Frostbike 2010 Review
So this past weekend, I hit up Frostbike, which has become a regular thing now, having been a February tradition for three years now. (You can read my 2008 and 2009 reviews.)
The Reynolds RZR wheels were the revelation of the show, really. I was absolutely stunned by these wheels.
A $6K all-carbon wheelset that weighs less than 900g -- FOR THE SET.
Dear god, these wheels were amazing. The lightness was unreal, and the design was fascinating. The three-flange rear hub was a novel solution to the problem of a radially-laced rear wheel — a third flange on the body of the hub, just inside the drive spokes has four spokes at a 90-degree offset to resist the torsion on the rear wheel. It’s a novel setup, and I’m curious about how you’d replace a broken spoke on that internal flange.
The triple-flanged rear hub on the Reynolds RZR.
They’re a technological marvel. I can’t speak to their ride quality however, because it’s February in Minnesota and I only got to look at them on the sales floor. I don’t foresee having an opportunity to ride them, either — I simply don’t have the $6000 lying around to buy a pair, and couldn’t even swing it with the shop employee pricing program. They’ll have to remain an object of lust.
In the first aisle you roll through, was Gu’s booth, and eventually, I worked up the nerve to try the Gu Chomps. My trepidation is understandable when you consider the taste-testing that Kate and I did on the competing product, Clif Shot Bloks. That said, however, the Gu Chomps were very tasty. I’m still not entirely sold on the “blocks” format, but Gu has definitely surpassed Clif in this version of energy food.
I also did spend some time looking at Salsa’s new titanium offerings and was suitably impressed. Clean welds, much the same styling as their steel brethren. Were I not starting my own framebuilding gig (“ride your own stuff”), I’d seriously consider a La Cruz Ti as my next cyclocross frame.
Ritchey had a small booth going, and were fun to visit. Chatted with the guys there briefly and discovered that they have a program for small framebuilders. Color me stoked! They even have a nifty solution if I was to start doing seat masts (not really).
Edge Composites didn’t have anything stunning that they didn’t have last year. Talked to them a bit about painting their stuff. Since most of it just has clearcoat, that could be sanded down and used as a base for more color. Good.
Shimano was showing off Di2 again. Nothing huge here, but I still want a Di2 kit. Like the Reynolds wheels, you can file it under “lottery purchase”. I did ride it again and was just as impressed as last year.
Campagnolo didn’t have anything revelatory, either. Did talk to them about their carbide frame facing kit, which I am going to need and will probably pay out of the ass for.
DZ Nutz and Chamois Butt’r had samples available. DZ Nutz had their chamois creams, which I am going to try, and Chamois Butt’r had a new formula, plus electrode gel for heart rate monitor straps. I’m going to give some of this stuff a try over the course of the coming week.
All in all, not a bad show this year. Looking forward to 2011.
