Continuing with the Sea Otter purge, it’s time to get into some new components. Again, these are just some of the things I found while cruising the show – make sure to check out other roundups from Ron and Jordan for more.

Hope RX2 Brakes, Carbon Gravel Crank, More

Hope is always worth a visit at trade shows because they make everything in-house, so there are always new things they’ve whipped up for the occasion. On the gravel/road side, Hope has a few new additions, including the new RX2 brakes. When they first launched their drop bar brake calipers, Hope did the obvious thing and made some massively powerful four piston RX4 stoppers. Those don’t fit on all frames, and all riders may not need that kind of power, so they made a lighter two-piston RX2 version.

However, Hope claims that the power is still similar to the RX4+, thanks to a one piece machined construction with better brake feel and increased power. Available in mineral oil or DOT fluid compatible versions, the calipers feature a new bleed nipple for easier maintenance, they’re also offered in the typical Hope colors.

That doesn’t currently include the new Smoke option, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it down the line.

Gravel and road bikes also get a new carbon RX crankset derived from their MTB carbon cranks with T700 carbon fiber and a foam core. Built with a 30mm aluminum axle, the crank arms are offered in 165, 170, and 175mm, with weights starting at 426.5g without a chainring. The cranks use a direct mount chainring only, and RX chainrings are offered in 28-44t.

Hope was also showing off a new 35R carbon handlebar with a 35mm rise. Measuring 800mm wide, the bar has a 35mm clamp, and 5º up and 8º back sweep, and a claimed weight of 245g.

Magura Gustav Pro

Magura introduced their Gustav Pro brake last summer, but until now it hasn’t been available for sale as an aftermarket component. That changes now, and you can get Magura’s most powerful brake for $329 per wheel. The Gustav Pro features increased pad volume and thicker 2.5mm rotors to keep your bike out of the shop longer, especially with heavier ebikes. Magura Easy Link technology makes it easier to assemble the brake hoses, and you can install or remove them as often as you need which should make these awesome for internally routed handlebars and headsets.

Madrone Cycles

One of the standouts of Sea Otter 2024, Madrone Cycles, is closing in on the shipping date for their first derailleur, called the Jab after the Jabberwocky trail in Ashland. According to Founder & Engineer Aaron Bland, they are furiously assembling derailleurs now to start shipping in May.

What makes the Jab so unique? It has to be one of the most modular derailleurs available, with eight different shifter cams to work with Shimano or SRAM shifters for MTB or Dropbar drivetrains in both 11 and 12 speed. They’re also rebuildable with common tools, available in four colors, three mounting options, and two cage length options for up to 44t or 51t cassettes.

Sold direct or in select shops, the derailleurs are priced at $295 and are assembled in the U.S. from parts manufactured in China.

Clever Tubeless Valve

Tomo from Clever Standard made the long trip to Sea Otter, and he had this tubeless valve to show. We were apparently the first to see it, and details were limited, but the idea is that it replaces the standard presta valve core with a larger, rebuildable ‘cap’. The cap can be removed without tools, and the valve is said to offer better airflow for tubeless inflation than a standard presta valve.

Retyre Tires Get Real

We’ve been following the ReTyre story for years, and every time we see them, they’ve made real progress towards an audacious goal – building tires with sustainable, 100% reusable and bio-based materials.

Holding this Inti tire for kid’s bikes in my hand, it was the most ‘normal’ feeling tire I’ve seen from the brand. It was flexible, supple, and felt like it would offer decent grip. I got to check out a few samples, including a tire that is currently shipping on Thule bike trailers. For a company that started with crude concept tires and grand ideas, it’s awesome to see the progression of the tires firsthand.

Redshift Top Shelf Flat Bar

You’ve seen the Redshift Top Shelf Riser Drop Bars, now the brand is bringing that design philosophy to flat bars.

Offered in either 50 or 70mm rise, both models are 800mm wide with a 14º back and 5º upsweep for a comfy position. The design looks cool, but it also gives you loads of options for mounting accessories up front. Pricing is TBD.

Take the standard Shockstop suspension seat post, simplify the manufacturing, and add some weight, and you get the new Shockstop City Seat Post. This is geared towards bikes where weight isn’t an issue, like city ebikes, and it has a higher weight limit of 308lbs to make riding more comfortable for more riders. Currently, these are priced at $179.

TRP x Classified Vistar Wireless Drivetrain Gets Closer to Launch

This is another one we saw at Eurobike, but the Vistar Wireless ‘1×16’ drivetrain is getting closer to launch, with an ETA of June. Calling it the first time a Powershift hub has been integrated into a wireless drivetrain, the TRP Vistar rear derailleur and the Powershift hub work together to provide the equivalent of a 1×15 or 1×16 drivetrain with a 528% gear range. I say equivalent because there are actually 24 gears, but some of them are redundant, so the system automatically shifts up or down to give you the 15 or 16 gears with smaller gear steps than you’d get out of a typical 1×12 speed drivetrain.

Check out the link above for more details, and expect these to go on sale as a full drivetrain soon. Options will include both a road and gravel version with aluminum or carbon cranks, and even an aero chainring option.

Wera Safe Torque Speed

I’ll leave you with the newest torque wrench from Wera, the Safe Torque Speed. Instead of a dial that you have to turn forever while looking at tiny gradations to set the proper torque, this wrench has four presets that can be quickly flicked from one to the next. It is also a slip-over design, meaning it’s impossible to go past the desired torque. It’s available in a few different versions, but the Bike tool has presets for 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6Nm, and has a torque-lock fixed position for tightening or loosening bolts.