Interbike tech: Lennard Zinn’s first impressions

Pinarello’s new urban fixie is a departure from its line of glamorous road bikes.

The external ring of the Syzr mountain pedal’s cleat rotates. The ring is the black part shown here; it fits with such close tolerance that Speedplay founder Richard Bryne promises that it will need neither cleaning nor lubrication to maintain rotational function. The pedal’s clips (the silver part shown) suck the cleat down and provide stability without the cleat lugs touching the pedal or in any way being involved in foot stability. The clip mounts to the pedal with four screws, and fitting shims and wedges can be placed under it, on the pedal itself, rather than on the shoe.

The Pearl Izumi Octane SL III shoe’s upper is completely bonded together – not stitched, with the transitions between reinforced sections and ventilated sections all completely smooth.

The superlight Pearl Izumi Octane SL III has Velcro closures only, as well as a full-carbon sole.

The Pearl Izumi Leader jersey has X-shaped rubberized suspenders bonded right into the jersey back to hold up the weight of heavy items jammed into the back pockets. The fitted (white) shoulder-panel construction is a result of working with the Garmin-Slipstream ProTour team.

In the pounding rain of the Tour of Lake Mead yesterday I appreciated the photochromic technology of the Ryders sunglasses I was wearing. As it’s always hot and sunny at the Outdoor Demo, and I have to start riding in the dark from the Strip to make it to the 8AM Tour of Lake Mead start on time, I would normally always choose dark sunglasses. But having lenses whose tint changes with the intensity of the UV light not only gave me glasses to ride in the dark with but also gave me eye protection when sucking wheel behind a big roostertail of water coming off the wheel ahead hitting me in the face. Many riders had taken off their sunglasses, because it was too dark to see with them on, but their eyes were filling with grit in the peloton riding through deep water. All of the pictured glasses here are photochromic and change from around 15 percent to around 45 percent light blocking.

The tubeless valve for an 80mm-deep Campagnolo Bullet wheel is long, but it comes yet an inch longer for the 105mm-deep version.

The Campagnolo Bullet wheel line comes in standard clinchers and 2-Way Fit (tubeless/standard clincher). They have aluminum clincher rim caps with deep carbon skins. The Bullet Ultra versions are lighter and come in 50, 80, and 105mm depth and 2-Way Fit or clincher options with the three bearing options including ceramic, two decal color options, and a CX cyclcocross 50mm-deep version, whereas the Bullet is heavier, clincher only, and comes in 50 and 80mm depth only. All have radial front spoking and G3 2:1 rear spoking.

P9141299.JPG Aluminum cap: P9141301.JPG Cross stop’s a go: Campagnolo’s CX brakes, which along with its CX wheels and cranks now mean that the company offers full cyclocross component packages.

The Centaur group’s new red-anodized alloy bolt highlights cut weight, add 13 percent to the price, and add a priceless amount of bling.

Not just a Zero: Always known for its fitting options, Speedplay’s Determinator new fitting pedal makes it even easier to figure out the right length spindle. Instead of switching between Zero pedals of different spindle lengths, you simply loosen the collar on this pedal, and then the spindle telescopes, clicking into notches every 5mm of length change. The Determinator will also be available in the new Syzr mountain pedal (which also has spindle length options), but not in the X pedal.

Wilier Triestina’s new Twin Foil time trial bike’s fork has continuous blades that go past the crown and connect at the top of the head tube. The intention is to use the upper airfoil sections of the fork to divert airflow past the head tube and away from the riders’ legs. Looks like an air stopper to me, but hey, what do I know (other than orange is not the only color option)?