FRM’s Black Hole stem uses separate aluminium clamps at the steerer and handlebar.James Huang
Aluminium alloy mountain bike rims are available from FRM in both tubular and tubeless-compatible fitments.James Huang
Kill brake shudder with FRM’s mini V-brakes, adapted from the MTB version for use on ‘cross bikes with shorter arms that work better with road levers.James Huang
FRM is best known for its lightweight componentry but it also produces a selection of ultralight carbon frames, too.James Huang
Frame tubes use either a Nomex honeycomb structure or an additional central rib to add stiffness and strength.James Huang
The new Acros BlockLock headset range incorporates built-in stops to prevent frame damage when using dual-crown forks.James Huang
Acros also offers many of its components in special edition finishes. This one’s called ‘Lady Killer’.James Huang
New for 2010 from Acros is this platform pedal with fore and aft pins that feed in from the back for easier replacement.James Huang
The Acros external bottom bracket tool features a central guide pin and a polymer-lined cup for a guaranteed mar-free installation.James Huang
Chess anyone? This is likely one of the most expensive sets available given that the pieces are specially etched Acros headsets and the board is a sheet of carbon fibre.James Huang
German A’s Kilo forks offer just 90mm of travel but feature an anti-dive linkage and light weights.James Huang
The side-mounted single shocks are offered with an optional remote lockout.James Huang
German A adds a dual-crown version of its Xcite fork to the lineup for 2010.James Huang
The independent handlebars clamp directly to the top of the stanchions.James Huang
THM-Carbones showed off these stunning Fibula carbon fibre brake calipers with a power-amplifying linkage up front. Claimed weight for the pair is just 100g.James Huang
Yes, even the linkage bits are made of carbon fibre, too.James Huang
The rear Fibula brake does without the power-amplifying linkage for reduced weight.James Huang
THM-Carbones’ Scapula-F fork isn’t new but its sleek design and cleanly integrated front brake is still worth showing again.James Huang
Carbon Ti hopped up this brake setup with its own titanium bolts, titanium rotor, rear X-Hub, and featherlight X-Lock skewers.James Huang
Carbon Ti offers both full-titanium rotors and ones that mate a titanium brake track to a carbon fibre center. Weights are as low as 45g for a 140mm diameter.James Huang
Carbon Ti’s X-Hub features an oversized 7075-T6 aluminium shell and axle plus adjustable-preload bearings and a four-pawl freehub mechanism with a titanium ratchet ring.James Huang
The titanium driver ring is located immediately behind the freehub where it’s reinforced by the driveside flange (the seal has been removed to show the internals).James Huang
Of course, all of Carbon Ti’s aluminium components are available in a wide range of anodised colors.James Huang
New Ultimate now offers its seatposts in both a straight and offset version. Heads are interchangeable, too, in case current owners need to switch.James Huang
New Ultimate’s ultralight integrated seatmast head weighs just 69g, as compared to a stock Ritchey Stubby head at 130g.James Huang
The New Ultimate seat collar does without the upper lip and uses a titanium bolt placed as close to the seatpost as possible to minimise pinching. Claimed weight is just 7g.James Huang
Schmolke TLO carbon seatpost supposedly weighs just 75g in a 27.2x300mm size.James Huang
Holy bling! Schmolke showed off this gleaming gold-finished carbon fibre road bike at this year’s Eurobike show.James Huang
A recurring theme during the recent Eurobike show in Germany was the emphasis on ultra lightweight componentry. Crazy-light brakes, hubs, headsets and suspension forks were everywhere in 2009.
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BikeRadar captured some of the lightweight highlights below, with photos to the right.
THM-Carbones
German carbon fiber specialist THM-Carbones has taken road brake exotica to a new level with its new Fibula calipers. Primarily carbon fiber construction brings the claimed weight down to just 100g – for the pair! The rear brake is a simple single-pivot layout but the front features a leverage amplifying carbon fiber linkage for additional stopping power. Both brakes also use large-diameter pivots to cut down on flex.
Suggested retail price, however, is an astronomical €900 – but at least that gets you both calipers.
Carbon Ti
German compatriot Carbon Ti was also on hand with a wide range of weight-saving carbon fibre, titanium, and machined aluminium bits. Among the highlights were full titanium and titanium-and-carbon fibre disc brake rotors weighing as little as 45g (roughly a third of typical stainless steel rotors), quick-release skewers starting at just 31g for the pair (!), and carbon fibre and aluminium threadless headset top cap assemblies at a paltry 6g.
Carbon ti’s x-hub features an oversized 7075-t6 aluminium shell and axle plus adjustable-preload bearings and a four-pawl freehub mechanism with a titanium ratchet ring.:James Huang
Carbon Ti also offers a range of road and mountain hubs, too, featuring oversized 7075-T6 aluminium axles and shells, cartridge bearings with adjustable preload, and alloy freehub bodies with four-pawl drivers and titanium ratchet rings. Claimed weight for road hubsets is just 285g while disc-compatible mountain bike sets are still light at 405g.
New Ultimate
Danish outfit New Ultimate showed off a new offset seatpost head, which mounts atop the same ultralight machined aluminum or carbon fibre mast as the zero-offset version for current owners that need to switch. The design is simple but additional details make it a bit easier to live with, such as a locking central pin that won’t rotate when you’re trying to install a saddle.
New ultimate’s ultralight integrated seatmast head weighs just 69g, as compared to a stock ritchey stubby head at 130g.:James Huang
That same head design has also been incorporated into a new integrated seatmast head, weighing just 69g. New Ultimate also offers a feathery conventional seatpost clamp with a claimed weight of 7g.
FRM
FRM has discontinued production of its machined aluminium mountain bike V-brake, but has now adapted the design for ‘cross with shorter arms that mesh better with road levers. Cartridge bearing pivots eliminate off-axis slop while the direct-routed cable should also kill brake shuddering related to fork flex.
Acros
Acros displayed its usual diverse array of headsets, which now includes the novel BlockLock range for use with dual-crown forks. A built-in stop prevents unwanted stanchion-to-frame contact and the entire mechanism is neatly contained wholly within the machined aluminium cup. Also new from Acros are a collection of platform pedals with a generous surface area and easily replaceable pins.
The new acros blocklock headset range incorporates built-in stops to prevent frame damage when using dual-crown forks.:James Huang
German A
German A is best known for its intriguing Kilo cross-country linkage suspension forks but is now looking at the longer-travel range with the addition of a dual-crown air-sprung XCite Double X. Based on the single-crown XCite, the Double X uses 36mm stanchions, a paper-thin but deep arch for maximum mud-cutting ability, and non-offset dropouts. Up top, separate left and right handlebar sections clamp directly to the top of the stanchions.
The independent handlebars clamp directly to the top of the stanchions.:James Huang
Travel on the XCite Double X ranges from 150-180mm and claimed weight from 1610-1690g. German A will also offer an optional remote lockout.
For all of BikeRadar‘s Eurobike coverage, click here.