EUROBIKE RECAP #1 – Eurobike 2022 starts this week, and per usual, there are a million launches happening before we ever hit the expo floor. Here’s our pre-cap of the best early announcements, and stay tuned, there’s a ton more to come this week!
Shimano XT Di2 is for e-MTB only
It’s been years since Shimano has made an electronic mountain bike group. Now it’s back, sort of. The new Shimano XT Di2 is designed for eMTB use, and only pairs with their new EP6/801 e-bike drive systems.
It’ll come in an HG+ version for high-end 12-speed cassettes, and a tougher LinkGlide 11-speed version, too. Both are wired into the bike’s main e-bike battery, so you won’t have to charge it separately, and get a new dual-lever shifter that looks very much like their mechanical MTB shifters.
New Shimano EP6 e-bike system shifts w/o pedaling, automatically
A brand new Shimano EP6 drive system brings EP8 level power to a lower price point. A new EP801 replaces the EP8, and both integrate Di2 compatibility, add CAN accessory ports for future expansion, and introduce two radical new e-bike features:
Free Shift lets you shift without pedaling. It works because the system senses a shift and, if you’re not pedaling, simply drives the chainring forward in order to move the chain. You’ll have to be rolling, just not pedaling, making it useful for wild descents or corners when you can’t really pedal but need a different gear on the exit.
Auto Shift, simply, shifts for you…if you want. You can turn it off. It requires one of these new motors and a LinkGlide Di2 derailleur, whether that’s XT or the new…
Shimano CUES Di2 is the commuter version
CUES Di2 gives e-bike brands a more city-friendly option for integrating electronic shifting and all those other new features into commuter and city bikes. It’ll come in 10- and 11-speed LinkGlide versions.
Pricing and availability on all of these things is coming later this summer. They’ll only come on complete bikes, none are are aftermarket upgrades.
Trek Fuel EXe eMTB brings nearly-silent riding
The all-new Trek Fuel EXe was designed to blur the lines between electric and analog, creating an e-mountain bike that rides like a regular MTB, yet provides smooth power with seamless assistance. And you’d be hard pressed to tell it’s an e-bike from the looks thanks to slick button and screen integration.
The 50Nm of torque is a bit more than half what their Bosch-equipped Rail eMTB offers, but it’s leaner and lighter thanks to a custom TQ motor that’s smaller, lighter and nearly silent, plus a smaller (and easily swappable) 360Wh battery good for 2-5 hours. An optional range 160Wh extender adds more. The top model weighs just 40.6lb (18.4kg). With 140mm rear travel & 150mm forks, it’s made for big days on big trails.
Hayes Dominion T4 offers lightweight enduro brake
At just 264g per wheel, the new Hayes Dominion T4 are an enduro weight weenie’s dream brakeset. It upgrades from the A4 with Reynolds carbon fiber levers, then puts titanium hardware everywhere, from the bolts to the piston pushrods inside the master cylinder. And the levers pivot on sealed bearings, not cheap bushings.
On the calipers, excess material was machined away, yet they kept their fantastic adjustment screws on the mounting plates, making perfect rotor alignment quick and easy. They say they did light right, too; these offer massive power with excellent modulation, with instant (but tunable) engagement and tough Kevlar-reinforced hoses. MSRP $325/wheel.
Cannondale Topstone Alloy is bikepacking ready, super affordable
The new Cannondale Topstone Alloy gravel bike brings a simpler yet more robust option than their flex-pivot-equipped carbon version, and it adds a lot more mounts. Thankfully, it keeps the standard rear wheel dish, 700x45mm tire clearance (though it ships w/ 37mm tires on it), and threaded bottom bracket
The frame has extra bottle cage and cargo bolts, and a new carbon fork adds even more cargo attachment points. Or, swap it for a Lefty Oliver or standard suspension fork, the geometry is ready for it. Its plumbed for a 27.2mm dropper seatpost, comes in five sizes and five different build options from $1,350 to $2,300.
Reynolds Black Label gravel wheels go Pro
Reynolds has had their AGX “all road” wheels for a while, but launched their dedicated “gravel” G-series wheels last April. Now, they’ve added two premium Pro and Expert Black Label G-Series wheelsets. They keep the same 26mm deep/25mm internal asymmetric hookless/tubeless rim profile, but upgrade to a more impact-resistant carbon fiber/resin mix.
The spokes bump to Sapim CX-Ray with alloy nipples, with the Pro dropping to 20 spokes on the front (24 all around otherwise). The Expert gets a custom Ringle Super Bubba hub (8º engagement), and the Pro gets a custom Reynolds hub with Industry Nine Torch internals (6º). Available in 700c and 650b, claimed weights/prices for 700c wheels are 1,416g/$1,800 (Expert) and 1,357g/$2,800 (Pro).
Small Bites
- Insta360 Prime Day deals include their impressive 1″ action cams
- Speaking of, Amazon Prime Day runs July 12-13 this year
- Kogel has new titanium bolt kits for your bike & components
- Camelbak’s parent company buys Fox Racing (clothing, not shocks)
- Stan’s NoTubes sells to an investment co, current mgmt to stay
- Muc-Off’s ltd ed #MoveOver products fund women’s cycling charities
- Exept Cycles is taking investments through CrowdFundMe (DYOR)
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