WheelBased

19/03/2025

Is this the greatest saddle of our generation?

A saddle for the lonely

04/03/2025

Short one today. Here's a modular hand guard kit from Crank bros.

A modular handguard kit from Crank Bros

28/02/2025

A new lockout lever and system from DT Swiss. The system consists of a bar-mounted lever, that can be operated from both aero and chillin modes, and toggles the suspension between locked and unlocked, regardless of direction.

A new lever and lockout system from DT Swiss and probably Canyon

05/01/2025

Got shooters out here with Eagle™️ eyes

Posted to .riley story

I said late April, could be sooner.

Fwiw, this isn't some subversive ad, at least not from me. I don't get paid for this stuff.

If you have something for me, send it my way. It's way easier to post your pics than to write these things.

Have a great Sunday, folks.

Article has been updated. Please consider subscribing to the website for total access.

https://wheelbased.com/2024/12/31/fcc-dropper-and-new-battery-location-by-sram-llc/

31/12/2024

This isn’t new, we’ve seen shots published here and elsewhere a few times, but we can assume a new dropper from SRAM is in the very near future.

These are published images from FCC filings from late October. SRAM has requested a 180 day image confidentiality that expires in late April so I’m assuming we’ll see something new by then.
There appear to be at least three wireless protocols being considered/used; ANT+, Bluetooth, and Airea.

SRAM: “SRAM RED eTap uses a proprietary wireless communication protocol that SRAM created called Airea. It was created and tested by computer scientists, cryptographers and even hackers to be extremely reliable and secure. It uses several layers of state-of-the-art encryption and obfuscation as well as very powerful spread-spectrum radios to eliminate the possibility of hacking the system and make interference or malicious jamming extremely difficult.”

But wait, there’s more. On the back of this FCC release, SRAM filed more paperwork defining another dropper valve system. This one defines a ‘motor-operated rotary valve’ rather than linear gearing system. More specifically, a ‘non-volume-displacing rotary valve’ for reduced power needs, avoiding the need to overcome pressure differentials when the valve is actuated. This is a report for another day...

That being said, at the bottom of this document, SRAM tossed some images of yet another dropper with a new vertical battery orientation.

Therefore: “…the control housing 402 and the battery 404 are spaced from the lower tube 202. This reduces or eliminates interference with the clamp… when the seat post… is installed on the bicycle…”.

So, what are we going to see? I need people on the trails to recognize my superiority, having the latest technology at my disposal. Why bother riding a bike otherwise? The suspense is killing me, SRAM.

But seriously, I just bought my first bike with electronic stuff (Force AXS) this week. Excited to try it out.

11/09/2024

Ohlins appear to be developing a suspension system that utilizes a single pivot swing arm attached to a moveable shock assembly. The shock is mounted to both the front triangle and a threaded axle on the swing arm. As the threaded axle rotates, one of the shock eyes can move to a different position, changing many suspension characteristics in one shot.

Check out the article for a deep dive

Looks like Ohlins may be entering a new market with an interesting suspension idea

04/09/2024

Here's a cool new idea from SRAM showing a new hollow bike component (crank/wheel) using thermoplastic and a dissolvable salt mixture.

SRAM is developing a method for creating hollow thermoplastic bicycle components using a salt core.

27/08/2024

Here's a cool new two-position, cable-actuated, spring-loaded dropper from Giant.

Here's a simple, spring-loaded, cable actuated, two-position dropper from Giant.

21/08/2024

Here's a new caliper from Shimano. I'm pretty sure this is the one shown on Pinkbike the other day.

19mm -- that's the number

12/07/2024

Looks like MRP are working on a new fork, shock, and valves for them. Cool stuff here.

https://wheelbased.com/2024/07/12/valves-by-eko-sport-inc-mountain-racing-products-dba-mrp/

03/07/2024

Looks like we might be getting a new carbon inverted short-travel fork from Hayes Brakes or Manitou.

A new carbon short travel inverted fork from Hayes/Manitou

28/06/2024

Looks like Classified Cycling is working on a new electronic and wireless shifter.

A new electronic and wireless duel lever control system from Classified Cycling.