INTERBIKE DAY ONE - Rumors and Scuttlebutt

by Vernon Felton
posted Oct. 14, 2003

Avid Juicy hydraulic disc brake

Avid Juicies Get the Clamp Down?

There's been talk at the show about Avid's new hydraulic disc brake. Some folks have suggested that the reason it's taken so long for Avid to make the brake available to the public is that the Juicy's wavy rotors violate one of Galfer's U.S. patents. Is there any truth to the rumor? Avid representatives dismiss the charge, stating that the only reason it's taken them so long to get this brake to market is that they've been working to dial out all the imperfections and create the best brake they can make. Who's telling the truth? If the Juicy hits the market in the next couple of months, we'll know that the patent talk is just that--talk.

Speed Who?

A company called Speedclip is running ads in the most current editions of both Mountain Bike and Bicycle Retailer. The ads seem innocent enough--a titanium mountain bike pedal that weighs 100 grams is shown against a white background-but there are a few thought-provoking elements to consider. First, the pedal looks like a dead-on imitation of a Shimano SPD and second, the Speedclip logo is basically a rip-off on the Speedplay logo (same font/same style). Rumor has it that the other pedal manufacturers aren't too happy about the situation. Strangely, no one has ever heard of Speedclip before and the company doesn't have a booth here at Interbike...just who is Speedclip?

Gilberto Simoni

Giro d'Italia Winner in the House

2003 Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni signed posters and shook hands at teh fi'zi:k booth Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. Hopefully you stopped by, got a poster signed and babbled to an Italian star in rapid fire English while he nodded his head and reached for other poster to sign. That's what I did, anyway.