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| Image courtesy of Cannondale |
Well....that didn't take long! Cannondale released its new Super X the day after I posted about it this week. As it turned out, my guesses were correct. It's a gravel bike, primarily, but will also serve as C'dales CX bike.
The range-topping Lab 71 version will go for 15K!! The next lower option is about half as much. Crazy!
Comments: I think it is very interesting to note that cyclo cross has taken a back seat to gravel - at least in Cannondale's range. But then again, there are very few CX bikes offered by any mainstream brand in North America anymore. This points to the current climate of what is really popular with regard to competitive events these days.
Ritchey SuperLogic Streem Drop Bar:
Ritchey Design has just given their aero Streem bar the Carbon SuperLogic treatment and a few refinements as well.
Much like the SuperLogic Carbon Venturemax bar I reviewed (HERE) the Streem gets a flat tops section, a slight flare to the drops (4°), and internal cable routing options. Since it is fashionable to go narrower on bar widths now for racing, these come in widths of 36/40, 38/42, and 40/44. (Centimeters with the first numeral giving the widths at the hoods and the second at the drops.)
Price is set at $299.95 and are available now. See more on Ritchey's website HERE.
Salsa Cycles Issues New Colors/Builds For Warbird:
Salsa Cycles has four new colors of Warbird gravel bikes with four new builds. First up we have the Warbird C-Force AXS Wide, then there is the C Rival GX AXS, (Shown here), then we have the C 820 GRX 2X , and finally there is the C GRX 610 1X.
See all the Warbirds HERE.
Comments: I'm just showing one of the Warbirds here only because it is a shade of purple. That happens to be my favorite color- purple. Anyway, other than this, it is the same ol' Warbird you've known for years. Sure..... they put on the Waxwing Deluxe v2 carbon fork. Woo.
Look, I like the Warbird, but if we're being real here, this is no longer the cutting edge "gravel racing bike" on courses that are used today in the format that most races are run with. Once upon a time, when things were quite different, this bike made more sense. I'm not saying one thing is better than the other, but today's reality doesn't point to a Warbird as being a cutting edge racing bike for gravel.
And in the rumor mill, I am hearing some big changes might be in store for the QBP brands. Stay tuned....
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| Image courtesy of Classified |
Classified Files Patents For Self-Charging Shifting/Brakes:
Classified, the company which is known for their proprietary two-speed rear hub system, has filed patents for a self-charging system on a bicycle which theoretically could keep the batteries of an electronic shifting and braking (!!) bike alive infinitely.
The system essentially turns your brake rotor into part of a generator along with a stator based in the through axle. Essentially this would be a more powerful system similar to your old wired computer. A wheel magnet passing a coil of wire on your fork which generates an electrical charge. The principle isn't anything new, but the application is something a bit different.
I found, via a quick Google search, another expired patent for a self-charging, regenerative braking system using batteries to assist pedaling via a DC electric motor for a vehicle or bicycle from the early 1990's. So, the novelty of the overall idea isn't anything new, and the technology that is employed has been around for decades.
Now, the hint of electronic brakes is something, at least for bicycles, that is fairly new. I'm not sure why engineers are so fascinated by trying to get mainstream approval for that sort of technology. I'm sure when it does become a reality we'll hear about how much "better" it is. But I feel this is more about consumer's electric bikes, how they are very heavy, and taking some sort of electronic control over the braking system to make those riders "safer". Anti-lock brakes for bicycles, if you will. Probably a bit of "power assist" as a feature as well. That's my guess. But we'll see...
That's it for this week. Get out and ride some bicycles!
2 comments:
15K for a bicycle... and the industry wonders why they are struggling. Their marketing video on this is very Pro racer biased which is probably where it needs to be since most weekend warriors aren't shelling out that kind of coin for a bike. Interesting enough the Super X 3, the lower end model can be had as a complete bike spec'd with GRX 820 and DT Swiss G1800 wheels for $1300 less than the Lab71 FRAME ONLY.
@Rydn9ers - That's insane. I wonder though, is Cannondale setting that price with an eye toward the possibility of tariffs? That might account for some of that insanity.
Or it simply could just be insanity. :>)
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