10 Interbike Components We Can’t Stop Thinking About

component interbike 2018 landyyachtz reform saddle

Besides a convention center full of bikes to look at, One cannot leave Interbike without components and accessories that accompany our beloved sport. From husband and wife booth to tricked out CES-esque affairs, here are ten items that we wouldn’t think twice to take home straight off the show floor.


Pioneer

component interbike 2018 pioneer SGX-CA600

As robust as the original Pioneer system was, the computer head-unit was more or less its Achilles heel. Sure, it worked and looked all business like a SRM, but it was comparatively rudimentary when pitted against refined offerings from rivals Garmin and Wahoo which have faster product cycles. The new, $360, 85-gram SGX-CA600 computer aims to change that. It now has a 2.2″ color screen surrounded by six buttons, improved resistance to water and dust, turn-by-turn navigation, and a much needed Bluetooth Low Energy compatibility which pairs with your phone to receive calls, emails and texts. The power and training metrics, arguably the heart and soul of the Pioneer ecosystem, remain the same, however. In addition, given that the computer can “talk” to your phone, there’s a companion app in both Android and iOS that enables users to set up their computers directly from their phones.


White Industries

component interbike 2018 white industries micro spline hub

White Industries jumped into the headset game last year and this year’s highlight from the family-owned business based out of Petaluma is their new Micro Spline-compatible freehub body for the new, yet available Shimano XTR 12-speed group. Instead of the 22-spline found on the original Shimano design, White Industries went with 12 splines for the same effect. Word on the street was that Shimano was so interested they spent a good amount of time looking at it and taking plenty of pictures. But the best part about these 6/4 titanium goodies? They are backward compatible with older White hubs.


Thomson

component interbike 2018 Thomson Jungle CeraKote stem seatpost

Thomson had a small booth near a quiet corner at the convention center and though they didn’t exactly have any new products to showcase, the biggest news was the new finish on some of their bomb-proof parts. You see, Thomson’s components have only been offered in either black or silver for as long as I can remember, but the Macon, Georgia-based firm will offer stems and seatposts covered in jungle-colored Cerakote, an extremely hard and durable ceramic coating commonly found in firearms, for $124.95, a $25 premium over the standard Thomson offerings. I was told more limited edition colors are also a possibility, depending on the consumer response to the jungle color. Frankly, the earthy, greenish hue gave me a flashback to those Easton MG60 magnesium stems that have been been long discontinued. Unlike the MG60 that easily corrodes and is stupid expensive, these Thomson parts and the Cerakote coating might just outlive your bike.


Donnelly

components interbike 2018 tan sidewall Strada USH MSO tubeless tires

Donnelly makes some of the best cyclocross and gravel tires around, but you already knew that. The update out of Interbike is that tan sidewalls will be an option on the popular X’plor CDG, X’plor MSO, Strada USH, and X’plor USH models in a few weeks’ time. Sure beats a boring black sidewall if you ask me.


Muc-off

components interbike 2018 Muc-off No Puncture Hassle Tubeless Sealant uv

Tubeless sealants are pretty much a dime a dozen these days but Muc-Off’s iteration managed to stand out with some clever design elements. Besides being able to patch up punctures up to 6mm while being non-corrosive, biodegradable, washable, and works from 15psi to 120psi and in temperatures from -4°F to +122°F for an estimated six months, the pink No Puncture Hassle Tubeless Sealant has been incorporated with a UV dye similar to some of Muc-Off lubes so users can easily spot any leaks with a UV light. Although the larger 1-liter bottle will appeal to those with multiple bikes , I particularly liked the smaller, 140ml pouch with an opening designed to slip right onto a standard presta valve for a leak-free pour while still being able to precisely measure the amount of sealant by looking at the clear graduation marks on the back of the pouch. The No Puncture Hassle Tubeless Sealant will be available October 5th for $9.99/140ml pouch, $12.99 complete starter kit (140ml of sealant, UV light, a top-up cup plus a valve core remover), and $39.99 for one liter.


Stages

Cane Creek’s extraordinary (and extra expensive) titanium eeWings cranks are so darn cool and they’re now even more lust-worthy with the inclusion of a sole Stages powermeter on its driveside. Only the mountain eeWings in 170mm and 175mm are available at the moment for $1,499, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually extends to the new all-road crankarms or even go dual-sided for even more dough.


Vision

components interbike 2018 Vision FSA 6D Integrated handlebar stem combo

Let’s face it: If buying the perfectly-shaped handlebar and stem isn’t already hard enough, buying a one-piece bar/stem combo is downright terrifying – one piece means zero room for error, damn it, so you better get it right. Vision has had the 5D Integrated bar/stem in its lineup for some time and its 10° forward arcing wing top has attracted both fans and critics. Vision listened and there is now an alternative to choose from, the 6D Integrated. The 6D shares an identical width (400, 420 440mm), 2° outward bend, 80mm reach and 125mm drop, but its top has been replaced with a straight 0° aero-ergo top. The 6D comes with a claimed weight of 395 grams and is available for $594.99.


Brooks England

components interbike 2018 Brooks England Cambium c13 all weather saddle

The 152-year old British firm first introduced the Cambium line of saddles in 2013 and it was the modernization on what we’ve come to expect as a Brooks saddle. Updated shapes, materials, and construction, but it still retains some of its classy looks. The original Cambiums came with a vulcanized natural rubber and an organic cotton top, but the All-Weather version, with its waterproof nylon top is specifically made to combat against all that mother nature has to offer – which makes it especially enticing for those living in areas like the Pacific Northwest where rain comes often and unannounced. The C13 is available in 145mm and 132mm in width in both the standard shape and with “Carved” cut-out pressure relief window. Thanks to its aluminum rivet, carbon frame and carbon rails, the C13 is also Brook’s lightest ready-to-ride saddle. Available for $220.


Landyachtz

components interbike 2018 landyyachtz reform saddle

Also from the saddle department is an updated Landyachtz Reform saddle we first saw in Vegas last year. The integrated USB thermo-molding system remains, but the MagSafe-like plug has been rotated 90 degrees while the saddle shell is now fully carbon fiber for increased range of adjustments which further trims the weight down to sub-200 grams. There’s also a new chopped-nosed saddle shape to choose from. Available this coming spring for $349.


Redshift

components interbike 2018 Redshift ShockStop suspension seatpost

Say all you want about how suspension stems and seatposts are sooo 90s. Chances are you probably wanted it at some point in your life before realizing those from the history books didn’t work so well. I had my reservations about Redshift’s suspension stem at first but it turned out to work admirably well for all its intended purposes so why not be open-minded about this upcoming ShockStop suspension seatpost with adjustable preload on its steel spring and 35mm of travel from its dual parallelogram design to keep the saddle level at all times. It is available for pre-order now for $159.99 after a very successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $430,129.00 and is expected to deliver around Spring 2019.


Cane Creek Give You eeWings

Cane Creek titanium eeWings
Photo: Cane Creek

At $2.64 per gram, Cane Creek’s, 400 gram, $999 titanium crank is definitely not an item that you’ll see on all your buddies’ rigs. But who cares, this brushed titanium beaut is as hot as it is different when just about everyone else, minus Shimano, makes theirs out of carbon fiber.

It’s more than the materials used or its weight, however; Cane Creek claims these 30mm spindled, mountain bike-specific eeWings are 20% to 30% stiffer and will take your unintended abuse (don’t they all?) like a champ where carbon fiber equivalents are likely to break. The eeWings also come with a 10-year warranty for extra peace of mind too.

Now where is the road version?

Check the launch video here:

www.canecreek.com


Slam That Stem Further With The Cane Creek SlamSet

Cane Creek SlamSet
Cane Creek SlamSet ZS44/ZS56. Photo: Cane Creek

Some of us go to great lengths to slam that stem for oh so many reasons 1: OH BECAUSE IT LOOKS SO PRO BRUH and 2: because some actually need it to make things fit.

If you’re in those categories, Cane Creek is now shipping their SlamSet headset that is made to have the lowest stack height… as much as 2mm for Zero-Stack headsets and and 4mm for the IS (Integrated System).

To shave away the extra height, Cane Creek redid the upper assembly and reduced sealing materials compared to a standard headset. However, Cane Creek was able to make up for the performance with the introduction of their new stainless-steel Hellbender (it’s a salamander… just like the company logo) bearing that is said to be more durable when exposed to the elements.

Cane Creek SlamSet
Cane Creek IS41 top. Photo: Cane Creek

The SlamSet is available as a solo upper bearing assembly in IS41, IS42 and ZS44, or as a complete headset with lower assemblies in EC44, ZS56, and IS52. Prices start from $49 for a IS41 top to $119 for a complete tapered headset in ZS44/ZS56.

www.canecreek.com