Interbike
I'm off to the Interbike show in Las Vegas today. Not my favorite city, but it should be a good show this year judging by the number of manufacturers coming from Japan and Taiwan. The global economic downturn may be pushing manufacturers to make an extra effort to attend this year. I had planned on visiting Taiwan next month, but so many of the folks I wanted to meet with will be at Interbike that I may reconsider.
After the show I'll be in Breckenridge for a four days, but the staff here will keep VO running smoothly.
As I ask every year, what new products do you think should I look for at the show?
Joel's Blog
Our friend Joel Ralph at Bikeville has an interesting blog that's worth checking out.
How about 1 1/8th silver front cable hangers with barrel adjuster, there seems to be only black.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there will be better possible products suggested than mine, but here goes. The interest in commuting is rising and my main desire is a bomb proof, decent, year round commuter with enclosed chainguard, maintenance free hubs, chain, waterproof carrier,.. you get the picture. Heavy rain, snow, ice and the following salt and sand take a toll on my bicycle.
Best regards.
Indexed downtube shifters are harder and harder to come by, especially in 8 and 9 speed. The Dia Compe shifters are quite elegant, but for commuting and city riding, indexed shifting is just less error-prone.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to go the other route and like to see some friction-only brifters or at least a redux of the old Suntour Barcons at the Ultegra price point....
ReplyDeleteAWG
AWG--I have set of Barcons I can charge you $150 for, if that would make you happy.
ReplyDeleteM Burdge
Red LED screw in taillights with standlight for dyno tail lights; classy chain guard (or an upper chain guard that works in conjunction with a chainwheel guard)
ReplyDeleteAlso if there is any advise on good bike shops in Taiwan, please let me know, will be there next month.
Take a look at the Surly booth for a compact/narrow Q version of their Mr Whirly crankset. If not them, find us a viable option, and lugged stem options like the mythic ones on the Tange web pages.
ReplyDeleteHave fun
Are you still looking into that Sugino wide range double from that other trade show?
ReplyDeleteSecond the tail light. Need a classic shape with Planet Bike innards, stand light, and versions for both fender mount and braze on stay mount. Alum / SS case to match fender.
ReplyDeleteOh, and a 650bx38 fast tire :-)
And another run of TA cranks.
And a front derailleur to go with them.
And a plain wide ratio rear derailleur.
Friction only brifters? not sure how that would work.
I would love to see an internal gear hub that has the necessary range for touring/expedition and be reasonably priced like the Alfine rather that the Rol$$$ff.
ReplyDeleteA utility trailer that has its own battery assistance, so that I can load up on groceries and still go up those hills.
ReplyDeleteTasteful battery-powered led headlights (rack mount preferred) and fender-mounted taillights, please and thank you! 9-10spd campy compatible down-tube shifters would be swell as well. Silca-lookin' frame pumps! That's all I've got.
ReplyDeleteStylish and functional battery based LED lighting options (head and tail), please.
ReplyDeletecan you try and find some sort of energy bar that doesn't taste like Soylent Green ?
ReplyDeleteSoylent Green is PEOPLE !!!
Full chain cases.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Could I have a pretty, adjustable quill stem and a pretty 86 pcd low q crankset. Oh, and a surprise please.
ReplyDeleteThanks uncle Chris.
Stevy
How about a no-setback version of the Grand Cru seatpost? I've not tried it, but based on my riding position, I'm going to assume that the "long-setback" version won't work for me, unless I jack the saddle all the way forward.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone who shops at VO or wants a hi-polish silver seatpost rides a Brooks saddle.
LED dyno-powered tail lamp. Fender or rack mount, but needs to be narrowish to look right on a fender. Silver would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteSilver inexpensive front rack like your constructeur front rack. (mounts to fork eyelets rather than canti bosses is the key for me).
Also -can you confirm if Electra will be selling the Ticino crankset separately? If not, can you get 'em?
Anon 7:14. I also would love to
ReplyDeletesee a 86 bcd crankset, but I think it is too much to hope for. If
Chris actually finds some that are
in production, I'll buy two.
A front wheel stabilizer such as the ones made by Hebie would be swell. I didn't even know that I had a need for such an item until I started using front racks and baskets.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Cp
I don't know if the decision has been made to not carry clothing, but I would love to see some Rapha-eque classy cyclewear at reasonable prices. Specifically 70s/80s style shorts which are neither skintight nor baggy, and some vintage style non-clipless cycling shoes.
ReplyDeleteI don't like to admit it, but I can't take a setback seatpost anymore either . . . I have a bad knee, and the patella and ligaments actually scream in pain with too much setback. I am using posts with very mild setback, like 25 mm or so, which works fine with the knee.
ReplyDeletemw
I'm sure you won't find it, but maybe QR skewers that look like wing-nuts? I love the look of wing-nuts, but I don't want to go through the effort to make vintage ones fit.
ReplyDeleteconsider this another vote for 1 & 1/8th inch front cable hangers w/ barrel adjuster.
ReplyDeleteoh, and shiny-awesome clamp on pump pegs. Not klikfix.
ReplyDeleteOoh...is there such a thing as a tasteful and non-turbo helmet? That'd be swell!
ReplyDeleteAlso, a reasonably light alloy city-style (short extension and short quill length w/rise) quilled stem as an alternative to the less classic looking dirt drop/periscopa!
Anonymous, regarding a tasteful helmet:
ReplyDeleteHave a look at the Bell Citi. I just picked one up and am generally quite pleased with it. Protective, doesn't make me look like I'm entering a race, has a spot for a flasher light on the back, removable visor, not excessive ventillation (important if you ride when it's cool out) and innexpensive.
That said, I would still jump to buy a helmet that looks good with a tweed jacket, if such a thing were to ever exist.
Allan Pollock
Chris:
ReplyDeleteLooks like the Sturmey Archer 3 speed fixed hub is about ready. It was featured on a number of classy bikes a@ interbike like the new Pashley Clubman. This would be an awesome match for the VO PBP rims built up as a complete wheel... just food for thought!
http://sunrace-sturmeyarcher.blogspot.com/2008/09/s3x-fixed-gear-3-speed.html
How about cartridge bottom brackets with removable cups that will fit Phil Wood cups?
ReplyDeleteMany conversions/upgrades for Raleigh-threaded bikes need these!
UN-72s are hard to find.
And THANK YOU for taking care of the French-thread BB situation.
How about a less-expensive flat bar mounting for 'thumb' shifters? Perhaps one that could accommodate Shimano or Campy? And on that note, one more vote for Campy index downtube shifters.
ReplyDeleteAlso, please consider a solar powered , fender mounted tail-light -- No batteries and no wiring!
Many thanks!
Find out when the 3 speed fixed gear hub, the Sturmey SX-3, will be available - they are showing it at Interbike on a retro club rider style Pashley bike.
ReplyDeleteHow about a nice quality non-aero brake lever? Oh, and 8 speed cassettes similar to the Sheldon Brown touring cassettes available through Harris.
ReplyDeleteA decent custom cassette option for campy folks is the BYO (build your own, that is!) Miche 8,9, or 10spd (11-28) campy compatible cassette (they make shimano comp. cogs too). xxcycle is the only place I've found that lets you choose your own cogs though.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a $100 cartridge bearing cassette hub that takes Shimano freehubs.
ReplyDeleteI wish someone made a 6 or 7-speed cassette hub. I know you can still buy 6 or 7-speed freewheel hubs, but all else being equal, cassette hubs are better. Six or 7 speeds are all most people need, and would allow for a more symmetrical -- that is, stronger -- rear wheel.
ReplyDeleteAnon.,
ReplyDeleteYou can use a 7-speed cassette on any modern 8/9/10 speed freehub by slipping a 4.5mm spacer on before you put the cassette assembly into place. 7-speed cassettes are still fairly available, too.
No point in engineering a "new" hub for this application...as demand for such a beast would seem to be tiny when a simple solution is at hand.
...please consider making your upscale gloves in black, as well as brown...
ReplyDelete@ bicycleclip:
ReplyDeleteIt is the S3X hub, and should be available in about 3 months for about $150 according to scuttlebutt.
I know VO has not been interested in clothing, but one thing might be filling a niche that is sorely needed (by me)-- wool shorts. The labor in Taiwan is no longer cheap, but I believe one can still find excellent small busineses that can make these merino wool cycling shorts. It would be so much better than lycra and one can make them slightly looser fitting.
ReplyDeletetadd
People to make a whole range of chain ring sizes for the cyclotouriste crankset. There ought to be a more 44T outers around, that's a cog for serious mileage, not round the corner to Bob's place or down the road to Happy Jim's overnighter. There doesn't seem to be any shortage of the crankarms.
ReplyDeleteOk. Something of utmost importance now. Colored Paselas. Did you happen to see the colored Paselas? Know what colors they'll be offered? Date of accessibility on the black walled Pasela? My vanity must know!
ReplyDeleteI know you can use a 7-speed cassette on a modern hub, but the more symmetrical -- that is, stronger -- wheel is the point, not the number of sprockets, and using a spacer doesn't affect that. Really, 5 or 6 speeds would be ideal. A ten speed cassette is ridiculous for anyone except a racer.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the Pacenti Pari-Moto tire there? Is it as good as it sounds? Did you get to ride it?
ReplyDeleteKirk just OK'ed the tire molds to be made. We won't be seeing the Pari- Moto until January/February 2010.
ReplyDeleteHow about the front rack for camping, the one with detachable frame for hanging panniers low?
ReplyDelete