Sea Otter Classic Coverage – Day 2

Sage Titanium Bicycles

While carbon might dominate the racing scene, Sage believe titanium is the future. It’s light, durable, easy to repair, and as Sage founder David Rosen believes, it has a soul that you can’t bring in composites. Based in Beaverton, Oregon, Sage offers road, gravel, cyclocross and mountain bikes that are made domestically in the United States. Sage started in 2012, and over the last decade plus, has worked to create a full line of frames and accessories, and continues to refine them for the best balance of performance, comfort, and durability.

For 2024, Sage has a few updates to their existing range. The Barlow gravel/endurance bike now gets the option to go fully internally routed, courtesy of Enve’s In Route system. When creating your custom build, you now have the option to add the In Route All-Road fork, along with the Chris King Aeroset 3 headset. Out front, you can go with either the Enve SES Aero bar with the In-Route Aero stem or FSA’s Energy SCR Compact bar with NS ACR stem.

On the road side of things, the Skyline road bike is updated with 3D printed dropouts. Use of 3D printing helps them create intricate pieces in lower quantities, quicker and more efficiently. This works very well for dropouts, especially with flat mount brakes, allowing Sage to use internal bracing and ensure the mounts are light weight and perfectly aligned. Not only can they prototype quickly using resins before producing with titanium powder, but excess powder can be reclaimed and used in future production.

www.sagetitanium.com

Pas Normal Studios X fizik

Danish cycling kit pioneers Pas Normal Studios and fizik, the Italian brand known for their innovative performance cycling shoes and saddles, have unveiled their latest collaboration – Mechanism PNS x fizik – a new road cycling shoe born exclusively from the partnership (€450 / £390 / $490). 

Designed to perform at the highest level and integrate the sleek style of the Danish apparel brand, the all-new Mechanism road shoe is at ease with the demands road cyclists require. 

At the base, fizik’s R2 outsole features an engineered carbon fiber layup that saves weight and delivers increased stiffness, with a stiffness index rating of 10, making this outsole the most responsive in the fizik range. A wide vent inlet and deep internal channeling provide cooling airflow, aiding temperature regulation while riding. The cleat positioning is set slightly further back compared to traditional settings to optimize pedaling efficiency and reduce knee compression—especially well-suited for very aggressive, forward aero positions adopted by racing cyclists. 

Wheels Manufacturing

Like the Solo-XD, the Solo-Spline will be constructed of 7075-T6 aluminum. The kit comes with an 18T cog and additional cogs will be available 16T, 19T, 20T, 21T, 22T and 23T versions. Adjustable spacers provide 10mm adjustment range in 1mm increments to achieve the optimal chainline.

Wolf Tooth

1UP Bike Racks

While everyone knows Yakima, Kuat, Thule, and Rocky Mounts, there’s another brand out there making some waves in the rack business, 1UP. Based in Wisconsin, 1UP offers a range of hitch and roof bike racks, along with cargo and other specialty racks and accessories. Their newest rack, the update to the Super Duty Hitch Rack, aims to be more rugged and versatile than the original.

Originally launched in 2016, bikes have continued to evolve with wider tires, more capable geometry, and the rise of e-bikes. To increase capacity, 1UP made the side plates and pivot beams thicker, allowing up to 100lbs for the first two trays. They also made the spacing wider to accommodate wider bars seen on many mountain bikes, and added adjustable width trays to 54″, 58″, or offset 56″. Tire capacity is now up to 5″ for fat bikes.

To aid in stability on the rack, the Super Duty is now compatible with the Wheel Chock, which helps to cradle the front wheel and reduce tire movement. When not in use, the rack folds upwards, extending out only eight inches from the hitch, with single-bike versions being low enough that many rear hatches can be opened without lowering the rack. Loading the bikes onto the rack has become easier with a redeisgned glide bar and lever used to lock the wheels in place and the optional loading rack for getting heavy bikes on without a struggle. Speaking of accessories, the Super Suty is reverse compatible with current Add-Ons and most accessories from 1UP.

“Since the original Super Duty launched in 2016, it has been hailed as one of the best racks on the planet,” said Kurt Barclay, Marketing Director for 1UP USA. “We’ve listened to feedback, observed how cyclists are pushing the boundaries of bike transportation, and sought ways to enhance the already impressive capabilities of the SD rack. The result is what we consider the ultimate evolution of the 1UP USA Super Duty Rack.”

The Super Duty is available for 2″ hitches in single or double tray configuration, with the ability to add two more Add-Ons.

www.1up-usa.com

BMC

While not new for the show, BMC recently launched their new RoadMachine platform earlier this month. The endurance-focused model sees updates for increased compatibility for different wheel and tire combinations, and equipment choices, and adds on-bike storage options.

The RoadMachine will be offered in three versions, RoadMachine, RoadMachine X and RoadMachine AMP. Each will have a premium 01 version as well. For the frame, BMC made small changes that will have big impacts on the bike, while still keeping a performance endurance feel. Things like dropping the bottom bracket 5mm for a lower center of gravity, keeping the rear center compact for snappy acceleration, more compliant seat tube and seat post for more comfort, and raising the stack height for a wider range of fit, all come together to make an exceptional endurance bike. Extra touches include a new storage compartment in the downtube and the option to run various fenders depending on the model adds to the bike’s versatility.

The RoadMachine focuses on those looking to ride far and explore. Higher models will include their Integrated Cockpit System (ICS) and an integrated rear light on the seat post. With clearance up to 40mm, you can run some seriously wide tires to take on road or gravel. The X takes things a step further, adding in the Red Shift MTT ICS system for 20mm in adjustable travel while keeping all cables and hydraulic lines integrated. All drivetrains are 1x. The AMP models are available in regular and X versions, and incorporate the battery and motor from TQ into the downtube and bottom bracket area with the 2″ O-LED display mounted on the bars.

www.bmc-switzerland.com

Enduro Bearings

Enduro was on hand with their full line of bearings, but also a new tool for installing or removing bearings, their new Zip-Nut.

The new Zip-Nut features a split nut that when the handle slides over it, locks it into the threads on the ACME threaded rod. This allows for quicker installations or removals without having to spin handles all the way down. While available as the nut itself for the Enduro BRT-060 and BRT-005, it is also available as a full kit (BRT-060) with two length rods to cover suspension pivots or hubs, along with the various bearing sets and guides you will need and handles. While the concept might not be new, Enduro’s execution of the Zip-Nut ensures that each nut wraps 360 degrees around the thread. Also, the use of ACME threading means that a true 90 degree force is used against the bearing to seat it properly.

The Maxhit T47 bottom brackets were also on display in 24mm, 29mm, and 30mm options. Their design uses the portion that threads into the bottom bracket shell as part of the bearing itself. This allows for larger bearings that increase the bearing-to-race contact area, allowing them to take more than double the force load than standard bearings. They are also less sensitive to preload, allowing them so spin freely for whether they are a lightly or overly preloaded. 440C stainless steel, double lipped labyrinth seals, and high performance grease helps to increase operating life and performance in wet, nasty conditions.

www.endurobearings.com