Friday News And Views: Eurobike Edition

Eurobike Madness in Today's FN&V!

Image courtesy of Classified

Classified Introduces Gravel Group With TRP:

Classified and TRP have teamed up to offer an electronically shifted 12 speed rear, 2 speed internal rear gear system leveraging TRP's brake and lever technology in conjunction with Classified's current 12 speed rear cassette and two speed internal hub gear system. 

Comments: The press release had a provocative headline declaring the system dubbed "Vistar" as having a "1 X 16" drive train. Of course, that's a bit confusing when the cassette is only a 12 cog stack. 

Digging into the release reveals that what the headline really means is that the system 'can have' 16 distinct gear choices, no overlap. That's for the 'road' version too. The 'gravel' version has 15 distinct gear choices. Obviously, the entire system has 24 options in total for gears, or if you'd rather look at it this way: 12 speeds with two ranges. 

Clever marketing, but definitely not a 16 gear cassette, as the headline reads. Also, that Classified rear wheel and cassette are proprietary components. You'd have to "buy into the idea" to use it. (Sorry about the pun!) 

Interestingly the TRP electronic levers are also being configured to work with Rohloff 14 speed internal geared hubs as well as a few other applications. 

Stan's Launches Line Of Cleaners, Lubes, Oils:

Stan's does more than sealant and wheels these days. The brand which pioneered tubeless sealant now has a line of cleaners, lubes, and greases out. 

The press release boasts: "All of Stan’s Biobased Bicycle Care products are made from organic ingredients that cause less harm to the people who use them and the nature around us."

Comments: I'm seeing a lot of companies doing "bio-friendly" products in this area of maintenance products, but what hits me here is the offering of chain lube. Talk about a crowded market for a product to get into! 

Rabbit Trail Alert! And really, this entire segment of the market is just slammed with choices. I find, in my experience, most people are totally clueless that this stuff even exists. This includes regular cycling people. How can it be that with dozens of types of degreasers, cleaners, sprays, and - not to mention chain lubes, that most people haven't heard of any of these things? 

I blame the breakdown of the way we get information about cycling. It used to be that we had a handful of magazines and bike shops which we relied upon to tell us about "What's new?". I remember that being the first thing shoppers would ask when they came into a shop. Now?

Ha! There are probably literally thousands of ways that anyone with a computer/smart phone can access new information now. Accessing that information was once fun and an advantage, but people have grown weary of the internet. They don't visit bike shops. They are distracted by social apps and binge-watching garbage shows on their smartphones and laptops. How do you reach these addicted minds? It ain't easy.... And that's my theory on why these brands get lost in a haze of information these daze...... End Of Rabbit Trail!

Image courtesy of Schwalbe

Schwalbe Shows Off New Valve Type:

As a mechanic for over 30 years, I have witnessed the confusion and frustration of cyclists who struggled to understand and use Presta valves on bicycles. Apparently, this observation struck Schwalbe's partner in this launch, Clik Valve inventor John Quintana, as well. He observed his children struggling to inflate bicycle tires. So he invented the new Clik Valve to be as easy to use as possible. Simply click the Clik Valve design pump head on the Clik Valve and pump. Disengagement is as easy as well. 

But you might ask, "Is this something completely different and incompatible with older designs?" Actually, it is backward compatible with the current Presta valve. You only need to install a Click Valve core into your valve stem, or there is an screw-on adapter. Same with the pump head, an adapter is all that is required that fits nearly all existing floor pumps and most portable pumps as well.  Schwalbe offers conversion kits for both valves and pumps. Schwalbe will be producing Clik Valve tubes soon. Pump manufacturer SKS is already producing Clik Valve pumps and Schwalbe promises that more manufacturers will follow. 

Benefits not only include super-easy usage, but a claimed 10% higher airflow should attract tubeless users as well. You can learn more about Clik Valve at Schwalbe's site HERE. 

Image courtesy of Schwalbe.

 Comments: Okay, new standards (usually) really bug me, but this one seems to have promise to be actually a better way to go, if in fact it works as advertised. I will say that it looks like it is essentially a mini-Schrader valve with some kind of 'click-on' retention mechanism to hold the pump head on the valve so it doesn't blow off during inflation. 

Secondly, I did not know until I read the press release that a Presta valve, or sometimes known as a French Valve, was technically called a "Sclaverand Valve" after its inventor, Etienne Sclaverand. (The more you know....) Also - These valves will be in for testing soon. Stay tuned....

Image courtesy of Giant Bicycles

Giant Unveils 4th Gen Revolt Gravel Bike:

Giant has had a gravel bike for many years now as they were one of the first "big" brands to jump on the gravel train. That bike was called the Revolt, and it is now in its 4th generation as shown Wednesday of this week by Giant.

The bike is carbon fiber and offered in two models. (There is also an aluminum Revolt) The two Advance models are equipped with SRAM AXS components. The $7,000.00 Advance Pro 0 is equipped with Force while the $5,800.00 Advance Pro 1 is equipped with Rival. Both have completely integrated cabling, frame storage in the downtube, and clearance for up to a 53mm wide tire. Most unique here, in my opinion, is the "flip-chip" rear drop out which lengthens or shortens the wheel base and affects tire clearance.

Comments: The Advance models are interesting from a couple of standpoints. Giant claims to have worked closely with its sponsored athletes to develop the new Revolts. This would be something we might assume has affected some geometry choices. If you look at the charts for these two bikes, a couple of things stand out right away for me. 

The head angle is nominally 72° across the size range. Which is kinda steep these days. However, the bottom bracket drop is, depending upon the rear drop out chip setting, about 76mm-80mm. A drop  which is pretty deep. But when considering the spec here that this bike can take up to a 53mm wide tire, essentially a 29"er tire, then things start to make more sense. That steeper head angle is "first gen 29"er geometry" all the way, and paired with 50mm of fork offset, the trail figure will be reasonable for a gravel bike with big tires mounted to it. The same thing goes for bottom bracket drop, which should be more for a bike with big tires.  

All that points to the trend of bigger tires for gravel and this bike has obviously been designed to be set up this way. It comes with 40mm tires mounted, curiously enough, but I suspect that will be the narrowest tire that any gravel racer would put in this bike. One final comment- I love this Meteor Storm color on the Advance Pro 1.

That's a wrap on this week. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!