Weekly Cycling Tech Round Up – February 23, 2021

Lots of cycling tech news for the week, including a lightweight helmet from POC, a new bike from Pivot Cycles and more.

New Logo and Brand Identity for Panaracer

Tire manufacturer Panaracer is proud to unveil its new logo and brand identity today, celebrating its history of technologies and innovations while looking to the future with a new, modernized look.

The Panaracer logo has been modernized into a sharper, more simple form, representing an ever-rolling set of tires.

The new corporate color, “Panaracer Purple”, blends the previous blue brand color, signifying dawn, with the color pink, a color of passion.

Committed to support, carry and move your life forward every pedal stroke along the way,  Panaracer also rolled out its new slogan and mission: “Life Cycling Partner” – To provide outstanding tires that bring confidence, reliability and excitement to your riding,  and sustainable value to society.

“We really like the simplicity and clean lines of this logo, as well as the continuation it represents. From your first bike to your last, we make tires that are reliable, technologically advanced, and that bring you constant joy no matter who you are or where you ride,” said Jeff Zell, Panaracer’s Go-To Guy.

SRAM Purchases TIME Sport Pedal Business from Rossignol Group

SRAM has acquired the entire range of road and mountain pedals, cleats, and all related patents of TIME Sport from Rossignol Group. The companies completed the transaction on February 18, 2021.

Founded in Nevers, France, in 1987, TIME’s clipless pedals system redefined ergo-dynamic compliance for riders by improving lateral and angular float, perfecting their balance between performance and comfort. TIME added mountain bike pedals in 1993. Their road and MTB pedals have been ridden to victory by legends, including Julien Absalon, (FRA), Greg LeMond (USA), Tom Boonen (BEL), Anna van der Breggen (NED), and Miguel Indurain (ESP).

“TIME is a legendary brand and was the first to focus on ergonomics through the pedal stroke. We will work to preserve TIME’s history and heritage, and continue their legacy of innovation and quality,” SRAM President Ken Lousberg said.

In a separate transaction, TIME’s bicycle business has been purchased by Cardinal Cycling Group, including all related patents, trademarks and ownership of the TIME’s RTM composites factory. Cardinal Group ownership includes American Tony Karklins, the founder of Allied Cycle Works and former Orbea USA Managing Director, and Frenchman Martial Trigeaud, industrial engineer and former elite bike racer.

“TIME is a brand full of passion, history and true innovation. We are honored to steward TIME into the future and to advance Resin Transfer Molding technology in the cycling industry,” said Cardinal Cycling Group Partner Tony Karklins.

“I’m thrilled that we have found two exceptional buyers for TIME.  Each brings unique strengths to drive the great TIME brand forward,” said Rossignol Sr. VP Bike Division, Scott Rittschof.

Both companies will continue to market products under the TIME name. SRAM will focus relevant external communications as TIME Sport, and Cardinal Cycling Group will utilize TIME Bikes. Customers will continue to contact TIME for product service and support during a transition phase through mid-year 2021.

Pocket Outdoor Media Purchases Outside Magazine, Rebrands as Outside

I’m not sure how to feel about this one. I’ve been a constant subscriber to Outside since the early eighties. While I’ve also had a subscription to Velo News for much of the same time, I can’t say that I’m a fan of their recent tiered subscription model and blocking access to a lot of online content.

The purchase brings Outside Magazine, Outside TV, Gaia GPS, Peloton Magazine, and athleteReg into the Pocket Outdoor Media family.

Under Thurston’s leadership, Pocket Outdoor Media (now Outside), has been scooping up brands and talent from all over the active lifestyle market, all in an effort to build the world’s best consumer product in the category and to reach a larger audience with his core message: “We believe that a hike, run, ride, or yoga practice can change your day and change the world.”

Last summer, the founder and past CEO of MapMyFitness acquired a suite of brands from Active Interest Media, including Backpacker, SKI, Climbing, Yoga Journal, SNEWS, and 13 others.

Then, in October, the company acquired Big Stone Publishing, which includes Rock & Ice, Gym Climber, and Trail Runner.

And when A360 Media abruptly shuttered Powder, Bike, Surfer and Snowboarder in December 2020, Thurston immediately picked up the phone and started recruiting talent. The result: Sierra Shafer and Micah Abrams came on board to lead SKI and Warren Miller Entertainment. And Nicole Formosa and several others from Bike were brought in to launch a brand new mountain bike brand: Beta.

POC releases its lightest ever cycling helmet

The Ventral Lite is the latest helmet to join POC’s cycling family, and the lightest it has ever made. Focused on riders who prioritize weight and ventilation above all else, the newly awarded Ventral Lite has been highly engineered to achieve the optimal balance of weight, safety and performance.

Commenting on the Ventral Lite launch, Oscar Huss, Head of Product, POC, said “We introduced ourselves to the cycling world in 2014 with the Octal. Our objective then was to bring our safety mission and performance together in a lightweight helmet. After a lot of research and testing the Octal made its debut in the pro peloton and quickly established itself. Starting again from our safety mission, we wanted to take the ideas and concepts from the Octal even further. Riders who are focused on climbing or ride in hotter conditions are extremely conscious about weight, ventilation and comfort, which is where the Ventral Lite, our lightest ever helmet will excel. ”

Based on the Ventral Air’s foundations, and taking inspiration from the Octal, every aspect of the Ventral Lite from the adjustment system and straps to the liner and shell, are tuned to deliver optimized safety and protection at the lowest weight possible. The structure has been refined so that a different density of EPS can be used and the outer PC shell is precisely formed. The result is a helmet that in size medium CE standard, weighs a mere 190g, and an incredible 180g for a size small.

Oscar Huss, added – “We strongly believe that the safest helmet is one you choose to wear, one which you always look forward to wearing. With the Ventral Lite, we used our Whole Helmet Concept™ to create a helmet that provides the best protection and still meet the needs of those riders who don’t want to compromise on weight or ventilation. The Ventral Lite will provide the protection those riders deserve without ever noticing it’s there.”

Product Details:

• Certified to EN 1078, CPSC 12.03, AS/NZ 2063
• Structurally strong – Changes to the shell and liner design give enhanced structural integrity.
• EPS liner – The optimization of the liner allows for a lower-density EPS liner to be used
• Lightweight in-mold PC shell – The outer PC shell is precisely formed to save weight but still provide optimal protection.
• New size adjustment system – The minimalist and lightweight size adjustment system delivers a precise and secure fit.
• Re-designed lightweight straps – adjustable and optimised to save weight.
• Weight (CPSC 1203): Small 220g; Medium 240g; Large 270g

Pivot Trail 429 Receives Major Updates

Pivot Cycles has released a new version of the Pivot Trail 429, positioning it as a potent, lightweight trail weapon with the handling and suspension chops to go hard in big terrain, and also the flat-out speed and acceleration to deliver podium level performances at marathon and 24-hour races. It offers unprecedented versatility; equally at home sending rough technical lines as it is with a race number zip-tied to the handlebars.

“We’ve pushed the limits of the New Trail 429 to make a bike even more capable for both aggressive trail riders and those who are looking for the utmost efficiency and pedaling performance out of their trail bike” says Pivot’s founder and CEO, Chris Cocalis. “We designed the Trail 429 to thrive in rough, technical terrain, so we really worked on getting the suspension and handling dialed for the limits being pushed by modern riders. This is the most capable 120mm-travel suspension on the market. At the same time, with the flip-chip adjustability and aggressive weight reduction in the frame, the new Trail 429 also makes for an amazing endurance racer.”