PressCamp 2011: Day 3

This year’s PressCamp event, which started Tuesday, was held at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, where 25 bike brands were meeting with 40 journalists to talk about the latest bikes, parts and accessories. Canadian Cycling Magazine Editor Dan Dakin was the only Canadian journalist at the event. You can read our Day 1 report HERE and Day 2 HERE.

DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS
Tifosi
Sunglass manufacturer Tifosi was at Press Camp pushing its message that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get high quality eyewear. The company says it is the No. 1-selling eyewear brand in cycling with 31.7 per cent of the market, more than double anyone else. Its most expensive model is less than $90 and all products have a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. For 2012, Tifosi has trimmed some of its old models while adding seven new options. There are now 140 styles spread across 28 models. New for next year are the Jet (26 grams, great for smaller faces), the Logic XL (29 grams and designed for bigger faces), the Seek and Seek FC, the Core (closed rim, adjustable temples), the Tempt (highly adjustable and designed for smaller faces) and the Altar (designed for women). All models will be available in Canada starting in mid-September.

Hutchison
The tire sponsor of team SpiderTech powered by C10 brought one of the most desired sets of tires in the world to Press Camp. The ProTour tubular has won nine of the last 10 Tours de France and has never been sold to the public before this year. Only 340 extra sets were made this year and 34 are on their way to North America. The 255 g 700×22 tubulars are completely handmade and retail for $500/set. Each set is dated and comes in a large box with tire glue. If you want a set, call your local bike shop and have them contact Hutchison (even if they’re not a dealer).
For those looking for something more reasonable, the brand now offers three types of Road Tubeless tires – the Atom, Fusion3 and Intensive. “Road Tubeless is getting bigger all the time. It’s at a tipping point now,” said Hutchison’s national sales and marketing manager Levi Olsen. Expect to see some more developments out of Hutchison’s road tubeless line later this year.
On the MTB front, among the 2012 highlights are the Toro 29er in both 2.15 and 2.35 widths and the new Cobra 29er (2.25) and the beefy Cougar 29er (2.4). Also new is an easy-to-use tubeless conversion kit. It includes everything you need to convert any standard wheelset, as well as enough sealant for both wheels. Available now for $25 in a 26″ format while a 29er option will be added in the fall.

Fox Racing Shox
For 2012, powerhouse suspension manufacturer Fox has made sweeping improvements to its line with a smooth Kashima coating and low-friction seals on most of its models of forks and shocks, as well as Adaptive Logic – a 14-position HD rebound adjust on all shocks. The lineup is being simplified with everything now fitting into either the Factory, Performance or Evolution lines. Among the new offerings for 2012 are a 2.9-pound F32 26″ fork with a one-piece titanium crown and steerer. It will be available in 80mm, 100mm or 120mm options. Also new is the F34, a new beefier 29er fork. It will come with a 15QR only and in either Talas or Float options.

Alex Rims
It’s known more for its lower-priced OEM rims, but Alex, one of the biggest rim manufacturers in the world, is adding a couple of high-end options for 2012. There’s the ALX 820, a 40mm carbon rim with a scandium braking surface and the ALX 850, a 50mm carbon tubular weighing in at 1,380 grams and retailing for $1,800. Also new is the 29XCR Pro, a lightweight cross-country 29er wheelset.

ENVE Composites
Most of the bike industry is outsourcing the manufacturing of its carbon parts to Asia, but wheel and component company Enve says it can produce better carbon rims by making them in the U.S. Enve, based in Ogden, Utah, has released a lineup of aerodynamic carbon road wheels which are specifically designed for either the front or rear. The Smart Enve System tubular wheelsets were designed by Simon Smart and are available as the 3.4 set (35mm front, 45mm rear) or the 6.7 set (60mm front, 70mm rear). An 8.9 set is also in the works. On the MTB side, Enve is adding a 29er tubeless wheelset to its lineup. Enve also makes carbon clincher and tubular mountain bike wheels.