This new cassette unveiled by British component manufacturers Hope at this week's Eurobike trade show in Germany isn't just beautiful to look at – it also does away with the need for a separate freehub.
Aimed at shaving weight off high-end lightweight bikes, the Hope team looked at the traditional cassette and decided they could do better.
Designed to be retro-fitted to the company’s highly regarded Pro 2 and Pro 3-hubbed wheels, this new cassette incorporates the freehub body and sprockets in one neat little package.
According to Hope, a Pro 2 wheel with Hope cassette works out 20g lighter than with a freehub and SRAM's top-end XX sprockets fitted.
On the 10-speed version seen here, the five inner (green) sprockets are machined from a single piece of aluminium, while the five outer (gold) ones are made of steel, and will be coated with titanium nitride on production models. Expected to hit shops in early 2011, the new cassette will sell for around £150.
District light
We're very excited by Hope’s new rear light – the District. Aimed at mountain bike riders due to its powerful output, this light grenade is made using three 240-lumen LEDs, and encased in Hope’s trademark CNC-machined aluminium.
It will come as standard with no battery pack, but you can use standard li-on batteries or the company’s own two-LED battery to power it. It looks like the perfect tool to get you seen, on or off road. Price will be around £100.
Trials brake
The company have made a new trials brake too, using their popular V2 calliper and a custom Race trials lever with machined parts here and there to reduce weight. It’ll be post mount, with price and availability TBC.
Chainguide and chainring
Not wanting to stop there, Hope have created their own chainguide, machined in-house from 2014 aluminium. Chainrings should be available to match in spring 2011.