Now that I’ve burned through the Ozarks and The Least Expected Day, it’s time to go deep on other content. Above, a very cool look back at the best of Rapha’s brand journalism from the last decade. Plenty to generate interest through repeated turbo sessions or whatever’s keeping you busy during the days of social distancing.
Happy Monday from Switzerland, everyone.
Amidst a fast shrinking Spring race calendar, 2019 Dirty Kanza champ Colin Strickland and his METEOR X ALLIED team have announced they will race the Mid South this weekend in Oklahoma - a lone bright spot in racing news as a trio of Belgian Classics are cancelled and the Giro start, with Hungry under a state of emergency, is postponed. It’s all a bit sh*t at the moment.
The Mid South features iconic red roads, ruts, gravel, and plenty of undulating hills. It ain’t Strada Bianche, but it’s something. This years’ start will see 2,700 riders compete, including an elite contingent taking aim at the gravel season’s first major prize. Strickland and team will be on these stealthy looking Allied Able’s - some much welcomed eye-candy amidst all the doom and gloom.
“I am stoked Allied Cycle Works has painted a custom ABLE to match our kits, I can’t wait to put both the kit and the bike through its paces across Mid South’s unforgiving dirt!. If you dig it. STAY TUNED, and RIDE YOUR BIKES!” said Strickland in a press release.
Enjoy the riding this weekend, readers. There will be racing in 2020, just none on European roads anytime soon. Meantime, other races will have a chance to shine, like this one. Images courtesy of Rapha.
When group rides were a rich feature of daily life, music played no part in cycling. Audio came courtesy of bikes and conversation IRL, not podcasts. Now riding has taken on new forms, and earbuds, with so many solo miles, as essential as my Karoo. I rarely leave without a pair at arm’s reach.
These are the best sounding, purpose-built headphones I’ve come across, ever. Better than B&O’s and better than Air Pods. Since getting a pair last summer from Jaybird, I’ve seen them on more cyclist feeds. What makes them so unique? And why have they become the de facto choice for training since their release in 2018?
The ideal ride companion, the Tarah Pro hardware is waterproof and easily accommodates calls, volume and power adjustments in-ride.
It’s January and I’m back from a cold winter ride. The kind where the need to shower immediately supersedes all others. In my haste, I throw kit in the wash and jump into the hot running water. Ten minutes later I emerge sane again, ready to eat and thumb through Strava. Where are my earbuds? Of course they are still in my jersey. I pace for 20 minutes. The wash beeps. They are still intact and functional, only cleaner. My anxiety is unnecessary. They are completely waterproof. Packaging and real life sometimes aren’t synched. In this case, they are aligned.
There has rarely been a ride in the last 6 months where I haven’t put the Tarah Pros on just before my helmet. Nearby roads are mostly quiet; I have the luxury of riding with music and podcasts with little concern for passing motorists. The enhanced audio seems worth it. I could put together an extensive feature set why the Tarah Pros are the standard-setter for cycling; instead, lets hit the highlights:
Battery life: 14 hours. Awesome. Also, if you ever forget to charge but still want a ride soundtrack, a five minute quick-charge gives you two hours of battery life. (A better quality battery and better use of bluetooth extends use time.)
Auto-on and off with magnets: Yup magnets. If you need to pause music for any reason, the outside of the earbud is a magnet. Stick both together and the device auto-pauses; fail to reactivate in 15 minutes and the earbuds go to sleep and save battery.
Sometimes cords are better: while cordless bluetooth buds are great for working, sweat makes them rather useless for riding. Cords in this instance are key. The Tarah Pro’s are like a 5mm thick cordelette leash. You can dangle around helmet straps and around the neck on coffee stops with little concern they will fall out and go missing. The cord is also woven with reflective thread. Nice touch.
They are great for the trainer. Get them as wet as you want. Sweat and water can’t combat their awesomeness.
Like all Jaybird products, sound is easily customized on the Jaybird app. When synched, tweaking against presets or creating your own range is simple and straightforward. On fit, you can dial yours with three sizes of silicon molds that fit over the earbud, as well as with the SwitchFit feature, which enables you to wear the earbuds over or under the ear, depending on which you prefer (under is better for riding IMO).
Conclusion after six months of regular use? This is the “Q” of in-ride audio. The fit, hardware and audio reflects that. So does the price. And it is entirely worth it. Their durability is tailored to hard efforts and long days riding. And in a world of ten-thousand dollar bikes, the investment in your ears seems worth it. More on the Jaybird Tarah Pro can be found here. From CHFs 179.
First off, chapeau to “Fixie Black” aka Josh Tyrrell for enduring what must have a cold shoot in wintery Vancouver for the video above. Now having ridden State Bicycle Co.’s fixed Undefeated last year for a feature in Cyclist, I was psyched to see the release of the Undefeated Road this week - their second geared bike and first performance road bike in the fleet. Handsome looking, for sure.
Comes with two build options or as a frameset and features 7005 Double-Butted Aluminum tubing, an oversized tapered head tube (like the fixed model) and a full carbon fork that come together to create a stiff, responsive, and fast ride (company’s words, not ours…).
SRAM Force AXS and SRAM Apex are both build options, the former with with 1x or 2x chainrings. As you’d expect, looks are on point from State. The Undefeated Road eschews dropped seat stays and aero tubing for a traditional diamond silhouette and is built on the legacy of State’s top-of-the-line Undefeated Track Bike. A strong option for crits, club runs and points in between. Gallery below.
In only seven years since the brand was brought back from the brink, nearly death-knelled by industry manufacturing that had moved from Italy to Asia, SILCA has earned a cult following at LBSs the world over, morphing into indispensable gadgetry for pro teams and home wrenches. I’ve not used too much of the kit - the stuff that really earns praise, like the torque wrenches and pumps - but what I have used has left very little to be desired.
As CEO Joshua Poertner seems keen to explore the cracks of cycling components further, applying a high standard to manufacturing and design now done in the US, the company releases two very different kind of bar tapes - one thick, one incredibly thin - for two very different kinds of riders (…counting down the days till my test tape arrives so I can apply that new-bike-feel fresh bar tape so handsomely yields…).
The first, thicker tape is 3.5mm and geared toward anyone looking for added comfort on the tops but envisioned specifically for those brave enough to tackle the groads less travelled. The second is just 1.0mm thick and is aimed at the aerodynamically obsessed: images of it mounted appear barely there on the track and time trial bikes for which it is intended.
Both are backed with what the company is calling an industry first: a one-year crash replacement program, the first of this kind (it is really a partial subsidy for any tape that hits tarmac and is destroyed; the sentiment however is certainly appreciated).
The tech: Traditional bar tape is extruded as-is, or molded to develop a thin skin of non-expanded foam at the surface. When producing it, you have to choose between more durable foams which are harder, or more cushioning which means less grip.
By using a laminated design, SILCA has managed to locate the right material in the exact right location. The outer Ply of SILCAthane is tuned using the same materials used in high performance eyewear for maximum grip, durability, and cleanability, while SILCAlon was developed from the same foam technology recently used to shatter marathon records. The outcome is cushion 10-15% softer than most bar tape foams, the company says, while offering 10-15% higher rebound rates than any previous foams.
Updated post with a test ride to follow. Happy base miles, people.
Specs:
Nastro Cuscino
3.5mm Thick, tri-lam construction cushions like it was 4.5 thick
MSRP $50
https://silca.cc/collections/bar-tape-1/products/nastro-cuscino-bar-tape
Nastro Aero
1mm thick- the thinnest tape available.
MSRP $15
https://silca.cc/collections/bar-tape-1/products/nastro-aero-bar-tape
I don’t know if they stopped building bikes or just took a break from building Belgian-inspired, but not Belgium-built bikes conceived from total irreverence. In any case, Ritte is back with two new head-turning builds: the Satyr (gravel) and allroad Phantom.
Built in partnership with Tom Kellogg (formerly Spectrum Cycles), both feature sprightly Reynolds size-specific tubing, geometry and unusual looks (particularly for stock steel rigs) - an aesthetic for which the not Belgian, but nonetheless cool bike brand is very well-known.
“It isn't watts or virtual leaderboards that get us out of bed in the morning,” the company claims, but the sheer emotion and satisfaction that comes from just turning the pedals.
With that ethos in mind, the Ritte/Kellogg collab conceives two new designs (available December 17th, 2019) that have custom-drawn Reynolds tubing and proper rake, Enve forks to ensure feel and feedback for every size rider is just right. “The closest you’ll get to custom,” they maintain.
When this blog is big and successful - like, CyclingTips big - I’ll be able to post in depth reviews and images on ride feel and assign random ratings that bestow a sense of quality, craft and the general experience of riding new frames from a constantly evolving bike biz. Till then, we have specs and bike pics.
All spec-ed out: the Satyr
Tom Kellogg design
Reynolds 725 tubing – varying tube specs for each size across 6 stock sizes
Enve forks – varying fork rakes with size
T47 bottom bracket
Full internal cable routing
Flat mount disc brakes
43 mm tire clearance
3 cage mounts (2 water bottle, one tool/keg type)
Fender mounts
MSRP $2250, complete builds from $3800
Custom Paint Option
The Phantom (above), in brief:
Tom Kellogg design - progressive all-road geometry
Reynolds 725 tubing – varying tube specs for each size across 6 stock sizes
Enve forks – varying fork rakes with size
T47 bottom bracket
Full internal cable routing
Flat mount disc brakes
700x32 mm tire clearance
2 bottle cage mounts
MSRP: $2250 frameset, builds from $3800 (Global Pricing TBC)
Custom Paint Option
It’s a busy time at Eurobike. There are vendors, distributors and bike companies spread out over 14 airplane hangers on the Swiss-German border town of Friedrichshafen. The city itself is perfectly ordinary, but it is a cycling circus unlike any on earth. I make my way over to the SRM booth. People are eyeing the company’s new indoor training bike. A screen is affixed three feet away where a model demos the bike on Zwift.
It’s here that I meet Mario Kummer. He is tall and lanky and looks like someone who has spent a life dedicated to cycling and sacrifice. He has, but in my rush to prep for EB, I don’t put that together until later. Today he is an industry man, attending as a friend of Q36.5, showing off the company’s new designs. He mills around the SRM booth shaking hands with nearly everyone that passes through - a familiarity gained only after years spent working inside this small, insular world.
Kummer, left, suffering…
While we’ve only just met, Kummer’s manner is that of an old friend. We start chatting about Q36.5’s new 2020 kit - the beginning of a “new era” for the company, he says. Two prize designs come out of his backpack - iterations of their already well-conceived bibs and lightweight jerseys. Every bit is examined in awe. While Kummer has likely seen the designs dozens of times, he is still genuinely excited.
Both the bibs and jersey are meticulously made in a way most are not, and as our meeting wraps, I’m curious. The weather is turning in central Europe; will Q’s new 2020 gear be key to riding warm this winter?
If I had to burn it all down - every bib, gilet, long sleeve, sock, jacket, arm-warmer, leg-warmer, glove, over-shoe, cover-shoe - everything - I’d think hard about replacing it all with Q36.5. On this, Kummer and I are aligned. A four-time Tour finisher, he is a lot like Q kit itself. Unassuming but self-assured. He has an impressive palmares and has had a good career after racing. All the same, he is quiet about it. That parallel is clear after I start using the kit I get for this post, and later, Google his accomplishments - an Olympic gold medal among them.
A quick Q.36.5 primer: if you ride in Toronto, where AlphaVelo’s Q-concept store gave me my first glimpse of it, you’ll know the brand well. It was conceived as a kit lab focused on temperature regulation; it’s founder, Luigi Bergamo, is a bit of a mad scientist. He plies his craft using high-density stretch fabrics - stuff seldom seen elsewhere in the industry. (Interesting fact: the only other time similar high-density stretch woven fabric has been used to make performance kit - like the kind in Q bibs etc. - was for the banned Speedo LZR full-body swimsuit.)
Specifically with bib shorts, the result of all this experimentation is ultralight weaves of 205 threads per cm squared (vs 44 in other high-end bibs). What started as the pursuit of the perfect bib has evolved into the use of extreme fabric experimentation for their entire collection. My first chat with Bergamo was exactly four years ago. Now at the end of Q36.5’s first “development cycle,” what’s been created for winter 2019/2020 is Q2.0. A further maturation of cycling clothing that was already pretty grown-up.
It’s difficult to constantly re-imagine cycling essentials year after year, particularly next-to-skin layers, yet there have been many attempts. Rapha’s merino turtleneck, Castelli’s wind-cutting layers and Assos’ polypropylene ‘winter’ and ‘deep winter’ system have been equally influential and effective for many and jump to mind.
Q's Teddy Berry intimo base (below left, grey) builds on that pattern of innovation and indispensability, but furthers it. As a standalone, it would be better described as a technical crew-neck for bikes and could easily be labeled a masterpiece because of how different it feels and functions compared to everything that’s existed previously.
Breathable, quick-drying and body-mapped to perfection, it fits tight under jerseys and jackets (and boasts a double layer around the chest that acts as a tiny furnace). I was skeptical about this being "just another layer" when I took it out of the box, but I’ve quickly realized that it sets a new standard entirely for the meaning of "essential." You can make a strong case for the Long Sleeve WoolF Jersey in this regard, too.
This is a lightweight long sleeve and a great transition layer for autumn (add the teddy layer + jacket and you can take this into early winter. Similarly strip it down with a lightweight layer and gilet and ride in it in spring). Furthering the company’s use of ultralight, high-density fabric it weighs just 195g and is conceived extensively around fit and function - both of which are excellent manifestations of a specific vision executed in jerseys demarcated by their true originality.
Finally there are the Termica Long Salopette bib shorts. Updated for 2020 thanks to a thermo-regulating lining called Heat Fiber made from coffee-bean processing residue. I thought thermo-regulation was just hyperbole. It’s not. The bib warms muscles as you pedal and generate heat but stays dry - which is perfect for cold weather and colder descents. The compression, lower-lumbar support and exceptional pad set a new standard for quality.
While this might be the beginning of a new development cycling for Q36.5, it’s hard to imagine further iterations improving on what already exists. This is true of Q kit, and of the industry generally. Several companies are pushing boundaries in design, creating segmentation for every riding condition.
Kummer and Bergamo, anchored to the vision of experimentation, believe there’s still room for advancements. Wherever that research and development takes the industry, I’m certain Q will be at the front, pushing the pace.
When CeramicSpeed revealed a new drivetrain concept in 2018, it was perhaps (and as much as I love wider, dropped seat-stays and the gravel segment) one of the greatest innovations to hit cycling in the last decade. A very logical one, too.
The company is already all-in on bearings, pulleys and lubes. Why not also eliminate friction at cycling’s most critical contact point? Fifteen months on and with subsequent announcements that it now shifts, partially, Driven is inching beyond concept. Standing in its way of commercialization is perhaps a partner who believes in its viability - a high-end, niche alternative, likely - to groups sold by SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo.
We talked to Ben Powell - CeramicSpeed’s CMO - about self-lubricating bearings, the future of cycling tech and Driven’s development. As innovation in the industry marches on, your next drivetrain could look, shift and feel very different.
HNH: For people unfamiliar with CS, describe the company and its focus in a couple sentences:
BP: CeramicSpeed is a company born from one man’s desire to make the cycling world faster. Founder and CEO Jacob Csizmadia believed in the performance of hybrid bearings back in the 90’s. To prove their efficiency, he used them in his inline skates and broke the record for most distance covered in 24hrs. Covering over 500km in 1998, on a 400m track created in the local supermarket. I know, crazy, but the foundations for CeramicSpeed were laid. Today, CeramicSpeed designs, develops, tests and assembles by hand, at the company’s headquarters in Holstebro, Denmark, a series of bearing products, racing chains and chain coating, meant to make every cyclist, both amateur and pro, ride faster on road, off-road and track disciplines.
HNH: The bike industry is innovating at an incredibly rapid pace - where do think it is headed? What will be some of the major innovations cyclists can expect in the next few years?
BP: Indeed, the cycling industry is an ever-changing landscape of developments and innovation, both in terms of hard goods and soft goods are present. It makes it a great industry to be a part of, although I do believe cycling to some extent is behind in terms of digital and electronic innovation. E-Bikes are great and all round good for the sport, but when you look at the mechanics of a bicycle, a good example being the drivetrain, true innovation in that area has not been seen for many, many years. We see a lot of evolution of bikes and bike components, but in my opinion, we rarely see true innovation.
Zwift is a great example of modern innovation and disruption, using digital tools and a digital mindset. I think if bike and component companies adopted this more (and the UCI eased up their approach to innovation and development), cycling as a sport could be extremely innovative.
We have noticed a big shift in recent years on drivetrain efficiency. The consumer focus, at least at the high- end is increasing; more pressure is now applied to drivetrain manufacturers to consider friction when it comes to performance parts. One area of innovation focus for us is the transfer of our knowledge of efficiency to off-road. Not necessarily only by means of friction savings but performance improvement on the whole, whether it be drivetrain efficiency, wear-life of parts. We have our eyes closely following and testing in harsh contamination environments in the industrial world (we have a line of business in industry), this knowledge is soon enough going to help us play a key role in the performance and efficiency parts for cycling. One product that we are very close with is maintenance free SLT bearings (Solid Lube Technology), a self-lubricating bearing that’s extremely difficult for contamination to penetrate and destroy the bearing.
Compare the innovation of the Driven drive train to other major advancements in cycling technology. Historically speaking, to what do you think it compares?
BP: That’s a great question. There’s a couple that spring to mind. The Safety Bicycle is an innovation that we can safely (no pun intended) say enabled us to evolve to where we are today with the way a bike looks. Driven can not only change bicycle design but component design and engineering thinking - just as the Safety Bike did back in the 1880’s. Also, as significant as the introduction of the derailleur was back in the Tour de France in 1937, I would say Driven’s removal of derailleur’s is equal in significance.
With so much industry innovation, name three ways bike builds will be different by 2022?
BP: Sensors and connectivity, not for performance, I think the performance world has this in abundance, maybe not as integrated as it could be but in terms of operational efficiency and communication. It’s about time, just like our cars, that consumers are prompted on when their bike needs a service, when the chain needs oil, when the tyres need pressure etc – 2022 may be a stretch for this but it is my hope that it becomes a reality. It can help many aspects of the bike industry.
We know that consumers are getting more and more selective as they become more aware of the need to personalize bike setups for optimal comfort and performance. Therefore, I think more and more companies will have their custom configurators in place for personalized bike builds and less complete builds will be required.
Integration, complex cable routing as a consequence means that a bike mechanics job to rebuild or deep service is getting tougher or more costly, therefore our projections tell us that quality of internal components is going to be in higher demand.
What are the major advantages or riding CS parts, particularly OSPW and bearings?
BP: The great thing about our products is the unique mix of speed and durability. Many brands have their focus on speed and we often see these products featuring a very short lifetime, needing replacing very often. We have developed our products to deliver the best performance (we test our products continuously and regularly improve them in order to be the best on the market) as well as to outlast any other bearing products available. For this purpose, we have created a warranty program between 4 and 6 years.
After 14 months of additional development, the drivetrain concept unveiled a patent-pending shifting mechanism, off-road application and performance under load (seen here on a Specialized Venge frame).
What are the next steps for developing and commercializing the Driven system?
BP: This summer at Eurobike, we have delivered four advancements in the development of Driven: a shifting Driven, an aerodynamic Driven, a Driven that can take load and be ridden and a Driven that can be adapted to off-road and full-suspension bikes. The next step is to combine the shifting capability with a ridable Driven. This is just a matter of time. The right question is who will be the right investor to actually bring this to life.
Ridley has just released its latest Helium SLX Disc, citing an improvement on what’s already one of the winningest, lightest, most comfortable road frames available in-market. Chief engineer at Belgian Cycling Factory (the umbrella company that encompasses both Ridley and Eddy Merckx), Toon Wils, said that with this version, the company has combined the stiffness, responsiveness and the weight characteristics that have come to typify the Helium design.
"Back in 2008 Cadel Evans came to us and said build me a bike that can win the Tour,” explained Jochim Aerts, CEO of Belgian Cycling Factory. "One thing - bring it as close as possible to the 6.8 kg limit and if you have to choose between 100 grams or less stiffness, choose stiffness.”
The result is the Helium’s evolution from ISP to SL, SLX and now the SLX Disc. The 2020 version sees Ridley stick with the traditional shape of the bottom and top tubes, leaving the circular shape that has given the Helium its soul (a perfect stiffness-to-weight ratio). With disc brakes, thru-axles, lowered rear stays while maintaining the small bridge in between, Ridley says they’ve made an already stiff frame more so.
The new SLX Disc introduces greater aerodynamics from complete cable integration. At the wind-tunnel that sits adjacent to the company’s offices, testing shows a decrease in wind resistance of 14 percent from previous models. Impressive.
“The Helium SLX was already the favourite of every professional rider from Lotto Soudal. With disc brakes and cable integration, you might call the Helium SLX Disc the king of racers,” added Aerts.
Bikes against walls at its finest.
Check the Specs:
The Helium SLX Disc is available immediately from all Ridley dealers
Weight: 780 grams (frame size SMALL, painted) and 360 grams (fork, painted)
Available in size XXS to XL
Standard collection available
SRAM Force eTAP AXS with Forza R45_c19 DB wheels (EUR 6,999)
Shimano Ultegra with DT Swiss ER1600 DB wheels (EUR 4,999)
Other groups can also be configured via the Ridley Dreambuilder.
Tyre clearance up to 28 mm
Also available via the Ridley Customizer: https://www.ridley-bikes.com/customize-your-bike/#/
I’ve always had a soft-spot for the Helium frame shape - - definitely one that tilts toward people who prefer classic triangle design. A couple press camps with Ridley during classics season, but never had a chance to ride it. Hope to arrange a test ride of the SLX disc soon to correct that.
Rapha and GORE-TEX today announced a first-ever partnership to develop three new wet weather cycling jackets using Gore’s most technically advanced waterproof-breathable fabrics, for those committed to riding Zwift-free miles year-round.
“Rapha and GORE-TEX have always been at the forefront of technical product innovation. GORE-TEX are a crucial ‘ingredient’ in waterproof clothing for extreme conditions and we’re confident Rapha + GORE-TEX jackets will withstand the wettest of weathers,” explained Alex Valdman, the Creative Director at Rapha, in a press release issued jointly by both companies.
The new kit empowers riders to face the rain, keeping them on their bike longer - even in extreme weather. The Pro Team Lightweight GORE-TEX Jacket, the Pro Team Insulated GORE-TEX Jacket and the Explore GORE-TEX Jacket have been developed in collaboration with EF Education First Pro Cycling and CANYON//SRAM Racing.
“The collaboration of Rapha with GORE-TEX product technologies, beginning in Fall 2019 is an exciting partnership opportunity for two brands with strong legacies in technical products,” said Rick Macdonald, European Sales Leader at the W. L. Gore & Associates Fabric Division. "The jackets will feature Gore’s innovative, forward-thinking approach to what is possible in road cycling technology.”
How much better can modern cycling kit get? Judging by these releases (in pictures, anyway), maybe a lot. Check the specs:
The new Pro Team Lightweight waterproof jackets for both men and women employ GORE-TEX SHAKEDRYTM with a waterproof membrane on the external facing of the two-layer construction, enabling water to bead off fabric. Without the outer layer being saturated and cold, the wearer theoretically remains warm and dry. At 49 gsm (grams per square metre) GORE-TEX SHAKEDRYTM fabric is also light and packable, good for stowing in pockets in case of sudden showers.
For added warmth under the worst race conditions the Pro Team Insulated GORE-TEX Jacket features SHAKEDRYTM fabric backed with PolarTec Alpha, a lightweight synthetic insulation developed for the US military, which delivers an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio. PolarTec Alpha has already been used in a range of insulated Rapha products. The GORE-TEX Stretch material features in the storm hood, on the lower back, at the cuffs guaranteeing a more refined fit and a storm-proof protection.
For the Explore GORE-TEX Hooded Pullover, the company has used GORE-TEX ActiveTM lightweight three-layer fabric to construct a hooded quarter-zip jacket that is both waterproof and breathable. The Pullover offers a relaxed fit and soft next-to-skin feel to provide exceptional comfort both on and off the bike.
All of the GORE-TEX products in the Rapha range feature taped seams, secure closures, vents for added breathability and elasticated cuffs for a storm-proof seal, while their incredible lightweight delivers extreme packability. General release is expected October 9th.
A review of the Rapha x GORE jackets expected soon.
This is a guest post from Germany-based cyclist and mechanic, Owen Lewis. You can connect with him on Instagram to tell him how much you like his new/old Kona.
We all have that old frame. The one in the garage. The one we see on the street. The perfect fixer-upper.
This is the story of mine - an “old” 2013 Kona Jake the Snake - a loyal gravel and cross racer I bought six years ago. Not old, but maybe a bit old in bike years.
I’ve maintained the bike and it was a sturdy and stable machine. But there were signs of wear and tear. The rims - an old set of Mavic Ksyrium Elites - were a little lifeless. The free-hub made noise. When I freewheeled, it squealed - - a sound no amount of grease could fix. The bottom bracket had also seen better days. When wet, rust streamed down the fork, akin to having a bleeding nose.
The frame was in excellent shape and fit well. I’ll give it that. But it looked dated. It had long ceased to emote any sort of joy simply on aesthetics. A workhorse, definitely, but the Snake had lost its bite. I was a bit conflicted. Bin it, sell it or breathe new life in old stock?
The 2013 JTS frame from Kona
“Newbikeday” posts about bike upgrades create unnecessary wants to which every cyclist is susceptible. Myself included. Maybe I’d have gotten 200-300 euros on Pinkbike for selling the old build. Disc brakes and more modern geometry had me thinking that buying a new bike would just be easier, and lets be honest - more fun.
But once I realized how easy it was, the idea of restoration sucked me in. Why not bring the bike back from the dead? On the heels of the Global Climate Strike, buying a new build stopped making sense. The satisfaction of salvaging the Kona became an obession.
Step one was stripping the bike down completely. To do this I used a small sander and some steel wool. The combination of both cleaned the frame and fork and made the surface paint-ready. Once dry, the frame was immediately transformed, looking fresh from the service course. My decision to refurbish was completely validated.
I bought bits and pieces throughout Autumn and Winter, looking for online sales (note to self: there are a lot of online sales) for “old” or just released parts which year-over-year, are consistently supplanted by innovation from industry. Others pieces I had lying around my wrenching room at home.
I opted for a 1x SRAM Force group from a Shimano 105. The beat-up and scratched orange was upgraded to a two-tone red and gunmetal grey. For a first timer, my steady hand yielded something that looked fresh off the factory floor. Put together with ‘last year’s’ performance parts, I probably gave it another decade of life. Maybe some cross racing, too.
On cost, I spend less than 1200 euros. Had I spent that in an LBS, I’d barely have gotten a frameset for similar money. I’d have also been forced to compromise on component quality, putting me into Shimano Tiagra 10sp or something equivalent - - a compromise I didn’t want to make.
The biggest project cost was a pair of Hunt 4 Season wheels. In my opinion, they are nothing short of spectacular for the money. They are relatively light at 1579g, wide, and have internal width of 19mm so I can run them tubeless.
Having looked at many Eurobike 2019 galleries, so much new tech is being released, especially in the gravel sub-segment. You can either take advantage of the rapid technological progression by buying new, or looking downstream, scouring, as I did, for older components that can be bought cheaply, especially if you’re patient.
It really doesn’t take much to breathe new life into our old stock.
Specs
Model: 2013 Kona Jake the Snake
Frame: Aluminum 7005
Fork: Kona Full Carbon CX
Paint: Spray.bike Excelsior Red and Gray’s Inn, Keirin Flake
Wheelset: Hunt 4 Season Aero, rim brake
Tires: Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss, 700c 38mm
Brakes: Avid Shorty Ultimate
Seatpost: Canyon VCLS 27.2mm (shimmed for 31.6mm seat tube.)
Saddle: Pro Stealth
Stem: Bontrager RXL
Handlebars: Easton EA70 AX
Shifters: Force CX-1
Rear Derailleur: Force 1 3.0
Bottom Bracket: Praxis Works GXP BB30/PF30
Crankset: SRAM Red, 172.5mm
Chainring: SRAM narrow wide, 42T
Cassette: SRAM PG1170, 11-36
Pedals: Shimano XT PD-8020
Investment - all figures in Euros:
Spray paint from Spray.bike: 55
Bottom Bracket: 75
Wheelset, Hunt: 350
Bars, Easton: 60
Bartape: 20
Shorty ultimate: 120
Force CX-1 shifters: 175
Force 1 rear D: 100
Cassette: 55
Chain: 25
Chainring: 56
Tires: 83
Spacer/shim for seat post: 9
Total investment: 1183
Amidst the cocktail parties, the gab about kit, tech and bikes, the new product releases, start-ups and cycling heavyweights all at (or not at) Eurobike 2019, there was a handful of innovative, interesting releases that caught my eye wandering several massive airplane hangers in Friedrichshafen on the Swiss-German border yesterday - 14 of them in total. While I made the mistake of booking meetings with Giro, Fizik, Notio, Pirelli, Look and others in opposite directions in different hangers, such is Eurobike. Live and learn.
Zwift caused a lot of buzz at the show, in a massive booth that conveyed the brand’s rapid growth, announcing steering functionality under the new FutureWorks brand. Due to be released to the public next week and moving forward, FutureWorks will be used to introduce new innovations from Zwift to their community for research and development. Feedback taken from the community on these new products will ultimately shape the final variation.
“Steering is perhaps the most gamified feature we’ve added to Zwift since launch,” said Jon Mayfield, Zwift’s Chief Developer and Co-Founder in a press release. “Steering has been developed to take this up a level and tempt more recreational cyclists and fitness enthusiasts to Zwift.” I don’t Zwift but I’ve spoken to their CEO Eric for an article in Canadian Cycling Magazine. He’s a cool guy with a clear vision of where he wants to take indoor, play-based training.
In a couple short years, the Zwift has become a favoured past-time for many - a point made obvious by the launch of stationary bikes from Wahoo, SRM and Stages all the centre of attention at their respective booths.
The Empire lace-ups get a phenomenal update for 2020, with an enlarged toe-box and other small refinements.
Over at SelleRoyal, Fizik had their Adaptive saddle range on display. The brand is saying goodbye to the Spine concept of old (Bull, Snake, etc) for a future that is customized to the user. The result is a spongy-feeling saddle texture that one could imagine having 3D-printed in a local bike shop in a not so distant future (once the infrastructure is available). The Brand’s new Powerstrap X4 and Vento Powerstrap Aeroweave R2 is an indication of where it is focused - developing lighter chassis and more breathable fabrics capable of taking on unpredictably hot summer rides.
Expanding from the successful Cinturato™ Velo range, I spent a couple minutes over at Pirelli looking at their new gravel and cyclocross tires, both with purposely designed tread patterns and new rubber compound. By the way, did you know that groad was a thing? Many many brands were quick to show off their kit, group, frames, bags and everything gravel-related in what undeniably felt like the largest cycling segment on display.
More to come from Eurobike. A full review of some new product from Giro, Absolute Black and hopefully LEM’s Motivator - a full-carbon exterior shell helmet tipping the scales at 220 grams. Very cool.
Like I said, first Eurobike in the books. Hopefully the first of many.
Silca’s MARATONA Minimo is a compact, compartmentalized carrying case with customizable internal dividers, a vented garment bag and roll-top shoe bag.
Where Silca’s existing Maratona gear bag is for weekends and longer, the Maratona Minimo is aimed at single or multi-day events and for people who want to haul their gear in a versatile, easily accessible case, be it in the trunk of the car or otherwise.
When I came upon it in May (thanks, Silca) I immediately thought “give-away pile.” I have a riding buddy in Germany - the sort of guy who is enviably organized - and thought he’d be ideal to use it. But then I did. Then I used it again to prep for a fondo in Airolo and then another ride around the Furka, Grimsel, Susten loop this weekend (which started and finished out of the trunk of my car). Now I’m a believer.
Does this happen to you? You’re driving to wherever for a ride and suddenly you’re hunting through the back seat, one hand on the wheel, leafing for shoes, shades or bibs because you’re convinced you’ve forgotten one or all them.
Everything in it’s right place ahead of a big ride in Ticino.
What I value most about the Minimo (now that I’m in the habit of using it) is how quickly I can tick through visual checklists before leaving for a ride, discarding the double and triple-checks I regularly did in past. It’s all right there in one mesh bag or another, and it all easily seen at a glance.
The construction is a water-resistant TPU coated 600D with black reflective graphics; that’s code for “it’s bomber.” Very, very durable. And despite how it’s marketed, I’d argue it’s able to store more than a days’ worth of kit. The compartments are over-sized and generous and leave lots of room for layers.
I’ve not traveled in a plane with it yet, but that’s coming next month. I’m pretty convinced you could get 3 days worth of essentials + helmet + shoes + and gadgets tucked in there no problem. More specs:
Water-resistant external YKK zippers
Two soft-lined external side pockets
Configurable/removable internal divider
Roll-top shoe and vented garment bag
Internal water bottle storage loops and mesh storage compartments
Removable shoulder strap
Dimensions: 46cm x 33cm x 23cm (Meets airline size regulations for carry-on luggage)
You can check it out on Silca’s site here. This is a camera pack for your kit. All the essentials conveniently tucked into one place.
Blending cycling’s oldest frame material with 21st-century tubing technology, Mosaic, the Boulder CO-based frame builder, has just released its RS-1 series of road frames.
“Having a solid steel road bike in our line-up completes the models we offer,” said Aaron Barcheck, Mosaic Cycles founder and lead frame-builder. “We’ve brought our own Mosaic perspective to the steel road bike; all the things you’d want with the timeless ride qualities of a premium steel frame-set.”
Available in both classic rim-brake and modern disc-brake configurations, both have the same Columbus Spirit HSS tubing, tapered head tube and reliable threaded bottom bracket. The build also features details like “star” cable port/bottle boss reinforcements, braze-on front derailleur mount and integrated derailleur hanger.
RS-1 and RS-1d bikes will be delivered six weeks from the order date. The combination of performance and beauty is what Mosaic calls “The New American Handmade.” Hoping to get my hands on a frame in the next couple months to form some of my own opinions.
RS-1 Highlights:
Rider-specific custom geometry and tube set
Columbus Spirit HSS performance steel tubing
Chris King Dropset Headset
threaded 68mm bottom bracket
27.2mm seatpost
tapered head tube
Braze-on front derailleur mount
Mechanical/ Di2/EPS/ Etap shifting available
Choice of Mosaic paint layouts and 45 stock colors
Six-week lead time
Frame set $5600 USD
