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Interbike 2012 - Day 3   Bookmark and Share
images by Nick Salazar   •   Sep 21, 2012   •   hits 56,241

Another BIG story that went public just before Interbike began was the investment Specialized made in Retul. And while it's story and implications are too complex to describe in a short paragraph here, I will say that I'm very happy for the Retul guys. They have a very cool technology, they've worked very hard to develop it, and they're being rewarded and recognized for their great work. One thing it's important to note - Retul is NOT just a tool. It began that way, but along the way, Retul developed their own fit protocol as well. So, if you attend a Retul University, you DO learn how to fit a rider and ALSO how to use a Retul to do it. That's what Specalized invested in - they got a complete package that includes that protocol, AND the most robust fitting tool in the business. How they integrate that into their existing BG Fit system remains to be seen. But kudos to the Retul guys and this new success - they earned it!
 
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As Interbike 2012 draws to a close, it's easy for many attendees to run out of steam, exhibitors and journalists alike. After a full week of coverage, a lot of folks are plain tired. But we've saved some great tidbits for last, so we can go out with a bang. There was a lot of great stuff in days 1 and 2, but I truly there are some gems left in here, and I hope you get as much out of viewing the gallery as much as I did shooting it. This is it for Interbike. We're going to close the books on this one, then regroup and see you in just TWO WEEKS for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Come back then for all the coverage from the island. But for now, here's our final gallery from Interbike 2012. Enjoy!


This is the Lake TX312. It has a rear BOA closure, similar to the new Specialized S-Works Trivent. And although the Specialized shoe got all the glory, Lake technically released theirs first. It's a very interesting shoe, and one I'd really like to test long-term, especially since I have the S-Works Trivent to compare it to.

Notice, the Lake TX312 is functionally quite different from the S-Works Trivent. Where the Spez shoe has a wire that goes around the foot, the Lake has a much shorter run that only snugs the heel to the shoe, and never use the wire tension directly on your foot. The upside to this construction is that it lends itself to a more more enveloped fit - the Lake shoe has much more surface area actually touching your foot. And the big, wrap-around carbon heel cup makes you feel very secure in there (I tried the shoe on, because it happened to be my exact size). The downside is that it isn't NEARLY as easy to slip into, which was the primary benefit of the Trivent.

You can see the Lake TX312 is on its way to being something like a slipper, which is the big benefit of the S-Works Trivent. But it isn't quite there, and is still a little tricky to put on.

Funny enough, the Lake shoe retains a front main strap, which I think may be a design flaw. I guess it's cool that you get that extra measure of adjustment, but I much prefer how that is absent from the Specialized shoe, and you get ALL your adjustment via a single BOA closure. On the Lake shoe, you risk needing to do both adjustments on every ride, if that's how the fit of the shoe affects you. An alternative is just to leave it loose enough so that you can slip in easily and JUST use the BOA closure when you ride. I think that would work out OK. The bad news is that because the BOA is on the heel, and not on the side of the shoe, it's a little harder to get to when you need to snug the shoe down. On the other hand, that keeps it out of the wind, possibly making the shoe more aero.

Here's that big carbon heel cup, which does indeed feel really snug (I tried the shoe on, because it happened to be my exact size).

The finish of the shoe is great - the carbon looks fantastic, and the overall weight of the shoe is incredibly light. I'd probably be very motivated to try and find a pair of these, if I wasn't so happy already with the S-Works Trivent. But I'm gonna try to track down a pair, for the sake of you, dear readers.

The Cervelo P5 is a beautiful bike. And I have to say, I think the P5-Three (shown here) is the better-looking version. The P5-Six has the deeper fork, and a three-piece fairing system that just looks a bit clunky in my opinion. Also of note is that Cervelo has started making the bikes with a matte clearcoat, not the glossy that they began with on the first few production models.

I guess I don't really have a preference between glossy and matte. But it does seem a little weird now that the seatpost is still glossy, and the rest of the bike is matte.

Here's the Magura brake on the P5-Three. The good news is that the brake adds virtually no frontal area - that's a good thing. And it is reputed to stop the bike very well. The downsides are that it isn't compatible with Di2 base bar shifters, you have to get hydraulic bleeding equipment in order to use them (which can be a big pain), and I've heard mechanics complain that the hydraulic setup isn't as rosy a picture as Magura would like you to believe. But again, any time I mention any negatives about this brake, I have to remind readers that I am biased. I'm selling my own brake, the TriRig Omega, which competes with this one. So please feel free to draw your own conclusions. If you think the Magura will serve your needs, by all means go for it. The long and the short of it is, in my opinion, it's a solution looking for a problem. Cabled brakes have stood the test of time, and I truly believe the Omega is the best aerodynamic brake on the market. Keep your eye out for LAVA, Inside Tri, and ROAD magazine - they will all be reviewing the Omega in the near future, which will hopefully provide an independent perspective on the brake.

The P5 has a bottom bracket fairing that hides the rear brake nicely, and this SHOULD work with the Omega as well!

The seatpost clamp on the P5 is big, wide, and should function very well.

From behind, you can see just how narrow the P5 is. That segment that looks so wide is actually just a smidge wider than a 1.125-inch bearing.

One of the more obvious success stories has been the Proform Tour de France trainer. If you live in the USA, I'm sure you've seen their commercials on NBC. This year, they doubled their booth space and had a lot of room to show off their one and only product, the Tour de France trainer. It's definitely a cool little fit bike, but the Wahoo Kickr that I covered on Day 1 looks a LOT cooler to me, for a variety of reasons.

The TdF trainer is smart in that it uses a standard diameter clamp, so you can use your own bars. But they thumb their nose at triathletes, by putting a fixed, immovable computer in the way of where you would otherwise put your aerobar extensions. So you can't put aerobars on there. I suggested they change that for future models, but I'm not holding my breath.

Okay, another REALLY cool product that's finally come to fruition: this is the Kurt Kinetic inRide. Have a look at the PowerUp series that we wrote, and specifically part 5. We showcased a cheap little computer that Kirk makes, that lets you read a virtual power measurement based on the speed of your rear wheel. The new inRide system is a much more sophisticated version of that. Instead of using wheel speed, it uses the actual speed of the trainer. Moreover, it knows when you've stopped pedaling, and won't show a power reading if you're merely coasting. It doesn't require you to install ANYTHING on your bike, and affixes entirely onto the back of the trainer. And even better, it speaks Bluetooth, and so it'll talk directly to your iPhone, and more specifically any fitness app you happen to be using, like the really great app Wahoo has developed (which is FREE, by the way).

The complete inRide package should be ready in just a few months, and you can bet I'll be reviewing it.

Last year I reviewed the Smith Pivlock V90. This is the newer V2, which I will be reviewing soon.

The Pivlock V2 comes in a really nice variety of colors, for both the frames and lenses

This is the Ventus II by 3T. We showed it off last year, and it doesn't appear to have changed. In my opinion, it has a little too much drop. And this is without any spacers under the pads.

Here's another angle on the Ventus II. It looks very good, it just has a poor ergonomic layout.

3T has also introduced the Brezza Nano, their super-narrow 30cm bar.

The Brezza II is available in a matte black finish, and will match that P5 paint scheme nicely.

ISM has been working on some new models, including this very cool looking saddle called the Adamo Attack. Its sides slope outward in a linear fashion, no swooping curves that are uncomfortable on your hamstrings. I think it looks like a great design.

The Adamo Attack has a pretty good range of adjustment on the saddle rails.

The downside of the Adamo Attack is that it's about 265 grams, yet costs $250. That's starting to get really pricey. For $200 more you can get a Dash Tri.7 or Stage.9, which is a MUCH higher-end seat, weighs virtually nothing (about 200 grams less than the Adamo) and one you may potentially keep forever. Something to think about.

Boulder's sweetheart apparel company, the Endurance Conspiracy, is the brainchild of Tony Deboom, brother of two-time Ironman World Champion Tim DeBoom (who can be seen in the photo on the left of this frame). E/C make some cool, light-hearted designs that go on their apparel, like a cartoon likeness of Darth Vader and two Stormtroopers riding hard on their bicycles.

How's this for cool? The Dry Case iPhone bag is a plastic enclosure that you can vacuum seal (either with a pump, or just sucking on the integrated spout), and end up with a fully-functioning phone (you can even use the camera) that is good to about 100 feet! That's what the company claims, anyway. But I'm going to be a little more cautious than that. Still, it's always nice to have some water protection for your phone, especially when you plan to be somewhere like a Hawaiian beach.

Every Dry Case comes with an arm band, and the company also sells waterproof headphones that work with the case.

Another BIG story that went public just before Interbike began was the investment Specialized made in Retul. And while it's story and implications are too complex to describe in a short paragraph here, I will say that I'm very happy for the Retul guys. They have a very cool technology, they've worked very hard to develop it, and they're being rewarded and recognized for their great work. One thing it's important to note - Retul is NOT just a tool. It began that way, but along the way, Retul developed their own fit protocol as well. So, if you attend a Retul University, you DO learn how to fit a rider and ALSO how to use a Retul to do it. That's what Specalized invested in - they got a complete package that includes that protocol, AND the most robust fitting tool in the business. How they integrate that into their existing BG Fit system remains to be seen. But kudos to the Retul guys and this new success - they earned it!

Specialized made a strategic investment in Retul that essentially means they own it. But despite that change, the Retul guys are still working at their craft, and are as motivated as ever to continue developing their technology. That's evidenced by their latest product, the Retul Vantage. The Vantage is a complete overhaul of the original Retul, and is all wireless.

This is the Retul Vantage. It's industrial design has been made to match the Muve fit bike, and it's a great-looking machine.

As mentioned, the Vantage is now all wireless. Here's the wireless Zin tool, which will be really useful for fitters who no longer have to worry about getting tangled up in a bike.

And the wireless rider harness just makes it that much easier to make sure everything is where it needs to be.

Two cameras on each side of the Retul Vantage ensure that the device has redundant information for a more accurate capture.

The Retul Vantage - its smooth, curved design looks good, and performs even better.

The Retul Muve is the company's in-house fit bike, which they also sell to shops and fitters alike. It's a fantastic machine, striking a great balance between on-the-fly adjustment capabilities and affordable simplicity. If I were in the market for a fit bike, this would be the bike at the top of my shopping list.

The Retul Muve fit bike has a huge range of adjustment on every metric, to make sure the fitter and rider have all the options they need to get the right fit dialed in.

Sitting at the Retul booth was this replica of Heather Wurtele's Blue Triad SL, with her custom paint scheme.

Here's another angle on Heather Wurtele's Blue Triad SL.

Interestingly, this Triad SL has a new version of the bar and stem. Instead of a two-piece solution, this one uses a standard stem clamp, which could potentially accept any aerobar. And the new Aerus bar has been given a round clamp. Is this a change for 2013, or a one-off for Wurtele? I didn't have the Blue guys on hand to answer that question, but I'll find out the answer.

This Triad SL uses the same aero spacers to increase stack, but just has that special stem clamp that may or may not be a change for 2013. I'll find out.

There it is, ladies and gentlemen. That was Interbike for 2012. We hope you enjoyed our coverage, and we'll see you in Kona in a couple of weeks!





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