Nipple shufflers and new rubbers: products and prototypes spotted at Sea Otter

Sea Otter, the massive bike event in California that combines expo, racing, camping and a lot of bike love, gets underway on Thursday. We popped in to collect our media passes and did a quick walk around while folks were still setting up their stands. Here are some new things that caught our eye – with what details we could glean as slightly stressed brand managers did their best to build stands and unpack products under the hot sun. Look out for more news in the coming days as the event kicks off properly.

TRP RSO5E Rotors

These have the same thickness as other TRP rotors, but have been laser etched to optimise heating and cooling, particularly during DH Racing. Designed with input from their race team, there should be enough metal where you need it, but also plenty of cooling ventilation. They promise 10% faster deceleration, as well as better bite and bedding in performance.

Unior Tools

Nipple Shuffler

This is indeed the proper name for this tool, although it should really be called the Adjustable Nipple Shuffler since you can adjust the size of the gaps to fit different sized spoke nipples. An essential piece of kit for any wheel builder, the nipple shuffler makes sure your nipples sit ready for you to use your nipple driver.

Triple Pedal Spanner

For all your multi standard pedal needs – this tool has a 6mm and 8mm hex key and 15mm spanner.

Pivoting head hex keys

With 6mm and 8mm heads, these pivot so you can easily spin your pedals into place and then tighten them up.

Chain checker

For checking the wear on new SRAM chains as well as all the others.

Hunt

Proven Race XC Dynamo Wheelset

Developed in response to feedback from their sponsored riders doing some of the big long distance races like the HT550, this dynamo wheelset is coming soon. Combining the Proven XC Race rim with the S Rapid hub (with 2 degree /180 points of engagement) gives riders a fast mountain bike wheel with dynamo.

Proven Race Enduro Classified wheelset

This wheelset is ready for the Classified Enduro Hub. It’s still at prototype stage and is made with a new prototype rim with a fairly flat top profile. When it’s launched, you’ll buy the wheelset from Hunt, and the Classified hub separately from your shop of choice.

WTB prototype tyre

This is a prototype tyre from WTB that Fergus Ryan is currently running front and rear for his races at Sea Otter. It’s made with a new compound which is apparently even stickier than their current High Grip compound. And the new casing is so tough that Fergus isn’t running inserts – there’s loads of side wall support without them, without getting too hard and pingy. Interesting… Benji will have to wait until they’re released, which is some time later this year, to get testing them. Apparently there’s an XC prototype out there somewhere too, we’ll see if we can find it!

Peaty’s Grips

Steve Peat has long since had signature grips, and now he’s put his name to some from his own brand. You can choose from mushroom or knurl, thick or thin. They’re left and right specific, which doubles the cost of the mould to make them, but allows them to have an offset tapered core for better cushioning and specific external contouring for better grip. The grips are also a custom length, using an 8mm clamp instead of an 11mm one. On the underside are finger bars cut into the grip, giving grip without squirm. So, they’re not just rebranded catalogue grips. Better yet, there’s no plastic packaging, with a specially developed card/plug. The plastic cores are also made with 80% recycled ocean plastics.

Turner Gila

This titanium bike has been designed with the Singlespeeders of Arizona in mind. Apparently it’s the epicentre of singlespeeding. But a split chainstay means you can also use a belt drive, which is what’s shown here. It’s got a 3D printed yoke, and the adjustment in the drop out allows you to accommodate a three tooth range in rear cogs without changing the belt. We’ll try and have another chat with David Turner once he’s all set up.

WolfTooth ripsaw pedal

This new convex shape pedal comes with 4.5mm exposed pins, 12 on each side. Shorter pins are available, as is every single component because every part is replaceable. If you really wanted to, like Lego (or possibly a truly excellent advent calendar?) you could buy each part separately and build your own set of pedals thanks to Wolftooth’s Right to Repair programme. Which is nice, and possibly necessary when you’ve spent $199.95 on them.

Fat paw lock on grips

These are 36mm lock on grips with foam outers, designed to give the feel of foam with the convenience of a lock on grip. These use the material as their fat paw foam grip, and the foam section is replaceable.

RedShift Top shelf handlebar

These are riser drop bars – useful for giving you a higher ride position on an otherwise race geometry bike, or for giving you a bit more space to attach your stuff when riding longer distances. They come in 50mm and 70mm rise options, 44cm, 47cm and 50cm widths.

Marin Bedroll Bar

A flat bar kinda version of the RedShift bar – again, giving you a bunch more space for bags, lights, or whatever else you want to attach to your bike.

That’s your lot for now, we’ll have more news and more in depth chats with people as they stop doing battle with tents, displays, and pesky journalists asking questions when they’ve not yet unpacked the info sheets.

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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