While considerably smaller than their other dealer shows, QBP’s Biketoberfest still had some new stuff if you knew where to look. While some of the goods were completely new, others were new to us. Things like the ability to order custom, pre-built Zipp wheels from Quality Wheels. One of the only distributors authorized to build custom Zipps, if you have a certain preference for hubs your local bike shop should be able to help you out…
According to QBP, products like custom Zipps are available with a super short 2 day build time meaning you could easily get your custom wheels in under a week after the ordering an shipping process (sooner if you pay for rush shipping). A rush build option is also available from Q with a 1 day turnaround for a minimal charge.
Custom wheels can be built with any hubs that QBP stocks, or they also accept dropship orders from other manufacturers which should give you plenty of options. For the show builds Q chose to feature Onyx hubs.
We’ve gone over most of the features of Onyx hubs like their instant engagement and silent free hub, but we haven’t noticed this clever little touch on the front disc hub. One of the concerns of running disc brakes with quick releases is that the rotational forces will cause the hub to eject from the fork. Rather than using round end cap, the Onyx hubs use a rectangular key and slot system which could help keep the hub in the fork. We haven’t tried it on a bike to see if it makes wheel changes much more difficult, but it’s an interesting concept.
QBP also had several other custom wheels on display including Onyx equipped fat bike wheels, and even super affordable Boost compatible plus wheels.
As one of the events that inspired the Teravail tire range and served as a chief testing ground, there will be a limited number of Dirty Kanza Edition Cannonball tires for sale. If you haven’t checked them out yet, Teravail is a line of gravel, dirt, and bike packing tires which are all tubeless ready and supposedly quite durable.
ABSP. That’s Always Be Solving Problems, or what should be the motto of Problem Solvers. Every time we show up there’s something new to make bike mechanics’ lives a little easier. This time that comes in the form of new adapters to MisMatch your brakes and shifters. Problem Solvers is now packaging the Shimano Ispec A and B adapters in the same kit to cut down on confusion and SKUs. Apparently it’s just a few small pieces of hardware so it doesn’t influence the price much and provides both adapters. We’re told there will all be XTR brakes to SRAM Matchmaker shifters and XTR shifters to SRAM Guide brake adapters coming soon.
On the bottom is a simple little fix for fat bike lovers everywhere. The Fat Fork Disc Rotor spacer will space out your rear disc spaced hub to fit your front disc spaced fork. As rear spaced forks are getting less common, many riders will be left with wheels that won’t fit their new forks. The Fat Fork Disc Rotor spacer does exactly that and spaces the rotor out 4.8mm to put it in the correct position. Included is an aluminum spacer with 6 extra long stainless steel rotor bolts to make it all work.
You’ve seen the baddest winter cycling boot around with the Wolfgar from 45NRTH. At Biketoberfest they were showing the replacement inner boots you can buy to swap out when the first pair gets wet so you stay warm (when it’s -25º of course).
Finally, the new MicroShift Arsis 11 speed road group was on display. We caught most of their new mountain bike product in Taipei, but for the road MicroShift is bringing another gear to their MIC product line. Available in both the carbon clad Arsis and all aluminum Centos, the 11 speed groups will be 2×11 compatible and will run up to 32t rear cassettes.
The dual control levers continue with their lower paddle for up shifts like a SRAM shifter, and the upper thumb paddle for down shifts. The upper paddle is fairly large so you can shift it from the hoods or the drops. Weight of the Arsis 11 shifters, front, and rear derailleur combined is claimed to be 792g.
