Regardless of the type of bike, if it has cables it likely has one thing in common. The crimp. These tiny little aluminum caps have a simple purpose – to protect the end of the cable from fraying after it has been cut. The concept has worked for years, so why change it? As with any new concept, Birzman thinks there is a better way. Reuseable, tool free, and versatile, the Birzman Cable Cocoon may be that one bit you didn’t even know you needed…
Compared to the standard cable crimp which is crimped onto a cable with a tool, the Cable Cocoon is a tool free cable management solution that can be installed by hand. Most mechanics have their own methods for installing and removing traditional cable crimps as efficiently as possible, but for every bike that comes into the shop missing a crimp, the Cocoon could be an interesting solution.
Other than installing without tools and being reuseable, one of the main benefits seems to be that it shortens the exposed tail of the cable considerably, but still leaves a longer section of cable to work with if you have to readjust the brake or derailleur. The design is also compatible with frayed cables meaning you won’t have to sit there and try to rebraid the exposed end of the cable to fit it inside a crimp. The dual exit holes allow it to be used inline or at 90 degrees for V-Brakes, and the clamshell design should keep it locked and in place until it’s ready to be removed. Technically, the Cable Cocoon is still a concept, but it is quite far along and could be in production very soon.
Taking their Maha-Apogee MTB pump a step further, the new Maha-Apogee Fatty pump is geared specifically towards fat and plus bikes. Because of that, its gauge tops out at just 25psi offering much better resolution at lower pressures. The large diameter barrel is better for pushing larger volume and is tilted 5º towards the user for better ergonomics. The premium pump uses a varnished wood handle and their patented Apogee head which works with presta or shrader valves and sells for $80.
The Sheath Apogee is a clever little pump that combines the best of both worlds. Fully assembled, the pump is a standard road pump with a flexible hose and Snap-It Apogee head which is capable of reaching 160psi. However, if you want to speed things up, the Apogee head is removable and threads onto a standard CO2 cartridge for 2-in-1 inflation. The whole thing packs down into a jersey pocket friendly size and sells for $44.
A similar concept is available for mountain bikes with the Infinite-Apogee MTB with CO2. Inside the pump is a dual function chuck which can be threaded to the CO2 cartridge for flexible inflation.
Moving into their saddle bag range, the new Elements 1 and 2 offer simple, water resistant storage. Starting with their incredibly easy twist lock installation, the bags mount to your saddle rails with a simple 1/4 turn. The inside of the bag is accessed through the roll top enclosure with two elastic bands that anchor to the hooks on the side. The 0.25L 1 will sell for $27.65 while the 0.4L 2 will sell for $29.40.
For even simpler, minimalist storage, the FeexPouch can be slipped into your jersey pocket or velcroed to your saddle. The water resistant design is 0.3L in storage and sells for $21.89.
Perhaps one of the simplest tools in the Birzman line up, the Clam is a stainless steel tool for measuring and setting disc brake pad gaps. Especially for mechanical disc brakes, the Clam can be slipped over the rotor and then allow the pads to be set quickly for the novice mechanic who struggles with proper caliper and pad set up.
Stay tuned for more from Birzman – they had a few other concepts on display that were very exciting, though not quite ready for the spot light.
