Round three. If you want to check out our post for coverage of the Philly Bike Expo, click here and here. A little more to go. In this round, we’ve got come tools to help you work on bearings faster, some super durable bearings, new gravel focused kits, gravel rims, bags, and some super bling touches for your bike.
Enduro
Enduro is well known for their bearings, but they also make some really cool and useful tools for working on bearings.
For the show, it was more of an evolution of their tools than new ones, to work on new standards, but also make them quicker and easier to use in hand, while maintaining the precision they are known for. The BRT line is their bearing removal and installation tools that can be used across a range of applications. You can get them in various kits to handle bottom brackets (Shimano 20, 30mm, SRAM DUB), axel bearings, and pivots. The kits are all backward compatible with their older BRT models.
While it might be the trending thing to post a video of spinning the handle of your bearing presses while they tighten up so you can actually do the work, Enduro knows that it’s wasted time and effort for pro wrenches. That’s why they created the Zipnut. This quick-release nut splits in half and is held together by a circular coil. It allows you to slide the nut into place, squeeze it into place on the thread, slide the handle over the end to lock it together, and then spin the last few threads to get to work. When you are done pressing in the bearing, reverse spin the handle a few times to loosen everything up, pull the handle off and slide the Zipnut back.
On the bearing side, Enduro had their T47 bottom brackets on display, along with their Maxhit bearings. The Maxhit bearings are made completely from 440C stainless steel and come with a lifetime warranty. They use proprietary double-lip labyrinth seals and Enduro’s extra high-pressure grease for headsets or high-performance speed grease for bottom brackets to ensure a lifetime of trouble-free, heavy-duty performance. They can be preloaded from light to extra tight, and still roll freely. These are going to be extremely durable bearings that will stand up to the worst conditions, and keep you rolling for longer. For headsets, they make a great option, especially for those running internal routing through the headset. Due to the increased labor in servicing internally routed headsets, it’s one area that you really want to set and forget.
Varlo
Philly brand, Varlo, was also on hand to share their clothing line. We had previously reviewed their gravel shorts and jersey, and really enjoyed them. Varlo started as a triathlon brand, but quickly added cycling and running gear to the line for men and women. They also happen to be the clothing supplier for Philly Bike Expo gear, along with being the kit supplier for the Philly Bike Expo Team.
For the show, they had their Cycle Crew Shirt, the Touring Button Jersey, and the new Pioneer Gravel Cycling Jersey.
The Cycle Crew Shirt it a cross between a technical jersey, and a baggy t-shirt jersey. It has laser bonded front hem for a seamless feel and a rear, weighted gripper to keep the back of the shirt from riding up. It has three rear pockets and a zippered side pocket to stash your key, some money, and your ID in. It’s the best of both worlds when you are looking for a shirt that is as functional as a traditional road kit, but in a more relaxed look.
The Touring Button Jersey is more relaxed. This button down uses a light and breathable tech fabric to keep you cool on and off the bike. It has a semi-circle hem to provide plenty of coverage when riding, but also allow for freedom of movement. There’s still a zipper side pocket to store your key, cash, and ID. It pairs well with a base layer and shorts, or in the office for casual Fridays.
The Pioneer Gravel Jersey is Varlo’s updated gravel jersey with all the pockets you could want. The three traditional pockets on the back are paired with two additional side panel pockets and a zippered pocket for essentials. Pair it with their Roam Cargo Gravel bibs, and you have 10 total pockets. The Pioneer Gravel Jersey uses a super soft Reprieve material, which is an eco-friendly recycled material made from plastic bottles.
All of these items are available at Varlo website, or through REI, along with a full range of their running and triathlon gear.
Velocity
Grand Rapids, MI-based Velocity had a new aero rim, along with some really insane custom anodized rims.
The new rim is the Aero. The name might sound familiar if you know the history of the brand, as it was their first rim. The name is a tribute to their former owner. The Aero is simliar to the Aileron, but has a 23mm internal width versus a 21mm. The 6069 aluminum comes from Arizona, and was picked as it is dent and fatigue resistant. It’s actually testing stonger than their other rims. Most Velocity rims last between 8,000-10,000 miles before seeing spoke nipple fatigue, but the Aero lasted about 5 times longer. It can be built with spoke nipple washers for even more durability. It’s tubeless compatible, and can handle up to a 53mm tire, positioning it as a gravel racing rim, but also a high mileage rim for bike packing and carrying heavier loads.
I also had a chance to meet David, the mastermind behind their deep custom anodizing program. If you have an idea, he can probably turn it into reality. Velocity had a few examples on hand, including a color fade and a 80’s splatter design. Velocity offers their rims in a number of stock annodized colors, along with their full custom program.
Nittany Mountain Works
Keeping the PA trend alive, Nittany Mountain Works has been working to bring their climbing brand, Organic Climbing, and their cycling brands together, allowing them to find more synergies between the two brands. For cycling, this means bringing in more light weight, durable materials, along with blending more “scrap” material to make additional products.
Nittany Mountain Works makes minimalist, but well thought out bags for on and off the bike. At the show, I was checking out their Ultra Grid Crush and Carry Market Tote, which is made using Ultra Grid fabric made from recycled nylon. It’s super light, durable, and packs down into itself to slip into your pocket while you are at the market before you need it. They also had a really slick Ultra Grid Crush and Carry 20L Roll Down Pack that is super minimalist. There’s no foam padding in the straps so that it can be as small as possible when not in use, but still comfortable to unroll and load up with items when needed.
For on the bike, the Svelte Bag caught my eye for a top tube bag. It attaches using two velcro straps around the top tube, and another around the steerer. The 7″ long bag uses a waterproof zipper, and includes side pockets to slid small items into for quick access, like gels.
Along with using recycled fabrics, Nittany also uses various scrap materials to make other small products like wallets. They continually review patterns for durability, but also to optimize usage of fabrics as well. In one case, they split a panel into two, which made much better use of the bulk fabric. They also work with other companies to take the scrap materials that they can’t reuse, and have them recycled into other products, like industrial carpet backing. On top of all of that, they are solar powered for about 9 months a year, buying energy from the grid only when the ice on the solar panels build up too much (they are looking at solutions).
Yellow Bird Thread Works
Last, but not least, Yellow Bird Thread Works. We had a chance to meet Brian Tucker, the man behind everything at Yellow Bird, and learn more about his hand crafted pieces. The Chester, CT brand creates hand crafted top caps and handlebar plugs that add a touch of sophistication to your bike.
Tucker works as an aerospace machinist by day, and has a passion for art, which helps him create these bespoke pieces that are part functional piece, and part art. Made from brass, and finished with an archival wax to preserve the patina of the piece, they add a touch of class to your bike. The top caps, also known as Nightcaps, come with a bolt to secure them, while the Marion Barkeepers include the bolt and expander plugs behind the face plate to hold them in place.
Each piece is handcrafted and finished by Tucker himself. Even the card they come on, are printed using stamps by Tucker.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
~Veggie Powered Athlete~
Location – Lancaster, PA
Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900
Dream Bike – I’ll tell you when they make it
Discipline – Cyclocross, gravel, road and duathlons (ride/run)
Favorite Rides – Quiet country roads of Amish Country, some of the best roads around.
Food of Choice – Sweet potato roll
Beer of Choice – Unibroue Grand Reserve 17, aged four years
Bourbon of Choice – Widow Jane 10 Year