As usual, Ashima didn’t disappoint. They had a range of new products and concepts on display at both Eurobike and Interbike, including an updated version of their hydraulic PCB pistonless road bike rim brake.
Originally shown in 2010, now we’re at least seeing where the hydraulic lines insert. The arch is carbon fiber, and the brake fluid pumps directly into the space behind the pad, using a flexible “pancake” membrane to push the pads out and retract them without a traditional piston and seals. No word on production plans. While it’s aimed at the aftermarket, Gregory from Freshbikes says they told him there were some undisclosed OEM parties coming by their Interbike booth for “productive talks.”
This guy might just take the cake for smallest multitool ever and still include a functional range of Allen keys, two screwdrivers and a Torx wrench. Also note the small spoke wrenches on the sides.
Blurry, yes, but still one of those “why didn’t I think of that” ideas that seems so obvious. By running housing all the way down, you avoid the inevitable drag associated with cable noodles. Brilliant.
The PCB brakes, which we reviewed here, get a new alloy master cylinder with a top mounted cap and a Vitol diaphragm. The Vitol is a firm plastic-looking material that replaces the soft rubber from the originals. This gives the brakes a better, much firmer feel since they’re a pistonless design.
The calipers will get a redesign soon, too, to make them a little stronger. Weight will go up a bit, but performance should get better according to their reps.
The Flo-Tor is their latest brake rotor and is a true floating design. There’s 0.3mm float between the rotor and the carrier, and they’re held together with a stainless/aluminum bolt and nut combo. The 160mm is 75g, all popular sizes will be available.
Their PCaC carbon rim brake pad gets a redesign with a larger surface area to help take more heat from the rim surface.
Big thanks to Gregory at Freshbikes for the assist on coverage, top three pics are his.
