SDG, Funn, SpeedRelease - Taipei Show 2015

Dazzle Print and New Grips From SDG

SDG is one of the few brands out there who's range consists of strictly seats and grips, and their relatively small size lets them do some pretty interesting stuff compared to the bigger players. I'm talking about things like their limited 'Shibuya' range from a few years back, or the Storm seat that came about as a development with Sam Hill. That creativity continues in 2016, with a new graphics, grips, and a fresh I-Beam prototype.



You know how car companies will often road and track test new vehicles with them painted a confusing looking black and white that appears to be one part camouflage and one part acid trip gone wrong? They do that because it supposedly confuses the focusing abilities of a camera, making them hard to shoot for media who are trying to get the scoop over their peers. That black and white combo has a darker past, though, with the colour scheme originating in World War 1 on battle ships in an effort to confuse the enemy. Its official name is 'Dazzle Print' and SDG is now using it for less nefarious reasons: it simply looks rad. They'll be offering their Ti Fly, I-Fly, Duster, Bel Air 2.0, and Circuit MTN models with the Dazzle Print top.

SDG is also moving ahead with their new Gripper Storm series that uses the same Dazzle Print pattern but sees it embossed onto a waterproof cover to provide traction in slippery conditions. There's no stitching that could fail or let water seep in over time, and the cover itself is slightly rough to the touch to provide traction. Word is that they've had a number of cyclocross teams using early versions in very muddy conditions and that the feedback has been good: more traction but not damaging to fabrics that will be sitting on it for hours on end. Just like with the black and white versions, you can expect it to be available on their Ti Fly, I-Fly, Duster, Bel Air 2.0, and Circuit MTN models.



A new I-Fly 2.0 is in the works, with SDG pulling out a rapid prototype from deep in a box to give us a look. The white one pictured here isn't rideable, but SDG have also taken the time and money to have versions CNC'd out of Nylon to give them rideable prototypes. The most noticeable difference is a much lower I-Beam profile that not only gives the seat and post setup a much nicer appearance, but is also said to lower weight and up the strength. The shell is also shaped differently, and there's a cutaway at the rear to keep long-travel bikes or 29ers in small frame sizes from tire buzzing at bottom out.



SDG already offers a lineup of lock-on grips that match a lot of the colours used on their seats, but they're now branching out into something completely different: silicone grips. These are different from the silicone options already out there in that they're actually moulded instead of extruded from a machine like Play-Doh spaghetti, and because their external shape is not round. There's a thick and a thin side to each grip, and you can orientate them how you'd like depending on the feel you're looking for. As with all of their grips, they will feature the SDG logo along their length for traction.

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Funn's New Components




Funn's new Carbonation cranks are manufactured with unidirectional carbon that's laid over an aluminum spine, with the final product weighing in at 750 grams when you include the bottom bracket and a single narrow/wide chain ring. Funn is offering the same arms with spindles to fit 68/73mm and 83mm bottom bracket shell widths, so you could run them on your downhill rig if you were so inclined. There will be two spider options as well: a single 'ring setup with a 104 BCD, and a dual 'ring layout with a 64/104 BCD. The $599 USD crank is available in 170 and 175mm lengths, and with blue, orange or red colour accents.




The Python is a brand new pedal for 2016 that's much slimmer than Funn's long standing Bigfoot model, as well as weighing a pretty competitive 350 grams for a pair. That weight is with a steel spindle and two cartridge bearings, although Funn does use anodized aluminum traction pins to save a few grams. The pins themselves are actually pretty neat, with a concave head that provides some added biting edges. Colour options include red, orange, blue, black and grey.




With a retail price of $100 USD, the aluminum Fatboy Supreme handlebar is another new edition to Funn's lineup for 2016. The 285 gram 'bar goes through a five-step butting process that helps keep the weight impressive for its 810mm width, and riders can choose from 750 and 780mm widths and either 15mm or 30mm of rise, or the 810mm option with either 7mm or 15mm of rise. It sports an eight degree backsweep and five degree upsweep, so there's a good chance that most riders will find it comfortable. Funn is also offering a single 35mm clamp model at 785mm wide and with 18mm of rise. As you might have come to expect from the company, there's a handful of bright colour choices to pick from, including 'Special Edition' models that are either Acid Green, Pink Champagne, Maui Blue, or Cappuccino.

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SpeedRelease's Clever Thru-Axle

SpeedRelease is not trying to push a new so-called standard, and their axle design works with existing 12 x 142mm spacing, but the company does want to make removing your mountain bike's rear wheel quicker and easier. They're proposing a new dropout and axle design - using 12 x 142mm spacing - to make this a reality.



The system uses a proprietary hub and thru-axle, with the latter captured in the hub so that it can't fall onto the ground and doesn't require a third hand when you're rushing to get the wheel in or out. That means that the non-drive side dropout has to be open in order for the wheel to be removed. It works like this: unscrew the axle from the non-drive side until it disengages from the threads on the opposite side, then simply give the end a tug in order to release the shouldered section from the dropout to allow the wheel to come out. There's no pulling the axle all the way out, and the entire process is both quick and simple while combining the best of both a quick release and a thru-axle.

The design is only being applied to the rear of mountain bikes due to how a lot of a suspension fork's rigidity comes from its thru-axle and closed clamps, but the road marketing is an area where it could make a lot of sense on both ends of a disc-equipped bike. SpeedRelease is aiming to partner with brands at the OEM level, so we may see the system on the back of bikes in the near future, but they'll likely also offer aftermarket kits (hubs, axles ect.) at some point later in the year.