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.


CeramicSpeed Disputes Muc-Off’s Chain Performance Claim

CeramicSpeed UFO Speed Chain
CeramicSpeed UFO Speed Chain

After Muc-Off made headlines claiming their new NTC Nanotube Chain saves 10 watts in a 112-mile Ironman stage over CeramicSpeeds’ UFO Speed Chain, CeramicSpeed is now counterclaiming that Muc-Off’s test results are based on flawed testing protocols.

CeramicsSpeed, in its ever data-driven fashion, has published a 2,000+ word report written by engineer Jason Smith, who developed his own chain treatment formula as well as labortaoy testing procedures before his company Friction Facts was acquired by the bespoke Danish component maker last year.

TLDR version: “Based on what we know of Muc-Off’s testing procedure, we assume this misleading data is caused by incorrect methods of acquiring ‘endurance test’ data. We describe the correct test methods and show the results of a correct test as well as the results of a test recreating the misleading data.” – CeramicSpeed

Read all about it here.

Muc-Off NTC Nanotube Chain

Muc-Off Slay Watts With New NTC Nanotube Chain

Muc-Off NTC Nanotube Chain

It was a little over a year ago when UK’s Muc-Off released what they claimed to be the world’s fastest chain, the Nanotube Optimised Chain.

It’s a chain of your choice impeccably cleaned, broken-in and hand-treated in their own secret nanotube-infused lube. It retailed for $162 in Shimano Dura-Ace/XTR instead of the normal $35, give or take.

Muc-Off NTC Nanotube Chain

Wiggins used it for his hour record, Froome used it in the 2017 Tour and Vuelta, and Team Great Britain used it with great results in the 2016 Rio games.

And now Muc-Off is back with another chain, the NTC Nanotube.

On paper, the NTC is essentially the same as version 1.0. The major difference here is the NTC forgoes the broken-in treatment, thus shortening production time and lowering the cost. The NTC chain is said to be 10 watts faster than the wax-based CeramicSpeed UFO Racing Chain over racing distance after four hours with no drop-off in performance.

The NTC chain will have identical performance as the original pre broken-in Nanotube Chain after four hours of riding at 250+ watts. That means a light to moderate spin for four hours. But you already knew that.

There’s even a top-up lube that is said to generate savings within 1-2 watts of the original chain. The Nanotube Lube will retail for $64.99

Muc-Off Nanotube lube

At $150, the NTC Nanotube chain is still by no means cheap for a few watts of saving but if you want a proven high-performance all-weather chain to further optimize your steed, then look no further.

www.muc-off.com


The Real dirt on Muc-Off’s dirt-shedding c3 dry ceramic lube

Muc-off C3 Ceramic Dry Lube
Muc-Off C3 Ceramic Dry Lube. Photo: Eric Gneckow/ element.ly

CHAIN LUBE!

Surely, you have experienced the thrill of obtaining a new bottle of chain lube. You haven’t? Well cycling’s most humble essential has a new trick up its sleeve with Muc-Off’s C3 Dry Ceramic Lube, so shut up about that power meter and hold on to your socks!

Already a high-performing dry lubricant that will clad a chain’s inner workings in a friction-fighting embrace, C3 also has the unusual ability to glow neon green under an included ultraviolet light. This quirky trait allows the user to verify a chain has drawn up just the right amount of lube, eliminating the guesswork that comes with most alternatives.

The included UV light for the MUC-off C3 Dry Lube
The included UV light. Photo: Eric Gneckow/ element.ly

Granted, applying chain lubricant is hardly rocket science. Yet it is a novel joy to see precisely how well C3 works its way into the hundreds of articulations that comprise a bicycle chain. Making the task easier is a well-designed, narrow bottle with a built-in applicator around two inches in length.

Now, there is no way in the world I could possibly tell you whether C3 actually reduced the friction in my drivetrain to any measurable result. Are you crazy? All I can add here is that UK-based Muc-Off does sponsor Team Sky at the time of this writing, an organization that strikes me as a little…meticulous…when it comes to vetting performance.

What I can tell you, however, is that C3 has an uncanny ability to shed crud. After consecutive days of wet-road riding left my bike in shambles, I was surprised to look down and see my chain utterly gleaming against the mess of my cassette.

C3 is more viscous than the dry lube I am used to, and the feel of a lubricated chain reminded me somewhat of the way a chain feels when it is fresh from the box (awesome). The lube holds up over multiple days of abuse, is easy to apply and freakin’ glows. It glows, man!

It glows! Photo: Eric Gneckow/ element.ly