A fast look on the state of the mountain bike in 2024 will reveal numerous high-pivot designs. One of many motivations for the newest crop of high-pivot bikes is their skill to mitigate chain progress and pedal kickback – however what should you didn’t want a completely new body design to do it? What if it was so simple as altering your hub?
That’s what the brand new e*13 Sidekick hub guarantees, nicely, that and extra. By decoupling the drivetrain from the rear wheel when coasting, the Sidekick system claims to cut back drag, noise, and vibration whereas bettering suspension efficiency by “eliminating pedal kickback in almost all conditions”.
Sounds good? Let’s dig in.
How Does Sidekick Work?
Sidekick begins with a proprietary freehub mechanism that incorporates an additional pawl. The pawl is on a ‘timed pusher’ which permits the drive pawls to retract from the ratchet ring when coasting. Basically, the drive pawls can slide up and down ramps on the pusher a certain quantity earlier than sliding all the best way as much as have interaction the drive ring. However till the drive pawls have interaction the drive ring, the wheel is free to rotate, separated from the drivetrain.
For the system to work, there needs to be a deadband that permits the wheel to rotate earlier than the pawls have interaction. Since not all riders and frames will want or need the identical quantity of deadband, it may be modified with out instruments from 12º to 15º or 18º.
Advantages
To validate the system, e*13 has finished in depth testing with a group of extraordinarily proficient racers together with Aaron Gwin, Rónán Dunne, Rémy Métailler, Fabien Barel, and extra. Utilizing a BYB telemetry system with a 1000Hz/sec sampling price, e*13 discovered that the Sidekick permits riders to spend 7% extra time within the mid-stroke of the suspension vary (11-70%), whereas permitting 44% extra (cumulative) use of the shock journey in that vary.
Sidekick was additionally liable for 20% much less crank motion than a standard hub, which is the place the elimination of pedal kickback comes into play.
Claimed Rider Consolation & Velocity Advantages
- Assists riders to take care of a impartial place on downhills
- Flat pedal riders will expertise much less kickback on the pedals, offering a planted really feel with extra consolation and management
- Eliminates drivetrain clatter and chain vibration when descending
- Permits for smoother and quieter shifting
- Whisper quiet when freewheeling
- Decreased drag equals free rolling velocity
Claimed Suspension Efficiency Advantages
- Eliminates pedal kickback in almost all conditions, giving a “chainless” really feel whereas descending
- No change is required in rear shock compression and rebound tune
- Simplifies suspension setup window by permitting free suspension motion (no pedal kickback!)
- Extra energetic suspension whereas braking
- Spend as much as 50% extra time within the mid-stroke (candy spot) of rear wheel journey giving the sensation of extra accessible journey
How Does Sidekick Evaluate to Different Merchandise like Ochain?
I requested this query to e*13 co-owner and engineer, Greg Thrash, because it appeared like two merchandise with a really comparable objective. In accordance with Greg, “probably the most important distinction is how the 2 gadgets mitigate kickback… with Sidekick, the cassette has to rotate by way of the deadband earlier than the ratchet can have interaction, so there’s zero resistance to chain motion throughout that interval. With O-chain, these actions are resisted by a spring. So quick, dramatic suspension occasions that feed stress into the chain don’t have an effect on the suspension with Sidekick, whereas with O-chain, they might be blunted by the spring however are nonetheless current.
A secondary impact, however in all probability what you discover probably the most, is that the conventional chain vibration and noise you understand as you experience over tough surfaces simply isn’t there for the reason that cassette can rock on the axle freely each ahead and backward with none intermittent ratchet engagements.
On high of that the hub is sort of silent. There’s a single pawl within the system that makes it work, nevertheless it has a really gentle spring activating it, so you’ll be able to’t hear it working over the sound of your tires on the bottom.
Between the tremendous low drag pawl and your suspension working higher, your bike appears to roll tremendous quick, corners higher, carries extra velocity; the whole lot appears to work higher.”
Who’s Sidekick for?
Lots of these causes are additionally why e*13 is advertising this to extra than simply downhill racers. Promoting it as helpful for the whole lot from aggressive short-travel path bikes to full DH bikes, in addition to Class 1 ebikes, the Sidekick system has advantages for a variety of riders. Specifically, improved suspension efficiency, decrease drag, much less noise, and decreased fatigue.
What About Excessive Engagement Hubs?
It appears the bike trade has been pushing relentlessly towards increased and faster-engaging hubs. The Sidekick system appears to fly within the face of that, so what provides? In accordance with e*13, whereas these high-engagement hubs would possibly enable you out of a decent technical spot, they gained’t enhance suspension efficiency. In reality, they may damage it stating, “whereas coasting at 15 mph (25 kph) a hub with 1-degree engagement can have interaction over 1000 occasions per second, resulting in important pedal kickback and poor suspension efficiency. A hub with 18-degree engagement in the identical situation can have interaction over 60 occasions per second, additionally leading to a excessive probability of pedal kickback.”
Hub Building
None of this issues if the hub isn’t as much as the duty, so e*13 spent numerous time obsessing over the small print to make Sidekick sturdy sufficient to face as much as the world’s high racers. A metal axle ensures the hub is stiff sufficient and powerful sufficient for World Cup DH abuse, and a captive thread endcap system permits for tool-free cleansing and upkeep. The ratchet ring is replaceable together with all elements for serviceability.
At 452g for a Enhance hub, the Sidekick hub is on the heavier facet, nevertheless it’s doubtless much less added weight than the additional chain and pulley to create a high-pivot body design. J-Bend hubs can be accessible to construct into your personal wheelset, or e*13 will supply full builds with their new Grappler Flux and Sylvan rims as nicely.
Hubs and wheelsets can be provided in all fashionable sizes and freehubs to suit most bikes and drivetrains.
Sidekick Hub Specs
- Driver: XD, Microspline, HG, mini-HG, 7-speed built-in cassette
- Measurement: Enhance, Tremendous Enhance, 157x12mm, 148mm DH
- Axle Materials: Metal
- Spoke rely: Enhance, Tremendous Enhance 28h, 32h / 157x12mm, 148mm DH 32H
- Spoke sort: J-Bend
- Bearings: 6903 / 6808
- Engagement: 12° / 15° / 18° Adjustable Deadband
- Materials: AL 6061-T6
- Weight: Enhance (XD) 452g / Tremendous Enhance (XD) 450g / 157x12mm (7-speed) 652g / 148mm DH (mini-HG) 459g
- Coloration: Black/Sterling Silver
- MSRP: 499.95 $/€ (UK £469.95), 589.95 $/€ w 7-speed built-in cassette (UK £559.95)
New Rims and Wheels
It wasn’t sufficient to simply have a revolutionary new hub system, e*13 needed to supply the entire bundle as nicely. That’s the place the brand new Grappler Flux and Sylvan rims are available in.
The Grappler Flux rims are designed for “huck-proof sturdiness” whereas the Sylvan rims are designed for aggressive path, All-Mountain, and lightweight e-bikes.
Grappler Flux Rims and Wheels
Grappler Flux Options
- Low-profile designs: 17.5mm top Enduro carbon, alloy, and DH alloy / 20mm top DH carbon
- 30mm Internal Width: Supplies distinctive lateral stability whereas optimizing fashionable tire profiles
- Accessible in high-modulus carbon or welded 6069-AL constructions
- Optimized Carbon Layups: Particularly designed for DH and EN rims to stability sturdiness, weight, and distinctive compliance
- Hookless Flanges: Supply set-and-forget tubeless safety and resistance to affect harm
Grappler Flux Advantages
- Engineered compliance reduces affect forces and vibration, enhancing consolation and decreasing rider fatigue
- Tuned compliance improves traction and monitoring and reduces wheel deflection in tough terrain, with out compromising a high-performance experience really feel
- The identical legendary toughness of our World Cup LG1 and Grappler rims
- Lifetime free alternative coverage on carbon rims / 5-year crash alternative on alloy
- Appropriate for each mountain and class-1 e-bike use
Grappler Flux Sidekick Enduro Wheel Tech
- Weight Carbon: Entrance 900g / Rear 1160g 27.5”, 1200g 29” (Enhance, XD)
- Weight Aluminum: Entrance 906g / Rear 1187g 27.5”, 1206g 29” (Enhance, XD)
- Spokes/Nipples: Sapim D-Gentle / Safe Lock Alloy / 28H/28H – F/R
- Rear Config: Sidekick Enhance 148×12 / Tremendous Enhance 157×12 – Metal Axle
- Entrance Config: Sidekick Enhance 110x15mm
- Driver: XD / Microspline (HG Avail.)
- Valves: Fast Fill Presta Tubeless Valves
- Sizes: 29” Entrance, Rear 27.5”/29”
- Grappler Sidekick Flux Carbon MSRP: Entrance 799.95 $/€ – Rear 1199.95 $/€ (UK F/R £729.95/£1099.95)
- Grappler Sidekick Flux Aluminum MSRP: Entrance 379.95 $/€ – Rear 649.95 $/€ (UK F/R £349.95/£589.95)
Grappler Flux Enduro Rim Tech
- Weight: Aluminum 587g-586g / Carbon 560g-580g (27.5”-29”)
- Wheel Measurement: 27.5” / 29”
- Internal Width: 30mm
- Spoke Rely: 28H / 32H
- Valve Gap: Presta
- Joint: Aluminum-Welded
- Bead Sort: Hookless
- Materials: 6069-AL / Excessive-Modulus Carbon
- MSRP: Aluminum 129.95 $/€ (UK £119.95)/ Carbon 539.95 $/€ (UK £489.95)
Grappler Flux DH Wheel Tech
- Weight Carbon: Entrance 1000g / Rear 1170g 27.5”, 1210g 29” (157×12, mini-HG) / 7-speed cassette +180g
- Weight Aluminum: Entrance 1009g / Rear 1177g 27.5”, 1219g 29” (157×12, mini-HG) / 7-speed cassette +180g
- Spokes/Nipples: Sapim D-Gentle / Safe Lock Alloy / 28H F, 32H R
- Rear Config: Sidekick 157x12mm / 148mm DH – Metal Axle
- Entrance Config: Sidekick Enhance 110x20mm
- Driver: 7-speed Built-in Cassette / mini-HG
- Valves: Fast Fill Presta Tubeless Valves
- Sizes: 29” Entrance, Rear 27.5”/29”
- Grappler Sidekick Flux Carbon MSRP: Entrance 849.95 $/€ – Rear 1349.95-1499.95 $/€ (UK F/R £769.95/£1249.95-£1389.95)
- Grappler Sidekick Flux Aluminum MSRP: Entrance 379.95 $/€ – Rear 659.95-799.95 $/€ (UK F/R £349.95 / £599.95-£699.95)
Grappler Flux DH Rim Tech
- Weight: Aluminum 587g-609g / Carbon 580g-600g (27.5”-29”)
- Wheel Measurement: 27.5” / 29”
- Internal Width: 30mm
- Spoke Rely: 28H / 32H
- Valve Gap: Presta
- Joint: Aluminum-Welded
- Bead Sort: Hookless
- Materials: 6069-AL / Excessive-Modulus Carbon
- MSRP: Aluminum 129.95 $/€ (UK £119.95) / Carbon 569.95 $/€ (UK £519.95)
Sylvan Race Rims and Wheels
Sylvan Race Carbon Rims
- Constructed from high-modulus carbon fiber with a 23mm profile top and a decade-honed customized layup
- Embrace a intelligent valve dock for improved tubeless sealing on uneven rims
- Weighing simply 450g (29”), affect energy was examined at 7x earlier TRS race carbon rims
- Backed by a lifetime free rim alternative guarantee
Sylvan Race Alloy Rims
- 6069-AL development, that includes welded joints and angle-drilled spoke holes
- Low profile 20mm sectional top for distinctive compliance
- Weighing in at 567g (29”), they present almost a 4x enchancment in affect energy over former TRS Plus rims
- Dramatically enhance experience really feel and management
- Backed by a 5-year crash alternative coverage
Sylvan Sidekick Wheel Tech
- Weight Carbon (29”): 800g/1060g (Enhance, XD Driver)
- Weight Alloy (29”): 920g / 1180g F/R (Enhance, XD Driver)
- Spokes: Sapim D-Gentle 28H/28H – F/R
- Rear Config: Sidekick 148×12 Enhance or 157×12 Tremendous Enhance – Metal Axle
- Entrance Config: Sidekick SL 110×15 Enhance
- Driver: XD / Microspline (HG Avail.)
- Valves: Fast Fill Presta Tubeless Valves
- Sizes: 29” Entrance – 27.5”/29” Rear
- MSRP Carbon: Entrance 779.95 $/€ (UK £709.95) – Rear 1119.95 $/€ (UK £1019.95
- MSRP Aluminum:: Entrance 379.95 $/€ (UK £349.95) – Rear 629.95 $/€ (UK £569.95)
