Bikerumor https://bikerumor.com/ All the best cycling news, tech, rumors and reviews Thu, 25 Jan 2024 02:11:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/bikerumor-favicon-144-1-120x120.png Bikerumor https://bikerumor.com/ 32 32 190730048 Gorgeous Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte C68 Heads to Sotheby’s https://bikerumor.com/gorgeous-motoki-yoshio-x-colnago-matte-c68-heads-to-sothebys/ https://bikerumor.com/gorgeous-motoki-yoshio-x-colnago-matte-c68-heads-to-sothebys/#respond Thu, 25 Jan 2024 02:11:34 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350826 Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte C68 road bike

Like a good NFT, this custom-painted proof of concept is a true one of one, except you can actually ride it. Bidding is now open.

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Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte C68 road bike

In November 2022, Colnago unveiled a limited run of custom painted C68 road bikes painted by Motoki Yoshio, a Japanese artist living in Italy. Behind the scenes, though, they had a secret one-off version, too…

When Colnago is planning a limited edition bike, of which they do plenty, they try out different paint schemes directly on frames to see how they look in real life. With this one, they tried both gloss and matte finishes for Yoshio’s multi-hued design.

Motoki Yoshio sitting behind custom Colnago C68

The gloss version won the vote, so the matte version was gifted to a higher up at Colnago. Now, still unridden, it has been built up with Campagnolo Super Record Wireless with Bora Ultra wheels bedazzled with gold sparkle decals. And it’s up for auction at Sotheby’s. Have a look, then get ready to place your bid…

Motoki Yoshio sketching custom Colnago C68 road bike
closeup paint details of Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte
closeup paint details of Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte
closeup paint details of Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte
closeup paint details of Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte
closeup paint details of Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte
closeup paint details of Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte
Motoki Yoshio x Colnago Matte C68 road bike

The complete bike is a size 51. It comes with the one-piece Colnago CC.01 handlebar-and-stem, fully integrated routing, Selle Italia SLR Super Flow Carbon saddle, and Pirelli P-Zero Race tires. It comes with their blockchain-enabled proof of ownership, and like a rare NFT, it’s a true 1-of-1. This bike is the only one in existence with a matte version of this paint scheme.

It’s a sealed auction with an anticipated closing price between $25,000 and $30,000. The auction closes this Friday, January 26th, full details and link to place your bid at Sotheby’s.

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Cane Creek Aurora Release Turns Helm & eeWings Green https://bikerumor.com/cane-creek-aurora-limited-edition-color/ https://bikerumor.com/cane-creek-aurora-limited-edition-color/#comments Thu, 25 Jan 2024 01:05:26 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350819 cane creek aurora green fork and cranks

Cane Creek's latest limited edition Aurora green & bronze finish looks like the forest, and every piece is unique.

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cane creek aurora green fork and cranks

The latest limited edition colorway for Cane Creek is a Saran Texture finish in deep shades of green and bronze, colorshifting depending on light and angle. It comes on Helm MKII forks and eeWings titanium cranks. The painting process means each one is unique, and they’re available separately or together.

cane creek aurora green helm MKII suspension fork

The Helm MKII Aurora comes in 29er only, with 44mm offset and your choice of air or coil springs. It comes set at 160mm travel, but is easily user-adjustable from 100-160mm for air, and 130-160mm for coil. Claimed weights are 2,080g for air, 2,340g for coil. MSRP $1,099, available while supplies last.

cane creek aurora green eeWings titanium cranks

The eeWings Aurora come in 165mm and 170mm lengths for MTB and in 170mm and 172.5mm lengths for All-Road. They come with custom-cut clear vinyl to protect the finish, but it’s still paint (not anodized), so it will wear and chip over time. MSRP is $1,199, weights from 396g (all-road) and 400g (MTB).

CaneCreek.com

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Wolf Tooth Remote Pro Dropper Lever Now Comes in Colors https://bikerumor.com/wolf-tooth-remote-pro-dropper-lever-now-comes-in-colors/ https://bikerumor.com/wolf-tooth-remote-pro-dropper-lever-now-comes-in-colors/#respond Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:25:17 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350815 wolf tooth components remote pro shown in various anodized colors

Spruce up your dropper remote with one of eight new colors for Wolf Tooth's Remote Pro lever blades. And black, it still comes in black.

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wolf tooth components remote pro shown in various anodized colors

Got a Wolf Tooth Components Remote Pro dropper lever but wish it were more colorful? Or been holding out because black ain’t your thing? Well, now they’ve got you covered.

The Remote Pro can now be had in one of nine colors – purple, silver (raw), espresso, blue, gold, olive, orange, red, and… black. It comes attached to a clamp for standard handlebars (22.2mm I.D.), with a universal design that works with most any brand dropper seatpost.

wolf tooth components remote pro shown in various anodized colors

It spins on a cam, pulling more cable at first to get things going quickly, and the whole thing is highly adjustable with lots of different direct-mount compatibility with lots of different brake brands.

Already got the Remote Pro? Just add the lever blade for $19.95, it bolts on in under a minute.

WolfToothComponents.com

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Fizik Omna Goes Wide, Offering Affordable Road Shoes For All Fits https://bikerumor.com/fizik-vento-omna-wide-affordable-road-bike-shoes/ https://bikerumor.com/fizik-vento-omna-wide-affordable-road-bike-shoes/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2024 18:29:45 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350787 Fizik Omna Wide affordable road bike shoes

Fizik is broadening their horizons, so to speak, with a new wide-last option for their popular, affordable Omna road shoes. With a single premium Boa…

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Fizik Omna Wide affordable road bike shoes

Fizik is broadening their horizons, so to speak, with a new wide-last option for their popular, affordable Omna road shoes. With a single premium Boa dial closure, stiff-enough reinforced nylon sole, and simple good looks, the Fizik Omna Wide is a great shoe for those roadies looking to rack up the miles, but who aren’t comfortable in overly narrow Italian road kicks…

Fizik Vento Omna Wide affordable road bike shoes

While much of the road shoe chatter goes to top-tier ultralight, ultra-stiff roadie slippers, many road riders simply aren’t too comfy in overly narrow, unforgiving shoes. And that’s where Fizik’s new Omna Wide comes in (and really, the original narrower Omna still, too). These are no-nonsense performance road shoes that don’t skimp on the important details AND won’t break the bank. Plus, the new Wide last option simply means more cyclists are going to find their perfect fit.

Tech details

Fizik developed the Omna Wide to deliver the “optimal fit for riders with wider feet, with a higher volume forefoot area being introduced around the ball of the foot and metatarsals”.

It’s not a huge width difference, really we’re talking <10% overall. But on my size 43 shoe for example, the Wide last could be about 102mm at its widest point vs. ~94mm for the standard fit.

The Omna shoes feature a simple, light & durable synthetic polyurethane upper, perforated through the midfoot for ventilation. Then, closure and fine-tuned adjustment is by a single premium Boa Li2 dial with 2-cross lacing in webbing loops. No plastic guides to break.

Fizik recently redesigned the sole, their vented R5 reinforced nylon outsole with non-replaceable rubber walking lugs, and a stiffness rating of 6/12. That sounds a bit low on paper. But is probably plenty stiff for all but the most sensitive or most competitive road racers. The new sole has slightly shifted the cleat bolts back for improved pedaling ergonomics. And of course, your cleats have plenty of adjustment, so the shoes get 2cm of marking to help line them up where you prefer.

Claimed Fizik Omna Wide weight is 240g (per shoe, without the 20g insole).

Fizik Omna Wide – Pricing, options & availability

Fizik Omna Wide affordable road bike shoes, on-bike

The new Fizik Vento Omna Wide road shoes sell for 165€ / £170 /$170, and come in all-black or white with black detailing. The shoes are available in whole sizes 36-48, plus half sizes from 37-47.

The narrower standard-width Vento Omna shoes sell for the same price with the same tech details & sizing. But they also come in some more colorful options, too.

Get any of the new Omna shoes now direct from Fizik or their retailers.

Fizik.com

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Whisky Parts Forks out New Suspension Corrected Fork in the No.9 MCX+ https://bikerumor.com/whisky-parts-forks-out-new-suspension-corrected-fork-in-the-no-9-mcx1/ https://bikerumor.com/whisky-parts-forks-out-new-suspension-corrected-fork-in-the-no-9-mcx1/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350713 Whisky Parts No.9 MCX+1 carbon fork hero

Whisky Parts new No.9 MCX+1 suspension corrected carbon fork is here for the business.

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Whisky Parts No.9 MCX+1 carbon fork hero

Today, Minnesota’s Whisky Parts release a new carbon fork, the No.9 MCX+. And it looks pretty forkin’ sweet. This No.9 MCX+ gravel bike fork is the latest addition to their current line of premium carbon products. Like the Scully Bar released last Summer, this new fork is a dapper addition.

Whisky Parts No.9 MCX+1 carbon fork writing
(Photo/Whisky Parts)

This new carbon wonder fork has been designed to give those who ride gravel suspension forks a lighter-weight and more versatile fork option. To help keep the bike’s geometry in check, the MCX+ runs a long suspension-corrected 430mm axle to crown measurement, allowing it to replace the typical 40-50mm gravel-travel suspension fork.

Gravel & adventure-type riders will be happy to know that the middle-of-dirtroad 47.5mm offset will play well when it comes to fork trail, toe clearance, fenders, or running a rack with some panniers attached.

Whisky Parts No.9 MCX+1 carbon fork crown and dropouts green

Whisky Parts says the new fork has great max tire clearance with the ability to roll with 29 x 2.3″ or 27.5 x 2.4″ MTB rubber. Using lightweight carbon construction, the MCX+ is spaced for 12x100mm thru-axles and uses flat-mounting for the disc brake calipers. The new fork is ASTM-rated at condition 3, which means that it’s ready for some rowdy off-road behavior.

Whisky Parts No.9 MCX+1 carbon fork black studio

It sports Three-Pack mounts (3kg per side), low rider mounts (7.5kg per side), and internal dynamo wire routing. Bob’s yer Uncle! It’s time to embrace the dynamo power!

Oh, and, let’s not forget those fender mounts, ’cause the MCX+ has those, as well.

Super.

Let’s sum up some of the MCX+ specs/features.

No.9 MCX+ Features, Specs, and Retail Pricing

Retail: $550

  • Carbon fiber construction
  • 1.5” tapered steerer tube
  • 430mm axle-to-crown length
  • 12 x 100mm thru-axle
  • 29 x 2.3″ or 27.5 x 2.4″ max tire clearance
  • Three-pack Anything cage and low-rider rack mounts 
  • Fender mounts
  • Flat mount 160mm brake mount (180mm max rotor) 
  • Internal brake hose and dynamo wire routing 
  • Tested to ASTM Condition 3
  • Includes thru-axle and Whisky Parts Co. compression plug
  • 590 grams

WhiskyParts.com

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Review: Shimano Ultegra R8100 12-Speed Road Group https://bikerumor.com/review-shimano-ultegra-r8100-12-speed-road-group/ https://bikerumor.com/review-shimano-ultegra-r8100-12-speed-road-group/#comments Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:48:18 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=346495 shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike group review

Shimano's second-tier 12-speed wireless road group delivers top-tier performance with arguably better looks.

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shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike group review

Shimano’s entry into the 12-speed road drivetrain category came a bit later than their competition, but they made up for it with stellar performance and long-term durability.

I’ve been riding the group for nearly two years and it continues to provide flawless shifting, smooth operation, and quiet rolling. Even the wheels, which never seem to get as much attention, are great. Here’s my long-term review…

Setup & Install Notes

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike crankset

I installed the Ultegra group on a Pursuit Allroad, an excellent bike that made my 2022 Editor’s Choice list. Everything went as it should with one catch that’s important to note if you’re installing it yourself, and this includes shop folks… make sure to use the correct spacers on the BB spindle.

Before you read the next five paragraphs, know that I’m not knocking anyone. This is a simple mistake that anyone can make, and it caused a lot of head-scratching grief. Shimano installed the group in their SoCal HQ and commented about how front shifting seemed off. The front derailleur couldn’t move the chain far enough down to reliably shift onto the small chainring.

shimano ultegra install

So they sent it back to Pursuit thinking that it was a frame tolerance issue. Carl Strong, co-founder of Pursuit and amazing frame builder, checked, re-checked, and confirmed the frame was exactly to spec.

shimano ultegra front derailleur troubleshooting

Even so, he heated and molded a small divot into the downtube to add clearance for the front derailleur’s cage pivot, and that helped, but didn’t entirely fix it.

I received the bike and had the local Shimano rep visit to replace the front derailleur, thinking maybe that was the issue, and then re-check everything. The new part was identical to the original, and that wasn’t the problem.

tyler working on a road bike with shimano ultegra
Sometimes even the brightest minds get stumped.

Turns out, we needed a 1-2mm (I forget which, exactly) spacer on the crank spindle on the driveside to push the chainrings out. That tiny amount of additional offset solved the problem. It’s something so simple, with no other warning signs to suggest it, that it eluded Shimano, Pursuit, and myself until we just tried it on a whim.

The point? Try the simple stuff first, and try to think of other solutions. Once the spacer was installed, shifting was perfect and has been for the 18+ months I’ve been riding the bike.

The front derailleur comes with a small wire guide that gives it a 90º angle while also protecting it from bending too sharply. This also keeps it from looping so wide it rubs your rear tire. It’s tiny and best installed with your rear wheel off the bike, trust me.

shimano road bike group chain length and rear derailleur setup

Shimano has easy guides for setting chain length…

shimano road bike group chain length and rear derailleur setup

…and rear derailleur B-tension settings. The guide is plastic-free, which is nice, too.

shimano road bike group chain length and rear derailleur setup

A small light is color-coded during setup so it’s easy to know if you’re in setup mode. It changes to blue while charging, then turns off when the battery is full.

screenshot of shimano e-tube app for customizing di2 shifting

One of the biggest upgrades to the new Di2 12-speed is the ability to customize the shifting patterns, turn on Synchro Shift, and other features directly from their e-Tube app. Here’s a good video showing how to set it so you can put the rear derailleur into adjustment mode remotely from the shifters, allowing micro-adjusts while riding (not that you should need them, but it’s still cool).

Ultegra R8100 Ride Review

riding action on shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike

The nutshell version is this: I’ve ridden the new Dura-Ace 12-speed Di2 also, and Shimano’s Ultegra group performs every bit as well, but for a lot less money and only a few extra grams. If you’re building a bike or upgrading, it’s a great choice not only amongst Shimano’s drivetrains but a great choice in general.

Shifting is as quick as ever, to me feeling slightly faster than SRAM. It’s also very quiet, and feels smooth and effortless, even for an electronic group.

If you haven’t watched this video yet, please do, there’s a lot more to it than just speed…it also slightly overshifts every cog to ensure the chain gets where it needs to go, then trims back. It’s really cool!

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike front derailleur

The front shifting is powerful and direct, as I expected. I’ve also owned Dura-Ace Di2 and GRX Di2 11-speed groups, and the new 12-speed front shifting seems slightly smoother.

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike crankset

SIDEBAR: I can’t review this group without talking about Shimano’s 11-speed crankarm recall. The 12-speed cranks are made using the same hollow forged and bonded construction, so I asked Shimano what changed with these new ones to prevent them from having the same problem. Their response was:

Shimano has made numerous changes, improvements, and enhancements in response to the market information we received. This is standard practice at Shimano.

…which is about what I expected. I’d love a more technical explanation, but they’re very secretive about their processes. I got a look at that process during my factory tour for the XTR launch if you’d like to see it. FWIW, they’re not the only brand using this construction method, and I haven’t had any problems with these (or my prior DA) cranks.

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike rear derailleur

The rear derailleur is interesting. There’s no clutch or spring damping for the pulley cage, and the spring tension is very light. I applaud having derailleurs that can cover everything from road to rough gravel, but I also appreciate a part that’s purpose built to excel at one thing. I believe this is what allows Shimano’s shifting to feel so light and fast, which is especially noticeable on their mechanical groups.

This is allows the chain to bounce, but not how you might think. As the two action shots (and dust) suggest, a lot of my road rides end up on stretches of gravel, sometimes with lots of stutter bumps and potholes. Despite these mini adventures, I never noticed that lack of chain management and never dropped a chain.

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike cassette
That’s not grit, it’s wax. I highly recommend switching to wax lubes.

Where I notice it is when I backpedal quickly, particularly in the small chainring. I do this to adjust crankarm position for a corner, or shuffle around on my saddle. A quick, exaggerated backpedal often yanks the pulley cage forward, creating a big swoop of chain slack, followed by a rapid retraction. It feels weird, a little disconcerting, and is diminished by increasing B-screw tension.

I considered shortening the chain slightly, but the setup is dialed according to spec and a shorter chain would likely cause issues getting into the largest cogs from the big chainring (I know, you don’t have to say it, but we all do it). Ultimately, it hasn’t affected performance, but I wanted to mention it.

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike shifters

Hood shapes are great, with nice ridges on top for grip. The pronounced bump at the front is reassuring on spirited climbs, and finger clearance is adequate when braking from the hoods.

The larger shift paddles are easy to use, and the differing textures make them easy to identify even with full finger gloves. The wireless design is nice, decluttering the cockpit, and shifting is as fast as ever…I couldn’t tell any difference between reaction speed from prior wired versions.

The charging port is on the rear derailleur, which is a big upgrade from the tiny junction port and having to wire it somewhere. It’s still a single wire to charge the group, which is convenient, though you’ll need to put your bike near an outlet.

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike shifters
That’s good luck, right?

SIDEBAR: Shimano often sends review groups with a full PRO cockpit, and their PRO PLT Ergo Carbon Handlebar deserves a shout-out. It has an exceptionally good shape. The flattened tops get deeper at the corners where my hands often rest, creating a huge platform for my palms. It’s stiffer than most carbon bars I’ve ridden, so it transmits a bit more vibration, but I plan on swapping to a gel-backed bar tape to mitigate that because its ergonomics are worth keeping.

The PLT stem is also great, with surprisingly good torsional stiffness for its girth and faceplate width. Both are reasonably light and a perfect example of Shimano’s understated excellence.

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike front brakes
closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike brakes

When Shimano first introduced their road disc brakes, they made it clear they were powerful and cool enough to run 140mm rotors, while others were suggesting 160mm as a minimum.

For me, I went with 160m in the front, 140mm in the rear. It’s a good mix, and I like the extra modulation the larger rotor provides. Shimano’s brakes are smooth, with the right amount of bite from their Servo Wave lever leading into well-controlled progression.

closeup details of shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike wheels

Perhaps the least talked about part of the group are the Ultegra WH-R8170-C50-TL wheels, and I blame Shimano. They simply don’t hype them enough, but they’re really good. They’re aero without making a bunch of aero claims, and Ultegra shares the same rim profile as the Dura-Ace wheels.

They roll very smoothly thanks to cup-and-cone bearings. The 21mm internal width rims held everything from 28mm to 36mm-ish tires with easy tubeless setup. And they’re reasonably light (628g front, 872g rear, 1500g total) for the C50 model (50mm deep rims, also available in 36mm and 60mm depths).

The hubs have a gray anodizing to match the rest of the group and come with a standard HG freehub body.

riding action on shimano ultegra R8100 12-speed road bike

For high performance road riding, Ultegra Di2 12-speed leaves nothing to be desired. Shifting is precise and fast. Hood and lever ergonomics are great. It’s light, and the understated dark gray ano looks great on any bike, perhaps even better than the glossy black of Dura-Ace.

It even works well on “alt roads”, and the rims held up to low tire pressures on gravel roads, too. If you’re in the market for top-tier performance without the top-tier price, Ultegra R8100 delivers.

Read our launch coverage here for all of the tech details on this and Dura-Ace.

Bike.Shimano.com

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Look Keo Blade Boosts Road Pedal Aero, Performance & Adds Fast Spring Swaps https://bikerumor.com/2024-new-look-keo-blade-road-pedal/ https://bikerumor.com/2024-new-look-keo-blade-road-pedal/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350751 Look Keo Blade pair ti

Look considers the all-new version of the Keo Blade its fastest pedal ever. Their design team addressed many outstanding issues, such as bearing life, pedal…

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Look Keo Blade pair ti

Look considers the all-new version of the Keo Blade its fastest pedal ever. Their design team addressed many outstanding issues, such as bearing life, pedal balance for clipping in, and even made the design slightly more aerodynamic. 

2024’s new Look Keo Blade road pedal

Look Keo Blade rider photos

What is the Look Keo Blade?

The Look Keo pedal is a staple of the World Tour and the local cafe ride. In 2011, Look’s carbon spring ‘Blade’ version took the Keo design and swapped its metal mechanism for a large, lightweight carbon spring. The unique design reduces the overall pedal weight by nearly 20% – compared to those traditional metal sprung Keo pedals.

What’s New? 

Look Keo Blade hero Ti

Developed and tested over three years in collaboration with World Tour riders who were working closely with the Look design team, the new Keo Blade is the company’s most well-rounded Keo Blade pedal design.

Look Keo Blade action

The updated design offers high-end performance and valuable improvements. The weight didn’t change much, but clipping in and serviceability certainly did.  

Look Keo Blade Updates 

Updated Aero Profile: Look has re-imagined the pedal’s aerodynamic body profile. The design team reshaped a lower frontal surface area, and an all-new leading-edge aerodynamic profile. These updated aero designs work together to reduce drag, saving 2% over the previous Keo Blade design.

Larger Contact Pad: The new Look Keo Blade now boasts a contact area of 705mm²  (at 64mm wide), ample for a pedal weighing just 95g (claimed, per pedal). That#s 5mm² more contact area than the previous version. The larger platform hopes to eliminate hot spots further, especially in thin/stiff carbon shoe designs. And it offer riders increased pedaling stability.

Look Keo Blade ti-ceramic bottom

Easier to Clip-in: The new Keo Blade has a 60% easier clip-in rotation due to an improved weight balance vs. the previous generation. This new balance gives riders more confidence clipping in and staying in the pedal, no matter the spring tension.

Durability and Reliability: The latest design also incorporates a new spindle design, updated internal and external dual-sealed bearings, and reformulated long-lifespan water-resistant grease. The imporved water-resistant design allows for (gentle) jet wash cleaning by mechanics without worrying about blowing through the team’s pedal reserves.

Look also updated the pedals’ contact area, from alloy to high-grade stainless steel. Plus, the newly strengthened body design means 200% higher robustness and impact resistance.

Easy ‘Blade Swap’: Riders can also now switch their Blades out in under one minute for their preferred tension (available in multiple tensions from 8-20). Or to just replace the spring for a new same-stiffness one, to keep the pedals feeling brand new.

Look Keo Blade – Pricing & Model options

Look Keo Blade:

  • Body – Carbon
  • Cleat – Keo Grip
  • Axle – Chromo +
  • Bearing – Steel
  • Retention – 08 – Comp
  • Contact Surface – 705mm² 
  • Q-Factor – 53mm
  • Total Stack – 14.8mm (Pedal 8.5mm + Cleat 6.3mm)
  • Weight – 115g
  • MSRP – 145€ / $174 / £140

Keo Blade Ceramic:

  • Body – Carbon
  • Cleat – Keo Grip
  • Axle – Chromo +
  • Bearing – Ceramic
  • Retention – 12 – Carbon
  • Contact Surface – 705mm² 
  • Q-Factor – 53mm
  • Total Stack – 14.8mm (Pedal 8.5mm + Cleat 6.3mm)
  • Weight – 115g
  • MSRP – 210€ / $252 / £200

Keo Blade Ceramic Ti:

  • Body – Carbon
  • Cleat – Keo Grip
  • Axle – Titanium
  • Bearing – Ceramic
  • Retention – 16 – Carbon
  • Contact Surface – 705mm² 
  • Q-Factor – 53mm
  • Total Stack – 14.8mm (Pedal 8.5mm + Cleat 6.3mm)
  • Weight – 95g
  • MSRP – 310€ / $389 / £300

New Keo Blade Availability

Look Keo Blade pair ti

The new Look Keo Blades should be available at a shop near you in February 2024. As we test the new Keo Blade, look for a full review and updated photos. 

Lookcycle.com

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Ibis Ripmo & Ripley AF get UDH Upgrade, New Colors & Lower Price https://bikerumor.com/ibis-ripmo-af-udh/ https://bikerumor.com/ibis-ripmo-af-udh/#respond Tue, 23 Jan 2024 23:53:43 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350726 ibis ripmo af alloy trail bike with UDH

Lower prices, new colors, and (finally) a UDH derailleur hanger makes the Ibis Ripmo & Ripley AF a little more current.

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ibis ripmo af alloy trail bike with UDH

The Ibis Ripmo AF alloy trail bike debuted in 2019 and has had the usual color and spec updates over the years, but now it (finally) gets the SRAM UDH derailleur hanger standard.

The shorter travel Ripley AF followed as an alloy model in 2021, and it gets the same update, too. To celebrate, they’ve dropped the prices and added two more colors for each of them. Here they are:

2024 Ibis Ripmo AF UDH

ibis ripmo af in cinnamon bronze color

Above, Cinnamon Bronze with orange/red accents, and below, Espresso Black, with teal accents:

ibis ripmo af in espresso black color

The Ripmo AF (Aluminum Frame) is otherwise unchanged, keeping its 147mm rear travel and 160mm forks. But, it does get another spec update, this time with SRAM GX/NX and a new starting price point of just $2,999.

That gets you Marzocchi suspension, Maxxis tires, SRAM G2 brakes, Ibis’s house brand cockpit and wheels, KS Rage dropper, Cane Creek headset, and more.

2024 Ibis Ripley AF UDH

2024 ibis ripley af plum smash

The Ripley AF now comes in Plum Smash (above) and Titanium Toaster (below).

2024 ibis ripley af titanium toaster

The Ripley AF has 120mm rear travel, 130mm forks, and also gets a $2,999 price point with SRAM GX/NX, but with Fox suspension. All are available now.

IbisCycles.com

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Columbus Trittico Brings Modern Full Internal Routing to Classic Handmade Looks https://bikerumor.com/columbus-trittico-brings-modern-full-internal-routing-to-classic-handmade-looks/ https://bikerumor.com/columbus-trittico-brings-modern-full-internal-routing-to-classic-handmade-looks/#comments Tue, 23 Jan 2024 20:52:56 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350414 Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes

Columbus Trittico facilitates full internal cable routing on modern handmade steel & titanium bikes with new forks, stems, bars & more…

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Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes

Italian tubing and component maker Columbus has an all-new Trittico system of carbon bars, stem & fork developed to bring modern fully internal cable routing to the custom handmade bike market. Designed to fit inside a conventional 1 1/8″ upper headset cup, the Columbus Trittico features a unique Trefoil fork steerer tube that outperforms many other shaped steerers. Plus, a creative stem solution delivers unmatched cockpit adjustability, without messing with your brake lines…

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpits integrate handmade bikes

The idea behind these new Columbus Components carbon Trittico parts was simple. Give handmade bikes the option to build fully internal cable routing with existing tubing – specifically headtube – sizing.

Columbus Hyperion titanium bicycle frame tubing

Columbus sells a lot of steel and (increasingly) titanium tubesets to custom frame builders. And even though most of those now use so-called ‘oversized’ tubing diameters relative to old school 1″ steel tubes. We’re still talking about a maximum 44mm headtube for tapered 1.5-1.125″ steerer tubes.

While oversized carbon bikes can often get away with going to a massive 1.5″ upper headset cup to fit shift & brake lines inside. Metal bikes start to look weird with bigger headtubes.

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpit for internal cable routing, no cables

So, Trittico means keeping whatever 1 1/8″ upper headset cup you prefer. And routing cables inside it. Electronic shifting only though, so we’re only talking about internal routing of hydraulic brake lines, or electronic wires on older groupsets.

How does it work?

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpit for internal cable routing, Futura Trefoil fork detail
(Renderings & Illustrations/Columbus)

To make that fit, Columbus developed a new Trefoil steerer tube shape for their own full carbon forks. Their patent-pending design lops off the front 2 corners of the carbon fork steerer for the cables to slip down into the frame. And of course requires a proprietary expander to go inside.

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpit for internal cable routing, Trefoil steerer tube detail

As compared to similar 1.125″ internal routing solutions with D-shaped or I-shaped steerers, the Columbus Trefoil design is uncompromisingly stiffer both front-to-back AND resisting lateral forces.

Unmatched integrated cockpit adjustability

Now, it is relatively straight-forward to route just a couple of hydro brake lines inside a separate bar and stem, assuming the correct size routing holes all line up. But Columbus goes one step further with their carbon Trittico stem. Here, they use a oversized steerer clamp diameter, and fill out that space with an alloy sleeve spacer.

The result, one -8° stem can be adjusted in length by 5mm and its angle by 5°. All without removing any hoses. The regular black steerer sleeve can be left in its 0 position, or rotated 180° to offset stem length by +5mm. Or swap in the red -5° angled insert sleeve, which keeps the original stem length, but lowers the handlebar creating an effective -13° stem angle.

That sleek carbon stem gets a removable alloy faceplate with hidden 3-bolts, and hidden GPS mount. So you get both streamlined looks and real-world ease-of-use.

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, bar & stem

Combine it with ergonomically-shaped “Smart Fit” handlebars, and you can fine-tune your cockpit positioning, exactly as you prefer. Columbus gives their Trittico carbon bars unique shaping. With a divot for extra space behind the lever for more secure braking from the hoods – especially for riders with small hands who’ve adjusted their lever reach – and triangulated shaped drops for extra grip while sprinting.

Trefoil forks

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, fork cover

The Columbus Trittico system is built around the Futura Trefoil full carbon 1.5″ tapered steerer road fork.

425g with 32mm tire clearance (367mm axle-crown, 45mm rake), flat mount 160mm (or 180mm) brake rotor compatibility, and a magnetic cover to hide the front mounting bolts.

There also will be a Trittico-compatible Futura Trefoil Gravel fork with bigger 700c x 57mm tire clearances, anything cage & fender mounts, and dynamo wiring routing. The Futura Trefoil Gravel fork gets a 405mm a-c and adjustable 47/52mm offset, at a claimed 565g.

Trittico component specs & sizing

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, stem underside

The carbon Trittico stems are customizable in both length and angle with their adjustable steerer tube sleeve. The 5 sizes are 90-130mm (in 10mm steps) with the standard -8° stem angle. Rotate the stock black steerer sleeve 180° to offset length +5mm. It keeps the -8° angle, but shifts the stem lengths to 95-135mm. Or an optional red angled -5° insert sleeve keeps the original lengths, but lowers the front handlebar clamping area to create a -13° angle.

Columbus also created a direct out-front GPS/GoPro mount. Called the Race Spoon, it mounts to 2 bolts on the bottom of the Trittico stem.

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, road bar shaping

The Trittico carbon road bars come in 40/42/44cm widths at the hoods, with subtle 4° flare in the drops (below the levers) for an extra 2.7cm of width (center-center) at the ends. The 31.8mm bars feature 71mm reach and 128mm drop, with a claimed weight of 215g.

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, gravel bar

Wider carbon Trittico gravel bars will add more dramatic 15° flare. Plus, they feature an extra ergonomic loop at the ends of the drops, yet only a shade heavier at 225g. The 75mm reach/110mm drop gravel bars will also come in 40/42/44cm at the hoods. But, in the end, 11cm wider at the drops thanks to the flare and further 4° oustweep at the ends.

There’s also a matching carbon Trittico seatpost to finish out your contact points. It’s available in 27.2 or 31.6mm diameter (200g or 210g). The seatpost features swappable 2-bolt head guts for 15mm or 25mm offset, round or carbon rail compatibility, and an asymmetric carbon shaft layup for optimal rider comfort.

Columbus Trittico – Options, Pricing & Availability

Columbus designed the Trittico cockpit system as an integration solution for custom handmade bike builders. So for now, your best bet it to buy a new custom road bike. Then, tell your frame builder that this is what you want. Columbus says a number of builders are already using the Trittico system. Beyond the Jaegher bikes I photographed above, you can also already find Trittico-equipped bikes from Barco, Beach Club, Belle, Bixxis, Cinelli, Condor, Festka, Ioklin, Legot, Onguza, Passoni, Repete, Stelbel, Titici, Victoire, Wittson, and more.

Officially, only the road bike series with the Futura Trefoil road fork has launched so far. But Columbus shared renderings with us of a gravel series with a Futura Trefoil Gravel fork and flared carbon bar. And we’ve seen the gravel product names already pop up with some distributors. Those likely are already making their way to bike builders early this year.

2024 Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes

As for aftermarket retrofit installation into your existing bikes… Columbus has a “Pre-Order Now” contact form on their microsite for consumers looking to buy the Trittico system components. But we’ve also seen the individual components already being offered online separately. With fork prices around 475€, stems/seatposts/bars for around 420€.

Columbus1919.com/Trittico

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Moots Vamoots 33 All-Road Bike Makes Colorado Titanium A Bit More Accessible https://bikerumor.com/moots-vamoots-33-titanium-all-road-bike/ https://bikerumor.com/moots-vamoots-33-titanium-all-road-bike/#comments Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=350509 moots vamoots 33 allroad bike

This Moots Vamoots 33 all-road bike gets the lowest price for any of the titanium builder’s bikes, with tire clearance to rack up rougher miles.

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moots vamoots 33 allroad bike

The latest bike from Moots – the Vamoots 33 – pushes the boundaries of what a road bike is with big tire clearance & versatility that edges towards gravel. And thanks to simplified construction, it’s the most affordable made-in-Colorado bike you can get from them.

Moots Vamoots 33 titanium all-road bike

closeup details of moots vamoots 33 allroad bike headtube
(Photos/Moots)

The new addition to the Steamboat Springs, CO, brand’s road bike lineup is built to ride any road. The Moots Vamoots 33 comes ready for fenders, big tires, and do-it-all geometry. Like the similarly “more affordable” gravel Routt 45, the Vamoots 33 takes its numbered name from a local county road in Moots’ backyard, not its tire clearance.

closeup details of moots vamoots 33 allroad bike

In fact, Moots designed the new all-road bike to fit 700×38 tires with fenders, making it a jack-of-all-trades model with subdued endurance road geometry. It’s a bike for folks who don’t want something as racy as the Vamoots CRD or Vamoots RCS, but still want a solid performer.

Tech details

Keeping cost down a bit, the big difference between the 33 and other Vamoots is the tubeset. Moots welds the 33 from thin-wall but straight-gauge 3/2.5 titanium tubes, whereas the higher-end models use custom double-butted tubes with some sections made from lighter 6/4 ti.

closeup details of moots vamoots 33 allroad bike 3D-printed dropouts

The Vamoots 33 still gets Moots’ latest 3D-printed titanium flat mount 12mm thru-axle dropouts…

closeup details of moots vamoots 33 allroad bike dropout

…and hooded dropouts with a replaceable hanger.

closeup details of moots vamoots 33 allroad bike dropout

Other details include conventional internal cable routing, a 27.2mm seatpost, proper head badge, 44mm headtube for tapered steerers, and a standard BSA threaded bottom bracket (not T47 like the higher-end models).

Moots Vamoots 33 – Pricing, options & availability

Complete Vamoots 33 bikes start at $7500, available in 9 stock sizes (48-62cm). That’s nearly $6000 less than the base Vamoots CRD or $4500 less than a Vamoots RCS.

That lower cost of entry gets you a wireless SRAM Rival AXS 2x groupset, alloy Zipp cockpit, and aluminum DT Swiss E1800 wheels wrapped in 32mm Panaracer Gravel King Slick tires.

There are also ample kit upgrades for anyone looking to build up a more premium rando bike or all-road mile cruncher.

Moots.com

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