Kid In a Candy Store

Eurobike wasn't all about the bikes; there was plenty from components manufacturers both big and small to give you that 'kid in a candy store' feeling.

Carbon seems to be the material of choice for a lot of the new designs, but that's not to say there's a shortage of innovations hewn from good old alloy. There's still of plenty of low-volume machine shops and their CNC'ed goodies making their way to the show.

Feast yer eyes on this little lot...(click on the thumbnails for bigger images)

Doing the Two-Step...

The 'big' story at Eurobike, apart from electronic gearing, was Truvativ's new Hammerschmidt dual-speed bottom bracket-mounted shift system.

Designed primarily for the freeride and downhill market, the system proved a popular draw thanks in part to clever marketing in the lead-up to the show. SRAM, Truvativ's parent company, are confident the system is ready for market; the Truvativ corner of the gigantic SRAM booth had a couple of bikes mounted on test rigs and set up with the Hammershcmidt system, plus plenty of working models hung on the walls for all to scrutinize.

What the system does is move you from a 1:1 to a 1:1.6 ratio ( the equivalent of 24/38 rings) at the flick of a lever. Up front, a familiar 'click-click' thumb and forefinger-operated shifter feels just like a regular MTB front change lever. The shift lever action is solid - it needs a positive push - which may not please some people. However, given its intended application – offroad hammering – it makes sense to have something hefty, rather than some namby-pamby light-action lever.

The shift between ratios down at the bottom bracket however, is light and hardly noticeable; click the lever and you're done. It's so light in fact, that while riding on Truvativ's test-rig, I had to check the shifter's indicator window to make sure the lever had actually done the job.

So it's works; but it's not the holy grail – not yet anyway.

It promises greater ground clearance; better chain management (none of the dreaded chain-suck); it'll shift while you're coasting and there's less likelihood of unshipping the chain while shifting under load. So far, so good.

Nevertheless, there are downsides...

It's heavy, it's bulky. The cable run is both messy and the cable itself looks vulnerable to snagging as it runs along the bottom of the down tube.

Visually, it looks like something taken from a '60's French Mobylette moped. It maybe a look that appeals to some, but may offend the aesthetic sensibilities of others.

You'll be in a jam if you're out on the trail and something pops inside the casing.

To fit the system, your frame must have ISCG (International Standard Chain Guide) mounts on the BB shell.

Looks, weight and a lack of trail-side serviceability aside, it is not without its merits and should

find a following among the hammerheads.

However, It's not the first and only two-speed BB-mounted planetary gear system out there.

Florian Schlumpf, AKA Schlumpf Innovations , has been producing his Mountain Drive system for over 15 years.

Since then, the range has been expanded with additional models, including the Speed Drive and his all-new Triebwerk model, a heavy-duty model for the hammerheads.

The Schlumpf approach is simplicity itself; the system fits in a standard BB shell without the need for special mounts; there's no shift lever taking up space on your bars and, best of all, no cable needed to operate it. As Florian points out, " What you don't have, doesn't fail ! " A simple, intuitive click of the heel is all it takes to move between the 1:1 and 1:1.6 ratios.

Schlumpf produces a range of crank styles and set-ups to suit a wide range of applications and drive systems - including a belt-drive model - making the prospect of low-maintenance, all-weather town/commuter/carrier bikes an interesting proposition. One of the added attractions of the Schlumpf system is the ability to fit to single speed or fixed wheel drives with the Speed Drive model. Think about it – a two-speed fixie...Gimme!

Between the two systems, I'd stump for the Schlumpf. Why?

Simplicity.
Ease of use.
Compatibility with existing frames/bikes.
The fixed option.
The wider range of potential applications.

Not minor points, and well worth considering before you settle for either system...the choice is yours.

The Schlumpf crankset:

The button on the center of

the spindle does the shifting.

Simple!

Rival v.2.0

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the SRAM village, a new-look Rival groupset was on display.

It went almost unnoticed by a lot of show-goers, but nevertheless, was worthy of attention.

Although the shifter and BB internals are the same existing Force/Rival workings, SRAM seem to be taking the Campagnolo 'trickle-down' approach by upgrading the group with carbon blades to the levers and a carbon crank option. There's also a black finished rear mech option too.

All in all, the new look and added carbon makes the group a much more attractive prospect for both product managers and after-market buyers.

Price-wise, it still sits (depending on your home market) above Ultegra and below Centaur.

Three years ago the gruppo impressed, but has perhaps not moved the number of units SRAM was hoping for – especially in the OEM sector.

These new upgrades should go some way to boosting sales - and Rival's status and desirability among the coffee-stop crowd.

3T – One year on...

Last year we reported on the New 3T and their plans to resurrect the brand as a major force in the components sector.

Under the guidance of Richard McAinsh, a former Ferarri composites engineer, the 3T design lab have been busy coming up with fresh approaches to not just 'contact area' parts – bars, stems and seat posts - but forks too.

Making good use of perhaps the best R&D department out there – the CSC-Saxo Bank racing squad – the new FUNDA TEAM forks were prototyped in several versions and tested over the first half of season. The team settled on the current model – just in time for Carlos Sastre's Tour-De-France-winning ride and total domination of the event by CSC riders.

The new fork is a totally 'ground-up' design, with every aspect - materials, handling, aerodynamics, rigidity and strength - studied in close detail and fully reworked in the design and manufacturing departments.

This is no re-badged 'out of an OEM catalog' fork; it represents a totally new approach to fork design - something the New 3T bravely set out in their mission statement when re-launched last year.

Best of all, they've listened to the requests of custom builders and offer their forks in three (yes - THREE!) offset options, 43, 49 and 53mm - meaning framebuilders no longer have to compromise when dialling-in the ride and handling characteristics of their designs.

The new Funda Team along with the more affordable - but equally impressive - Funda Pro forks are available to the public - and to framebuilders - now.

Among the other innovations on show from 3T was a new seat post. It features a novel head design; a two-bolt clamp which is not only simple to set up and adjust, it also promises to be rock-solid in use and infinitely variable – a big plus for TT bikes. It's avalable in both full-carbon and alloy versions, so it's within most folks' price range.

When the likes of the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank - two of the best racers in the world - pop by unannounced to check out what's new on the 3T booth, it's safe to say the brand has won the confidence of end-users at the highest level. Surely the best endorsement any product can have!!

Tour De France wins and Olympic golds are just the start. There's plenty more exciting stuff to come from 3T, that's for sure!

LOOK Ahead.

Meanwhile, French composites specialists LOOK have been busy in the R&D department too.

On display was new ZED crankset, featuring press-in cups and a one-piece carbon Z (pronounced 'Zed' in French..) crank which blows away the opposition in terms of rigidity, strength and low weight. It's versatile too, with a spider that takes both standard 130BCD and compact 110BCD chainring sizes.

LOOK had a sectioned crankset on display which is a marvel of carbon composites technology with its hollowed out cranks, variable crank length pedal inserts and carbon shaft BB spindle.

The ZED crankset will no doubt be going straight to the top of the weight-weenie/technohead wish-lists – even if the ZED is actually available – and actually works!

Rotor Rocks.

Elsewhere, there were other (almost) hidden gems to be found.

Better known for their variable-diameter Q-Rings, Spanish engineering house Rotor deserve equal recognition for this great-looking CNC'ed stem. The Rotor S1 features its unique DTT (Double thread Technology) fasteners - fixing bolts without heads. Leaving off the heads means there's no chance of uneven or concentrated pressure points on the faceplate or stem body – the overriding reason for stem failure.

But how do the bolts hold if they've no heads? Well, Rotor have clearly used theirs and the result is a stem which makes you start to question the approach taken by all the rest, such is the simple brilliance of their design.

The faceplate is threaded, the stem is threaded. The blind bolt is first threaded into the stem body, then backed out to thread into the faceplate. The result? Both are connected, both are tightened with equal torque, and neither are affected by stress raisers or uneven pressure.

It's not foolproof – anything can be broken in the wrong hands – but assembled correctly (RTFM!) it should provide a safe, secure attachment for any handlebar, regardless of shape or composition.

Bravo Rotor!!

New Classics.

American Classic chose Eurobike to premier a brand-new look.

They had new designs on show - both cosmetic and practical – and company founder Bill Shook was on hand to talk visitors through the range.

Am Classic always try to add that little something extra in their designs, and their new hubs are no exception. Their new rear road and MTB hubs feature a clever approach to keeping the weight low without sacrificing strength.

By adding hardened steel reinforcements to the alloy cassette body splines, the cassette body gets toughened up where it needs it most.

The end result is a cassette body with all the strength and security you get with a machined steel rotor, plus a welcome reduction in rotating weight thanks to the (mainly) alloy body - but there's none of the inherent fragility that comes with a full alloy-bodied set-up!

On the cosmetic side, new graphics have been added across the range to brighten things up and should make the parts a more attractive option for the plethora of bikes out there with a carbon-black, red and white color scheme.

Why you don't see more American Classic kit on both production and after-market spec bikes is beyond me. It's well made, has plenty of clever design features and gives plenty of bang for your buck - good enough reasons to give the range a proper look.

If The Shoe Fits...

There are a growing number of custom shoe builders out there offering an alternative for those looking to improve on fit, performance and comfort – much like custom bike builders! Perhaps one of the most respected is Aussie company Bont.

Bont the company was founded in 1975 by Inze Bont, a speed skater who wanted something more than the leather racing skate boots on offer at the time. The company soon became the No.1 name for handmade speedskating and later, rollerblade skate shoes.

Alex Bont joined the family business in 1996 and expanded the company portfolio to include cycling shoes.

Since then, word-of-mouth lestimonials among the elite racing fraternity have added to Bont's reputation as THE shoe to wear.

Over the last few years, its no secret the company has been receiving an increasing rate of orders from the highest level.

Professional integrity means Bont won't go taking out splash adverts proclaiming who rides their shoes, but get close enough and Bont shoes can be found disguised underneath the three-stripe overshoes of Olympic and World Sprint Champion Victoria Pendelton .

And not only 'Queen Victoria' ; Scotland's Chris Hoy, triple gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics and arguably one of track racing's greatest-ever exponents is another happy Bont customer.

Both Hoy and Pendelton approached Bont for shoes - they're not Bont-sponsored riders. It's rare to see riders of this calibre actually choosing and buying their own kit - and testament to the quality and performance of Bont's design and manufacturing process.

Bont shoes come in a number of styles and a rainbow of colours. There are semi-custom models to simplify the ordering process if you are sure of your correct size and foot shape. For those with odd-sized and/or unusually-shaped feet (yes, they do exist...) there's their proprietary 'resin sock' system to use as the template for a perfect shoe.

We hope to be covering the sizing and fitting process first-hand and in-depth at a later date.

Watch this space...

White Is The New Black...

There's a lot of evidence of an emerging trend in the cosmetic treatment of bars and stems.

This seasons' must-have accessories seems to be all-white handlebars and stems.

ITM first had them on display on a top-of-the-range set at Milan last November; at Eurobike, many more were on show, with Deda Elementi offering a white option across the range and at a number of price-points.

Coffee-stop dandies should grab a set now; they'll be good for a season or two yet, by which time it'll be time to get the polished silver set-up out again....

Home Of Performance Engineering...

Still on the subject of colours, every colour of the rainbow is offered by Hope – plus black and silver.

Their range of CNC'ed beauties never fail to impress, not only for their good looks, but for the outstanding quality of their engineering. Headsets, hubs, disk brakes, widgets and lighting systems are on offer, all with superb finishing and construction.

Go on, give your bike a treat!