The Week in Tech: SRAM shipping hydraulic brakes, new Mavic wheels, Wraith frames, and new GU flavors
SRAM has begun shipping its hydraulic road discs, Mavic introduced a new enduro wheelset, and Wraith frames are available
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Here’s your Week in Tech — all the gear news, tips, and announcements you need and none of the marketing gibberish you don’t.
SRAM begins shipping replacement hydraulic road disc brakes
Replacements for SRAM’s recalled HydroR brake systems began shipping to retailers last week, setting off the final step in the company’s painful recall process.
“Consumers, via dealers, are receiving brakes from the initial shipments. That will be complete next week,” Michael Zellman, SRAM’s road public relations and media manager, told Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.
A total of 19,000 HydroR brake systems were recalled at the end of last year, and consumers were issued temporary mechanical replacements. The replacement brakes look largely the same but have undergone a complete internal overhaul, including a redesign of the problematic master-cylinder pistons. Following the cold-weather failures of the last system, the new brakes have undergone extensive testing across a wide range of temperatures.
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Mavic introduces wider, burlier Crossmax XL WTS enduro wheels
Mavic’s new Crossmax XL wheelset and Quest tires are designed for the rider who thinks of the term “enduro” not as a race discipline but as a riding style — they’re bigger, burlier, designed to get you to the top of the hill and then truly shine on the way down.
The rims use a new V-shape, designed to decrease the likelihood of dents and increase stiffness, and are wider than anything in the Crossmax range at 23mm.
The wheels use all Mavic’s usual technologies (FORE drilling, Zicral spokes, and ISM machining for rim weight reduction), are built with 24 spokes front and rear, and are paired with a new 2.4-inch tire called the Quest.
Weights are reasonable: 1660g for the 26-inch, 1710 for the 27.5-inch, and 1780g for the 29-inch versions.
Wraith frames from custom builder Adam Eldridge
Wraith, a company started by custom frame builder Adam Eldridge, announced its first two models this week, the Hustle road frame and Paycheck cyclocross frame.
The frames will come in three standard sizes (no custom) and use Columbus’ newly released FEL 1.5-inch tapered forks. Both will be built by hand in Ohio.
The prices are impressive, just $1,090 for a top-quality, triple-butted steel frame from a popular custom builder (even if these won’t have custom geometry). Wraith is taking orders now, requiring that buyers put $300 on the table when they reserve a frame and pay the rest upon delivery, scheduled for late June.
GU releases two new Chomps flavors
GU is releasing two new flavors of its Chomp energy product, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Black Cherry.
The Black Cherry Chomps, GU’s gummi-chew product, will pack 180 calories into a packet, including 46 grams of carbohydrates. The Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor will have 125mg of sodium and 60mg of potassium, and is the latest GU Gives flavor, with a portion of each sale going to the Challenged Athletes Foundation.