bags of blood and doping products on a raid on Fuentes's laboratory in Madrid, along with codenames of cyclists and documents which suggested the doctor had been paid to manipulate and store blood.

Last year, Basso's implication in the scandal cost him his place at the Tour de France.

UCI president Pat McQuaid expressed his dismay at hearing the news.

"Most of all I am very sad that a talented rider like Basso seems to have been involved in some illicit practices," he said. "On the other hand I'm trying to look at this news in a more positive light. Our constant efforts, with our other cycling partners, to put cyclists under pressure are paying off.

"Right now it's not easy to break the rules," he added.

Last week Basso parted company with the Discovery Channel team after CONI had called him to a hearing to answer doping charges.

Up until now Basso had protested his innocence. He was initially acquitted by CONI of any involvement in the scandal due to what Italy's governing body for sport described as insufficient evidence.

But CONI reopened its investigation after German officials matched blood seized in the Puerto raids to 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich. Until now, Basso had refused to submit to DNA testing, but in recent weeks the pressure to do so was increasing.

New KCNC V-Brakes and Levers...

2007-05-05T14:17:00.000-05:00

KCNC in Taiwan is now gunning for Extralite's UltraBrakes and UltraLever with their new brakes and levers.

Weights and pricing have yet to be confirmed but this is what we know:

The brake weight 58grams with Ti springs for each end without brake pads The Levers weight 42grams. MSRP is set at around $440, for both brakes and levers.

If the brake work as well as the Extralite ones we have a winner on pricing. But the levers might not be very stiff at that weight. We will have to wait and see. Other brakes levers have been made lighter, byt frankly they sucked and were wet noodles!

Tech Report: SRAM looks toward 2008

2007-05-03T07:45:00.000-05:00

X.0 rear derailleur: The company celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, and to commemorate the date, it updated its X.0 rear derailleur.

"This was the first product that helped re-establish SRAM as a performance brand," said Ron Ritzler, SRAM's road product manager. "Our goal at the time was to spare no expense and make the best derailleur in terms of weight, performance and durability. For this year we've changed the technology that makes up the cage."

The new X.0 rear derailleur has a cage modeled after the Force road rear derailleur and will be able to accommodate the new BlackBox ceramic pulleys (the older style X.0 derailleurs will not).

The outer half of the pulley cage is made from carbon fiber, but the inner half has been replaced with 7000-series aluminum. The update is said to bring stiffness to the lower cage along with more chain control. SRAM also claims that the impact strength of the cage has been increased by five times over the previous all carbon version.

The new hybrid carbon cage will also be found on the long-cage X.0 derailleur. Historically only the short and medium cage lengths were made with carbon. An outside vendor made the old composite cages, while the new design relies completely on SRAM's own carbon technology.

The B-bolt is anodized gold and laser-etched with the 20th anniversary logo. Regardless of cage length chosen, the new X.0 rear derailleur will cost $230.

Shimano's XT group gets updated for 25th birthday

2007-05-01T13:41:00.000-05:00

The new XT — plenty of choice for 2008

photo: Shimano

A quarter of a century is a milestone. It's real history. When someone or something has been around that long it has had a chance to grow into its true being.

In 1981, Yoshi Shimano, president of Shimano's U.S. sales office, noticed a weird new segment of bikes popping up in the U.S. bicycle market and immediately informed corporate headquarters in Japan that Shimano needed to be a part of this new "mountain" bike movement.

The new BL-775 brake lever incorporates Servo-Wave technology

photo: Shimano

The following year, Shimano introduced the Deore XT component group to the world. Since other full component group options were virtually non-existent, both bicycle manufacturers and consumers enthusiastically embraced the new mountain-bike group.

XT turns 25 this year, and to commemorate the occasion it gets a facelift for 2008. While many of the improvements trickle down from last year's revamp of XTR, there are a couple of brand-new technologies in the mix.

"This is an adventure group in the sense that it's designed to be as contemporary as possible in its focus," said Devin Walton, Shimano's PR manager

The ST-M775 Dual Control lever does as well, both feature radial master brake cylinders.

photo: Shimano

"XT, because it has a few more budgetary constraints, comes into a price point where it's going to hit a wider range and a higher volume of mountain bikes, from full, big-suspension trail bikes all the way to a cross-country-race-type bike.

"That's why you're seeing an even wider range and additional options over even what XTR offers. Options are sort of the result of XT's initiative of just being contemporary."

What's old is new again
When it was introduced in 1992, Servo-Wave was a mechanical cam-operated method of changing the XT brake lever's cable-pull ratio throughout the lever's stroke. The design started with a high ratio of cable pull to lever movement, then progressively reversed the mechanical advantage, providing more braking power. In addition to providing powerful braking control, the new system also permitted more rim clearance.

Shimano’s new RD-772 is called the Shadow rear derailleur for its narrow profile.

photo: Shimano

XT's new Servo-Wave disc-brake levers, which are available in stand-alone and Dual Control configurations, offer more brake-pad clearance than the old XT calipers - about the same as the new XTR version - and upwards of 20 percent more stopping power than the old XT disc brakes when paired with the group's new Mono-block brake caliper.

"The reason for even integrating the Servo-Wave is so that you can get the maximum amount of lever travel and leverage to get the most power," said Walton. "It's a blend between those two.

"What the Servo-Wave does is that it gives your pads clearance, but it moves the pads quickly through the first little bit of motion so the pads will contact [the rotor] as quickly as possible, and that's what allows you to get the most power out of the system."

Shimano’s new HB-M776 20mm XT hub hub can be purchased alone or in complete wheelset.

photo: Shimano

The new brake levers use a radial master cylinder and feature a tooled reach adjustment, plus what Shimano calls a lever free-stroke adjustment, commonly referred to as a pad-contact adjustment; no tools are needed for this. The calipers retain compatibility with XT's previous mounting hardware and brake pads.

The XT group adopts XTR's goal of providing choices for all types of riders. Most apparent is the new Shadow rear derailleur, which is new to Shimano's mountain line and meant as an option for technical-trail riders.

The Shadow is based on the top-normal (standard style) spring design. Main features are a slender side profile (15mm narrower than a standard XT derailleur) and a redesigned mounting bolt and B-spring assembly, with a stronger spring, that work together to prevent the derailleur from knocking into the underside of the chainstay on FSR and other suspension designs. Traditional top-normal and low-normal rear derailleurs will be available as well. All three styles come with a choice of medium or long cages.

The new FC-M770 Hollow Tech II crank has a carbon reinforced steel middle chainring.

photo: Shimano

Like last year's XTR redesign, the new XT group includes a 20mm through-axle front hub. But unlike XTR, XT's 20mm hub can be purchased alone or pre-built into a wide-rim (21mm I.D.) XT wheelset meant to accommodate five- and six-inch trail bikes. The 20mm hub features a standard sized Center Lock rotor attachment and regular, adjustable angular contact ball bearings.

The XT rear hub is also upgraded with two extra pawls to quicken the engagement response time. The hub boasts a 10-degree engagement, twice as fast as the old version; it, too, relies on adjustable angular contact bearings. The rear hub has a new 14mm 7075-T6 aluminum axle. A standard quick-release wheelset will also be available. It features a narrower (19mm I.D.) rim in line with cross-country and racing applications.

The new XT cassette has pins that extend rearward to catch a chain before it damages spokes in the event of an over shift.

photo: Shimano

Borrowed but new (to XT)
In the trickle-down category XT's drivetrain incorporates instant and two-way release technologies from XTR. This year's XT transmission featured two-way release shifter technology but not instant release. Instant release lets cable go on the push or pull stroke instead of waiting for the lever to return, while two-way release allows the cable release trigger to toggle for both push and pull operation.

The front derailleur features angled limit screws and a lighter cage with more tire clearance for use with tires sized 2.3 inches and above. It's available in three versions: E-Type and top and bottom swing. Both the top- and bottom-swing derailleurs come with one band size and use adapters to fit 28.6, 31.8 and 34.9 seat tubes.

The XT PD-M770 pedals look like XTR except for their logo and powder coat.

photo: Shimano

XT's 850-gram Hollow Tech II crank retains its four-bolt, 104/64mm bolt circle, but features refined arms, a new carbon-composite-reinforced steel middle chainring and thicker alloy outer chainring.

In final touches, Shimano added external pins to the rear cassette to catch the chain in the event of an over-shift and protect the rear wheel's spokes. The XT also group gets its own branded 352-gram PD-M770 SPD pedal.

The components should be available by mid-June.

Looks like SRAM is going after the WW, SRAM RED 2008

2007-04-03T20:09:00.000-05:00

Look out Campagnolo...Shimano who? SRAM the newest player in the in road drivetrain scene, look like they are going after us Weight Weenies hard! For 2008, SRAM is launching a new line of road components named RED.
This wil be their top model above FORCE and RIVAL.

Here are some listing of claimed weights!

Red Rear Derailleur - 158g
Red Front Derailleur - 58g
Red Double Tap Shifter - 280g
Red Crankset - 765g
Red Brakes - 265g
Red 0G 1090 Cassette - Carbon Spider!

Wow, SRAM is pushing it here. So far FORCE has been a hit. But if very disappointing to see the recall on their brakes and seeing RD explode now. SRAM has been making MTB RD for years without issues. Hopefully the RED line will be refined and will trickle down to FORCE and RIVAL.

No pricing or availability info yet.

Check out the specs. SRAM pulled the tech docs off their site, but we have them for you!

SRAM 2008 Technical Documents

Fulcrum Racing Torq RS / Racing Torq R

2007-03-23T04:59:00.000-05:00

FULCRUM enters the World of Componentry. Fulcrum presents two high-range Cranksets in carbon fiber: Racing Torq RS and Racing Torq R.

Taipei, 23 March 2007 – After last week’s announcement that it was entering the Off-Road World International Cycle Show in Taipei: Racing Torq RS and Racing Torq R. These are two high-range cranksets in carbon fiber compatible with the main drivetrains available on the market. with a range of dedicated wheels, Fulcrum now further increases its presence in the road sector by joining the field of components. Today, two crankset models are being presented at the inauguration of the

Racing Torq RS is ideal for those wanting a product for racing, as every detail has been designed with the dual objective of performance and light weight. To this end, Fulcrum Hollow Crank Technology has been applied: a special technology developed by Fulcrum that allows the cranks to be manufactured with a hollow structure, making them much lighter without decreasing their structural resistance.

Whereas Racing Torq R has been studied especially for who use their bicycle intensely and regularly, but not necessarily for competitions. In this case the main objective is performance.

Both the cranksets feature the Ultra-Torque system introduced very successfully last year by Campagnolo. Fulcrum has adopted it because right now it is state-of-the art in the field of cranksets for road bikes.

Racing Torq RS and Racing Torq R will be available in standard and compact versions.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Racing Torq RS crankset
Cranks: multi-directional carbon fiber with structure in unidirectional carbon fibre.
Hollow crank structure (Fulcrum Hollow Crank Technology)
Chainrings: CNC-machined forged aluminum
Screws: Ergal Toothing: 53/39 – 50/34
Lengths: 170 – 172.5 – 175 mm
Weight: 699 grams (including cups and bearings)

Racing Torq R crankset
Cranks: multi-directional carbon fiber with structure in unidirectional carbon fibre.
Chainrings: aluminum
Screws: steel
Toothing: 53/39 – 50/34 Lengths: 170 – 172.5 – 175 mm
Weight: 751 grams (including cups and bearings)
Racing Torq RS and Racing Torq R will be available from October.

ULTRA-TORQUE SYSTEM TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Ultra-Torque
The Ultra-Torque system was introduced last year by Campagnolo for its new range of cranksets. A name that immediately puts the spotlight on the extraordinary ability of this crankset-bottom bracket combo to transfer torque. Both cranks have a bottom bracket semiaxle integral with them in such a way as to form two “Ls”; these are then joined in the middle of the bottom bracket shell by means of a Hirth joint. The two semi-axles have a large section so as to be light and rigid at the same time. The Hirth joint which joins them is known for its use in the motor field where it is used to join together pieces of engine shafts which develop enormous power. This solution has made it possible to unite the two bottom bracket axles and transform them into an extremely rigid assembly. The Hirth joint is self-centring and self-aligning and is kept in one piece by a screw which preloads the assembly to over 600 kg.

Greater torsional stiffness and lateral rigidity
The Ultra-Torque system has been designed to deliver a decidedly superior result in terms of torsional stiffness and lateral rigidity. The semi-axles, joined by a Hirth-type joint, form an extremely rigid unit suitable for transferring incredibly high torque values.

Lateral dimensions unchanged
Thanks to Ultra-Torque there is no increase in the lateral dimensions of the cranks. Unlike other manufacturers who – because they use external bearings – were obliged to increase the dimensions of the cranks in the interface zone with the bottom bracket axle, Ultra-Torque overcomes the problem by resorting to semi-axles. This solution in fact allows the bearings to be inserted from the internal connecting point and therefore significantly increase the diameter of the interface between semi-axles and cranks. The result is that the cranks can be flatter in the connection zone with the same static strength and life cycle, thereby compensating for the greater thickness of the external cups.

Thanks to the Ultra-Torque system the cyclist will not experience any reduction in the space available and will not be obliged to make reparatory adjustments such as repositioning the pedal cleats to prevent rubbing between shoe or malleolus and the middle part of the crank.

Very low rotation friction
The Ultra-Torque system offers very low rotation friction thanks to the quality of the bearings used, the seal system, the refined design and the constructive rationality.

Fast and simple installation
Installing the Ultra-Torque crankset on your bicycle is amazingly straightforward: it involves screwing the two cups onto the frame and joining the two cranks together by means of a single screw. It’s as easy as that.

With an eye on standardisation that makes life simpler, Fulcrum decided to use tools already in existence. The cups are screwed in using tools available on the market and only a normal 10 mm allen key is needed to tighten the cranks.

Fast and simple maintenance
The crankset can be disassembled in just a few seconds: unscrew the screw which unites the two semi-axles using the 10 mm socket wrench; pull the cranks off the bottom bracket shell; clean and lubricate the bearings again. That’s that.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

"Fulcrum wheels have been a great success and have that Campagnolo feel to them. Now with Fulcrum adding MTB wheels and cranksets, Shimano riders can now enjoy Campy stuff without having those Campagnolo logos frowning down on their Shimano stuff!

I like Shimano and their stuff is fine, but after a 1+ yrs on Campy I have learned to appreciate the finer things in cycling!

Some will say "why does Campagnolo basically just re-badge their stuff under another name" I think it serves my point above. You get riders who may not like Campy stuff on their non-Campy bikes but would like to take advantage of other options.

To me Campagnolo is in a win/win situation here!"

FSA quietly confirms group plans

2007-03-19T13:50:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of VeloNews -

Component manufacturer Full Speed Ahead has confirmed plans to join the drivetrain market with full road and mountain-bike groups. There were plenty of rumors as far back as last year's Taipei Cycle Show. We even reported a few, but as the industry entered last year's fall trade show season the buzz had quieted.

"We just don't want too much attention because the worst mistake we could make would be to come out too early," said Ric Hjertberg, FSA's new technology manager.

K-Force carbon handlebar

photo: FSA

Although the tricky parts of the drivetrain - the shifters and the derailleurs - have not surfaced, FSA will introduce three chains at the 2007 Taipei Cycle Show, which starts March 22 in Taiwan. FSA will offer two 10-speed chains, one for Campagnolo and one for Shimano, along with one universal nine-speed chain. FSA has never produced chains before.

The new chains come hot on the tails of a slew of new product introductions from FSA. This winter FSA started on its K-Force Light cranks ($700). The new cranks are hollow molded from carbon fiber without any sort of metal or foam core. FSA has versions for road and mountain bikes. You can read more about the new cranks in the current issue of VeloNews (March 26).

Besides cranks, FSA revamped the K-Force carbon handlebar for this spring. The carbon handlebar shaves roughly 35 grams from the current K-Force bars. It comes with two bends: an ergonomic bend and an anatomic round bend, the latter of which is a great combination of ergonomics and comfortable reach. The new $250 bar will also safely accept clip on aero' bars.

Complete groups, however, will not be seen until at least Taipei Cycle 2008.

"We're doing ergonomics now," said Hjertberg of the shifters. "All the mechanisms are pretty set. The prototypes work really great, we like it, and the shapes are really great. But there's ergonomics, then there's more testing and then there is setting up production. These [production] lines don't exist, it's like it was for [SRAM] Force, I suppose. It's a big job. Setting up production will likely take half a year, I'm sure."

While FSA says that its mountain group is further along than the road components, Hjertberg said that the company will likely lead with the road group playing off its current popularity with road enthusiasts.

With SRAM's Force and Rival road groups introduction just a year ago, and now FSA on the cusp with its own, the competition within the component manufacturing industry is as healthy as it has ever been. With the possibility of a fourth viable component option on the market there will be one clear winner - the consumer.

"At this level everyone is rooting for each other," said Hjertberg. "It's surprising how much SRAM is rooting for us and we're rooting for them; Shimano, too. I think the health of the whole market is going to be based on diversity as well. It's like a league. A team wants to dominate, you want to win your league, but you don't want a weak league. That's the worst thing, to have a title without a run for your money."

FSA's rivals confirmed Hjertberg's hunch.

"This kind of competition is completely welcomed," said Devin Walton, Shimano's media representative. "It's an arena where we're comfortable. When we started making derailleur type components we were the guys that people thought belonged in the toy store. It's been a long haul to get where we're at but we're definitely accustomed to competition and innovation and working to create stuff that's relevant to consumers, so everybody wins."

____________________________________________________________________

Great, not only do we have the Shimano vs Campy wars. SRAM came along and added more fuel to the fire, FSA now wants to join in!

Well, in the long run competition is better for the consumer so why not right? Now if everything would just come together and share a standard.....

Just more stuff for shops to stock and worry about when it comes to replacement parts!

Zipp ZEDTECH Z4 wheelset

2007-03-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

Zipp's catalog of carbon fiber racing wheelsets has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years. Currently, the Indiana-based company already offers thirty different carbon wheelsets, plus three different disc wheels and one aluminum clincher set. Yet somehow, Zipp decided that that wasn't quite enough and launched its custom ZEDTECH line earlier this year.

ZEDTECH customers have access to virtually every rim, spoke, and hub variation that Zipp offers in order to assemble their dream wheelset. These not only include component models, but also finer details such as carbon fiber rim layup schedules, hybrid ceramic bearings, spoke lacing patterns, and even spoke nipple and decal colors.

Zipp bills our ZEDTECH ZED4 test model as its "ultimate" all-purpose road racing wheelset, equipped with 58mm-deep dimpled tubular rims, dimpled ZEDTECH hubs with hybrid ceramic bearings, Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes, and custom black-anodized alloy nipples. As received, our ZED4 set weighs just 1214g for the pair without skewers (550/664g front/rear). Look for these on our upcoming 'dream road bike' build in the coming months.

Price: US$3752

Zipp's premium line evolves from 'Z-Series' to ZEDTECH, and the ZED4 is its premier all-purpose road racing wheelset.

New carbon SRAM TT shifters & brake levers

2007-03-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

SRAM, have already taken Road shifting to the next level with two innovative groupsets: SRAM Force and SRAM Rival. To further complete the product range and answer Time Trial and Triathlon needs, SRAM has developed state of the art TT shifters and brake levers. Featuring the highest quality materials and breathtaking design, the new SRAM TT shifters are the only shifters on the market using full carbon fiber levers.

With black and red anodized aluminum plugs, the pair of shifters weighs is at an incredible 138g. To maintain quality shifts across a variety of chain ring sizes, front shifting is operated on a friction mode; while the rear shifter is indexed to maintain precise and rapid shifts in all circumstances. An internal mounting system is used to make sure the new SRAM TT shifters can fit all industry standard TT bars. Only compatible with SRAM Force and Rival rear deraillleurs, SRAM’s new TT shifters will offer high performance to anyone driven to beat the wind.

To match the TT shifters to perfection, SRAM offers for the very first time TT brake levers. The sleek design combined with a full carbon fiber blade drop the weight to an incredible 99g for the pair. The very low profile and extremely light blade, does not compromise on strength or durability.

The ergonomic full carbon lever maintains the natural hand position while offering you a comfortable feel for enhanced control. Product available in June 2007.

Rügamer Zen Überlight - 600 Grams

2007-03-09T15:24:00.000-05:00

Rügamer is still a new brand name, but company head Brent Ruegamer is no newcomer himself, having served with renowned carbon fibre frame builder Craig Calfee. Brent shows his new Zen Überlight road frame on the North American Hand Made Bicycle Show, claimed to weigh just 600g! The Zen Überlight is a nearly 100% carbon creation, using aluminum for only the down tube shifter bosses and the replaceable rear derailleur hanger. Integrated headset bearings drop directly into the head tube, and sealed cartridge bearings specifically sized for a THM-Carbone Clavicula crankset are pressed directly into the bottom bracket shell.

Brent Ruegamer says his 600g Zen Uberlight (yes, we said 600g) is made from recently declassified super-high modulus carbon fiber.

Support a fantastic cause, maybe win a Custom Zank

2007-03-02T10:45:00.001-05:00

Come on guys, Support a great cause and a chance to win a Custom Steel Road or Cyclocross bike.

We are also contributing to the build!

Custom Road Bike Raffle for Young Survival Coalition
(Young Women United Against Breast Cancer)

Presented by Zanconato Custom Cycles - Tailored Steel Bicycle Frames Worcester, MA Thursday, April 05, 2007

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=4427

Here is mission statement pulled directly from the YSC website. YSC Mission Statement The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the only international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer. One of the coolest things about this project is all of the parts were donated by members of Road Bike Review. Many, many people pitched in to help. We have enough parts to do either a road or a cross bike. Cool, huh? The registration closes on March 31 and the drawing will be on April 5. Best of luck and please donate!

Some 2008 Shimano Dura Ace news....

2007-02-23T08:28:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Cycling Plus i the UK.

Sneak preview 2008
By Jez Loftus

It's that time of year again when we get the annual call to a Shimano launch, only to be slapped with an embargo holding us to secrecy till the middle of the year. This becomes even more annoying when there's some juicy kit to report on but for the sake of being hunted down by a pack of ronin we'll have to leave you in Shimano's self imposed shadow until later in the year.

It's not all cloak and dagger stuff and there are a few things we can reveal.

One of the additions to the road range is the new Dura-Ace hub and wheelsets. The new hub features a faster, double pawl freehub that's claiming 125% quicker engagement with double contact seals improving foul weather performance. Of the new Dura-Ace wheelsets there are four to choose from, all run on the new hub.

Probably the most interesting of which is the carbon-alloy composite clincher. With a name that just rolls off the tongue the WH-7850-C24-CL features an ultra thin aluminium skeleton reinforced with carbon to strengthen critical areas. The carbon build-up around the spoke holes looks particularly striking. Claimed weight is 1388g (pair)

For the TT specialist there's the carbon hi-profile tubular weighing in at 1485g (pair).

There's also a regular carbon tubular wheelset that lowers the weight bar even further to 1209g (pair). This is intended as a race ready tubular and features specific rim profiles with a 28mm aero front and a 24mm asymmetrical rear.

The fourth wheel in the range is an improvement on the current tubeless design and the Scandium rimmed wheel will be the choice for anyone wishing to roll without tubes.

There are further changes down the line but at the moment Shimano are icy cold about realising details.

Dura-Ace Carbon Alloy composite clincher

2.
Dura-Ace Carbon High Profile Tubular

3.
Dura Ace hub

SRAM issues road brake recall...

2007-02-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

SRAM's official statement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SRAM will conduct a voluntary recall of a limited number of SRAM Force front road brakes which may have faulty titanium mounting bolts. This issue has since been corrected, and does not affect all Force front brake mounting bolts.
SRAM will replace any Force front brake assemblies produced within the specified time frame.
SRAM is currently in the process of contacting all affected customers. While the expected failure rate is low it was determined that it is in the best interest of our customers and consumers to be pro-active in replacing product in question. We have put in place personnel and logistics in each continent to execute the recall as fast and smoothly as possible.
SRAM is actively working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the USA on this issue. A CPSC notice will follow this notification in mid February. Replacement brakes are in warehouses in the USA, Europe, and Asia to facilitate the replacement effort. We apologize for the inconvenience to our customers, dealers, and cyclists and remain committed to providing you excellent quality.

Date Codes/Range Affected
No date code
Original date code range: 01JUNE06 to 15SEPT06 (date code indicated production day, month and year)
Current date code range: 35T6XXXXXXX to 39T6XXXXXXX (first two digits indicate week of production, 2006)

The recall does not affect the more economical Rival group; its front brake relies on a steel-mounting bolt, nor does the recall affect all Force brakes. The recall is limited to only front brakes within the above listed date range.

Consumers are instructed to contact their dealer or place of purchase for replacement.

Finally got my Schwalbe Ultremo tires in....

2007-02-09T14:28:00.000-05:00

These are the newest tires from Schwalbe. They are smooth racing tires that offer protection with a new material called Vectran. They are offered in a 700 x 23C sizing in clinchers and 22C Tubular model.

Here is some info from Schwalbe...

World Exclusive:
Racing tire with patented Vectran protection belt

Bohle’s new Ultremo racing tire is a massive technological leap forward: Super-light at just 195 g, triple compound as well as a unique protection belt made of Vectran - material used in the US space program - make the tires fast, grippy and puncture resistant.

“There’s no second chance when landing on Mars” explained a company spokesman from Warwick Mills, USA, a leading supplier of hi-tech fabrics. The company developed an extremely tough Vectran fabric for the Mars lander on behalf of NASA. A similar Vectran textile is now used in Schwalbes’ new tires.

“The newly developed HD-V Guard (High Density Vectran) is – with regard to both puncture protection and weight - the key to a new dimension in the construction of high-quality bicycle tires”, explained Holger Jahn, Bohles Technical Director. “At the moment no stronger fabric exists in bicycle tire technology.” The Vectran fibers used in Warwick Mills fabric are twice as tear resistant as titanium and five times stronger than steel. Woven using a patented process the textile has a cut resistance high three times higher than Aramid, which is used, among other things, in bicycle tires and bullet-proof vests.
Weaving technology is the difference

Of course Vectran can also be found in other bicycle tire brands, but not as a densely woven fabric, rather as loosely bundled fibers - similar to a bicycle tire carcass. “Although strong, it is not the fibers but more accurately the patented weaving technology that makes the difference in puncture protection. “Only densely woven Vectran offers optimal protection”, stressed Holger Jahn. Warwick Mills holds 14 international patents for its weaving techniques, among which is its patent for the worlds most densely woven, high-strength yarn fabric. Warwick Mills innovation makes it the undisputed global leader in this segment. The HD-V Guard was developed exclusively with and for Schwalbe. The Vectran fabric also contributes to the tires low weight, as the Ultremo’s ultra-light protection belt and the super-fine, thinly coated 127 epi carcass helps keep it below the significant 200 gram “barrier”.

“A phenomenal tire. It rolls really easily “, enthused pro racer Lars Teutenberg of Schwalbe Race Support. “I didn’t spare it. On the contrary, I consciously rode through road debris and glass fragments and still didn’t puncture. And for a bona fide racing cycle tire it is extremely light - 195 gram is truly outstanding.”

Triple Compound combines contrasting characteristics
Another innovation is the triple compound that is unique in racing tire technology. The tread has three rubber mixtures. Specially arranged the individual compounds each have a specific advantage. In the tread center there is a hard wearing compound that guarantees durability; proven by Bohle test riders who covered more than 5,000 kilometers.

On the tire shoulders good grip is required and here the second, uncompromising compound improves wet grip enormously. The third - base - compound has no contact with the road, although it is crucial to the tires acceleration: This compound, which was originally developed for time trials, has extremely low rolling resistance - and so is crucial for speed. Lars Teutenberg tested it: “During racing, after each bend I had a 10 meters lead. I now ride into curves at angles and speeds I wouldn't dare doing with any other tire.”

Triple compound allows Schwalbe’s Ultremo to achieve the optimum by combining three opposing characteristics - durability, good wet grip and low rolling resistance - each maximized without impairing the other.
So far I have around 90 miles o these tires and I am impressed. Grips and RR seem to be there and the tires handle great. The ride is nice as any others clinchers with a 127TPI casing.
The ride is much improved over the Stevlio models which use a 67tpi casing and are not as supple.
Only time will tell if the wear in acceptable and if the Vectran protection works as well as advertised.

My pair came in @ 193 and 195g. The average from 6 tires was 195g and right at the claimed weight!

The tires seems on par in speed with my favorite tire the Vittoria Open Corsa CX but it's not as supple. The CX are cotton mixture and a 220TPI casing and are so sweet in comfort.

I am HUGE fan of Schwalbe's MTB tires and they might be winning me over on their road tires finally!

Get these tires as soon as you can if you want some. They are selling out faster than dealers can stock them! These will be THE race tire for 20047!

http://www.sales.light-bikes.com/schwalbe/schwalbe.asp

New Smith glasses arrived....

2007-01-03T08:18:00.000-05:00

Well, UPS came by yesterday with a package for me. What do you know, it's from Smith Optics.
They actually did send a pair of new glasses!

Mine have the Blue Polarized lenses.
Man, they kept there word. Now that is Customer Service!
Blair is also sending me a pair of Polarized lens set for my V TI glasses! Unheard of CS IMO,

So, if you ever need some glasses, please take a look at Smith Optics as I feel this is a company that deserves a look if you need glasses.

Smith Optics V TI and Smith's Customer Service

2007-01-02T09:58:00.000-05:00

Here my latest purchase, the Smith Optics V TI. These glasses are really nice and light weight with some of the best optics I have used for cycling. There is nothing to impede you vision and they stay fog free in the most humid of conditions so far. They also fit my face pretty well. These are hands down the best and most comfortable pair of sunglasses that I own. Ivan Basso from Team CSC and and now Discovery Channel Cycling team helped develop these from Smith. Here are are so specs and pics:

Performance at its finest. The V-Ti features premium grade Titanium in the temple fronts and Beta-Titanium in the temple ends to provide maximum flexibility. Combined with an injected TR90 facefront, 7 base shield lens and megol nose and temple pads the V-Ti is the ultimate in performance eyewear. features:

* + TLT Carbonic lenses
* + Titanium temples
* + TR90 Grilamid front
* + Medium fit

Now what I was not happy about and what Smith Optics did....

I was very disappointed to find out after I order the glasses and got them here that the temple arms were not full titanium. We I saw Ti glasses, this is what I expected. So sent an e-mail to Smith expressing my feelings about what I thought was false advertising.
Not only did I get an e-mail response back, the Blair Clark Sr. VP Marketing and Sales called me and left a voice mail that they wanted to assure me that the temples on the product are 100% Ti covered in paint at the front of the temple and the back of the temple is a very thin titanium covered in megol rubber to allow extreme flexibility comfort and grip. I also explained that a pair of Smith Frontline glasses that I purchased were also horribly designed and very uncomfortable.

So I get a second call and ended up have a very nice conversation with him. Blair also asked for more opinions about the glasses. I expressed that I did not care for the wording on the bottom as it slightly in the field of vision. Nothing drastic or annoying, but there. He offered to send some replacement lenses without the graphics, but I declined.
Now here is the part that blew me away from Smith. When I sent the e-mail, I was very upset and did not try the glasses yet. I vented how I was feeling a little bit rip-offed by Smith. They offered to exchange them for any of pair of glasses if the retailer would not. When I spoke to Blair on the phone, I told him after trying them, I was VERY please on their performance and that I was going to keep them. So to please a customer and Blair offered to send my any pair of Smith Optics glasses in their catalog for FREE to make sure I was happy with Smith and they believe in their product and building customer loyalty. Now show me a company that would do something like that. They are sending my a pair of glasses that retail for $120 because I was upset? Kudos to Smith Optics and they have a customer for life in me.

Oakley Customer Service could learn a lot form Smith Optics. I have had NOTHING but trouble with them. Good product, they do not stand behind their product like Smith does.

Anyways, a big thank you to Smith of just calling my back and listening to a customer's venting....

2006-11-29T11:55:00.001-05:00

What's up?

I will be blogging about light-bikes.com happenings and everything about bikes; road and mountain biking with me and the business itself.
Things like new products, ride reports, industry news, ride info, and stuff about me related to biking here in South Florida

Enjoy!