VN tech ticker: CeramicSpeed OSPW for Dura-Ace R9200, Shimano road and gravel shoes, POC Elicit Clarity

CeramicSpeed OSPW for Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 group

CeramicSpeed announced Thursday the availability of its Oversized Pulley Wheels (OSPW) for the latest component group from Shimano.

The rear derailleur modification is promised to be fully compatible with the new 12-speed group, and this aftermarket add-on should ship later in November.

“I’m incredibly proud of the fact that we’ve been able to design a fully compatible and high-performing version of our OSPW System for Shimano’s new Dura-Ace group in just a couple of months,” said CeramicSpeed executive vice president Martin S. Banke. “Our R&D department has been working day and night to make sure this updated version lives up to our usual high standards in terms of quality and performance.”

As with the previous iteration of the Shimano Dura-Ace group, a 13-tooth upper pully and 19-tooth lower pully are fitted with hand-made ceramic bearings.

By decreasing the radius of the bend in the chain at the rear derailleur and cassette, and also adding low-drag bearings to the pulley wheels, CeramicSpeed states its OSPW system can offer between 30 and 60 percent energy savings over standard pulley wheel systems. CeramicSpeed has previously partnered with Deceuninck-Quick-Step, Israel Start-Up Nation, Astana-Premier Tech, and Qhubeka-NextHash WorldTour teams.

This drag-reducing add-on is compatible only with the latest Shimano 9250 rear derailleur; it will not work with the previous 9100/9150 group. A separate OSPW system is being developed for the newly released Ultegra R8150 group.

The standard CeramicSpeed OSPW for Dura-Ace 9200 will cost $589, while the low-drag, coated edition will set you back $689. Pulley wheel color options are currently limited to black or red.

Shimano road and gravel shoes

On November 1, Shimano pulled back the curtains on several new pairs of cycling shoes, which will be available in stores later in November and into December.

The premier level S-PHYRE RC902S Dura-Ace special edition road cycling shoes get a shimmery finish and gloss black heel cup. For the sprinters and track racers, the RC902T (pictured above) get a stretch-resistant Surround Upper to eliminate foot lateral movement, and the BOA Li2 dials to adjust fit.

The Japanese cycling giant also redesigned the RC702, RC502, and RC502W women’s shoes. These shoes get trickle-down tech from the S-PHYRE line but without the premium price tag. The price trade-offs are weight, a composite sole, retention system, and ventilation.

Also introduced are two new color options for the RX8 gravel shoe. The Bronze colorway is available across the standard with the line, while the Yellow Gold option is available in narrower-width shoes. The RX8 shoe has a BOA IP1 dial for fit adjustment, a reinforced, “armored” toebox, a carbon sole with walkable lugs, and a heel stabilizer that promises pedaling efficiency.

POC Elicit Clarity lightest sunglasses yet from Swedish brand

The POC Elicit Clarity sunglasses are the lightest yet from the Swedish manufacturer. At a claimed 23g, they may be 1g lighter than the recently reviewed Roka Matador Air.

POC states the temples are fabricated from “bio-based materials” which help the sunglass “maintain rigidity and stiffness where needed…while allowing greater flexibility around the head and ears.” Specially designed hinges, and a lens changing system promise simple and quick lens swaps.

EF Education-Nippo rider Mitch Docker provided input in the design of the POC Elicit Clarity.

“The Elicits are special, and their weight is extraordinary! The lightness means I hardly notice them and they are beautifully balanced. I am a fan of bigger lenses and I have ridden the Elicit in almost every weather condition — including my last race, Paris-Roubaix — which was very messy, but they handled it all,” Docker said. “I also think they look amazing and it has been fun to work so closely with POC on their development, especially to test them during my ‘Length of Sweden’ ride this summer.”

POC indicates the Elicit sunglass is designed to match well with the company’s helmets. When worn with the POC Ventral Lite, the combined claimed weight might not exceed 200g. POC’s Ri-Pel coating should help to shed dirt, sweat, and other foreign materials, and the anti-scratch treatment should extend the life of the lens.

The $250 sunglass will be available in the spring of 2022, in Hydrogen White, Uranium Black, Fluorescent Orange, Actinium Pink, Sapphire Purple, and Lemon Calcite frame colors, with gold, silver, Define, and clear lens options.

Chris King-Dynaplug collab

Component manufacturer Chris King teamed up with Dynaplug to create a special edition line of the Racer Pro tire plugging tool.

With the signature Chris King turquois adonized finish and Angry Bee logo, the $52 Dynaplug Racer Pro has four plugs instead of two thanks to dual insertion tubes. The tool is fabricated in Chico California from U.S.-made billet aluminum and stainless steel. Its claimed weight is just 26g — 2g more than the previous version, but with twice as many plugs.

The Chris King Dynaplug Racer Pro tool is available from the Dynaplug website.

Muoverti Tiltbike aims to bring gaming to indoor cycling

The Muoverti Tiltbike is taking aim at the dedicated indoor smart bike market.

The new player in the indoor riding space boasts of tech that makes riding indoors feel almost like riding outdoors — requiring balance, steering, braking, and accelerating — and it’s compatible with Zwift and TrainerRoad, while also offering other options such as the Xbox game Descenders. Muoverti also states that its physics engine is superior to its competitors and that the Tiltbike is “the only bike with the physics right, like gravity and inertia.”

Movement is offered through elastomers, which provide lateral tilt, and also have sensors in the handlebar for self-centering (because who wants to flop around while riding on flat, and straight virtual roads?). The handlebar also offers steering function without the need for add-ons.

The adjustable frame allows riders to bring their own seatpost, saddle, and handlebars and should accommodate frame sizes from 49cm through 64cm. Controllers that bear a remarkable resemblance to the SRAM eTap road levers provide functionality for breaking and other, in-game features which require rider’s input (think: grabbing a power-up in Zwift), and can be programmed to function similarly to SRAM, Shimano, or Campy. An additional toggle on them might provide future-proof functionality in gaming environments.

An electromagnetic resistance unit — the same kind of tech found in most smart bikes and smart trainers — samples data at 1,000 per second and claims to have a response rate superior to others’ products. A carbon belt drive connects the adjustable-length crank to this resistance unit. A built-in power meter measures output, left-right balance, torque effectiveness, cadence, and more.

The one element which appears to be missing from the Muoverti Tiltbike is gradient simulation which would incline or decline the bike position to reflect climbing or descending — something which Wahoo has addressed with its Kickr Climb.

Our colleagues at CyclingTips indicate that the Muoverti Tiltbike may be ready for launch in 2022 Q3. Pricing is not yet available.