Bikeradar gallery

Interbike outdoor demo 1: Chris King, WTB and Rotor

As always, Oakley prefers the subtle approach.

  • Chris King officially unveiled its long awaited bottom bracket during the Outdoor Demo.
  • In addition to the expected build quality and longevity of the King-designed bearings, there's even a grease injection function for quick overhauls.
  • Simply remove the black reducer sleeve in the bottom bracket and insert the grease injector…
  • …then pump fresh grease into the bottom bracket while simultaneously purging out old (and possibly contaminated) junk. Anyone else remember Grease Guard? Chris King apparently didn’t.
  • The white seal inboard of the bearing is what allows the grease injection function to work.
  • Chris King will also offer a corresponding machined aluminum installation tool for the new bottom bracket whose fit is remarkably precise.
  • Chris King now offers front hubs to fit virtually any configuration.
  • The company is jumping into the 15mm thru-axle game with not one, but two versions: one using the existing 9mm shell…
  • …and the other using the existing 20mm thru-axle one. Both axles will be offered as retrofit kits.
  • The rainbow of anodised colours is now joined by brown.
  • New 21, 22 and 23T stainless steel cogs cater to the 29
  • Chris King also showed off a complete set of head tube reaming and facing tools though it offered no estimate for when, or if, they'd actually be available.
  • WTB reintroduces the venerable SST saddle in virtually the same shape as before.
  • There's the same flat and broad rear, rounded corners, and dropped nose as the original.
  • New to WTB's saddle lineup is the Vigo which is aimed as high-end users that are looking for a bit more comfort and support than what most cross-country racing saddles offer.
  • WTB is also working with Topeak to offer a range of integrated saddle packs.
  • WTB's new Vigo (and others) will come with the saddle pack mount built-in and it's also removable if you don't want it.
  • New sizes of the Prowler MX and Dissent expand their versatility to new users.
  • The Wolverine can now also be had in a narrow 1.95
  • Rotor's new SP1 seatpost is claimed to weigh as little as 178g in a 27.2 x 350mm size.
  • The mast is externally butted but also differentially internally butted for more fore-aft strength.
  • The Rotor 0.8 stem caters to riders who prefer standard-diameter bars.
  • Rotor adds a 110BCD 38/53T combo for its elliptical Q-Rings. Gee, and whose yellow jersey is that in the background?
  • A new Quarq-compatible spider for the Rotor Ágilis crank makes it easy to add a power meter.
  • The Ágilis hardware has been improved for easier installation.
  • Camelbak's intriguing RaceBak base layer uses 'QuickWick' fabric and a compressive cut around the chest…
  • …but also directly integrates a baffled low-profile 72oz bladder for the ultimate in minimal hydration systems.
  • Camelbak says the closed-cell double-walled construction of its new Podium Chill bottle will keep liquids cold for hours, even in high heat. And guess what: it does! Our Elixir sample stayed chilly even after two hours of wandering around in the blazing Nevada sunlight.
  • 661 and d3o pair up again, this time for new shin guards and Bomber shorts that offer lightweight and flexible protection that stiffens up under impact.
  • As always, Oakley prefers the subtle approach.

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As always, Oakley prefers the subtle approach.

© James Huang