When the new BB386 Evo was launched earlier this year, critics questioned the need for yet another bottom bracket standard. However, a new range of adaptors from FSA means you can use the system with your current bike. This means you can get the main benefits of the latest BB30 designs – greater stiffness and lighter weight – without having to upgrade your frame.
The most significant adaptor is the one for BSA bottom brackets – that’s your traditional, threaded BB shell. It'll let you run FSA's new 386 Evo chainset, which is 45g lighter than the MegaExo version and much stiffer, due to its 30mm-diameter axle.
FSA’s K-Force Light 386 Evo crankset weighs in at 573g. About 81g of that is the BB – 45g lighter than MegaExo but 28g heavier than BB30
While FSA make no claims of the 386 being better than BB30, it’s definitely an improvement over BSA. BB30 is marginally stiffer and marginally lighter, like-for-like. But fitting of the 386 is less dependent on manufacturing tolerance quality than the oversized BB30 design, with perfect alignment less of an issue. For this reason alone, we think we’ll see plenty of manufacturers adopt the new standard over the complexity of BB30.
New Monolink post
FSA are also the first third-party manufacturers to jump on board with Selle Italia's new Monolink seating system. At this weekend's Munich Bike Expo they were showing a carbon fibre K-Force Light Monolink seatpost that weighs a claimed 210g (27.2mm diameter; 31.6mm also available). It's 350mm long, with 20mm of layback.
FSA are the first company other than Selle Italia to offer a Monolink post
Vision Metron expands
FSA’s time trial and triathlon wing, Vision, have expanded their range for 2012. First up is the Metron TT groupset. Consider this as a preview of the imminent FSA road group, which the company confirmed they're still developing but couldn’t give an ETA for.
The TT group includes a time-trial-specific 10-speed cassette and both front and rear mechs. The latter has a carbon body and cage, the pulleys run on ceramic bearings and it’s designed to work in conjunction with Vision's innovative TT shifters.
The Vision Metron time trial group includes shifters, a cassette, and front and rear derailleurs
We showed you the shifters at the Sea Otter Classic. Designed to mount at the front of the bar extensions, at first glance they look like aero-profile brake levers. The lever handles downshifting, while the mount is actually one big button that you press inwards with your thumb to handle upshift duties.
The Metron wheel line has expanded to include a 90mm-deep tubular pairing, a full-carbon disc and a new set of alloy/carbon 42mm clinchers. Fully handbuilt using Sapim Aero blade spokes and weighing in at 1,700g a pair, these could be great contenders in the ever-growing aero wheel market.
New for 2012, the Vision T42 is a 42mm-deep aero clincher wheelset weighing in at 1,700g a pair
The TriMax TC24 tubular wheelset has a lower profile but still aero-designed rim, again built with Sapim Aero blade spokes. With an all-up weight of just 1,250g a pair, these look like decent all-rounders. As with all of FSA’s carbon-rimmed models, they'll ship with wheel bags and carbon-specific brake pads.
The 1,250g-a-pair carbon tubular TriMax TC24s are also new for 2012
