Sea Otter is back to its usual spring timeslot, and many in the American cycling scene came out to Monterey, California to celebrate. With Life Time events purchasing the Sea Otter Classic and hosting the first race in its brand new, big-money Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda racing series, cycling brands were there not just to get facetime with consumers and media but also with their athletes or ambassadors.
I was at Sea Otter hunting for new gear and tech while on the lookout for cool bikes being raced or just hanging out in booths. Talking to many brands at the expo, it was clear that the pandemic-related delays are far from over. While there was plenty at Sea Otter to look at, brand new things were few and far between. Many brands had samples of items not ready for public view to show or talk about, and more often than not, the story was always the same. They were hoping to launch the product but decided against it because of various delays.
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So, while much of what was on display at Sea Otter wasn't new, there was still plenty to see and talk about, so read on for my 2022 Sea Otter tech and gear photo dump!
Sure a Cervelo S5 is not new but this wasn’t just anyone’s bike hanging out in the Reserve Wheels booth...
This S5 belongs to Marianne Vos or as she is often referred to simply, the GOAT.
CloseTheGap makes a number of various bike mounts some with very clever and tidy bell integration. The one on Vos’s bike is all business.
There’s quite a bit going on here, from the hinge-like steer tube integration to what looks like some 3d-printed spacers to get Vos’s bars in the correct position. Pro bikes are always exciting to see up close.
Orucase is best known for their impossibly small airport ninja bike bags but with many airlines dropping or eliminating their bike fees entirely, plus increased demand from consumers with fully integrated bikes, the company is offering a larger case. Naturally, it wouldn’t be an Orucase product if it didn’t also solve the main issue with a big bike case, which is that they are huge and tend to take up a lot of space when not in use (which is most of the time). The new case from Orucase folds into itself when you’re not using it and becomes the size of an average suitcase.
Orucase has probably the most clever top tube feed bag out there. It uses magnets instead of a zipper so you can quickly get to your snacks without ever needing to close it back up manually.
Mosaic was everywhere at Sea Otter. This beautiful bike was in the Orucase booth with a full compliment of their on the bike bags.
Ornot is a clothing manufacturer based in San Francisco that not only aims to make premium kit but to do it as sustainably as possible. They have been a certified climate neutral brand since 2019 reducing their carbon footprint to a minimum and offsetting the rest. As a Test Editor, I get a lot of gear shipped to me. The way that gear is packaged when it arrives is often the clearest sense I get of which brands are taking sustainability seriously and which are not. In this department Ornot is among the best, using recyclable mailers with minimal packaging. This jersey is made using deadstock fabric, essentially giving new life to fabric that otherwise might have simply been tossed.
The jersey uses a lightweight version of a fabric that’s similar to their much warmer Ornot Grid Thermal Long Sleeve (which I reviewedhere).
Cane Creek designed and made this crank preloader ring for their own titanium EE cranks. But they will also work on other cranks that use 30mm spindles as well as SRAM DUB cranks. Unlike the stock plastic preload rings that come on most cranks, these are CNC machined from 7075 Aluminium and use a 2.5mm titanium hex bolt to tighten in place. At just $36 these are a beautiful and functional upgrade to your existing BB30 crankset.
Cadex has been producing premium wheels and other cockpit components. They have partnered with Maxxis to produce tires as well which are tubeless and hookless compatible. Their Race tire is available in 23, 25, and 28mm sizes. While the Classic tire comes in 25, 28, and 32mm.
This Cadex made saddle isn’t new but, a new and yet to be released version has been spotted under the riders of Team BikeExchange. The new saddel uses the same carbon rail and body construction with a new top that may or may not be 3d printed.
A handsome Caletti Cycles All-Road frame in the Cadex booth.
Scott launched the Addict gravel bike last year but due to short supply very few have actually made it to the US. We’re hoping to test one in the near future because it looks awesome, especially fully geared up for a long adventure.
An e-mtb development frame was hanging up in the Canyon booth.
The fix for Canyons issue’s with the Aeroad Seatpost– a larger rubber seal to keep out grit and contamination that was causing premature wear.
With the popularity of e-mtb it’s no surprise that suspension manufacturers are introducing suspension that is specifically tuned for the larger overall system weight of these bikes.
Gore launched a new line of mountain bike kit at Sea Otter.
You can expect Gore to utilize their full array of high tech fabrics in their clothing.
The new line features all garments in men’s and women’s cuts.
Specialized Turbo Como SL 5.0 looks fantastic in a raw aluminum finish.
A Gates Belt Drive system promises many miles of maintenance-free riding.
The Turbo Como SL 5.0 is a Class 3 e-bike so it will provide assistance up to 28mph.
Ceramicspeed’s SLT bearings are not new, but it was still awesome to see them in person. Unlike other bearings in CeramicSpeed’s line, the SLT bearings are not meant to be low friction, and in fact, they are not even meant for complete rotation applications such as hubs or bottom brackets. Instead, they are designed as long-lasting maintenance-free solutions for headsets and suspension pivots. SLT stands for solid lubricant technology, which in theory means that the bearings will never need service and should be nearly impervious to contamination and rust. Ceramicspeed is confident enough in SLT tech to guarantee these bearings for life. This would be a game changer for any bike with internally routed cables and suspension pivots by potentially eliminating the need to service these parts over the lifespan of the bike. At least in theory... Personally, I’m really to see how these hold up in the real world.
Ceramicspeed was showing off a new cerakote derailer cage treatment that is more durable than traditional anodizing.
The CeramicSpeed thread together BB30 adapter is the next best thing to a threaded bottom bracket.
While Factor didn’t have a booth at Sea Otter, the new Lando XC mountain bike was under several athletes in the Lifetime Grand Prix series. Because this rider is a Fox athlete, the fork was from Fox, but the rear shock was a blacked out DT-Swiss unit hooked up to a remote 3-position lockout. The fork lockout was a twist knob on the crown as you can’t combine shocks from two different brands with a single lockout remote.
SLT bearings in the headset (in theory) should never need to be replaced.
CeramicSpeed also makes and sells bearing service tools which need to be this extensive since there’s no such thing as a standard in the cycling industry.
Syncros is the in-house component brand of Scott.
The Syncros Silverton SL wheel uses a complete carbon construction , resulting in a wildly light 1290 gram mountain bike wheelset.
ENVE’s frames launched last year, but this was my first chance to see one in person because they are essentially custom, and there aren’t that many of them out there.
Wolf Tooth launched these new thru-axle levers.
The handle holds two reversible bits for a cleverly integrated tool.
The lever turns into a mini multi tool.
Best of all, it’s available in an assortment of colors.
Wolf Tooth is not well known for its tools, but I hope that will change because these are exceptionally well made. The pack wrench (that I’m holding) even features magnets to hold the various splined bits in place.
Is this a Marin gravel bike? A mountain bike? A hybrid? Whatever it is, it looks fun. Marin calls the DSX FS a "long distance mixed surface commuter." It’s got a 60mm suntour gvx suspension fork, a shimano slx 12-speed drivetrain, and sells for $1,700.
Suspension forks have come a long way.
I like the vibe that Surly is putting down with this build.
Did you know Thomson made titanium seatposts? They’re very cool but very pricey.
A Thomson Elite seatpost is a product that has changed very little over the years because it’s more or less perfect as is. But this one is anodized red!
This Ritchey P-21 was the second coolest bike at the Ritchey booth. You’ll have to check out my next gallery for that bike.
What the heck is Beach Club? Honestly? Their website is blank, and the only info available is via their Instagram account. But from what I can tell, they make two bikes (both in steel). Pictured here is their road bike, and at the top of the page, you can see their gravel bike. Both are TIG welded and look like they would be a hoot to ride. Hopefully, more to come from them.
Pirelli had a new P Zero Race 4S tire at their booth. It’s designed for racing in "harsh conditions." At least more so than the all-around P Zero Race and the all-out fast P Zero Race SL.
It’s also the first tire that Pirelli is making in their Italian factory. They were very proud to show off the "made in Italy" label.
Pirelli also had a very special bike on display in their booth. Full photos in my Sea Otter bike gallery coming soon.
Ok, this is the last tease for the bikes gallery I’m putting together. Just make sure you don’t miss it!
Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.
