Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
Cathro hosting a Q&A with Conti athletes.
There have been more launches in the past two weeks than any other two-week period I can remember since I started sweeping floors at Freedom Bike Shop back in 2001. Yes, that means I'm very old. It also means that after several years of delayed product releases, some brands have finally cleared out enough inventory to share what they've been working on.
The Pinkbike team came down to Sea Otter this year with mixed expectations, and there were definitely some weird vibes. Everyone is concerned for the remaining Kona employees, and more than one brand expressed that their plan is to #surviveto2025. But overall we loved catching up with everyone, the weather was great, and somehow there was even more gear to cover. The industry might be going through a tough time, but ultimately riding bikes is still ridiculously fun and bike tech is as interesting as ever.
And on that note, here are a few of the random things that caught my eye during the show.
5Dev's new titanium XC/gravel/road cranks look amazing. They weigh about 450g, cost $999, and will eventually come in 155 to 175mm lengths in 5mm increments. Available now.
They're made by machining titanium into shape with an open pocket on the back, laser-welding a plate on to close up the void, then machining the back to a smooth, clean surface.
Details of the crank/chainring interface. Compatible with SRAM-style 8-bolt chainrings or power meters.
Low profile to reduce rock strikes. It also looks cool.
Hiding on this Specialized road bike is 5Dev's very interesting UDH adapter that lets you install a T-type drivetrain on a non-UDH bike.
Expensive pulley wheels with ceramic bearings are a thing that people buy. 5Dev's look nice.
Aero rings for road and gravel.
I asked if they could machine all the way through on a 32t MTB ring based on this design. They said maybe.
5Dev crank with a road ring on.
Muc-Off has a bunch of new "big bore" valve stems that integrate the valve into the valve cap. They do standard Presta, Presta to Presta, Presta to Schrader, and Schrader to Schrader. Team Schrader, for the record.
With a straight-through design and integrated ball valve and lever system, the valves claims up to 264% more airflow than traditional Presta valves.
Also comes in all the colours. I believe these will be available in the next month or so.
Seriously, Muc-Off must have twenty thousand SKUs.
Mondraker was showing off this incredible Gulf collab.
It's not a homage or just inspired by one of the most recognisable liveries in motorsport, but an actual collaboration with Gulf Oil International.
They nailed the colours, logo placement, everything.
A limited number will be made available for sale. My brain hurts and is unreliable at this point, but I believe it's just 50 of them and they will be made available next month.
BMB has a lower version of their wild stem coming. Still wild, and still $400.
Still 15mm BACK, but now only 90mm up, 60mm lower than the original.
Gates had an interesting demonstration of unsprung weight, derailleur and chain vs gearbox and belt, with all else equal.
With derailleur and chain.
With gearbox and belt. Is it something that makes a difference in the real world? I don't know, but it'd be fun to find out.
Possibly my favourite bike at Sea Otter 2024.
This Rockhopper belongs to a Mikes Bikes employee and nails the details.
Important.
FSR chainslap protector on a hardtail goes hard.
A solid choice.
More good decisions.
OutsideBrendan works smarter not harder, and dog Bubbie(?) is awesome.
I'm told a Kyoot mini velo has been raced in an enduro.
The Michael Jackson dropper.
Kyoot is made by BMX industry folks and it shows.
Going to be honest here it's stupid and I love it.
This guy was walking around promoting his wild Apoyii bike.
I mistakenly thought it was a garage project kind of thing, but it's a real brand with a promo video and everything.
Clever Standard has a new version of their small Chain Barrel tool. Available soon.
Compatible with flat top and regular chains.
A C02 canister can be threaded in for leverage.
They also have a clean little tire plug kit. Christopher Walken would approve.
Bacons and two sizes of fancy metal plugs.
Neat.
R-Dog and his Sea Otter Special.
So good. So terrible.
So many Captain+Stoker coffees this week. Alicia wasn't a fan last year but credit where it's due they take the crown this year.
Social Media Hannah doing her thing, Lachlan telling stories.
We regret nothing.
Dario astroturfing the comments.
The glamorous world of bike media.
The server ominously told us that if we didn't finish our food we wouldn't be able to leave. He also cut off videographer Tom Richards from the team photo.
And with that, it's time to face my expense report. Until next year, Sea Otter!
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The reason for running it is needing to swap out the seat to run a tag-along bike for my kids. I looked at a wireless one but it was £600+ compared with £170 for the Dropzone.
www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67540190.amp
Sick burn with the gay joke though, you looked really tough online
I used to collect/beg/steal(1) F1 and Indy team shirts in the pits at the end of the season. The Benetton Mild Seven Playlife (upside down font) was pretty dope. I have a Minardi, Tyrell, Williams Renault Camel blob, Jordan buzzin hornets, etc. Bunch of Indy stuff even a couple NASCAR.
The difference is in the way the hanger mounts to the frame (one size fits all UDH compatible frames), not in the way the derailleur mounts to the hanger.
"Your father hid this watch - in the only place he could....."
Joking aside, that Rockhopper is dope!
Not sure whether to be amused or afraid...
m.pinkbike.com/photo/26538884
We just did a Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie weekend marathon viewing.
Lots of fun.
5dev's big innovation here was a chainring interface to a parts ecosystem that actually exists. Definitely feeling some buyer's remorse right now.
Clarification provided: they are indeed SRAM 3-bolt, but they are rotated 180 degrees, which makes a bunch of parts fit incorrectly. A dated thread about it here:
www.mtbr.com/threads/cane-creek-titanium-eewings.1094016
Because of this rotation, I like to call it a Cane Creek interface, because it randomly causes parts designed for SRAM 3-bolt to fail. But I might be wrong - I might even have a bike that looks uncool.
As for the shoulders, to that I can relate, but changing (ie: ELIMINATING) a large number of things from my diet has helped the shoulders, wrists, hips etc considerable, so I bitch about that stuff considerably less frequently now. (**Seed oils BAD, MEAT GOOD!!)
What next? Gas powered motored-bicycles?
(They cost more than a CeramicSpeed Transmission cage for reference and that actually makes my drivetrain feel different/ better)
Trek: We need to reduce SKUs by 40% over the next 4 years.
Muc off: MORE SKUs!!
Presta was born to manage higher pressure and lower air volume. We need to stop importing stupid road standards into the MTB world.
Everyone else: "we're good with our $60~100 stems, thank you"