So many of the things on display at MADE could be considered bicycle jewelry thanks to their exquisite design, and impeccable craftsmanship. Then there are the WWXO Performance Earrings, which are actual bicycle jewelry. And not just any jewelry, but “ultra-limited edition high-performance fashion”.
The result of a collaboration between Ogle Component Design, and Wow What Studio Chief Designer, Anna Schwinn, the WWXO Performance Earrings are a fun way of repurposing early versions of the Ogle XL Lockrings. These lockrings are machined from Grade 5 Titanium 6AL/4V and are likely the lightest Ti lockrings in the world, so these limited edition earrings won’t do much to weigh down your earlobes. In fact, they’re said to be less than 12g per pair, including the 14k gold-filled “perfect balance ear hooks for maximum dangling stability.”
“Anna and I both believe that to view technological innovation in cycling without the lens of fashion is both dishonest and incomplete.” – Josh Ogle, Founder of Ogle Component Design
If you haven’t caught on by now, Anna and Josh have had some fun with the press materials for the earrings, poking fun at the marketing often used for limited edition cycling products. These were real products, though, with just 13 pairs that were available at the MADE show.
If you manage to find a pair, you’ll be happy to know that they are “compatible with all basic fully pierced human ear lobes.”
Lightest Titanium Rotor Lockrings?
For those of us who don’t have pierced ears, but do have Centerlock disc brake wheels, Ogle Component Design offers their XL Titanium Lockrings as non-earrings as well.
Weighing just 4.96g each, or 5.43g with a washer, these have to be one of, it not the lightest titanium lockrings on the market. Machined in Ogle’s Durango, CO workshop, the lockrings are inspired by knock-off wheel nuts from race cars of the 60s and 70s. As such, you will need a special tool to tighten them down, which Ogle includes for an extra $65.
The lockrings themselves are $195 for a pair, or $260 for the pair with the installation tool. Ogle points out that these are only compatible with road bike centerlock disc hubs up to 148mm wide with 12mm thru axles (and to check out the 2-page instruction manual).
Want something a bit less expensive that’s still super light and doesn’t require a special tool? The Ogle OG titanium lockring set is priced at $180 and weighs in at 15.7g per set. Above, is the evolution of the OG lockring on the left, and the Lifering Titanium Lockring on the right which are $190 a set.
No word on the pricing of these one-off MADE titanium lockrings machined just for the show!
