Are you wasting your money on overpriced and overhyped cycling tech? Alex and Ollie run through the bike parts and components they think are most overrated. Of course oversized pulley wheels are on the list, but what else? There’s also some hot and spicy tyre tech from Pirelli and Hutchinson, plus the new Pinarello Dogma X and details of Shimano’s big product recall.
From BikeRadar.com
By Jack Luke
Shimano’s worldwide recall of 11-speed Ultegra and Dura-Ace cranksets now affects 2.8 million units globally.
The original recall was issued after a reported 4,519 incidents of cranksets delaminating in the US and Canada alone, resulting in six injuries.
The recall is set to have an enormous impact on riders, shops and Shimano itself – and it’s not off to a good start.
Muddled communications and unanswered questions have fostered an environment of confusion that Shimano will need to resolve. Bike shops are also frustrated by the expectation they will mop up the mess of an issue that’s been in the public eye for years.
BikeRadar first reported on this issue in April 2020. In that piece, we outlined the possible causes of the failure, which sees the two-part Hollowtech cranksets split in two, sometimes catastrophically.
Here, we analyse what happened in the hours following the announcement and what impact the recall will have on shops and riders.
We also examine the questions left unanswered by Shimano and speak to the man who has arguably done more than anyone else to bring this issue to light.
From CyclingNews.com
By
Mechanical gravel groupsets accompany 105 mechanical launch
Shimano is having a busy day. Alongside the just-announced launch of the new 12-speed mechanical 105 road groupset, the Japanese brand has also unveiled a spate of new gravel tech, including two new 12-speed versions of GRX, as well as a new set of carbon gravel wheels.
Starting with the groupsets, they come in the form of the higher-spec RX820 series and the more affordable RX610, but besides some specs, material choice and the associated weight difference, they both provide a similar solution to gravel riders’ needs, offering 12-speed cassettes in 1x and 2x configurations.
Notably, they are both mechanical, meaning anyone holding out for 12-speed GRX Di2 will have to continue playing the waiting game. It also means the entry-level RX400-series remains unchanged. There’s no news as to whether either will see an upgrade in the near future
From BikeRumor.com
Written by Bennett Shane
We tested 10 of the best road bike pedals available in 2023 to help you find the right pair to suit your needs, preferences, and budget, and improve your ride.
If you are a road cyclist, finding the right pair of road bike pedals can enhance your efficiency and comfort on the bike. This seemingly simple component is a critical workhorse on your bike as it is subject to many thousands of revolutions and all the pedaling forces applied from your legs.
Along with your road bike shoes, your road bike pedals form one of only three contact points between you and your machine, and it is particularly important when it comes to efficiency. Creating a mechanical connection between the sole of your shoe and the pedal, clipless road pedals help to maximize your pedaling effort throughout the pedal stroke while keeping your foot in the optimal position for transferring your power into the drivetrain. With stiff axles, lightweight bodies, and broad platforms, road bike pedals also provide stability, comfort, and control, while adjustments to cleat positioning, float, and entry/release tension allow you to optimize their fit, feel, and performance to your specific needs.
With so many options to choose from, finding the right pair of road bike pedals can be a challenge. To help, we rounded up a diverse selection of models from Shimano, Look, Time, and Speedplay to test and compare side by side. Whether you’re new to clipless road pedals or are upgrading from an old pair, there are great options to suit all riding styles, performance needs, and budgets.
After months of testing, we’ve chosen our favorite models which are listed below followed by the best of the rest that are all worthy contenders as well. To see the specs of the models we tested at a glance, check out our handy comparison chart. If you need help deciding what to buy or simply want to learn more about road bike pedals, our buying advice and FAQ section have the info you need.
From GearJunkie.com
By Mark Wilson
Though plenty of die-hards live on single-speed rigs, for most cyclists, gears are the sweet elixir that makes riding fun.
It’s easy to take for granted the ease with which riders can cycle through gears on bikes these days. Derailleurs are the mechanisms that make changing gears on bikes possible. They move the chain from cog to cog on the rear or between chainrings on the front and manage the required chain slack.
Likewise, it’s easy to overlook or fail to appreciate the wide-ranging gear ratios on modern drivetrains. These make rides that were all but impossible for riders even a couple of decades ago accessible to nearly anyone.
Since the first bicycle, inventors and manufacturers have been slowly modifying and tweaking designs to perfect the derailleur and the larger drivetrains of bikes.
Some would argue that the industry is now near the peak of performance and capability with derailleurs and drivetrains. Others, however, view a brave new world on the horizon.
(photo/Shimano)
From CylingNews.com
A new patent suggests a rear mech is in the works with increased ground clearance and improved wide ratio compatibility
There have been countless innovations to the rear derailleur over the years. These have included compatibility with an ever-increasing number of sprockets, the introduction of indexed shifting, STI levers, clutches, the addition of electronics, and the recent shift to wireless to name just a few. Despite this, the basic form has remained largely unchanged from the original parallelogram design pioneered by Tullio Campagnolo in 1949.
Soon, that could all be about to change, as a recent patent application from market leaders Shimano suggests the brand is looking to reinvent the design.
Within the application, Shimano states: “While a bicycle travels on uneven terrain, it is possible for the chain guide of the rear derailleur to hit rocks, ground and so on. Therefore, it is preferable to increase a distance between the chain guide of the rear derailleur and a road surface.”
(Image credit: USPTO)
From Road.cc
Shimano’s net sales increased 20.6% from the previous year, while its analysis reported high-end bikes are still in short supply and entry-level ones are now plentiful…
by JACK SEXTY
Shimano, the world’s biggest manufacturer of bicycle components, has reported its summary of financial results for its first nine months of trading in 2022. The Japanese corporation saw a healthy increased sales in 2022 compared to the previous year, yet commented that demand for bicycles (and fishing tackles) “…remained firm, although showing signs of cooling down.”
The last time we did a deeper dive into the chronic shortages and supply chain issues the bike industry was experiencing back in January, a global container shortage crisis and China’s port lockdowns still dominated the conversation; and while China’s zero-Covid policy is still affecting production, Shimano said: “During the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, the pace of global economic recovery slowed primarily because prices soared due to resource and energy supply constraints and rising resource prices caused by the situation in Ukraine, and central banks in various countries took steps to raise interest rates sharply to curb accelerating inflation.”
Shimano reports that “a solid employment environment and rising wages continued to fuel steady personal consumption” in the US despite inflation, and that the lifting of Covid restrictions in Japan led to increased personal spending.
> Your complete guide to Shimano groupsets
Although the financial figures are not broken down by area, Shimano says it is Europe where “consumer sentiment deteriorated due to high inflation and concerns about energy supply, while monetary tightening aimed at curbing inflation increased fears of a recession.”
Image courtesy of Shimano
A few years ago we tested Shimano’s 105 and Dura-Ace mechanical groupsets against each other, and learnt that they were pretty much, in terms of feel, exactly the same. But Shimano has since released new versions of both, and what’s more they’re both Di2 only! So is there any difference? Is Dura-Ace still virtually exactly the same as 105? Alex and Si conduct a series of tests to find out!
