News, More News, and Light News

Here at Lactic Acid Threshold--and at GearReview.com, for that matter--we love tubeless tires. We've got them on both road and mountain bikes and would run them on our 'cross bikes if the tire and wheel companies would get their act together. On the road side, though, things aren't progressing terribly fast, what with one wheel and one tire offering, but that's all about to change. Campagnolo and Specialized are jumping on board in a big way.

Paris, France July 8, 2008 - - Cycling industry icons Campagnolo and
Specialized have embraced Hutchinson Road Tubeless technology, with
both brands creating RT wheelsets, and Specialized producing their
"Turbo Tubeless" tires at Hutchinson's factory outside of Paris,
France beginning with the 2009 model year.

I, for one, welcome this news and can't wait to try out the new wheels and tires. This is a very good development.

Moving on...

Ritchey has long made components and tires that are good, quality items. One of my favorite tires from yesteryear is their Z-max. I remember Jon running the red rubber compound model. Boy, that tire wore out fast! But they gripped well.

As good as their stuff is, it's not that easy to find. I can't think of a single bike shop in my town that carries anything beyond the tires. And I'm not positive about the tires either.

Now, you can order direct from Ritchey, with a twist. I'll let them explain.

"More and more consumers are using the Internet to find the products they need," said Steve Parke, general manager and vice president of marketing for Ritchey Design. "Ritchey's authorized retailers provide knowledgeable service and are key to helping cyclists get the most from their bikes. There is no other substitute for the service of a good independent retailer. The new Ritchey site will help consumers find the products they want, along with the service and support of a shop." When consumers place an order through www.RitcheyLogic.com, orders are posted in a special queue. Within one business, authorized Ritchey retailers, with product in stock, will ship those orders within 24 hours. Open orders not selected by retailers revert to Ritchey Design for fulfillment. The new site features detailed information about Ritchey Design products, sponsored teams, news, cycling tips and a blog. Online purchases are only available to consumers in North America, and sales of Ritchey's line of Break-Away travel bikes will not be available when the new site launches.

So, they will be keeping their dealers happy while enabling the end consumer to get the parts they want. It's a neat idea.

Finally, I've got some light news. Light and Motion is going 100% LED for the 2008/2009 season. And they are revamping the Vega. Finally. I've always liked the look and design of the Vega, but the performance has been lackluster of late. Now, it'll be available in two versions, one with 120 lumens and one with 200 lumens. I'll let the following tables fill you in on the rest of the line up. As usual, click on the image for a biggie size.

I don't yet have word on availability, nor do I have product shots of the Seca. As soon as I have that info, I'll post it, don't worry.

So, L&M is removing the Arc from the line up, as NR adds a HID back into the mix. Do light manufacturers have a "silly season"? If so, we are in it.

Random News

It looks like Velonews has finally updated their website. I like the look better, and LOVE that they kept mobile.velonews.com. I like to check websites on the go, and having a mobile version of the site makes it so much easier. If you have a web browser on your phone, check it out.

So, Cyclingnews, your turn, ok? Get that busy site up to date and give us a mobile portal. Thanks.

While you are checking out Velonews' new look, take a look at the press release regarding Cannondale. From the article/release:

Dorel Industries has bought Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, the corporation announced Monday.

Dorel, headquartered in Montréal, owns Pacific Cycle, the parent company of Schwinn, GT and Mongoose. The purchase is reported as an all-cash transaction valued between $190 million and $200 million.

The Bethel, Connecticut-based Cannondale, which also holds Sugoi Performance Apparel Company, a clothing brand, was previously held by Pegasus Capital Advisors, which purchased the company in 2003.

As a result of the acquisition, Dorel’s recreational/leisure segment, which includes Pacific Cycle, InStep, Playsafe and Roadmaster, will be split into two separate divisions. The Cannondale Sports Group, which will target the independent bicycle dealer and be separate from the mass-market line, will include Cannondale, Sugoi, GT and the company’s other premium bicycle brands, presumably Schwinn and Mongoose. Cannondale Sports has already stated that it plans to seek acquisitions of similar high-quality brands.

What this means to the end cyclist remains to be seen. I am/have been a big fan of Cannondale bicycles since the early '90's and would hate to see this company fall by the wayside.

Finally, as you are probably aware, Sheldon Brown passed away earlier this week. His site has more information about bicycle repair maintenance, facts and dimensions and how-to's than anywhere else on the web. If you have a question, he'd likely have an answer and if not, he was just an email away. He will be missed.

Finally, just to wrap up this rambling post, just a reminder that the NAHBS will be in Portland, Oregon this weekend. I'll be there, and since it is open to the public, you should be too! See you there.

FULCRUM REDCARBON: 2009

I just received this press release from Fulcrum. Looks like Absalon will be riding on beautiful carbon rims at some point this year. One thing I noticed, though, was the lack of specific rim weight listed. Too bad. They make it a point to talk about how much lighter they are--it'd be nice to know specifics.

Well, here it is. Enjoy! (Click on the images below for a larger view.)

Vicenza, 01 February 2008 – Fulcrum introduces RedCarbon, the new model with carbon fibre rims dedicated to XC/All Mountain biking and weighing only 1,450 g per pair.
RedCarbon is the result of three years of studies and tests during which Fulcrum's aim was to realize a pair of wheels that would be lighter than RedMetal Zero – the model used by Julien Absalon when he conquered the rainbow jersey at the 2007 World Championships – but with even greater performance.

Fulcrum worked on three levels to obtain this result:

peripheral weight reduction: the use of carbon fibre for the rim has led to a considerable reduction of the wheel’s peripheral weight. This translates into greater reactivity so that now the RedCarbons are 15 percent more reactive than the RedMetal Zeros.

reduction of the number of spokes: the pair now has 8 fewer spokes than the RedMetal Zero wheel, four fewer in the front and four fewer in the rear. This means an overall reduction of the weight and, above all, a rotation of the rotating mass, and has therefore further increased the reactivity of both wheels.

asymmetrical rims: in order to reduce the number of spokes and maintain the same torque transmission as the RedMetal Zero pair, Fulcrum has made asymmetrical rims with carbon fibre. This is because the asymmetry improves the dish, the rigidity and the solidity of the wheel. The rear rim is asymmetrical on the freewheel side to improve torque transmission, while the front wheel is asymmetrical on the disc side to improve wheel rigidity during the braking stage, thereby increasing the bike’s steerability.

The RedCarbon wheels will be used by Julien Absalon during 2008 and will debut officially at the first World Cup event at Houffalize in Belgium.

They will go on sale, on the other hand, starting from October 2008.

Fulcrum RedCarbon – Technical Data

Rim
Material: carbon fibre
Height: 24.5 mm
Inside width: 19 mm
Profile: asymmetrical: freewheel side on the rear wheel and on the disc brake side at the front. Rim without braking surfaces.
Finish: carbon fibre

Spokes
Material: aluminium
Profile: aero
Nipples: oversize in stainless steel
Spoking: 20 front and 20 rear. Crossed in threes in the rear wheel on the freewheel side and in the front wheel on the disc brake side; in twos on the other sides
Finish: anodized satinized black

Hubs
Body: Oversize in aluminium
Axles: aluminium with 20 mm diameter front and rear
Bearings: Adjustable high-precision bearings for the AFS version (Shimano Center Lock compatible), with cone/cap adjustable bearings for the 6-screw disc brake version
Freewheel: monolithic freewheel body with two sealed bearings

Compatibility
UST Tubeless
Disc: international standard and Axial Fixing System

Weight: 1,450 grams

Ceramic

I was going to post about how wonderful fenders are... but that will have to wait for a more rainy day.

Rather than go on about the joys of full fender-ship, I thought I'd pass on a press release I just received from Boca Bearing.

You've never heard of Boca Bearing?

For some time now, they have been supplying ceramic bearings for most anything bicycle related -- wheels, bottom brackets, etc... anywhere you find sealed cartridge bearings. Normally these are hybrid bearings, meaning that the balls are ceramic, but the races are metal. These have the benefit of very round bearings, but still require grease. This is the type of bearing found in nearly all of the "ceramic bearing" labeled parts on the market, like those used by FSA.

This is about to change, according to Boca. From the release:

FULL CERAMIC, SEALED BIKE BEARINGS!
The Boca Bearings Company is proud to announce their new line of Full Ceramic Zirconia bearings for bicycles. Boca Bearings is fast becoming the industry leader in ceramic bearing technology and has been working hard to develop a Full Ceramic bike bearing solution with protective Teflon seals. Now that the seals are available, Full Ceramic bearings are perfect for both competitive road and velodrome applications.

Full Ceramics will provide the absolute least amount of resistance of any bearing on the market. They are far lighter than standard steel or hybrid bearings by about 2/3 the weight, and require absolutely no lubrication at all. Because ceramic is non-porous with almost zero rolling resistance, the ceramic ball and race combination makes for the slickest ride around. Please visit our website for a list of the common bike sizes that are available or search by any bicycle brand to see if we are supplying a bearing kit for your component.

So, not only are they lighter, they have less rolling resistance and no lubrication is required. Pricing, however, is a tad prohibitive. Their normal hybrid ceramic bearing for a CrossMax SL Disc wheelset is about $50. The same bearing in Full Ceramic style is $160, or more than three times the price.

They should last a very long time, though.

News Flash -- Garmin Edge 605 and 705

This just in:

Garmin is expanding their line of Edge GPS's -- these are designed for cycling -- to include the new 605 and 705, both of which feature mapping capabilities.

Here is what they have to say about the new Edge units:

The Edge 705 and Edge 605 provide mapping capabilities, street navigation and a 2.2” color display in addition to tracking vertical profiles, climb and descent, altitude, speed, distance, and time.

The Edge 705 represents several breakthroughs in cycling technology, including power compatibility and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity. Through collaborative efforts with SRM, Quark and other experts in mobile power diagnostics for bicycles, Garmin for the first time gives cyclists the opportunity to monitor GPS position, power, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient on the same display. And Edge 705 users will be able to share their information – including saved rides, waypoints and workouts – with each other through ANT+Sport™ wireless technology.

“The Edge 705 gives cyclists the most effective tools they need to train efficiently and share data easily,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales, “and these new products are further proof of how innovative technology can enrich people’s lives and help them better enjoy their exercise and recreational activities.”

ANT+Sport technology allows the Edge to interface wirelessly with other fitness devices such as a heart rate monitor, cadence sensor or other Edge units. Cyclists can share courses, workout data and saved rides. When paired with an optional power meter from SRM or Quark or another third party’s ANT+Sport-enabled device, the Edge 705 measures power – torque and cadence for each leg at the pedals – which is often cited as a true indicator of an efficient ride.

The mapping capabilities on the Edge 705 and Edge 605 allow cyclists to truly get lost in their ride without losing their way. Routes can be adapted to revisit previous rides, personalized shortcuts or new destinations. Both units come with built-in basemaps, and optional detailed street or topo maps are available on preloaded data cards.

Altitude is recorded using a barometric altimeter for the Edge 705. This accurate altitude data makes it much easier for cyclists to match their altitude profile with their speed, cadence and heart rate during post-ride analysis. The Edge 605 measures altitude through GPS positioning.

The 605:
And the 705:
It looks like the 605 will retail for $430.75 and the 705 will set you back a whopping $541.65.

Gear News

Whew... just when you thought we were just doing ride reports, we've got some gear news for you. First up, Shimano.

As you recall, Shimano introduced their Shadow rear derailleur with the new XT group. Well, I guess that they decided that it was a good enough idea to carry it over to the XTR group -- as an aside, can anyone think of the last time they introduced something on a lower group and then used it in the top-o'-the-line stuff? I cannot. Behold, the new RD-M972 XTR Shadow rear derailleur.

The photo is courtesy of Shimano. Aside from not sticking out as far, the use of carbon fiber for the pulley cage saves 22 grams over their other XTR rear derailleur. The revised bracket axle helps keep the derailleur from slapping the chainstay as well. The new Shadow RD will be available this September. Pricing is to be determined, but I'd hazard to guess that if you are worried about it, you can't afford it.

Moving on...

FSA has been sending out press releases right and left. Their sponsored riders did very well (winning overall -- DiLuca) in the Giro di Italia and most of the releases were about that. Now, I don't cover racing here, though I follow it and am anxiously awaiting the start of the Tour, but we did get some info that is gear related.

FSA has announced three new products, first the SL-K Light road crankset. We've reviewed the SL-K before, in fact, I am still using it. This new one uses hollow crank arms in order to bring the weight down. To keep cost under control, they are also using some glass fiber reinforcement in addition to the carbon fibers. Carbon fiber these days, if you didn't know, is in such high demand that it's price is very much on the rise -- thanks mostly to projects like the Boeing Dreamliner and other large aircraft. The cycling industry is a bit player here. That being said, the new arms are only 120g per set, so the use of the heavier glass fiber hasn't offset the weight savings that the hollow arms provide. The new cranks are also 10speed compatible, and the entire crankset, including bottom bracket is 710 grams.

The second new product is the new Gravity handlebar. This comes in two flavors, standard and Light. Both are aluminum riser bars, but the Light version uses 7075 aluminum (triple butted) and is suitable for DH, All Mountain and lighter freeride. The standard version uses 2014 aluminum (also triple butted) and is meant for more burly freeriding and downhilling, as well as dirt jumping -- you know, the more abusive side of mountain biking. Both bars feature a revised bend, allowing for better brake lever placement. Both bars are 710mm wide as well. They are available in 31.8mm clamp diameter only.


Finally, the last new FSA product is their OS-99 stem. This stem is made of forged 7050 aluminum -- forging is the strongest method by which to make something out of aluminum -- and comes in a scant 103 grams for the 90mm length. This is lighter than most, if not all, carbon fiber stems. FSA's forging process yields a stem that is very close to final shape so there is little machining to be done after the forging process. It is for 31.8mm bars only and comes in 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130mm lengths. The hardware is titanium.

And there you have it, four new products that are available now, or will be later this year.

Ultegra SL

I just got this press release, so I thought I'd pass it on. No pictures yet, but as soon as I get any, I'll post 'em! (The stuff in italics is from the release. If it's not italicized, it's commentary from yours truly.)

Shimano Ultegra SL: The New Lightweight Special Edition Ultegra

Shimano adds a special edition of Ultegra featuring a new Ice Grey color and a significant weight reduction. The special version drops 97grams from the standard version.

Where is the weight saved?

Most of the weight is saved in the shifters and crank. The new Dual Control levers feature more aluminum and now share more in common, materials-wise with the Dura Ace levers, dropping 43 grams. The cranks now use a steel bottom bracket axle, machined from billet, allowing less material to be used than the standard version crank. In combination with lighter bottom bracket cups and aluminum chainring bolts, 35 grams are saved. Another 19 grams are saved between the brakes (-10g) and the rear derailleur (-9g).

New Ultegra Compact 10 Speed Crank

In addition to the standard double and triple chainring combinations, a new 10 speed Ultegra branded compact crank has been added to the options. The compact crank will be available in both the Ice Grey SL version as well as the standard color. All Ultegra cranks feature Hollowtech II technology, using a 2-piece system with oversized spindle and bearings for stiffness and Hyperdrive chainring designs for unmatched shifting performance.

Why the Special Edition?

With the jump from standard Ultegra to Dura Ace being so significant, Ultegra SL offers consumers a component choice where they can capture a unique cosmetic and weight savings at a cost that bridges the gap.

I think that the last bit, it most interesting. I guess that the price jump is too big between Ultegra and Dura Ace. 97 grams, though, isn't a whole lot, to be honest. The use of more metal in the shifters is nice, but you can buy aftermarket aluminum chainring bolts -- I, however, replace my aluminum ones with steel for durability and less creaking.

The Other Half of the Equation

Before I jump into today's post, we've got some important info for you Cannondale owners. From the release: "Cannondale has voluntarily issued a Safety Recall Notice with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The products affected include any 2007 and some 2008 mountain bikes equipped with either Lefty Speed Carbon SL or Lefty Speed DLR 2 forks. If your bike is equipped with one of these forks, stop riding the bike immediately and take it to your Cannondale dealer for required service." It seems that the problem is that some of these forks weren't assembled quite right and the telescoping section can completely separate. To echo the above, if you have one of these forks, take it in to your local Cannondale dealer before riding it again.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled post.

A few weeks ago I told you about the scandium Dura Ace wheels I received for review. Hutchinson -- the only maker of tubeless road tires -- was back ordered on the tires at the time, so I did not get a pair to use... until now. To give the wheels a fair shake on their own, and to directly compare the tubeless to tube-type tires, I've been running the wheels with the Fusion Long Distance tires, with standard, off the shelf tubes.

The weight of this tire is: 230g and the tube -- remember, it's not a lightweight tube, but a standard one -- is 115g.

These are very good tires, and judging by the number of cuts -- some major -- in the tread that have not resulted in a flat I'd say the puncture protection works well, too. Seriously, I picked out quite a bit of glass (5 pieces) and had at least that many more cuts that didn't have the glass in there any more and I suffered not one flat. And that is just one tire. I like 'em.

Back to the tubeless bit. So the wheels have been treating me like I'd expect out of a high end wheelset but the real test, the bit that will make the Dura Ace wheels better than other high end wheelsets -- in my opinion -- will be the tubeless tires. That is the biggest difference, the thing that sets them apart, they are made for running sans tubes.

So, on to the installation.

First up, some comparisons. Take a look at the difference between the normal bead, and the road tubeless bead.

Normal:

And Tubeless:

Notice the nice square edge on the tubeless bead? That is what locks the tire to the rim. Not only is the edge more square, but the bead, in general, is thicker.

Before mounting up the tires, be sure to install the valve.


The rubber bit above the knurled nut goes on the inside of the rim. On the outside sits the plastic spacer on the right, then the o-ring under the knurled nut, then the nut.

Installed it looks like this:

You install the tire pretty much like you would any road tire, without the tube, of course. One difference, though, you really do not want to use tire levers. You shouldn't need them, but try to resist the temptation. If you do use them, you run the risk of slightly damaging the rubber bead surface on the tire and introducing a leak point. I installed these without a hitch by hand alone.

Once installed, I soaped up the bead so that it would slide easier into the rim hook. This is not only recommended, but helps the tire seat easier and faster.

Once the tire is nice and soapy, I inflated the tire, using a floor pump, to 125psi. The beads started popping into place at about 20-25psi, much sooner than I expected. After I checked to see that the tire was seated properly, I deflated the tire to 95psi. That is the recommended pressure for my weight.

The weight of the tubeless tire is 295g and the valve stem is another 5g. So, the combo is 300g versus 345g for the tire/tube combo I replaced with the Fusion Tubeless. Not bad, not bad at all.

And there you have it, tubeless tires on a road bike. Naturally, in the full review of the tire, I'll report on how they ride. You'll just have to wait until then.

Also, one more thing, normally we try and have a post every Monday. This Monday, however, is a holiday, so there won't be a new one. Now there are 278 old posts so if you haven't read them all, you can always get your Lactic Acid Threshold fix that way. And, they are available for free! Have a great weekend, get some riding in, and we'll be back on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Good News and Bad News

I got a call from Bill Rudell (Marketing Manager at Cannondale). He told me there were issues with some carbon cranks--made by FSA--stocked on their road bikes--and of particular interest to me--among them being the Synapse. It seems they "incorrectly heat treated the aluminum bottom bracket spindles ... [which could cause] cracks that can lead to a complete crankset failure." Of course, Cannondale is replacing these free of charge. (Read the recall notice here.)

The other day, I finally got around to bringing my bike by the local shop to make sure things were fine.

The Good News
Everything is fine with my cranks. The mechanic could tell from about 10 feet away, in fact. This is because my cranks are of the three-piece variety, while those affected are two-piece. I was relieved to know things would be fine with my bike.

The Bad News
Of course, then the mechanic--kindly point out the difference between my crank and the affected ones--said, "Yeah, you've got the old style." Ouch, the old style already? What is this, the computer industry? I mean, I suppose I should be relieved to not have issues with my cranks, but I bet the newer ones are--aside from possibly plagued with problems--potentially lighter and/or stiffer.

Of course, this just calls to issue the bigger problem: Cannondale, shortly after selling me my bike, came out with a lighter version: the Synapse Carbon SL SI.

A New XT -- Part 2

Last time I talked about the brakes and the derailleurs. This time, it'll be everything else.

Starting with the wheels, XT finally gets a 20mm through axle option. The rear freehub has been redesigned to engage more quickly -- 10 degrees maximum. The brake rotor mount is their Center Lock splined mount. No 6-bolt here.

The crankset has also been updated. The middle ring is now a carbon fiber/steel mixture, to try and increase the life of the chain ring. The bearings are still outboard and this is still a two piece design.

Finally, we come to shifters. Like the new-ish XTR, you get a choice for your shifting pleasure. Dual control, seen earlier, and a stand alone pod. I like stand alone pods. It gives me more options when it comes to brakes. Not that I dislike Shimano brakes, mind you, they work well -- at least all of the ones I have used to date. I just dislike being locked into one brand... any brand.

So, there you have it... the highlights of the new XT group. Frankly, I can't wait to get some dirt time on it.

A New XT

Last year, the big news from Shimano was the complete overhaul of their top of the line group, XTR. This year, it's XT's turn. 25 years after it's introduction, the new XT group follows along the lines of XTR, but with some nice features of it's own.

From the press release:

Introducing the Shimano Shadow Rear Derailleur Like the latest XTR, options are the emphasis of the new Deore XT. The debut of the Shimano Shadow rear derailleur yields a third rear derailleur option, joining the Top Normal and Low Normal versions. Shadow places priority on a low profile design and less body movement for those enthusiasts that are most at home on extreme technical trails. Servo-Wave: An Exclusive Feature of the New Deore XT High Power Braking System Many may remember Servo-Wave from the days when cantilever brakes ruled. Offering ample brake pad clearance, while also providing quick engagement using a cam in the brake lever, the feature was a benchmark performance benefit. With the introduction of linear pull or V-brake systems designed around increased cable pull, Servo-Wave took a hiatus. However, as the disc brake market has matured the dilemma of clearance vs. power became apparent. The new Servo-Wave equipped Deore XT disc brake levers provide both. Available in Dual Control Levers or individual brake levers, this feature provides plenty of pad clearance while delivering substantial power. Combined with the new, stiffer, mono-block XT caliper an additional 20% more power is on tap. Ergonomic tuning has also been enhanced with another XT exclusive: brake levers that have adjustable lever free-stroke as well as adjustable reach, resulting in a system that can be tuned to each individual’s anatomy and preferences.


Wheels and shifters next week.