Truvativ´s new MTB handlebars

SRAM Corporation today announced a new line-up of Truvativ MTB handlebars that benefits Cross Country, All-Mountain, Freeride, and Downhill riders.

The naming strategy of the expanded line-up will look familiar. The names were chosen to provide a streamline look and feel on the bike with other SRAM components. The Noir and Stylo model names originated from Truvativ’s cranks; the World Cup, Team, and Race series modifiers are borrowed from the RockShox brand. Riders asked for them and Truvativ has delivered. Weight maniacs will love the superlight Noir WorldCup Flat Bar weighing only 120 grams. Passionate freeriders and downhillers will enjoy the super-wide BooBar. Cross Country and All-Mountain riders will appreciate the new range of Noir and Stylo handlebars in flat and riser options. Accurate adjustability was also taken into account. Users will find new, on-the-bar markings to guide them on the angle and centering of the bars, as well as customizing the length. In addition, all flatbars are bar end compatible.

NEW for Cross Country/All-Mountain: Noir and Stylo
The carbon Noir bar series matches the sleek look and feel of the Truvativ Noir cranks. The Noir bars are made from High Modulus Carbon Fiber material and features a Natural Carbon (unidirectional) finish, giving them a raw but elegant look. The aluminum Stylo bars were inspired by road race handlebars. The result is a complete MTB bar series designed from the ground up to look and feel fast, including matching racing stripes on each end. The top model, the 235g Stylo World Cup, offers the perfect balance of weight and strength. The Tungsten grey color matches the Truvativ chainrings.The 700mm Stylo World Cup SS Flat bar is the most extreme Stylo, offering Singlespeed and Cross Country riders more control.

A Look into the Future: Stems
The 170g all-mountain AKA stem offers stiffness and strength in a lightweight package. With a 5° angle and a flip-flop design, the AKA offers the rider varied set-up options. And finally, for 2009, the popular Holzfeller and Hussefelt stems and pedals are offered in new colors: Sno White, Purpletrator Purple, and Galvanized Silver. In 2010, Truvativ’s stem line will continue to be expanded, so stay tuned!

Zipp unveils new drop bars

Zipp Speed Weaponry is releasing all new drop bars to meet the needs of the most demanding racers on earth. Building on its’ 20-year pedigree in carbon layup and design, Zipp has created some of the lightest, strongest and stiffest bars on earth in the SL, the SLC2 and the Contour SL. Completely redesigned graphics aren’t the only thing that set these bars apart. Zipp’s drop bars exceed the highest standards in strength and stiffness, passing EFBe testing with flying colors while setting new standards in comfort and ergonomics.

SL – Super Light. Super Stiff.
The all new SL is the lightest and stiffest handlebar to pass the EFBe Laboratory’s top performance racing standard. No more wet-noodle flex in your lightweight bar. Weight: 165 grams. Drops: EB (ergo bend) (90 reach, 150 drop); TB (traditional bend) (87.5 reach, 130 drop), SS (short shallow) (84.5 reach, 128 drop).

SLC2 – The Do Everything Bar.
Massively stiff and capable of handling serious torque, 60% of this bar has a 31.8 diameter. It’s the perfect bar for massive sprinters or mounting VukaClips. Weight: 185 grams. Drops: EB (90 reach, 150 drop); TB (87.5 reach, 130 drop), SS (84.5 reach, 128 drop).

Contour SL – The Stage Racer’s Bar.
Comfort, ergonomics, stiffness and aerodynamics rolled into one. The airfoil top is not just aerodynamic but it also makes it the most comfortable bar Zipp has ever designed. Weight: 185 grams. Drops: TB (87.5 reach, 130 drop), SS (84.5 reach, 128 drop).

All bars are available in 40, 42, 44, or 46 cm (o-o); 31.8 clamp diameter

RockShox rolls out all new Reba

The popular RockShox Reba suspension fork is new and improved. First, Reba rolls out an entirely new chassis. As seen on several other RockShox forks, Reba now features Power Bulges that add stiffness, durability, and consistency to the chassis. The magnesium lowers now utilize a post disc brake mount. The hollow crown is forged of a proprietary AL66 TV material, providing light weight with increased stiffness and strength. Upper tubes are constructed from 32mm, 7000 series straight wall aluminum tubes and then completed with a low friction anodized finish.
All Reba models are available for both 26” and 29” wheels. Both wheel sizes will also offer either a standard QR, or the all new Maxle Lite option based on the existing 20×110mm thru axle standard. With available travel from 80 to 120mm, Reba provides both wheel sizes with the options they need for XC and Trail riding.
All Reba models receive a brand new damper. Reba SL and Reba Race get a fresh new Motion Control, while Reba Team is upgraded to a BlackBox Motion Control damper. The new BlackBox Motion Control damper is built upon the foundation of the original Motion Control. It features a titanium spring tube as well as Dual Flow compression and rebound. External adjustments are detented. Crown adjust forks utilize a carbon fiber compression knob, while forks using a remote have a new ‘Nip-Tuck’ spool that hides excess cable for a cleaner look. All Reba forks will feature a significantly revamped Dual Air system. Improvements are focused on further reducing friction, while providing a more linear spring rate. Dual Air gives riders the ability to independently adjustable positive and negative air spring chambers. The result is a very light and highly tunable spring system.

What’s New?
• All new chassis for 26” and 29”
• Standard QR or new Maxle Lite 20×110mm thru axle option
• Power Bulges
• New Motion Control in SL and Race
• New BlackBox Motion Control in Team
• New Dual Air system
• Post disc brake mount
• Travel increased to 120mm
• Hollow crown in all models
• Detented controls on Team

Suggested Retail Price (USD)
• Reba SL 26” $475
• Reba SL 29er $504
• Reba Race 26” $509
• Reba Race 29er w/Pushloc $607
• Reba Team 26” $656
• Reba Team 26” w/Maxle Lite & Pushloc $741
• Reba Team 29er $686
• Reba Team 29er w/Maxle Lite $701

SRAM lineup for 2009

While everyone is trying to reveal the new offerings from Shimano and Campagnolo for 2009, SRAM decided to already unveil the product updates for next year during the Sea Otter Classics.

Let us start with the high-end group, the SRAM red. Many athletes in the pro-peloton complained about the group’s crankset performance and we saw many DuraAce cranks labeled with SRAM stickers, on Astana bikes especially, or bikes equipped with Rival cranksets. Obviously there was some room for improvement and therefore SRAM will offer a completely redesigned crankset in 2009. It features the increasingly popular BB30 standard and is supposed to be lighter ( approx. 100 grams ) and stiffer, also having a lower Q-factor than the predecessor. Perhaps SRAM could already benefit from their recent acquisition of Zipp while developing this crank in BB30 standard, which is also used by the Vuma Quad. The second innovation comes with two new offerings on the PowerDome cassette, which will be available in a 11-25 (11,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,23,25) and 11-28 (11,12,13,14,15,17,19,22,25,28) gear ratio respectively. We are still missing a cassette, starting with a 12 tooth sprocket though, but apparently SRAM does not believe, that many recreational riders will buy their top offering.

Riders needing time trial equipment will be able to get their hands on several new items for 2009, too. New aero chainrings ( 55,54 and 42 tooth ) with an anodized finish are introduced, already spotted in the pro peloton during this season. The lineup is further widened by new shift and brake levers named 500 TT. Former weighting 154g a pair, the latter weighting 16g more per pair than the original one, while replacing the carbon lever with a red anodized aluminum one.

Meanwhile some of the features introduced last year exclusively for red will be handed down to the force group for 2009. One feature incorporated is the full reach adjustment for both brake and shift levers. Also the Zero-loss technology for the front derailleur, offering a faster and smoother front shifting is new to Force. The shifters will feature a longer brake lever and an extended and widened shift paddle additionally. One last fact worth mentioning is, that the shift and brake cables can now both be routed on either side of the handlebar.

The most dramatic changes however are related to the Rival groupset. Most parts now have a new polished, black anodized surface, the levers receiving a new carbon brake lever, reducing the weight by 20g to 320g overall. All other features which are new to the Force group, have also been implemented in the design of the Rival. Furthermore the aluminum crankset receives a complete redesign with hollow-forged crankarms, shaving off a mere 40 grams. 110 and 130 BCDs are offered and even though the official press release states crank lengths between 165 and 180 cm, we think mm should be already sufficient. Have a further look at some live product impressions for yourself with the following pictures or see the stuff in a small video.