EuroBike Day Two Potpourri

August 27th, 2015 – With the launch of SRAM Red eTap dominating news from this year’s EuroBike other high profile product launches have been few and far between. In case you missed it, you’ll find our extensive coverage, video and first ride report of the new wireless group here. We spent day two looking a bit deeper into the cavernous halls of the Neue Messe and found quite  few items worth a look and a few head-scratchers too. 

peloton

CeramicSpeed Goes Big

Ceramic Speed is taking oversized to the next level with its new pulleys. The 17t wheel diameter is so large they require a custom cage. Ceramic Speed says they save 2.4watts versus Dura-Ace 11spd pulleys and even more with a dirty chain. ceramicspeed.com

Tacx Gets Smart

Tacx new NEO Smart direct drive trainer is the quietest trainer on the market, can simulate up to 25% climbs thanks to a motor than can create 2200 watts of resistance and it can then spin up to simulate descending. While it’s connected to a slew of apps and devices with ANT+ and Bluetooth, the NEO Smart can still be used as a stand alone trainer with the motor reacting to increases in speed with more resistance to simulate real world conditions. Of course, our favorite feature is the Darth Vader industrial design. tacx.com 

Stages Cycling goes Carbon

Stages Cycling has solved the carbon conundrum. After painstaking development they have managed to create a meter that works with carbon cranks offering its left leg only power solutions for SRAM, FSA and even Campagnolo riders.

While it uses the new, more streamlined cover and reinforced battery door as the alloy crank meter, it took an entirely new strain gauge and attachment process to make the carbon crank a reality. stagescycling.com

Miranda Titanium Alloy Track Cranks 

The Timelapse Pro crankset is designed around 1/8inch track chains and, according to Miranda, not only sets a new bar for weight and stiffness ion the track world but the material actually has inherent lubricating properties that naturally lower its friction coefficient. miranda.net

Time Aktiv Vibration Damping

We’ve seen multiple ways to handle vibration damping in road bikes – ISOSpeed, Zertz Inserts, visco-elastic damping films, etc… – now we can add Time’s Aktiv system to the list. Tuned mass damper reside in the fork blade, just above the drop outs, that stabilizes harmonic vibrations. It is one of the only systems that can do this with zero effect on the carbon structure itself. Checkout the video below to see it in action. time-sport.com