Day 3 Randoms - Eurobike 2019
Hope
![photo]()
Hope were showing off this new 2-in-1 brake lever that is made for riders that have one arm weaker than another. A lever was originally made by a student in France using his father's machines to aid his own riding. When Hope saw what he had made they invited him over for an internship and he spent his time producing this double lever for them.
![photo]()
The shorter lever is used by your index finger to control one brake and your middle finger uses the longer lever to control the other. Hope warned us that you have to be careful with the longer lever as it's very easy to apply a lot of force to. The levers will be made to order and it weighs and costs about as much as two single brake levers.
![photo]()
Hope also had a new crank available for e-bikes. They only have the fitting for Bosch motors at the moment but are hoping to expand their offering in future.
![photo]()
![photo]()
Huldr's gearbox downhill bike
![photo]()
Sweden's Huldr returned to Eurobike this year with their second prototype of gearbox downhill bike that can be converted into an e-bike. The company apparently initially wanted to make an electric motorbike with mountain bike components but as the idea grew they decided to make a convertible bike instead. Huldr only arrived at Eurobike today, so the bike we saw and shot was set up in downhill mode, but still had a flat rear tire and a chain that was too long.
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
The magic happens in the bottom bracket where a 3D printed insert can be used for switching between the two options. It's definitely not a trailside swap though as you'll have to fit a full drivetrain as well as the motor.
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
Falcon Full Carboon Clincher
![photo]()
Galfer
![photo]()
Galfer are continuing their quest to supersize brake rotors with this latest prototype. This rotor comes in at a massive 246mm, making it bigger than the current largest on the market by 23mm. It is designed for 29 inch downhill bikes and e-bikes and Galfer advise that it is used on the front only due to the power it generates. The rotor comes in at 2.3mm thick so won't also be compatible with all the brake calipers on the market.
![photo]()
It has already been used under the radar by Baptiste Pierron at the Vallnord World Cup and by Galfer's test rider in the Catalan Cup too but Galfer want to get a bit more testing in on the rotor before they commit to a price or release date. They do have a confirmed weight though, 300 grams.
![photo]()
Galfer has also made a 63mm adapter for the brake, which will allow it to be run on downhill forks and even a Fox 36 if you want your trail bike to come to a really sudden stop.
Praep
![photo]()
This Praep Propilot fitness device/game was on display in the start-up area of Eurobike. You download a free app to your phone and then plank above the device using a pair of handlebars. To beat the game you have to dodge between obstacles by shifting your weight left and right, these movements are picked up by the accelerometer in your phone and relayed to the game.
![photo]()
The Praep can use any pair of handlebars or you can buy it with a pair if you don't want to have to take yours off your bike to use it. There is currently only a limited number of tracks available but the plan down the line is to get GoPro footage of real race tracks to use as levels in the game. The Propilot itself costs €49 or €99 with handlebars.
![photo]()
1994 Foes LTS 16]
![photo]()
We found a true blast from the past with this Foes LT 16 that's a quarter of a century old. Retro features include a Tioga disc drive, classic RockShox and Fox suspension and white Panaracer tires.
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
Microshift
![photo]()
Microshift had this conversion kit for Sram Eagle and Shimano XTR 12 speed that allowed you to ditch trigger shifters in favor of top mount thumb shifters.
Hope were showing off this new 2-in-1 brake lever that is made for riders that have one arm weaker than another. A lever was originally made by a student in France using his father's machines to aid his own riding. When Hope saw what he had made they invited him over for an internship and he spent his time producing this double lever for them.
The shorter lever is used by your index finger to control one brake and your middle finger uses the longer lever to control the other. Hope warned us that you have to be careful with the longer lever as it's very easy to apply a lot of force to. The levers will be made to order and it weighs and costs about as much as two single brake levers.
Hope also had a new crank available for e-bikes. They only have the fitting for Bosch motors at the moment but are hoping to expand their offering in future.
Huldr's gearbox downhill bike
Sweden's Huldr returned to Eurobike this year with their second prototype of gearbox downhill bike that can be converted into an e-bike. The company apparently initially wanted to make an electric motorbike with mountain bike components but as the idea grew they decided to make a convertible bike instead. Huldr only arrived at Eurobike today, so the bike we saw and shot was set up in downhill mode, but still had a flat rear tire and a chain that was too long.
The linkage is currently machined from aluminum but there will apparently be a carbon version made before the bike is released.
The Pinion P1.12 is a 12 speed gearbox with a claimed 600% gear range.
The magic happens in the bottom bracket where a 3D printed insert can be used for switching between the two options. It's definitely not a trailside swap though as you'll have to fit a full drivetrain as well as the motor.
The printed carbon insert that can be removed to fit an e-bike motor.
The Huldr prototype in e-bike form with a single crown fork. Converting it will require a fair bit of work as you'll have to fit a full drivetrain as well as swap out the gearbox for a motor.
The chainstays can be made longer and shorter thanks to aluminum extenders.
We saw the bike with a bit more life in it later that afternoon.
Falcon Full Carboon Clincher
Galfer
Galfer are continuing their quest to supersize brake rotors with this latest prototype. This rotor comes in at a massive 246mm, making it bigger than the current largest on the market by 23mm. It is designed for 29 inch downhill bikes and e-bikes and Galfer advise that it is used on the front only due to the power it generates. The rotor comes in at 2.3mm thick so won't also be compatible with all the brake calipers on the market.
The 246mm rotor next to a standard 203mm.
It has already been used under the radar by Baptiste Pierron at the Vallnord World Cup and by Galfer's test rider in the Catalan Cup too but Galfer want to get a bit more testing in on the rotor before they commit to a price or release date. They do have a confirmed weight though, 300 grams.
Galfer has also made a 63mm adapter for the brake, which will allow it to be run on downhill forks and even a Fox 36 if you want your trail bike to come to a really sudden stop.
Praep
This Praep Propilot fitness device/game was on display in the start-up area of Eurobike. You download a free app to your phone and then plank above the device using a pair of handlebars. To beat the game you have to dodge between obstacles by shifting your weight left and right, these movements are picked up by the accelerometer in your phone and relayed to the game.
The Praep can use any pair of handlebars or you can buy it with a pair if you don't want to have to take yours off your bike to use it. There is currently only a limited number of tracks available but the plan down the line is to get GoPro footage of real race tracks to use as levels in the game. The Propilot itself costs €49 or €99 with handlebars.
1994 Foes LTS 16]
We found a true blast from the past with this Foes LT 16 that's a quarter of a century old. Retro features include a Tioga disc drive, classic RockShox and Fox suspension and white Panaracer tires.
Microshift
Microshift had this conversion kit for Sram Eagle and Shimano XTR 12 speed that allowed you to ditch trigger shifters in favor of top mount thumb shifters.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
Was once told when riding in the steep and loose, that you brake with your front and steer with your rear. While that is oversimplified, in essence it is correct. Most braking is done with the front, and use the rear to get it to tuck or swing wide, and note that this can be done without locking up the rear and skidding.
Food for thought.
Same reason cars and motorcycles have a larger brake system on the front than the rear, it is not just bikes.
Literally look at anything with brakes. This isn’t even a discussion.
Just because a brake is bigger or more powerful, that does not mean that it is easier to lock up. You can lock a wheel with a cheap ass brake, but control and especially heat management takes size and power.
Prime example, it is easier to lock up a Juicy 5 than a much bigger more powerful Hope T3V4. So conversely the more powerful T3V4 provides much better and more consistent performance, all the while being easier to operate at the limit. - But yet the T3V4 - an unequal size 4 piston is harder to lock up than the Juicy a single dia dual piston which by a lot of peoples opinion would mean that is is less powerful.
Your guess, but I know which one is on the DH bike an which one is sitting in the parts box.
Happy Trails.
What?
I am considering modulation. A brake with less all out power tends to modulate better. A brake that’s hot won’t have heaps of initial bite but it will have some modulation, which sounds great for the front, and less great for the rear if you’re trying to skid
The pinkbike powers that be are going to add a kleinbake filter similar to the ebike filter available for us to hide things....
What @bigtim is trying to tell you is that solely placing the exact same brake/rotor in the front of a bike (or any vehicle for that matter) does not inherently make it "stronger" as you are saying. It has (not accounting for the flex in the brake line) the exact same power as the rear.
What does happen, is that the brake will have a greater effect on stopping than the rear because the weight transfer onto the front wheel affords more grip whilst braking, allowing you to apply more braking force through the front wheel before traction is lost (ie lockups) compared to the rear.
BUT... tire grip IS the issue... you'll never use that added power; whereas, you can if placed on the front, where the grip IS higher thus allowing greater force to be applied through it.
If you notice the caliper machining is even "rougher" and it has been alluded to in the past that the heavy contouring works as mini cooling fins giving more radiative surface area.
On cranks though....I'm going with a combo - reduced machine time but the official answer will be - visual I'm guessing.
Otherwise no idea. Toss then toss now
You just made my day.. Hahaha
I really think it is a cool and fun idea and I would even buy it. Unfortunately I don't have a compatible phone. I could borrow my girlfriend's though it probably would only last until it short circuits from the sweat or just breaks from me crashing into it. Next iteration: build in a protective case for the phone.
I like it, reminds me a less refined Forbidden Druid, but with more travel. Which is what I would actually want to buy.
I already thought about such a "roller link" but thought it was a bad idea if nobody was doing it.
I’m old.