Tioga, 6D, Renthal - Interbike 2016
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Tioga's Undercover Stratum Seat
Tioga's webbed Spyder Stratum and Spyder Outland (a more flexible Stratum with thin rubber pads) look out of this world, but their unforgiving appearance contradicts an extremely comfortable design, at least for my behind. I've been using the same Spyder Outland for over a year now, moving it between test bikes as required, but it still elicits weird looks and questions about how I'm able to function properly after sitting on it for three or four hours at a time. A seat's padding has very little to do with how comfortable it is - the shape and flex are what counts - but this is a hard point to get across when trying to convince someone that the gray-colored cheese grater I'm perched on really is comfortable.
Tioga knows that this is discussion is always going to be an uphill battle, which is why their new Undercover Stratum was born.
The Undercover Stratum is basically a Spyder seat with a thin layer of foam - Tioga calls it 'Bio-X Pad Ergo Foam' - applied overtop the flexible webbed shell to provide a bit more forgiveness, both for a rider's underside and his or her eyes. The shell is different from what the two current Spyder seats use, with the flex is tuned to work with the foam padding that's on top of it. The Spyder Stratum and Spyder Outland can feel a bit stiff where the rails attach to the rear of the shell, and up front over the nose, and the Undercover Stratum's additional padding should remedy this while still taking advantage of the design's low weight and the shell's built-in flex characteristics.
Claimed weights sit at just 150-grams for the carbon railed model that will cost around $200 USD, and 190-grams for an Undercover Stratum with hollow chromoly rails that will cost about $100 USD.
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6D's Updated ATB-1 Full Face Helmet
6D's ATB-1 full face helmet gets an update to bring it in-line with Europe's EN1078 testing standard. The ATB-1 had no issues when it came to impact testing, but rather it came down to a field-of-view requirement that forced 6D to create a lower profile chin guard. So that's what they did, essentially knocking a good portion of the mouth piece's height away to have its top edge sit much lower than the original design. Having spent a lot of time in the ATB-1, I can say that I've never had an issue with the chin bar obstructing my vision, but that doesn't matter if Europe's testing standards call for something different and 6D wants to sell their helmets there.
The rest of the ATB-1 remains unchanged, including the helmet's ODS system that sees a number of strategically placed rubber dampers used between its inner and outer EPS shells, a design that essentially creates a sort of in-helmet suspension by allowing the inner and outer EPS foam shells to move independently of one another.
The result is a system that can not only better deal with straight-on impacts but is said to be able to also dissipate those low-angle collisions by allowing the two shells to shear in relation to each other.
The result is a system that can not only better deal with straight-on impacts but is said to be able to also dissipate those low-angle collisions by allowing the two shells to shear in relation to each other.
Renthal's Data Acquisition System
There was a time when designing a handlebar was probably a relatively simple job. You know, before computers and testing standards and whatnot. Things are a bit different these days, however, and companies like Renthal are taking extra steps to not only ensure that their designs are safe, but also that they're performing as desired when it comes to flex. No, having a rock solid handlebar is not a good thing, and creating one with just the right amount of flex is even more difficult now that many feature a 35mm clamping zone.
Regardless of what you think of 35mm handlebars and stem clamps (they're silly, by the way), it's apparently a really easy way to make everything too stiff and unforgiving, which is why Renthal has been using a neat data acquisition system that measures the force being put through the handlebar via sensors plugged into each side of it.
People could push down on the fork in Renthal's booth, which was set up hard as a rock to exaggerate the force being fed into the handlebar, and watch the computer screen give a readout of what exactly is happening. A stiffer, less forgiving handlebar would transmit more force, whereas a softer, more flexible handlebar would make for lower readings, and the data acquisition system allows Renthal to tune this to their liking.
There was a time when designing a handlebar was probably a relatively simple job. You know, before computers and testing standards and whatnot. Things are a bit different these days, however, and companies like Renthal are taking extra steps to not only ensure that their designs are safe, but also that they're performing as desired when it comes to flex. No, having a rock solid handlebar is not a good thing, and creating one with just the right amount of flex is even more difficult now that many feature a 35mm clamping zone.
Regardless of what you think of 35mm handlebars and stem clamps (they're silly, by the way), it's apparently a really easy way to make everything too stiff and unforgiving, which is why Renthal has been using a neat data acquisition system that measures the force being put through the handlebar via sensors plugged into each side of it.
People could push down on the fork in Renthal's booth, which was set up hard as a rock to exaggerate the force being fed into the handlebar, and watch the computer screen give a readout of what exactly is happening. A stiffer, less forgiving handlebar would transmit more force, whereas a softer, more flexible handlebar would make for lower readings, and the data acquisition system allows Renthal to tune this to their liking.
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I'm Glad they still offer 31,8. And by the way @Marcusthefarkus. there's plenty of loaded people wanting 31,8. There's been some here who already tried 35mm and prefer 31,8 for compliance.
(Look at how little love there is for press fit bottom brackets - we should all cast a critical eye on things before jumping in.)
I could afford 35mm but I'm not sold on it. Even if there was a benefit to going to a 35mm cockpit, the benefit would be so incredibly marginal and certainly not worth the £150 or so I'd have to spend on it... Whilst there is maybe a little truth in what you've said, I think there are a lot of people here who can afford it and still think it is silly...
I dont understand why you guy are complaining so much !
I'd still use them on a road bike though, because they're lighter, & because they take the thought out of foot placement, which is beneficial when you're on tilt after 80 miles of riding. I actually sometimes get annoyed at my feet moving around on long pedally sections even on the MTB. love that flexibility for descending, but it doesn't really do much for me on the ups.
Just great...then it will be 33.4+
EDIT: with a too stiff fork on a stand, i think it's hard to squish it fast and long enough for the damping circuit to have much of an effect. A too soft fork would be better for this (preferably with a high damping factor).
In that case, i can easily be told why my thinking is wrong. It can easily be done by you, it's all the same to me.
It also might be the explanation of the process by Pinkbike, where something was lost 'in translation', but the way it was explained makes zero sense. Sure, it could all be just a marketing gimmick to show people some numbers or i could be missing something. Either way, said explanation should clear all this up.
I agree, you'd have to compress the fork quickly to feel any difference in bar flex, but that's the point--on the trail, more gradual hits would be soaked up by the fork, so that's not as much of a factor in the design of the bar. And for actual testing purposes they probably have a linear actuator to compress the fork at precise speeds and forces, rather than some random dude reaming on it. That ain't how you science.
Vegas is close to perfect location for Interbike, even if the city is in contrast to our healthy hobby. Bootleg is a decent place to ride (if it's your first time there) and interesting to anyone who's not spoiled by PNW singletrack, and the convention center and all the hotels are very close to the airport. I get a kick out of everyone who says that Interbike needs to move somewhere that has great riding - I'm sorry, but the show isn't about actually riding bikes. It's about showing new bikes, talking business, etc..
The thing that's holding Interbike back isn't it's location - Eurobike is thriving but Schweinfurt, Germany, has no trails and the town is boring - it's the timing of the show. Not only have the media already shown everything from Taiwan, Sea Otter, and Eurobike, but most everyone's business deals are done. This leaves retailers who want to come to see new bikes, but a lot of major brands have now pulled out of Interbike. So Interbike either needs to change its dates, bring back the big companies somehow, or just continue doing what it's doing. Interbike won't die, but it'll become less relevant.
no they aren't, the Germans tested bars and Renthal were found to be weak....I have no idea if there conclusion (seemed to be "dangerous") is right though
says someone who's too weak of a rider to have ever broken a handlebar, causing a crash, not resulting from one. I'll take 35 mm, thanks. :/
wow
My issue isn't with strength, it's with how some companies (not Renthal) have marketed their 35mm handlebars as being stiffer, and also insinuating how that's a good thing.
Cool that you're strong enough that you've broken a handlebar, though. Kudos, but are you sure it didn't break because it was damaged previously, or maybe from the stem/handlebar interface not being optimal? Nah, it broke because of your strength. I bet your legs break chains as well, not poor shifting or previous damage.
Their SixC 3/4" (19mm) rise bar is narrower (785mm) and heavier than it's 800mm wide 20mm rise 35 clamp sibling.
As a freerider dirtbag, I give zero f*cks about a 10g difference. I just like how burly the wider clamp looks, and can attest to it's prowess as a high-end handlebar.
My wet root Corsi is elite