New Mexico’s component maker Lindarets has just announced a few new product releases, including something fairly ground breaking in the road bike gearing department. Confirming our suspicions after the Instagram photo from WTC went out, the company has been working on a wide range cassette adapter kit for road, gravel or touring bikes.
Lindarets also announced their popular ‘Rocks Belong’ t-shirt is now available in blue, a cooler colour for summertime, plus the Goat Link and Giant Cogs for 1×10 conversions are now available individually. Read on for the finer details and more photos of wide-range road conversions…
Wolf Tooth and Lindarets have let the cat out of the bag that they are developing wide-range adapter components for touring, cyclocross, road or gravel bikes. The components or kits are designed for people looking to gain lower gears on their Shimano 10-speed road bike, trim down their commuter, or convert a cyclocross or touring bike to a 1 or 2-by wide range set up.
While there’s no word yet on exact tooth counts or derailleur compatibility Lindarets says it will work with Shimano 10-speed systems, much like their other conversion kits, but their Facebook photo shows an Ultegra derailleur on an 11-speed cassette (with a ‘goes to 11’ Spinal Tap reference in the caption, no less). Hmm…
There are no further details yet but based on the photos it appears this will be a similar kit to the MTB type with a redesigned derailleur link and large adapter cog in play. Lindarets says “stay tuned for more…” so keep an eye on their website and social media for future developments.
One of the big recent debates in mountain biking is centered around the idea of accessibility and the trend towards flow trails, which many advanced riders equate to an undesirable movement of dumbing down intentionally technical trails or features. Lindarets makes their position on the matter clear, boldly stating on this shirt that ‘Rocks Belong!’
While originally released as an Interbike special, Lindarets has extended production of the t-shirt and it’s now available in blue, a cooler color for summertime than the original charcoal option. The blue shirts are sewn, cut and printed in the USA on new American Apparel 50/50 tees that are comfortably soft like the last version, but accept ink better to produce sharper graphics. The charcoal color is still made from the original tri-blend tee. The price has now been reduced to $22.95 USD for either color, and sizes XS-XL are available online.
The Goat link, created by Lindarets and Wolf Tooth components, is designed to reduce wear and improve shifting performance for riders running wide range 11-40 or 11-42t cassettes in a 1×10 configuration. The Goat Link replaces the direct mount link from compatible Shimano 10-speed derailleurs and according to Lindarets, improves chain wrap and reduces premature shifting degradation.
Previously only available in a kit that included a large bailout ring and a 16t cog, The Goat Link will now be sold on its own. The link is compatible with Shimano 10-speed Shadow+ derailleurs from 2013 onwards that use the 8mm direct mount intermediate link. Frames with integrated direct mount dropouts and Sram derailleurs are not compatible. The Goat Link weighs 18g, and is made in the USA from 6061 aluminum. It sells for $16.70, and comes in black or pewter.
Lindarets/Wolf Tooth’s 40 and 42t rear cogs are also now sold individually, for those who already have a Goat Link in place (or similar wide range set up) and just need a new ring. The Giant Cogs work exclusively with Shimano 11-36t 10-speed SLX, XT or XTR cassettes, but be aware SLX models do require users to drill or punch out connecting pins.
The Giant Cogs can be purchased as the big ring alone, or paired up with a stainless steel 16t cog for smoother shift intervals throughout the cassette. The current special edition Giant Cogs come in a pewter anodized finish. The 40t cog costs $69.95, and the 42t sells for $74.95. The 40/16t combo goes for $79.95, and the 42/16t combo for $84.95.
Complete 10-Speed GoatKits are still available, including a 40 or 42t Giant Cog, the 16t cog, and a Goat Link. The Special Edition models include pewter colored Goat Links and Giant Cogs, and cost either $99.95 with a 40t or $104.95 with the 42t option.
