At Sea Otter last week, I had the opportunity to catch up with numerous brands and check out the latest and greatest gear they have coming down the pipeline. First up — Redshift Sports, makers of the ShockStop Suspension Stem that I used on my ride across Central Asia.
The company is back at it with a few new product prototypes they hope to release by the end of the year. The gravel bikepacking set will be interested in the new Kitchen Sink Bar, pictured top. It features a 20mm rise (when the bar bends upward to raise the hand grip position), 25-degree flare (difference between width of drops and center to center width of ramps), and 12-degree sweep (the amount the bar bends back towards you) to make for an ultra-comfortable ride when you’re hammering over the rough stuff all day. In short, the tops have rise and are swept back towards you a bit and the flared drops are compact so you don’t have to reach too far down.
You can add on the aero loop for an additional riding position option as well as a spot to mount bags and accessories. There is also an add-on Endurance Grip System that adds padding and ergonomic hand positions to different parts of the bar.
The Kitchen Sink Bar will be available in 44cm, 46cm, and 48cm widths (measured at the hoods). They’re built with a 70mm reach and 110mm drop. No word yet on pricing but the team claim the price will be comparable to other handlebars.
Redshift also has two new suspension dropper posts in the works called ShockDrop — one for gravel and one for mountain bikes. The 27.2mm diameter version will have 60mm of drop and approximately 35mm of always available suspension travel, while the 30.9mm and 31.6mm diameter versions will have 100mm of drop and 35mm of suspension travel at any drop height. The spring stiffness and pre-load are adjustable just like the current ShockStop suspension seatpost. The suspension dropper posts feature internal cable routing that works with standard levers.
Expect more info on price and exact availability toward the end of the year.