Smith has introduced two new models and new frame colors with their Ignitor NXT photochromic lenses for the Pivlock V2 series.

Shown above in Impossibly Black is the Pivlock V2, which is now available with both a black and clear NXT photochromic lens, allowing it to automatically adapt to varying light conditions. The two NXT lenses are also available with their mirror blue lens and white frame, and in the larger Pivlock V2 Max.

The new Approach 2 and Approach Max are dual-lens designs that use Smith’s newer two-position adjustable nose piece and their eco-friendly, plant-based Evolve frame material. It’s made of Rilsan Clear, a material sourced from non-GMO, renewable castor plants.

Peep those and some new shades from Spy Optics below…

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Three years ago, when Fuji set out to replace their much loved D6 tri bike they knew it had to be fast, but more importantly it had to fit. In Fuji’s 114 year history, the making of the Norcom Straight marks their most ambitious project yet. Fuji doesn’t just look at the Norcom Straight as their latest and greatest Tri bike, but on a larger scale as the current pinnacle of their design and engineering efforts.

With a billing like that, the Norcom Straight has a lot to live up to. Read on to see if it delivers.

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Even for those of us who aren’t beer drinkers, the links between bike and beer cultures are awfully hard to deny.  For one reason or another, it seems like bike folks are often into their brews- and vice versa.  Substantial crossover aside, if there’s ever any doubt about the similarities between the two camps just substitute “tire compound” or  “head angle” for “malt” or “IBUs” when that dude in the microbrew hoodie gets rolling. (Yes, that’s exactly what us bike geeks sound like.)

A side project of the bike-loving guys at Oskar Blues Brewery, REEB Cycles is a collaboration with fellow Coloradan Generic Cycles (also known as Chris Sulfrian).  Designed for the steep ups and downs along the Front Range, the REEB is hand built in Colorado out of True Temper OX Platinum steel tubing (a Ti version is also available).  With its Gates belt drive and decidedly trail-oriented geometry, the REEB is a unique bike- and a whole lot of fun.

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Kappius, the brand that makes the cut-out carbon fiber shelled hubs with a minute 1.5° of engagement thanks to a 60-tooth ring and eight pawls in four pairs of phased engagement, has a new hub design that’ll work with standard, unaltered cassettes.

The original KH-1 requires alteration of the cassette to fit the massive bearing size of the drive side. It pushes a huge bearing really far out for better stiffness, but requires a big financial commitment to hack the cassette. The new KH-2 moves the oversized bearing inboard enough to make room for a standard 11-speed or XX1 free hub.

The KH-2 is getting going on Kickstarter, with early backers getting the rear hub for $450 in a limited edition color. Standard retail will be $499. You can also back the project for $950 and get the KH-1 with either a XX, XX1 or SRAM Red cassette included, even 11-speed if you don’t mind waiting a bit.

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Chris King’s return to Sea Otter after a 10 year hiatus didn’t bring any new product introductions, just good news for anyone waiting for their Oregon-made bottom brackets. The CK Pressfit 30 bottom brackets should start shipping in the next couple weeks. The hold up was getting all of the fit kits for various cranksets.

Adapters are made of Acetal, and will fit any 24mm (Shimano, FSA, etc), 24/22mm (SRAM GXP) and of course Pressfit 30. No Campy option. Retail is $145 to $155 for the Pressfit 24 and $165 for PF30 with adapter kits running $19-$29. Ceramic bearings will be $70 more. We’ve been riding one on the Argonaut with Shimano Dura-Ace and it’s very nice.

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Easton Bell Sports’ Scotts Valley, CA, headquarters houses Giro’s design facility, where all of their helmets for various sports are created.

When developing a new helmet, they have to consider safety and comfort, aerodynamics, weight and aesthetics. The process generally begins with a design, marketing and sales brief that outlines sales and market criteria, then it goes to Greg Marting, Giro’s chief of design.

Click through for the process and an inside look at their design center and offices…

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As one of the first things you should learn as a mechanic when it comes to disc brake maintenance, brake fluid basics are important to know – especially before working on different brake systems. On the surface it all seems pretty simple, you pick the right fluid for your brake, and bleed as necessary. However, there is more to brake fluid than just DOT or Mineral oil.

When it came to the lastest installment of our Tech Speak features, we though it might be a good idea to revisit the life blood of your hydraulic braking system. To gather as much technical information as possible, we went straight to the source and invited Formula, Hayes, Hope Tech, Magura, Shimano, TRP, and SRAM provide their response to our questions. While it may be a refresher course for some, the varying unedited responses we received from some of the biggest brake manufacturers in the industry makes for a good read especially on fluid implications towards road discs, and how your fluid choice can impact your ride (for better or for worse).

UPDATED: SRAM’s official responses have been added to the mix, after the break! Update #2: additional answers from Nick to some questions in the comment section.

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Entering the bike industry to make millions would probably be… misguided.  But starting or joining a bike or gear company because you’ve got some cool ideas and want to have a bit of fun bringing them to life?  That’s a bit more like it.

Building saddles since the early-90s, Speed Defies Gravity–now SDG Components–has built a solid following for their comfortable saddles, innovative I-Beam mounting system, and sense of fun.  From the legendary Bel Air to bombproof Kevlar-covered saddles to today’s surprisingly broad range, SDG are all about the bicycle contact points.  Now owned by a former intern (kids, take note!), SDG have just sent out a number of products that don’t just seem well thought out- they make us smile too.  Party after the jump!

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LifeBEAM, the company that was hosting an Indigogo campaign to fund production of their Smart cycling helmet, recently announced that they have surpassed their funding goal with almost 30 days still to go. What makes the helmet smart? That would be the integrated heart rate sensor built into the lid which monitors your vitals with an optical sensor on your forehead. Having met their funding needs, LifeBEAM is happy to bring the Smart technology to market and wanted to post another video demonstrating the helmet’s abilities.

There were a lot of questions about the helmet’s functionality with hats or headbands worn underneath, so we reached out to LifeBEAM to get the answer, after the break.

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It wasn’t that long ago that 100mm wide fatbike specific cranks were fairly hard to come by. e*thirteen by the hive was one of the first few companies to take a chance with an external bearing crankset designed specifically for fatbikes. When it came time to build up Project Fatbike, it was an easy choice – though there was no shortage of negative comments about the cranks on other sites. To see if the comments held any water, we tested these for two full seasons deliberately trying to put them through the worst conditions possible to form our own opinions.

See how the XCX+ fatbike cranks survived, next.

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