Gear Break: FiftyOne announces the Sika: The new definition of the modern performance road bike, Nimbl introduces the Exceed Ultimate Glide, developed to redefine the concept of power transfer, Classified and ENVE announce partnership to bring Powershift performance to road and gravel riders, The Mips Safety System – More integrated than ever, GripGrab new short finger summer cycling gloves and The Stinner x MADE photo stick – Elevated solutions for pro bicycle photography.
FiftyOne Announces the Sika: The New Definition of the Modern Performance Road Bike
FIFTYONE BIKES is excited to announce the launch of the new Sika road bike. The Sika is available to order now as a frameset, priced €4,500, $4,500, £3,950. Frameset includes seat post and FIftyOne’s own proprietary 1 piece integrated cockpit. Deliveries from June. Media wishing to review the Sika or to interview founder Aidan Duff are invited to contact FiftyOne.
What Is It?
The Sika is a cutting-edge road bike that delivers top-level performance in a package tailored for real riders, not for pros. It combines feathery lightness, high stiffness and sleek aero with a less extreme position, confident handling, and clearance for 40mm tyres. It’s the ride of your life, all day long.
The development of the Sika was driven by our experience of building custom bikes – over 500 to date – and seeing what real riders want and need. On average, we develop 10 unique new road bikes every month, more than most big brands do in a decade. What’s more, we work with the world’s best bike fitters to fit our clients for their custom frames; we consulted with all of them to shape the positioning of the Sika.
We understand that just because a bike isn’t made with input from pros to be raced at the Tour de France, that doesn’t automatically make it an endurance bike. The Sika is the new definition of the modern performance road bike.
Who Is It For?
Road riders who want to ride all day in comfort on a mix of roads while enjoying top-tier performance, but have grown tired of the limitations and fussiness of bikes designed purely for racing. Common sense was a key ingredient.
Why Did We Make It?
Because we could see something missing from modern road bikes and felt that we could deliver it by drawing on our vast experience of building custom bikes. We understand that many riders want a superlight, fast, confident bike that can take bigger tyres and has a real-world stack height.
Key Features Overview:
• 690g frame weight, size M
• Aero optimised tube profiles
• 40mm tyre clearance
• Real world rider fit
• Sika one-piece cockpit
• T47 bottom bracket and Universal Derailleur Hanger
• 27.2mm round seatpost with traditional external clamp
Features in Depth
• 40mm tyre clearance
Conquer bad roads, cobbles and even gravel with the option to run tyres up to 40mm in width. Road bike tyres have been getting bigger at a rapid rate in recent years. While 30 and 32 are the new norm, riders who live in areas with worse roads already want even wider tyres. The Sika is ready for anything, including the future.
• Real world rider fit
We built a bike for normal people who want to ride all day. Drawing on our experience of building hundreds of custom bikes, and on our relationships with the world’s best bike fitters, we shaped the Sika to be comfortable for the vast majority of riders, without requiring an unsightly stack of spacers or ruining the bike’s elegant proportions.
• Sika one-piece cockpit
Ergonomics and aerodynamics harmonise in our first cockpit, designed entirely in-house. The top section is shaped with proven NACA profiles to deliver a significant aero gain in this critical area that meets the cleanest airflow. The tops also sweep back at a 3-degree angle for a natural hand position. Brake hose routing is fully internal.
• 27.2mm round seatpost with traditional external clamp
The most comfortable and practical solution. A round 27.2mm seatpost is able to flex more than any aero-shaped post, adding comfort at the saddle where it matters most. We decided this was more important than a small aero gain. The round post also gives you the freedom to choose any post, rather than being stuck with a proprietary design. We chose a traditional clamp because they’re so much easier to live with, especially if you travel with your bike, compared to a hidden wedge that usually binds in place.
Lightness
The Sika frame weighs 690g in size M, placing it among the very lightest in the world for a bike with 40mm tyre clearance and aero optimisation. A sub-7kg build, with pedals, is easily achievable with no extreme components.
What’s more, lightness was never the sole focus. This figure was achieved while also hitting our high targets for lateral and torsional stiffness, and with aero-optimised tube shapes. The key to this lies in the high grades of carbon fibre we selected. Read more on that below.
Handling
One word sums up the Sika’s handling – confidence. It’s precise, stable and planted, whether on a fast Alpine descent or broken back roads. We gave the Sika the same dynamic and assertive handling that is a hallmark of our custom bikes, with short trail and longer chainstays.
Through our custom bike programme, we design more frame geometries each year than even the biggest brands do in a decade. What’s more, our bikes are tailored to our customers, not dictated by the demands of pros. We know what real riders want and we know how to deliver it. The difference might look subtle on paper, but it matters on the road.
Ride Quality
The Sika is a bike to ride all day on all roads. The rear triangle is closely derived from our custom bikes, where it’s well proven to ride with velvet smoothness. Add to that, a 27.2mm diameter seatpost that’s able to deflect over bumps, a compliant fork, and capacity for tyres up to 40mm and the result is a bike that floats over bad roads.
This smoothness is achieved without sacrificing performance thanks to the very high grades of carbon fibre used and tireless development to get the best from them. The frame shapes play a key role, too. The aggressively truncated profile of the downtube delivers the lightness, comfort and stiffness of a round tube, with the aero benefits of an airfoil. The bottom bracket shell is maximised upwards and in width to boost stiffness in this key area.
Aero
While the Sika is not an outright aero bike for racing, it is aero-optimised to reduce drag without compromising ride quality or lightness. The tube shapes are derived from proven NACA profiles with truncated airfoils – like a tapered D-shape – which are very effective at reducing drag while preserving lightness and ride quality.
Why include aero if the bike isn’t for racing? On the flat, around 80% of your effort is fighting air resistance and if your bike is more efficient, then you save energy to spend going further, higher or faster. Additionally, with nearly all bikes now aero-optimised to some extent, we didn’t want to leave performance on the table and put you at a disadvantage on a group ride.
Carbon Lay-Up Explained
Ride quality is an obsession at FiftyOne Bikes. We knew how we wanted the Sika to feel and our experience and expertise both in building close to 500 custom frames and developing the Assassin gravel bike gave us the tools to achieve it. The Sika is made with an especially high-grade mix of Toray carbon fibres – the exact blend of fibres is our secret for now – with each one used according to its particular qualities. This is how the Sika is so light, stiff and comfortable. There’s no magic, only obsessive engineering and a readiness to invest in the best materials.
Lifetime Warranty and UCI Approval
Ride in total peace of mind. The Sika received UCI approval and carries a lifetime warranty.
Paint Options
The Sika launches in Black Ops Evo featuring Iridescent keyline over raw carbon fibre with a clear coat finish. A second colourway will follow later this year.
FiftyOne Bikes Founder and MD, Aidan Duff, Comments: “Sika is born out of all our custom building experience. It’s a natural evolution for us. Having built over 500 bespoke frames, we have a unique viewpoint on what riders actually want and need. I’ve long thought the current model is a little broken – producing bikes for the world’s best athletes and then selling them to consumers. It never made sense to me.
The Sika is a pure road bike for everyday use. Using realistic stack heights allows riders to ride for longer, engage more power and ensure that every ride will be their best ride. But don’t for one minute think this is an Endurance bike. The Sika has the same DNA as our custom model and is made to inspire confidence on corners and descents. It’s assertive, nimble and engaging. In short, this will corner like an F1 car but with the comfort of a Bentley.”
Nimbl Introduces the Exceed Ultimate Glide, Developed to Redefine the Concept of Power transfer
A combination of innovative technologies has been brought together to create a benchmark product for riders who want to perform at their best and push their own boundaries.
Ultimate power distribution, comfort beyond imagination, minimal as usual.
Inspired by the classic standards of Italian craftsmanship, the new Exceed Ultimate Glide is crafted to fit the foot perfectly and revolutionises the concept of power transmission thanks to a unique combination of cutting edge technologies.
This ultimate design allows the shoe to adapt perfectly to the foot aiming for the optimal position, with the lightness everyone dreams of. Light, comfortable and efficient, this is the new generation of Nimbl.
Built to go faster, the Exceed Ultimate Glide offer a breakthrough power distribution for improved performance in just a few grams. The brand new closure completely revolutionises the look of the shoe, making the Ultimate Exceed Glide even more distinctive and stylish in the peloton. The redesigned monocoque chassis combined with these new features provides an unmatched fit for the foot.
Nimbl believes that the connection between rider and bike is fundamental and these shoes are precise to the point. Thanks to the way the Exceed Ultimate Glide are built, they allow for greater efficiency and maximum power distribution throughout the ride, whether you’re setting the pace or going for an adrenaline-fuelled sprint.
As always in Nimbl’s creative process, the value of Italian manufacturing is essential to offering a product that exceeds the standards. Exceed Ultimate Glide are made with care and passion in the Marche region, where footwear has been part of the culture for generations. From here, the brand’s creations have the chance to travel the world on many riders’ feet, preserving the handcrafted character that makes them a product of excellence and personality. Excellence and personality are also recognised by the 100 professional athletes who have chosen Nimbl as their reference shoes for World Tour races around the globe.
Exceed Ultimate Glide are lightness, stiffness, and offer a better power distribution. A stylish yet high-tech product that redefines the concept of performance as the world knows it, thanks to the attention to detail and a blend of technology.
Nimbl is a premium performance cycling shoes brand. Our shoes are handmade in Italy serving the most demanding customers, from cyclist enthusiasts to world champions.
Classified and ENVE Announce Partnership to Bring Powershift Performance to Road and Gravel Riders
Customers will be able to choose from a selection of wheelsets along with a rolling chassis bicycle build equipped with Classified’s pioneering internal hub shifting technology
Classified Cycling, the Belgium-based drivetrain brand, will be bringing its proprietary internal hub shifting technology to carbon wheel and frame manufacturer ENVE’s premium products, giving ENVE customers access to new levels of performance on road and gravel.
The global partnership will see several ENVE wheel models outfitted with Classified’s Powershift hubshell. The system enables riders to enjoy the gearing range and versatility offered by a 2x system but with the increased efficiency and aerodynamic advantages of a 1x, as well as the ability to shift under load, for more control. It will allow customers to build a bike from the wheels up with products including the MOG / Melee / Fray, Foundation, SES, and G Series. The system will also be available to purchase as a complete rolling chassis model, where consumers can select their bike build online or through ENVE’s dealer network. This includes options to fully integrate Classified’s Powershift technology with other selections like ENVE’s frameset, wheels, bars, stem and seat post models.
The range of Classified-equipped ENVE products, which are made to order, will be available in the EU and US from April 17 (complete bikes available only in Europe), with the first orders shipped the first week of May. Prices start from:
Wheels with Classified hubshell: Foundation: €1.499 / $1,100, G Series: €2.699 / $2,150, SES Series: €2.999 / $2,450.
Rolling Chassis: ENVE Melee, MOG and Fray ENVE rolling chassis starting from €7.699 / $8,000 with Classified Powershift system.
Complete bike builds (Europe only): starting from €10.899.
ENVE is the latest premium manufacturer to join Classified’s increasing portfolio of partner brands that integrate Powershift as a performance option to their flagship product ranges. These include DT Swiss, Mavic, Reynolds, Fast Forward, Boyd Cycling and Spinergy. Riders across road, gravel and MTB select Powershift for its multitude of performance advantages over a traditional transmission system, from increased mechanical and aerodynamic efficiency to lower maintenance in the harshest conditions, as well as the ability to shift under full load.
“We look to ENVE as a benchmark of premium cycling manufacturing and this partnership represents our continued pursuit of innovation and performance in the industry,” said Mathias Plouvier, CEO of Classified. “By working together with ENVE and our other partners, we can make our technology accessible to more riders than ever, giving them access to a new level of shifting performance and versatility whether they ride on the road, gravel or trail.”
“ENVE has always been about delivering the best performance to uncompromising riders,” said Michael Stimola, CEO of ENVE Composites. “Working with Classified allows us to add a cutting-edge technology to a demanding community who want their bikes to excel under any conditions.”
Jake Pantone, VP of Product & Brand at ENVE added, “ENVE’s mission is to create a better ride experience through science and insight. When we were first introduced to the Classified Powershift Hub, we saw innovation that could enhance ENVE’s mission and bring value to our discerning customers. Whether someone is looking to maximize drivetrain efficiency, improve aerodynamics, or increase the range of their one-by drivetrain, Powershift delivers. We know this from personal experience after nearly two years of using the product ourselves. Pairing Classified’s Powershift Hub with an ENVE carbon rim, promises unprecedented performance of this system.”
Wheelsets and builds are available via ENVE’s website and retailers. First looks of the system will be available in-person at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California on April 18-21.
The Mips Safety System – More Integrated Than Ever
Leading helmet manufacturers are trusting Mips due to seamless integration and their aim to exceed safety standards.
Mips, a global leader in helmet-based safety and experts in dangerous rotational motion, is expanding its solutions and integrations into more helmets and styles. Led by its recently announced innovative Virtual Test Lab (VTL) and new solutions like Mips® Integra Split, Mips® Air Node and Mips® Integra TX, over 150 helmet manufacturers (in categories like bike, snow, moto, equestrian etc.) around the world trust the Mips safety system to be added to their products.
The classic yellow Mips low friction layer that most people have seen in helmets for years is still there. But most new helmets with Mips technology today feature a system that is even more integrated and sometimes almost invisible when you look inside the helmet.
“We’re committed to making helmet-based safety more accessible to everyone,” said Mips CEO, Max Strandwitz. “By expanding our range of solutions and integrations into more helmet models and styles, we’re making it easier for riders and other helmet users to choose the helmet best fitted for their needs, taste in style, and fit. But for Mips, progress and innovation don’t stop there. We view industry standards as a baseline, not a finish line. We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of helmet safety through research and development, true to our mission: to lead the way to safer and more sustainable helmets.”
All Mips safety systems are engineered to meet the same criteria within redirection of rotational motion and are designed to provide safety beyond industry standards.
Mips provides a wide range of solutions to meet the differing needs of the many types of helmet users. Please see the different solutions listed below and you can see more from the whole range here;
Mips® Essential Core: Designed to help reduce rotational motion in oblique impacts through low friction. Simple, yet efficient. A perfect introduction to the Mips safety systems, it can be found in helmets used for bicycling, horse riding, motorcycle riding and skiing.
Mips® Evolve Core: Mips Evolve Core is a system designed for use in a wide variety of helmets intended for activities such as skiing, horse riding, bicycling and motor sports. With its refined fit and light construction, Mips Evolve Core has become our most popular helmet safety system.
Mips® Air Node: Fasteners are designed to release at oblique impacts to help redirect rotational motion. The Mips Air Node system provides omnidirectional movement with minimal changes to the original helmet. It is especially suitable for highly ventilated, lightweight helmets, as the system itself adds practically no extra weight or volume.
Mips® Elevate Core: Rotational movement for harness helmets in oblique impacts. Hard hats were initially developed to protect against falling objects and are now used for workplace safety throughout the construction industry and many other workplaces.
Mips® Integra Fuse: A premium solution for omnidirectional movement. The system is comfortable, and durable, and adds no stack height to the helmet. It can be found in helmets used for biking, skiing, motorsports and horse riding.
Mips® Integra Split: The design of the Mips Integra Split provides seamless integration, a comfortable fit and gives designers freedom to incorporate greater ventilation in the helmet. The system provides omnidirectional movement for helmets with ample EPS coverage.
Mips® Integra TX: An invisible solution that provides omnidirectional movement. Mips Integra TX is useful in moto, equestrian, and snow helmets, where comfort is vital. The system is integrated in the comfort padding and is attached to the helmet with hook-and-loop fabric or existing attachment points inside the helmet.
As more helmets utilize the Mips safety systems, consumers demand progressively more integrated versions of the systems. Mips aim is to minimize the presence and visibility of the safety system without compromising the level of redirection of dangerous rotational motion to the head for any of its products. That means making Mips technology something that the user never has to manage or sometimes even notice.
GripGrab New Short Finger Summer Cycling Gloves
GripGrab announces the launch of its all-new range of short finger cycling gloves for summer rides
Engineered for optimal functionality
The new range of GripGrab short finger gloves carries forward the tradition of GripGrab’s excellence that cyclists have come to trust. Engineered to a level of optimal functionality, the gloves boast a meticulous design that combines comfort, durability and grip – ensuring the rider experiences the ultimate connection between hand and handlebar. Crafted with state-of-the-art technology, the new GripGrab short finger gloves are more than just an accessory: they are essential companions for cyclists who demand the best comfort.
Improving what was already good
The new GripGrab Short Finger Summer Cycling Gloves represent a leap forward in the design of cycling essentials, taking what was already good and making it even better. When it comes to functionality, there’s always room for improvement. GripGrab understands that product development is an ever evolving concept, and these gloves embody the brand’s commitment to designing and developing cycling gear that enables riders to experience cycling in the best way possible.
Resourceful design with reduced impact
The new Summer Cycling Gloves are made with a conscious choice of using recycled materials. By incorporating recycled materials (up to 90%) in the gloves, GripGrab delivers new gloves that are both environmentally responsible and performance driven.
Featured products
The new GripGrab summer short finger cycling gloves range offers a carefully curated set of products that have earned their place in the line-up by meeting specific functional needs. Making purposeful cycling wear is key to understanding GripGrab’s mission of making gear that allows you to ride in all conditions.
Below are two prime product examples from the range that show this approach.
Expert RC Max Padded Short Finger Summer Gloves
The GripGrab Expert RC Max Padded Short Finger Summer Gloves combine maximum comfort with exceptional durability.
These gloves feature Ride Comfort Max padding to maximise comfort in multiple handlebar positions. The unique padding blend includes strategically positioned high-density foam in combination with memory foam, ensuring superior cushioning on long rides. The high-end microsuede palm is perforated to enhance breathability and offers exceptional abrasion resistance. Grip is enhanced with a silicone pattern for a secure handlebar hold. The backs of the gloves use elastic mesh, providing great comfort and optimised ventilation. The thumb is constructed from a thin microsuede layer, perfect for wiping sweat away from your skin or cleaning your glasses.
Drawing from two decades of experience in crafting cycling gloves, the GripGrab Expert RC Max Padded Short Finger Gloves mark the next level in glove design, succeeding the renowned GripGrab SuperGel gloves. These gloves excel in every aspect expected of summer cycling gloves, providing enduring comfort and superior protection while enhancing durability and using recycled materials. Crafted with a focus on quality and durability, these gloves are designed to be your enduring cycling companion.
ProRide RC Max Padded Short Finger Gloves
The GripGrab ProRide RC Max Padded Short Finger Gloves are designed to offer lasting hand comfort during long days in the saddle.
These gloves incorporate strategically placed padding designed for optimal comfort in various hand positions on the handlebars. The unique padding blend includes high-density foam in combination with memory foam, designed to reduce hand fatigue on long rides. The durable microsuede palm enhanced by silicone print, ensures a secure grip and protection in case of a crash, offering confidence and comfort during your rides.
Fans of the legendary GripGrab ProGel short finger gloves will appreciate this next generation model, drawing on two decades of expertise in designing cycling gloves. Designed with innovative patterns and materials, with a focus on using recycled content, these gloves will enhance the comfort and protection of your hands during long rides.
Ride Comfort Levels
The GripGrab short finger gloves range offers two padding configurations: RC Lite and RC Max. Each configuration features an ergonomic design based on the natural contours of the hand. With strategically positioned padding, pressure points and nerve areas are protected, ensuring optimal ride comfort.
RC Lite
Gloves with RC Lite padding provide essential cushioning for entry-level cyclists on short to medium rides. The RC Lite configuration includes effectively placed padding to emphasise the protection of the Ulnar nerve, resulting in a comfortable experience with both flat-bars and drop-bars.
RC Max
Gloves with RC Max padding offer a fully padded design that provides control and grip. The RC Max padding covers the Ulnar nerve and sensitive pressure points around the Thenar area. The RC Max configuration is designed for longer rides on road and gravel, catering to riders seeking maximum comfort with drop-bars. The RC Max padding also contributes to improved crash protection.
Available now
- The GripGrab Summer Cycling Wear is available now via GripGrab’s extensive European retailer network.
- The full range is also available now on GripGrab.com.
The Stinner x MADE Photo Stick
Elevated Solutions for Pro Bicycle Photography
The long-awaited Stinner x MADE photo stick is here! Years of shooting custom bikes have culminated in the ultimate bicycle photography tool. Fabricated in Santa Barbara, CA, the Photo Stick features a lightweight, packable design and expert craftsmanship synonymous with the Stinner brand. The first run of Photo Sticks is available in steel, with a limited run of titanium versions coming soon. The Photo Stick is your new photo assistant, ensuring every shot is dialed.
Comprised of 3 pieces with welded bottle bosses for attachment, the Photo Stick breaks down for easy carry on the bike, waist pack, or in your photo gear. It deploys by screwing the pieces together and supports the bike securely at the non-drive side bottom bracket/crankarm. Each Photo Stick is finished in-house and features rubberized ends for added grip. Leave it in “frame”, or photoshop it out for perfect floating bike shots on your ride.
In a true collaborative spirit, the MADE team brought this concept to Stinner for fabrication and teased the project at MADE 2023.
Features:
- Collapsible and packable (Welded bottle bosses for the win!)
- Made in the USA
- Cerekote finish for durability on the Steel version (Ti Coming Soon!)
- Raw blasted finish on the Titanium version – COMING SOON!
- Rubberized ends for added stability
- MSRP: $59.99
- More info at: www.stinnerframeworks.com
Note: PEZCyclingNews ask that you contact the manufacturers before using any products you see here. Only the manufacturer can provide accurate and complete information on proper / safe use, handling, maintenance and or installation of products as well as any conditional information or product limitations.
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