Full Speed Ahead Drops New Mountain Integrated Bar, Wheelset

Full Speed Ahead has announced some new non-series products for their mountain bike range, offering some affordable options to some of the high-end siblings. The new Non-Series SIC Integrated Handlebar and SC i30 wheelset are ready to upgrade your bike without breaking the bank.

NS SIC Integrated Handlebar

Bars and stems play an important role in cycling, because, well, they help you point yourself in the right direction. Lightheartedness aside, they are a major part of each bike. They also provide an ergonomic contact point, stiffness, and comfort for our rides. Unless you have a unique fitting need, integrated handlebars are a great way to add some stiffness to your front end to improve handling and also reduce a little weight. While I have not had a chance to try an integrated bar on the trails, I’ve really enjoyed riding one on the road this past season.

The NS (Non-Series) SIC (Stable Integrated Cockpit) Integrated Handlebar is FSA’s mid-level offering, following in the footsteps of the fully integrated, and more expensive, KFX SIC. The shape of the NS SIC is a little more traditional compared to a double bend on the KFX, and it lacks the internal cable routing and integrated computer mount at the top cap. The NS also has a slight weight penalty of 20g.

The full carbon cross-country focused NS SIC is available in two stem lengths, 60 or 80mm, and one width, 760mm. The bars feature a negative 12-degree stem angle, a 9-degree backsweep, and a 5-degree upsweep for stability and comfort while on the trails. These match the specs of the KFX, without the 100mm stem option. The 5mm rise blends control and comfort, inspiring confidence in technical sections.

Integrated cockpits tend to be on the pricier side, but the NS SIC helps to bring that price down a bit, to $296. A comparable SL-K stem and bar is only about $30 less, but adds almost 80 grams and uses an aluminum stem versus the NS SIC’s full carbon construction. the KFX SIC is about $40 more and offers features and a look that not every rider is looking for.

The NS SIC is available now through FSA’s website and authorized dealers.

SC i30 MTB Wheelset

FSA also released their new NS SC i30 carbon wheelset. The SC (Service Course) i30 also fits in the mid-range like the NS SIC, adding performance without breaking the bank. The new wheelset is designed for all-mountain, enduro, and e-bikes, they are built to be durable and versatile.

The full carbon rim is hookless with a 36mm external/30mm internal width, offering loads of support for wide tires for increased grip and stability at low pressures. The rims are 22mm deep to keep weights down for a nibble and responsive ride. To round out the hand-built wheelset, FSA uses direct pull aero spokes, 28 front and rear. The FSA rear hub uses a 6-pawl freehub with options for 12-speed Shimano Microspline and SRAM XD. Discs mount using the ISO 6-bolt standard. Overall claimed weight is 1,495g.

FSA has put a lot of work into the SC i30 to ensure they will be able to stand up to anything you throw at them. During development, they subjected the wheelset to various testing protocols.

• Torsional Testing – Challenges the wheel’s resistance to torsional (twisting) forces. They applied torque to the wheel to measure how well it maintains its shape and performance under rotational stresses.
• ISO Testing – Involves simulating impacts to the wheel, similar to what it would face when riding hard on a rough trail. FSA dropped a 90kg weight onto the wheel to ensure the wheel will hold up.
• Fatigue Testing – Simulates long-term usage to make sure the wheelset will last a lifetime of riding. Upright and angled testing ensures it will remain reliable for the long term.
• Impact Tests – Similar to ISO Testing, this tests a wheel’s limits. The industry standard is 40 Joules of force, but FSA pushes the SC i30 to over 90 Joules to simulate extremely hard impacts.
• Spoke Test – Tests spoke and rim hole strength. FSA uses its Universal Testing Machine to apply 150kg of force to ensure they won’t fail. The machine also tests bearing and freehub performance and reliability.
• Mud Test – Tests hub and bearing reliability in harsh conditions. This test exposes these components to cycles of mud and water to ensure they will perform their best on the nastiest days on the trail.

The new SC i30 is available now from FSA and authorized dealers. At $1,149, they offer a great blend of price and performance to upgrade your next ride.

www.fullspeedahead.com