Wide Open Product Launch: Part 1

So we arrived at about 11am after departing Wellington around 5am and it’s been all go since we arrived. The formal part of the day’s presentation has just wrapped and everyone is getting ready to head out to dinner (well except me and Jono). Anyhow Dean from Wide Open just said to me “Fresh is Best”. With that in mind we’re just going to show you the newer bits and pieces to grace the tables at the launch. Problem is there’s a tonne of new stuff so we might just do it in a couple of posts. Anyway here goes the first one…

So we may as well kick things off with Formula, being Wide Open’s latest brand and their most unique brake, the Formula RO which features Formula’s Oval Piston Technology, top loading pads, a radial master cylinder, FCS bite point adjuster and tool free reach adjuster. They are compatible with mixmaster for SRAM shifters as well and are a great freeride/downhill brake, as shredded by Brook MacDonald, Cam Cole, Sam Blenkinsop and Matt Scoles! RRP is $399 per end; at 361 grams that’s $1.10 a gram.

The T1 is aimed at the all mountain/freeride/downhill brake market and rocks 24mm pistons, top loading pads, a radial master cylinder, FCS bite point adjuster and a tool free reach adjuster like the RO. It’s also compatible with mixmaster for SRAM shifters, it looks (and feels) like a super solid great all mountain/freeride/downhill brake.

A close up view of the T1’s FCS bite point adjuster and the tool free reach adjuster. The T1 retails in New Zealand for $380 per end and weighs in at 336 grams.

The RX is Formula’s price point brake and at $220 per brake you could even get some for the kids. It also is rocking 22mm pistons, top loading pads, a radial master cylinder, and yes it is compatible with mixmaster for SRAM shifters. You can also add the FCS bite point adjuster after if you feel you want to upgrade.

The Formula R1 is the most svelte of the lineup weighing in at a paltry 298 grams per brake. Other than the carbon levers it shares lots of features with the other brakes like 22mm  pistons, top loading pads, a radial master cylinder and again it’s compatible with mixmaster for SRAM shifters, and you can also add the FCS bite point adjuster. It’s a great XC/trail/all-mountain brake and will empty your wallet to the tune of $355 per end.

SDG are another of Wide Open’s brands that are continually dropping new product and the Duster is their latest offering, featuring SDG’s “peri canal” through the centre of the seat for increased blood flow. It’s also rocking a low profile squared off nose for climbing ease. Superlight EVA foam, a lightweight nylon base and Ti alloy rails ensure a stealthy weight and a RRP of $149 means it won’t break the bank.

It wouldn’t be a product launch without a collab and SDG have got into bed with grip giants ODI to produce the SDG branded lock-on grips. The circular logo feels pretty comfy (I’ll be riding these tomorrow) and according to SDG evenly spreads pressure.  It also features ergonomic bars at the front of the grip for added traction when getting gnarly.

You may have seen Gravity’s newest offering The Gradient crank in some Interbike coverage. Well in the flesh it’s even radder. Its 30mm spindle works with both regular 68/73BB shells and pressfit 30 / BB30 frames and yes the carbon arms are hollow.

The Gradient’s massive 30mm spindle! The cranks weigh 845g (with two rings and a guard; no bottom bracket) and are offered with a variety of 10-speed compatible 1x plus guard, 2x plus guard and 3x combos and will be retailing here for $849.

The Gradient line also spills into bars. Like this Gradient OS CSI Handlebar, made from unidirectional carbon and 7050 aluminum…

…and this Gradient seatpost which features the same unidirectional carbon shaft with a bonded-aluminum head, a flat top-clamp with twin-bolt allen key adjustment, zero setback and it’s 400mm long. It’s available in 27.2mm, 30.9mm and 31.6mm diameters and hits the scales at 240 grams.

When we brought you the Turner 5 Spot bike check a few months back we mentioned that FSA had moved away from the 3 bolt pattern (found on its 386 SLK cranks) to a standard four bolt pattern, mainly to give riders a bit more choice when it came to chain rings. Well they’re finally here and feature a 24/36 ratio for 10 speed, a solid carbon arm construction for durability and stiffness at a low weight. What’s the low weight you ask? 693 grams and a RRP of $550.

Not feeling carbon? Or the hole it might leave in your wallet? Well FSA have you there as well with this sweet Afterburner double crank (now in the new four bolt pattern as well) 24/36 ratio chain rings sit on hollow forged alloy arms. 762grams worth of double chain ring badness all for RRP$399.

And while we’re on the Gravity/FSA theme I may as well mention the always popular Gravity Light bar and stem now gets the Ice Grey colour treatment. The details remain the same though: 7050 alluminium construction, ice grey annodised, shot peened to increase surface hardness. Strong enough for freeride, but light enough for XC/trail, 800mm wide.

In the Gravity camp there were also these allumnium/carbon composite CSI bars. The 7050 alloy is wrapped in uni directional carbon for durability and low weight. There’s a riser  (9×6 sweep, 15mm rise, 740mm width) and one that isn’t.