Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of KOM

 A "Thinking Outside Of The Box" FN&V

 KOM Xeno Hubs Redefine Rear Hub Technology:

A U.K. based company called KOM is attempting to redefine how rear hubs will look and work in the future with its Xeno hubset. 

Boasting a revolutionary design which places the ratcheting pawls, which allow for coasting, on the non-drive side of the hub, the Xeno hubs are a very different take on bicycle hubs. The hub uses a kind of torque tube, which transfers the power of pedaling to the other side of the hub from the cassette carrier. It is nothing like a traditional hub design.

The one-piece, tubular axle is supported by bearings which can be placed more outboard than can be with a traditional design, making for a claimed stiffer axle. This all results in a design which can take advantage of lighter materials and larger diameters for the axles and ratchet ring.

What is really wild about these Xeno hubs are the pawls, which are made from aluminum. KOM claims this is okay because the larger diameter of the system lends more leverage and thus a lighter material can be utilized without sacrificing strength necessary for transmitting pedaling forces. KOM claims the aluminum pawls have less inertia allowing for faster engagement of the 120 points of contact.

Of course, there is a compromise. This design necessitates a different disc rotor due to the non-standard diameter of the hub axle.  KOM sells a rotor with each hub which compensates for this. These are claimed to be lighter than usual rotors, again due to the diameter of the hub, and stiffer because the rotor mounting point is closer to the brake calipers. A unique four bolt mounting pattern is used as well.

Cost for a standard color (silver or black) hub set (front and rear Xeno design)  is approximately $1.100.00USD. Custom colored sets are available as well for an upcharge. 

 Comments: The Xeno hubs are MTB specific for now, but if something like this idea shows merit, it could be applied to other types of bicycles as well. Yes, the disc mount is odd, but this idea makes sense on the surface. If this idea proves to be worthwhile in the long haul there are several benefits to riders which standard hubs cannot provide. Obviously the prices would have to come down a lot for anything like this to become mainstream. Something to watch and see if it takes root here, I think. 

Image courtesy of KAV Helmets

KAV Helmets Redefines Helmet Fit, Tech With 3D Printing:

The helmet technology we ride with today is based upon materials and construction techniques developed decades ago. KAV Helmets looks to break this mold with their range of 3D printed helmets which boast several advantages, the most impressive being a customized fit for each purchaser of their helmets.

KAV Helmets offer a rider the chance to get a helmet which is claimed to be as aerodynamic as anything available, better at cooling your head, and made to fit your head. They do this by leveraging 3D printing.

Utilizing "crumple zone" design, KAV claims their helmets are nearly 3 times better at absorbing impacts. Using a hexagonal design, their helmets shear as well as crumple, which does basically the same thing as MIPS tries to achieve.

Their custom fit allows each helmet to be tailor made for its rider. KAV achieves this by sending you a link to an app after purchase which the customer uses to take an image of their head. The app maps the head and allows KAV to create a custom "Fit Cap" which is sent out to the customer for trial fitting. Once any changes are suggested and the cap is approved then KAV 3D prints your helmet and sends it to you. 

All this sounds incredibly expensive, but looking at the prices, the KAV range falls in line with most helmet company's top-range offerings with KAV helmets starting at $225.00USD and going up to $300.00USD. All manufacturing is based in the USA as well.

Comments: I've got an odd-shaped, BIG noggin, and this technology and manufacturing technique sounds pretty interesting. I'm considering it for myself.  

Image courtesy of Morelle 

Fast Charging In 15 Minutes?

Another outside of the box cycling product which soon might revolutionize things is from Morelle. An ebike that claims a fast charge of 15 minutes.

Using a silicon based battery instead of a graphite one, along with some other electronic wizardry, Morelle promises a bike you will be able to ride and recharge the battery in without much down time, which will allow riders to push the limits of range more than perhaps they do now with slower recharging rates.

Morelle hopes to move into more micro-mobility areas and energy storage systems but this product is a kind of proof-of-concept exercise to show their ideas work. You may have seen Gary Fisher touting the benefits of Morelle recently and he is a part of the company. The first concept bike was shown recently at Sea Otter.

The Morelle bike will go for 3K but if you are interested in having one you have to reserve one now for 2026 delivery. You can check the bike out HERE. 

Image courtesy of Lezyne.

Lezyne To Release Clik Valve Compatible Inflation Range:

Readers of the blog might be familiar with my ongoing review of Clik Valves and inflation accessories.  One of the negatives for switching over to these valves and valve cores is the dearth of choices in inflation tools which will interface with Clik Valves.

This will be relieved a bit now that Lezyne has committed to partnering with Clik Valve to introduce a range of inflation tools which will interface with the Clik Valve standard. These devices will include mini-pumps, floor pumps, and CO2 adapters for quick repairs in the field.

Details on the partnership can be read on Lezyne's site HERE.

Comments: You love to see it and this should give Clik Valve a big boost in acceptance. Personally, I feel Clik Valve is head and shoulders better than any other valve type and should replace what we are using now. Especially for newer cyclists who may find Presta valves off-putting, and many do in my experience. Clik Valve solves all the negativity around Presta and is easier to use than it and Schrader valves. 

I am looking for a tubeless valve stem offerings from other companies to be developed at this point and if this happens I think I'll start switching over to Clik Valve. I'll have more on my review coming later in the season. 

Iowa Wind And Rock Event This Weekend:

The successor to Trans Iowa, Iowa Wind And Rock, happens starting tomorrow at 4:00am in the morning and will continue on through Saturday, Saturday evening, and into Sunday ending at 2:00pm in the afternoon. 

An event navigated by cue sheet, this oddball of a gravel race is definitely "outside the box" in terms of the gravel racing/riding scene. There are imitators, (Long Voyage, Unbound XL, Mega Mid-South) but none of those can match the original formula which IWAR utilizes to this day.

Sending much love and hoping for tailwinds to all who toe that line tomorrow in the dark. 

Look for my Trans Iowa 20th anniversary post coming up on the 23rd, next week. 

That's a wrap for this week. Get out there and ride those bikes!