Here’s the Week in Tech — all the gear news, tips, and announcements you need and none of the marketing gibberish you don’t.
CeramicSpeed opens bike lube development lab
CeramicSpeed announced the creation of a new Lubrication Development Lab to test and challenge the claims of chain lubes on the market. The facility will combine the latest equipment with expertise provided by Jason Smith, an authority in lubricant testing and development.
VeloNews commissioned Smith’s original research on chain lubes in 2013, and the Lubrication Development Lab will help him extend his initial findings and further the understanding of drivetrain efficiency. Smith was appointed chief technology officer and manager of the new lab, where he plans to apply his understanding of fluid dynamics and engineering to map myths and claims made regarding chain lubricant efficiency and lifetime.
Trek recalls Bontrager Flare RT and Ion 700 RT lights
In a coordinated effort with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Trek is issuing a voluntary recall of select Bontrager Flare RT lights sold individually as well as Bontrager Ion 700 RT front lights sold as part of the Bontrager Transmitr Set with Remote. This recall was prompted by the discovery that the lights can turn off without warning when paired with a remote transmitter. To date, no injuries involving the affected lights have been reported, but the recall affects 700 lights sold in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Japan.
Owners of Flare RT lights should check their light for the date code between Af0400001 and Af0400407, located on the back of the light. The date code of the affected Ion 700 RT is 1606 and is located on the bottom of the light under the charging port cover.
As part of this voluntary recall, Trek will provide a free replacement light through its authorized retailers. To incentivize owners of the affected lights to return them, Trek will be issuing a $20 coupon good toward any Trek or Bontrager product for every light returned.
Authorized Trek retailers have been notified of the issue, and replacement lights are currently shipping to shops in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Japan. Owners of the affected models can expect fast service and replacement parts.
NAHBS tickets now on sale
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show is slated to take over Salt Lake City this March with another round of handcrafted bikes and equipment to knock your socks off. Tickets for the March 10-12 show are now on sale starting at $18 for a single-day admission.
For years, NAHBS has been a meeting point for frame builders, customers, and enthusiasts who are curious about the rich culture and attention to detail of handmade frame building. The eccentric community comes together once a year to swap ideas and showcase talents, and it’s one of VeloNews’ favorite shows of the year.
Diamondback launches high-performance women’s trail bike
Diamondback’s new women’s Clutch trail bike is built on the company’s Level Link suspension platform that was released last year on the Catch and Release bikes. Level Link is a short-link, four-bar suspension system that was built for pedaling efficiency and aggressive descending.
The Clutch has a long top tube, a short rear end, and a slack head tube and is the most progressive female mountain bike from Diamondback that we’ve seen. It is available in two build options, the higher spec’d Clutch 2 and the more affordable Clutch 1.
The Clutch 2 features a Rockshox Monarch RT3 with Debonair Damper with 130mm of travel as well as a 150mm Rockshox Pike RC fork. The build includes a SRAM 1×11 drivetrain and SRAM Level T hydraulic brakes. A KS LEV dropper post and Diamondback Blanchard wheels with 28mm wide, tubeless compatible rims round out the package, which is priced at $4,000.
The Clutch 1 has a Rockshox Monarch R Debonair Damper with 130mm of travel and a 150mm Rockshox Yari RC fork. The 1×11 SRAM NX drivetrain, SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes, and Blanchard wheels bring the price down to $2,800.
Trek Travel partners with Cancellara for 2017 spring classics tour
Madison, Wisconsin-based cycling tour company Trek Travel announced a new partnership with Fabian Cancellara for the 2017 spring classics. “Spartacus” will join guests in Belgium to share his knowledge of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders while riding along the roads that made him famous. Guests can choose to join for just the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, or opt for the entire 11-day experience that includes meeting Cancellara.
The cost of the trip is nothing to shrug at, coming in at $4,699 per person (based on double occupancy). But that does include VIP seats inside the velodrome to watch the finishing stretch of next year’s “Hell of the North.”
The post Week in Tech: Bontrager recall, chain testing, and more appeared first on VeloNews.com.