We have new bikes from BMC, Pinarello, FiftyOne, Ari, and Titici, plus some juicy info from Scott, Kask, Udog, and Ezoord.
The first day of the Sea Otter Classic is full of new bikes and gear, and the 2024 edition was no exception. We probably only covered a quarter or a fifth of it? – This is what the venue looked like on the first day, but it was a great day.
This first coverage includes details on BMC's latest generation Roadmachine allroad/endurance road bike, Pinarello's production-ready Dogma XC short-travel full-suspension XC race bike, and the new Sika allroad/endurance bike. Irish brand FiftyOne just announced a road bike a few days ago.
Remember Fezzali? The company recently rebranded to Ari and previewed a new Suncrest ultralight road bike meant to go head-to-head with the Specialized Aethos. And finally, Titici is his Italian brand that has been around since around 1961, and I first came across his Sea Otter this year, and his incredibly impressive Alfa Aeroroad model. Judging by the looks of it, I'd like to know. more.
We also found an interesting e-bike repair stand, some slick looking new shoes, and a nice custom paint job.
Stay tuned in the coming days for more to come from Sea Otter.
Have you ever heard of Italian custom frame builder Tititi? Yeah, neither have I. But this Alfa aero road bike was impressive.The treatment of the seat clusters is particularly unusual, but also very distinctive.Tititi says this was a way to improve the frame's aerodynamics while providing superior rider comfort. I don't know if that's true, but it looks pretty.The top tube is super flat at just 7mm and is designed to flex like a leaf spring when you hit a bump.It's probably a good thing that the top tube is designed with some flex, as the matching carbon fiber fork looks very sturdy.The bulbous headtube features full internal routing using FSA's ACR system.Blind thru axle hole. delicious.FiftyOne recently announced their new Sika Endurance road/all-road bike, and we were happy to see it in action at Sea Otter.This seatstay style is like FiftyOne's calling card.The Sika is not designed as a full-fledged race bike, so the front end features a more relaxed fit. However, the cable routing is still completely hidden.We're not sure if this fork crown shape is intended to provide a smooth ride, but it's at least visually interesting.Why not use a standard British threaded bottom bracket shell? This style of T47 allows builders to space the chainstays further apart to further widen the downtube and seattube, and also features an oversized spindle and internal wiring. This allows more space to be left inside the drawn lines.BMC's improved Roadmachine is as beautiful as ever, especially in this bold blue hue.Even without the logo on the downtube, you can easily tell this is a BMC. The company was praised for its strong and consistent design language.Like the previous generation Roadmachine, BMC once again offers a Roadmachine X version that maximizes tire clearance and adds a suspension stem for light gravel.Can you say you've got a new road bike if it doesn't have built-in downtube storage? However, unlike most I've seen, BMC Roadmachine's is built directly into the bottle cage. I am.Remove the hatch/cage and you'll find a handy little burrito bag that slips neatly into the downtube.But even better is the molded carbon tube that guides the internally routed lines, preventing them from rattling or tangling with anything you store inside the frame.The Outback has an integrated rechargeable rear light. It's brighter than I expected and seems to be sufficient for daytime use, but the operating time is a bit disappointing.A chain watcher is also integrated into the bottom bracket shell.I love blind thru axle holes. It is very beautiful.BMC's MTT suspension stem was developed in collaboration with Redshift Sports.Ari (a rebrand of the company formerly known as Fezzari) has previewed a new ultralight road bike called the Suncrest. It also has clearance for 700×35 mm tires, which could also serve as his double role on mixed surfaces.Suncrest hasn't been officially announced yet (and isn't expected to be available for a while), but it's apparently being touted as a competitor to Specialized Aethos.Like the Aethos, the Suncrest features an ultra-light frame (probably only 670 g), an overall nearly round tube profile, and a fairly classic silhouette.I don't know about you, but I love this line.On the other hand, the headset cable wiring…Slender fork legs promise a smooth ride, but as always, the proof is in the pudding.UDH, natch.At the top is a completely normal 27.2mm diameter circular seatpost, secured by an external aluminum collar.In addition to the new Pinarello Dogma XC, there will also be a Dogma XC hardtail.As is typical of Pinarello, the frame is highly asymmetrical. Pinarello claims it's to counteract the different forces found on each side of the bike, but I remain skeptical. It's definitely noticeable though.Pinarello's new Dogma XC full-suspension XC race bike isn't new, but this was our first chance to see it in the flesh and in a production build.I'm not sure if there's any functional advantage to how Pinarello's rear end is built, but it's definitely interesting. Each half is individually molded and joined by a toothed half-he spindle at the main pivot, making it completely different from Campagnolo Ultra Torque cranksets.Pinarello says this additional bracing improves bottom bracket stiffness. All I can think of is one of his famous Instagram accounts who is looking forward to making a nice little frame bag to put in there.The front shock mount can be moved to accommodate slightly different shock lengths to fine-tune rear travel.The linkage arrangement is very carefully designed.Do you know “Safa Brian”? Check him out on YouTube. But only if you can endure hair-raising descents at warp speeds.The custom paint job was done by Ornamental Conifer (a pseudonym for LA-based Nikolai Schroeter).Schroeter appears to have painted a custom helmet for none other than F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.The matching helmet is even nicer.Spanish company Ezoord is at this year's Sea Otter Classic with an ultra-rugged electric repair stand made specifically for electric bikes. This model's lift mechanism is rated to handle bikes weighing up to 80 kg (176 lbs).The semi-triangular base is interesting in that it is mounted on locking casters. Need to move things? That's fine here. And it's much easier than bolting the stand to the floor or attaching it to a heavy steel plate like you normally would.
Also notice the pedals for raising and lowering the bike.
This panel has another set of controls. There are three preset heights, and the system automatically lowers the bike to the ground using built-in sensors.The clamp doesn't have a quick release feature, but it seems pretty sturdy (apart from the 3D printed crank, which is a bit worrying). Jaw liners are interchangeable to suit different tube shapes.Udog has once again expanded its shoe lineup with a new dial-type road model called the Cento.The Udog Cento continues the company's trademark Tensione system, which Udog claims wraps around the entire bottom of the midfoot for a more secure hold. Udog also uses its own dials, especially the large-diameter rubberized knob, which makes it easier to operate. Also note that there is additional protection around the toe to help wipe away tire scuffs more easily.The carbon reinforced nylon plate is a very simple looking item with sliding cleat holes and pass-through ventilation.Udog has also added a new white colorway to its Distanza gravel shoe. It probably won't stay this bright white for very long, but it will look great when new.
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2024 Sea Otter Classic Ali BMC Escape Collective Ezord Fifty One Cask Pinarello Safa Brian Scott Tici
