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FEATURES: KANSAS BOB & THE PURSUIT OF LIGHTWEIGHT
Bob Sutton
March 21, 2011
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Prior to visiting Interbike each year, I download the floor plan of the exhibit area and pinpoint the locations of everyone that I plan to visit during the show. Fair Wheel Bikes always makes the list and is usually one of the first places that I visit. I’m telling you this to emphasize how cool their display always is. When you consider that the world’s largest and best known bicycle and component manufacturers are in attendance, how is it that a bike shop from Tucson has grabbed my attention for so many years? They have really cool stuff! Each year they show up with lightweight custom components that could better be described as jewelry than what most of us think of as bike parts. Not only have I not seen their selections before, in most cases, I have not even heard of the manufacturers before. This year I placed them in my Top Ten favorite things from Interbike story.
So last week I found myself in Phoenix with an afternoon to kill, plugged their address into my GPS and set off on a 240 mile round trip run down I-17 just to see their shop. Along for the drive was my old biking buddy Topeka Tom, and to set the stage I regaled him with tales of the unbelievable and previously unattainable components that we would get to see. The shop, itself, is located close to the University of Arizona Campus and stocked full of bicycles and components, but none of the carbon wonders of Interbike were on the shelves. A nice young fellow asked me if he could help, and I told him that I was looking for the cool stuff. “Ah”, he replied, “you need to visit Jason back in his office”. With that, we were escorted back through the retail area, wound around the busy service area, past the computer sales folks and pointed towards a doorway leading into a small office crammed with boxes upon boxes full of the components dreams are made of.
Jason Woznick introduced himself to us, and to my dismay, said that their most cool stuff was at their new gallery in their Portland shop. I knew better though and started asking for products that I’d seen at the big show, and only then did he start rooting through his office and rummaging in piles of parts lying on his floor. The wonders began to show themselves. As each component was presented, Tom and I would shove each other around to see who could touch it first. Armed only with my i-Phone, I started taking photos so that I could share them with all of my bike geek friends.
Jason told me that Fair Wheel Bikes was going to be opening a new small space near the old shop where they'll have more room to show-off all of his lightweight goodies. I’m already planning a return visit to Tucson and next time I’ll bring a real camera!
Fair Wheel Bikes
1110 E. 6th
Tucson, Az.
SO WHAT ABOUT THIS JASON CHARACTER?
RBA: What’s this we hear about a new shop in Oregon?
Jason: It’s called Het Fairwheel Podium and it’s not really a shop, it’s more like a gallery. We sell some small things there, but basically it’s a 1000 sq. ft. building with about 13 bikes on display and about 100 different parts.
RBA: What about the shop in Tucson, what’s that like?
Jason: The shop has been here in the same location (an old grocery store) since 1972 – and it shows. I got here in 1993 as just a job to get through college and I never left. I guess all the lightweight stuff that we’ve become famous for is part of my legacy.
RBA: You are obviously on the pulse of all the most lightweight parts on the market, what’s going on out there that you’re excited about?
Jason: You mean the list that I can talk about?
RBA: What other list do you have?
Jason: Well, we’re working on some pretty interesting projects that I can’t make public yet, so let’s keep to the parts that are out there. There’s the new THM-M3 carbon crank from Germany that I like. The original has been out there for awhile, bu the new one has some big improvements. It’s still light (420 grams) and stiff, but they replaced the carbon spindle with aluminum and now it’s SRM compatible. Tune also has their new Sport Foot cranks coming soon. There seems to be a lot of interest in cranks now – I’m also pretty excited about the new EE cranks.
RBA: Why is it that so many of all the light parts come out of Germany?
Jason: They are definitely willing to push the boundaries over there. I also think it has t do with the legal system. Everything over there has to be tested before it can be sold, but not only is the liability factor different in Europe, but the consumers have a more realistic mindset and are open to the trade-offs. They know that a lightweight carbon crank won’t be ideal for a 240 lb rider or last for ten years.
RBA: So do you already have plans to show-off another project bike at the Interbike show?
Jason: No, I think a six pound bike is about as light as you can get, well, actually we are working on something lighter, but we’ll see.
RBA: What about the mainstream world, are there any bikes out there that you’re impressed with?
Jason: I think Trek’s Speed Concept bike is really cool and I’m looking forward to seeing how the cam tail technology makes the jump over to road bikes.
Fibula brakes are 100 Grams per set.
If you are looking for smooth pulling cables, look no farther than these KCNC DLC (diamond like carbon) coated babies. We've been told that certain shop mechanics couldn't scratch the coating with a knife.
This beautiful carbon Clavicula THM crankset will be available about the first of April (no joke). They only weigh 420 grams. Price? If you have to ask, you probably can't afford them.
The Extralite QRC2 crankset only weighs about 475 grams!
Craig Edwards at EE is developing this very stiff crankset. It's nice to know that these cranks are made right here in the USA. Nope, they're not available yet.
Boulder, Colorado based Dash has developed this very unique carbon TT/Tri saddle. At a approximately 35 grams, this 3K weave beauty should make even the most jaded weight weenie happy
Amaze your friends by sporting the first carbon chainring on your Saturday ride. Fibre Lyte makes this 50 gram, 50 tooth custom chainring with a 1K carbon weave
Polish component manufacturer Soul Kozak makes this really cool 190 gram rear hub. Check out the unusual machining on the freehub body.
The 75 gram MCFK adjustable seatmast is made of uni-directional carbon fiber and weighs only 75 grams. This mast allows riders that own bikes with integrated seatposts two cm of height adjustment. It's available in several sizes; 30.2, 34.9, 38.2.
These Schmolke TLO 3K weave carbon bars only weigh 145 grams.
AX Lightness Carbon spring rail, 53 grams.
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