While electronically controlled components took two of the three nomination slots last year, with Fox's Live Valve suspension system eventually taking top honors, there isn't a single battery or circuit board to be seen this time around. Instead, there are a couple of complex and relatively costly products that move the needle massively when it comes to the implications they could eventually have, and another that's so simple that it probably makes most of us go 'why didn't I think of it?' Because we're not that clever, apparently.
In order of affordable to I-could-never-afford-that...
Huck Norris is a simple, inexpensive, and lightweight open-cell foam insert that sits inside of your tubeless tires to protect your rims when running low pressures. In other words, a ridiculously simple version of Procore for the average rider, which is why Huck Norris is on this list. At the other end of the spectrum is the Eightpins dropper seat post that's integrated into the bike frame to increase stroke while also (hopefully) increasing reliability - possibly one of the only ways to make a dropper post that lasts years on end without an issue. And then there's the Robot Bike Co's R160, with its carbon tubes and 3D printed titanium lugs that allow the UK company to manufacture a bike with bespoke geometry. For a hefty price, that is.
It's a given that these three products either provide solutions to problems not yet solved, or present worthwhile technical improvements by way of novel use of materials, technology or mechanical means. But which of the three is most deserving of the Innovation of the Year title?
Why it's nominated:
Here's an easy question for you: what type of component is responsible for both so many smiles and so much grief? The dropper seat post, of course. Not only are these fun enhancers one of the most important, if not the most important change in the last decade to the bikes we ride, but it sometimes feels like they're also responsible for more f-bombs than you'll hear in the average Samuel L. Jackson movie. Reliability has gotten better, sure, but the bar is still exceptionally low. The answer surely has to be system integration - the frame and the dropper post must be designed together to create larger, more robust internal parts and pieces, better seals, longer travel, and to lower the chance of someone having an aneurysm due to yet another failed dropper post.
And that's exactly what the Austrian's at Eightpins have done. Their post is integrated into the frame (only Litevilles as of right now), as opposed to using the more typical double-tube design. This layout allowed Eightpins to use an oversized 33mm post diameter, and to offer up to 220mm of stroke. A thru-axle runs through the seat tube and affixes the bottom portion of the unit in place, while a dust wiper occupies the spot where a seat post collar or quick release would normally sit. The post is cable actuated, and it relies on mechanical internals that let it be stopped every 6mm as it's raised or lowered. When the small bar-mounted thumb lever is pressed, an air-spring raises the post upwards.
From the First Look
 | Eightpins were definitely thinking outside of the box with this design, and it'll be interesting to see if any other manufacturers decide to adopt the technology. Now that dropper posts are nearly mandatory equipment for any mountain bike, a design like this may be the next logical step. - Mike Kazimer |
Why it's nominated:
The R160's titanium and carbon hybrid construction make it one of the more exotic sounding - and looking - bikes out there, but that's only part of the reason why the UK-made all-mountain bike is on this exclusive list of three. Yes, there were bikes built with metal lugs and carbon tubes long before most people reading this were born, but it's how the Robot Bike Co uses their 3D printed titanium lugs and New Zealand-sourced carbon tubes to create a 160mm-travel rig with bespoke geometry for their customers. Every R160 is custom tailored to suit the rider's specific body size, riding style and wishes; all for a price, of course - about $5,447 USD for a frame. Robot Bike Co would argue their product is pretty special and very different to an off-the-shelf carbon steed, but just for comparison's sake, a complete Giant Reign Advanced 1 with a Fox 36 Float Performance fork, Float X2 shock, in-house carbon wheels, and an XT drivetrain costs $5,350 USD. Custom-made titanium and carbon fiber wishes don't come cheap, it seems.
It might be the price of well-used family sedan, but damn if it isn't a special feeling to be riding a bike made for no one other than you. Our review model was ordered up with a 63.5-degree head angle, a 77-degree seat angle, 450mm chainstays, a 510mm reach, and the wheelbase worked out to 1300mm using a 160mm Lyrik fork; all relatively forward-thinking numbers that Pinkbike Tech Editor Paul Aston wanted for a 160mm-travel sled. They're also numbers that, aside from Nicolai's Geometron, can't be found elsewhere. Predictably, Mr. Aston fell in love with the tailor-made, DW6 link-sprung R160, but that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. It was built for him and only him, after all.
The technology and materials used to manufacture the R160, while highly advanced, have been employed in other areas before, so Robot Bike Co's creation isn't exactly the rolling science experiment that it might seem to be at first. However, it's what Robot Bike Co are doing with this proven technology - building bespoke dream bikes with your chosen angles - that sees them on this list.
From the review
| Robot Bike Co have entered the market with their guns blazing - and with something unique and well considered. I'm really, really, not looking forward to the day the R160 gets collected by the courier. It's lightweight, sturdy, progressive and personalized. - Paul Aston |
Why it's nominated:
Anyone who remembers having to use tubes inside of their mountain bike on a regular basis knows that they're silly and should go away forever. A proper tubeless tire setup, while being far more reliable than tubes could ever hope of being, is still certainly not faultless, especially when you prefer to run the low air pressures than can make a good tubeless setup so advantageous. The price for that increased traction that comes via less PSI is, unfortunately, dented or even broken rims (ahem, carboom, anyone?), and the increased chance of a fatal gash inflicted upon your pricey tubeless tire that's far from being worn out. If only there was some sort of simple, lightweight, and reasonably inexpensive solution...
Oh, but there is. Huck Norris is a circular band made of closed-cell foam shaped to fit inside the widest part of a tubeless tire casing, so it actually sits above the rim's sidewall rather than down on top of the rim bed. This position means that when you smash into something hard and pointy, say a big rock, it's between the rim sidewall and the the upper half of your tire's casing, thereby acting as a cushion to hopefully prevent terminal damage to both the rim and tire. The band is said to weigh less than a normal inner tube and, because it does not cling to the entire circumference of the tire casing, it should allow the tubeless tire to remain supple without impeding its superior rolling resistance and traction.
A less obvious benefit of the Huck Norris protective bands is that they spread the beads of tubeless tires apart, which allegedly makes even the most difficult rim and tire combinations mount up easily with a simple floor pump. The bands are available to fit 29'', 27.5'' and 27.5+ size tires, and cost 69 Euro.
From the First Look
| Occasionally, an idea comes across my desk that makes me scratch my head and utter, "Why didn't I think of this?" Huck Norris is one of those. - RC |
| The three Innovation of the Year nominees vary massively in design, appeal, and what they hope to accomplish, not to mention cost, but all three could also have a meteor-like impact on the gear we might be using down the road. And I suppose that's what really needs to be answered: which of the above products will have the largest impact? Can a simple yet clever foam strip really make a big difference? Is the frame-integrated dropper post really how we'll all be getting your seats out of the way in the future? Or will 3D printed titanium lugs and the custom geometry that they allow open the doors to a flood of made-to-measure bikes? - Mike Levy |
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dv65 0.067623
Depends on if you consider a wheelie to be riding on one wheel OR riding with one wheel lifted off the ground...
Interesting as well seeing that PB censorship changed a little after that Rob Warner video on the Atherton Fox Hunt thing. Back then you could have him say f*ck in a video but you couldn't write it down without it being censored. Now we can have f*ck all over the place.
Err... it seems it is just me being censored...
Tubes? No.
Huck Norris would cram a Huck Norris in a 24" tube. Right through the valve. Without removing the valve core.
check list this:
Does your tire flat or burp?
no= remove pressure
yes= add pressure
do your tires "cup"?
no = remove pressure
yes = add pressure
no = read the post again
yes = read the post again
Either I'm a fat ass or a bad ass. I'm guessing fat ass since I can't get away with less than 35 in the rear for all mountain or 38 for bike park....I've ripped more than one DH tire off in a berm at 35psi.
I run 26-27.5 Front and 28-29.5 on the rear.
There's a huge profit margin and very little cost to recoup in that product, can you admit that?
I'm not saying they shouldn't get paid for ingenuity, or for finding the best foam for the job, but that really is a steep price for "we thought of using foam in tires, cut some weight reliefs out of it, & slapped a price tag on the side."
Shtty crankset for 50 bucks or carbon seat post for 20$ from Aliexpress is what is wrong with people.
1: It's a new product that uses a new to cycling manufacturing process, which is innovation in cycling.
2: It's providing a service never before implemented in cycling, where product starts printing via your mouse click.
3: It provides the customer with a larger range of customization than normal, all from their computer.
4: It's able to constantly adjust to market trends without retooling, thus getting new changes out immediately.
As I don't care that much for all the customization it got me wondering if they could eventually release a cheaper line without custom geometry but using standard cast and machined lugs. Still not cheap probably but definitely a huge step as that printing process is probably the most expensive of all.
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/youse
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bestest
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/whatevs
To be honest I don't know much about the metallurgy of these 3d printed metal products. I expect it to be some fine regular grain. I think when Empire did it they mentioned something like "amorphous titanium". So I expect it to be structurally similar to a casting. Forging is ideal of course, but you're never going to get that with these custom products. The grain structure of CNC machined products could be good or bad depending on the shape of the product. For a complex shape like the bb area, I can't ever see a CNC machined product ever be ideal there. You're going to have some huge holes right through the grain structure.
But yeah, I absolutely agree with you on where you see value and innovation. It is there.
Just saying!
Cheers
Right. Exactly.
To the matter at hand, I'm not going to get hung up on the cost of innovation here. I see a market for it especially with larger riders/ those with specific body geometry requirements which very few stock frames fit. I think it will slowly come down in price once they expand a bit and refine their process. 3D printers are getting cheaper by the day.
Also. Since it was a word unlike your literally silly comparison, I used it. Yea I probably should use the 'right' way to avoid people like you. Thanks for the heads up, kiddo.
www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nice
It's in websters
Robot - innovative manufacturing process that everyone talks about, BUT the real outcome (benefits on the trail) isn't innovative at all.
Hock Norris - solves the issue in elegant manner, BUT is rather overpriced for it's low-tech approach.
Tough choice indeed.
I'd go for the dropper, followed by tire mattress.
The eightpins dropper post is definitely the best looking and also conceptually best dropper post I've seen. This thing is going to catch on and in a few years we're going to look back on the other current offerings laughing at how ugly and lame these are. That said, I'm not sold on the statement that they're so important on our bikes. Of course I understand that most (if not all) PB reviewers are professionals who go on all-day or even multi-day epic rides and spend considerable time pedaling sat down. So they like to raise their seat every now and then. But I'm probably not alone in that I'm no professional and most of my rides are (well) under two hours. There is no need to raise the seat for seated pedaling. At worst I'd have to spend some time on the road riding to the trails and I might want to raise the saddle there. But that's what a qr seatpost clamp is for, no need to be able to do it on the fly. So yeah, the eightpins is a good improvement over the droppers currently out there, but just not as relevant as Huck Norris.
It is a relief RobotBikeCo is out there a one of the very few companies that uses carbon properly in a bicycle frame. I elaborated in another post here. I wouldn't necessarily call it an innovation, it is more finally bringing common sense to carbon bicycle design and production. It is not new, it is more that in past years we got used to companies finding ways to mess up in this respect. That said, of course their way of customization is innovative. I just question the need for such customization. How much really custom geometry does a company like Nicolai do?
I just got one this summer when I upgraded to full suspension from my hardtail, and on my old bike I would generally keep my seat in an upright position (for traverses, climbs, gradual or short ups and downs, etc.) until I got to the beginning of a long descent, then I would get off and do the quick release drop. I originally anticipated that having a dropper post would just make those moments less annoying when dropped my post for a long descent, but I find that I use my dropper post to adjust my seat height WAY more frequently than I ever did with quick release, and it has given me more confidence and power transfer at the times I need it in my rides.
Now that my seat height is easily adjustable, I have the full extension of the seat to be higher than I ever set up my quick release seatpost, because I ONLY use full extension when I am climbing (not when I am traversing or doing short or gradual ups and downs). In the full extension position my legs are fully extended to the bottom of the pedals so I'm in the best position to get full power transfer down to the pedals when I'm just trying to crank it uphill and I don't have the slightest worry about getting bucked off.
If the trail starts to slope down at all or gets flat and I am traversing on any kind of technical terrain, I will drop my seat to a middle position, which is most similar to where I normally kept my quick release seatpost previously. This allows me to still get relatively good power transfer, but also to stand up and get off my saddle to move, lean, and generally attack the terrain without the seat getting in the way too much. On a trail that does a lot of climbing, but also gives you short dips or traverses for resting, I find that I am very frequently switching from full extension to the middle position. When coming up on a steep short pitch, I will even sometimes just lift my saddle instead of shifting into an easier gear, and the extra power transfer lets me push hard to get up over the hill quicker than I would if I had to shift down.
For downhills, it doesn't have to be a long downhill for it to be worth it to drop my seat. I can get to the top of what I know will only be a 10 second descent, but I will drop my saddle and attack it anyway, squeezing all the fun I can out of those 10 seconds! With my quick release seatpost, I would have stayed in my standard position for a short descent, and I would have had fun, but it's simply better with the saddle out of the way!
I'm thinking that the type of trails available in your area would probably be a factor in this, in my area I pretty much exclusively ride singletrack for both the climbs and the descents, and much of the singletrack is more XC style with lots of ups and downs. That's where I think dropper posts shine, when you frequently have reasons to shift your post to the optimum position. I spent a short time in the Vancouver area (Port Coquitlam) where I found that the climbs were all forestry service roads and the singletrack was all rowdy downhills, and think in those situations there would be less of a benefit, because your riding is somewhat binary, either you're doing an extended nontechnical climb (seat up) or you're doing an extended rowdy downhill (seat down).
Anyway, I guess my overall thought is that for me and for a lot of other riders, getting a dropper post is like a revelation that, while not necessary to enjoy mountain biking, hugely increases how enjoyable it is by allowing me to climb more efficiently and attack every descent full force. I expected to like it, but now that I have it I realize that the benefits are greater than I ever anticipated.
Of course there is the reliability thing as well. Back in the day I did have to ride 30-45 minutes on the road to get to the trails and that's where I raised the saddle. I'm about 75kg and had the 400mm seatpost at fully allowable extension (so about 300mm extended above the 16" frame). I've gone through RaceFace, NC17, Kore, Azonic, all of them bent just above the frame within a few months. So I had to replace them to be able to lower the saddle again. Initially I contacted RaceFace for warranty, explained that I always drop the saddle when I hit the trails. Considering where they were bent the damage must have been due to seated pedaling, not jumping. RaceFace insisted that it is an XC seatpost, I wasn't allowed to use it for jumping and it would not be covered under warranty. Within a few messages I decided warranty is bullshit and seated pedaling is one of the most brutal things you can do to your bike. I replaced all subsequent posts without bothering with warranty and eventually decided it wasn't worth it having the saddle that high. But now that the cheapest dropper posts have become more expensive than a proper rigid Thomson post, I can't justify dumping money in there. They're going to break for sure.
So yeah like all bike components it is a trade off. If you bolt anything to your bike, you accept that it might break. You compare it to the advantages it brings you and then decide whether it is worth it. For you it is, for me it isn't.
I like the idea of robot bike, but resell value would be next to nothing, so you really have to decide this is a bike for life.
Integrated dropper, an improvement for sure, but not really needed.
Robot bike wins
man i need to see where/how you ride because i never managed to get a flat when i had above 23psi in my rear tube.
Any post MUST be infinitely adjustable to make sense. With steps in travel you'll always miss the sweet spot.
We already have 34 mm inner diameter seat tubes, that's a 10 % increase in diameter. Why not go to 34 mm and be done with it? Surely the rerliability due to larger tubes and bushings (meaning less flex and loading/wear) will be increased...
Not a representative republic based on federalism-power from the people via states. Some states would not have any say. Why have senators then?