NAHBS isn’t just about nicely painted, handmade bikes. There are plenty of companies looking to show off new products, either in their own booths or on show bikes.
Especially with the cancellation of Interbike 2019, shows such as NAHBS and Sea Otter have become increasingly important for product launches.
We poked around the show for new products that might appeal to our cyclocross and gravel readers. Here are a few items that caught our eye.
Robert Axle Project
The Robert Axle Project thru-axles were everywhere we looked at the show on many of the show bikes. But the company also had its own booth and were showing off the wide variety of gram-saving, simple thru-axles.
Two popular models are axles that replace the Focus R.A.T. and Mavic Speed Release thru-axles.
Not happy with the Mavic Speed Release system? Robert Axle Project has replacement thru axles that shed grams and simplify operation. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Both OEM levers aren’t for everyone, and the Robert Axle Project axles save grams while simplifying operation. You just need to make sure you have a hex key out on the trail.
The Robert Axle Project sells a lot of replacement axles for the Focus R.A.T. system. The replacement axles save grams and make wheel retention simpler and therefore, for some, safer. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
More info: robertaxleproject.com
SimWorks
SimWorks has cornered the market in offering Japanese-built components for cyclists inclined to sport a retro look.
At NAHBS, the company showcased two Nitto-built stems, including a 100 Tacos quill stem that pays homage to the famous TIG-welded Salsa quill stems and the 100 Tacos vegan taco cart in Southern California.
The stem comes in both 26.0mm and 25.4mm clamps and could be a useful update to your vintage gravel conversion.
If you can’t find the salsa, hopefully 100 tacos will do. SimWorks teamed up with Nitto and the SoCal vegan taco cart to bring this quill stem back to life. 25.4mm and 26.0mm clamp diameters. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Done with threaded steerers and headsets?
The company also has TIG-welded, steel threadless stems in the form of its Rhonda and Wendy stems. The Rhonda is for 31.8mm bars and the Wendy is for 26.0mm bars. Both stems feature alloy front caps and retail for $105.
Wanna go old school but still avoid the threaded steerer and headset? SimWorks offers its Rhonda and Wendy TIG-welded stems by Nitto. The Rhonda is for 31.8mm bars, while the Wendy is for 26.0mm. Both retail for $105. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
More info: sim-works.com/en
Clever Standard
Clever Standard continues to innovate with its clever tools. Its simple chain breaker now comes with a handy handle that makes breaking your chain intentionally a bit easier.
With the handle, you don’t need a 15mm wrench or Clever’s tire lever to hold the tool. Simply grab the handle and your 5mm Allen key and push that pin out. Hopefully you’ve got a quick link ready.
The Chain Barrel costs $23.
Clever Standard’s innovative chain breaker now is available with a handy handle. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
More info: cleverstandard.com
Cinq
We spotted a unique shift lever hiding out on a Pinion-equipped titanium Dean gravel bike.
Cinq’s Shift-R lever for the Pinion drivetrain. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Cinq’s Shift-R drop bar lever for the Pinion drivetrain is an alloy lever paired to a TRP brake hood body.
The German company hopes to go to production with this drop bar lever and a flat bar trigger for the Pinion system through a Kickstarter campaign. Backers dropping €539 will get an early set of the levers.
Cinq’s Shift-R lever for the Pinion drivetrain. The company is trying to raise funds on Kickstarter to bring it to production. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
More info: cinq.de
Outer Shell Adventure
San Francisco’s Outer Shell Adventure built this Stem Caddy bag to match a W. A. Bradford Design’s cargo bike with a BOB trailer. The bike was painted in the style of the TC’s iconic MD500D helicopter in Magnum P.I.
Fan of cold drinks on a ride, or Magnum P.I.’s MD500D helicopter? Outer Shell Adventure’s Stem Caddy matched his bike and the famous ‘copter. $55. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The $55 Stem Caddy can give you accessible hydration beyond your bike’s bottle-carrying capabilities or can keep your post-ride adult hydration cold while you wait for your mustached buddy to arrive in his red Ferrari.out
More info: outershelladventure.com
Enduro Bearings
Enduro Bearings has naturally expanded its bottom bracket offerings to include SRAM’s new DUB standard. There’s not much new to see but it fits different frames and the SRAM dub cranks.
Enduro has new bottom brackets to support SRAM’s new DUB standard. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The company also has a new 12-tooth XD-15 ceramic bearing derailleur pulley set. While it was designed for Campagnolo, it found the pulleys work great in modern Shimano derailleurs. They are said to be much stiffer than standard OEM plastic pulleys and therefore reduce shift effort.
The pulleys are not cheap at $189 but can reduce friction and maintenance. Coming soon.
Enduro has 12t XD-15 Ceramic Bearing pulleys originally designed for Campagnolo derailleurs, but the company has found that they work great in Shimano derailleurs and reduce shifting effort because they are significantly stiffer than OEM plastic pulleys. Not cheap at $189. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
More info: endurobearings.com
Alex Rims
Alex Rims’ Boondocks wheels remain one of the best values in tubeless wheels that we’ve reviewed, but they’re not that easy to find.
If you do track down a set, new sets should be receiving a running change in the form of Alex’s new Bear Pawls freehub system. The freehubs will come in four and six-pawl versions, feature modular components, tool-free servicing and an anti-bite surface for easy cassette removal.
Alex Rims was showing off its new Bear Pawls hubs. Available with four or six pawls. Current wheels like the Boondocks will get a running upgrade to the new hubs. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
More info: bearpawls.com and alexrims.com
Velosport Imports
Velosport Imports was a fan of Floyd’s of Leadville’s CBD products, but the brand’s growth and changes in distribution left Velosport without a CBD product offering.
So the Colorado-based company came up with its own CBD suite of products it’s calling Performance CBD, including gel capsules, extract oil and a muscle-warming balm.
Prices vary from $15 for the balm, to $60 for 50 gel capsules.
Velosport Imports now offers its own CBD products in the form of extract gel capsules, extract oil, and warming muscle balm. 2019 NAHBS Sacramento. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
More info: velosportimports.com
If bikes are more your thing, see our collection of profiles of handbuilt bikes from 2019 NAHBS show in Sacramento.
