If you want your wheels to be noticed, at this point they had better be wide. After launching the Afterburner wheel line in 2014/15, FSA’s aluminum MTB wheelset is getting a wider, sorry WideR, upgrade…
Compared to the 21mm internal width of the originals, the asymmetric WideR rims come in at 27mm internally with a depth of 25mm. Using a hookless bead system, the wheels are tubeless compatible and will be offered in 27.5 or 29″ models. Sold with either Shimano 9-11 or SRAM XD free hubs, claimed weight is listed as 1,640/1,720g.
A big chunk of this huge wave of new product comes in the form of stems for MTB. Meant for XC/Trail riding the line includes wider face plates, a 50/60mm drop stem, and even a -12º drop stem for getting that bar as low as possible.
Road bikes will benefit from the new extraLight bars and K-Force Light Stem. Offered in a compact or ergo bend, the bars have a 150mm drop, 80mm reach, and 2 degree outward bend. With claimed weights of 169/170g (40c), the bars will include tags with verified weights for each individual bar. FSA admits the K-Force Light stem isn’t the lightest, but it’s a great options for those that want the most stiffness or the look of carbon in a 140g package.
To go completely integrated, step into the new Metron 5D bar/stem from Vision. The one piece carbon system includes full internal cable routing plus storage under the stem for Shimano Di2 junction boxes as well as a removable Garmin mount. The bars are shaped with a 5mm offset to the drop and include an integrated spacer system with 10 and 20mm sizes with standard or custom fits.
Triathlon hydration isn’t something you typically associate with design awards, but that’s exactly what landed Vision a d&i award. That’s due to near universal fit, integrated Garmin or universal accessory mount, easy fill bottle, magnetic bento box for easy cleaning, and an articulating straw. The system is even compatible with standard bottles and cages if that’s more your speed.
