Bikes these days can come with a lot of batteries. From power meters to derailleurs, head units, dropper posts, tire pressure sensors, there aren’t a lot of components left without wires. So Faction Bike Studio and Andrew L’Esperance teamed up to add one more.
Special for the, how do we say this, unique demands of Unbound Gravel, the Canadian racer and Canadian design studio have partnered to create an electronic chain lube dripper.
A what? An electronically controlled automatic chain lube applicator.
Why? Because Unbound is crazy long and, even in favourable conditions, can wreak havoc on drivetrains. 200 miles (a lot more kilometers) of either dust, mud, or both. If that doesn’t cause total destruction, it certainly negatively impacts efficiency. And when you’re racing for eight hours, any little bit of efficiency matters.
For those of you gravel gear nerds with a longer memory, you’ll recall that L’Esperance has tried this before. His last effort was significantly more DIY affair. Just a syringe full of chain lube zip tied to the seat tube that L’Espy could press for a quick re-lube on the move.
Teaming up with Faction, the new version is much sleeker. A handlebar-mounted button releases chain lube onto the drivetrain through a custom guide positioned directly above the chainring.
Faction’s getting really scientific with this. A one-second tap will soak the full chain, if you’re pedaling at around 75 RPM. Since aero is everything, the entire system sits hidden inside the seat post and weighs just 100g.
While this is being launched just before Unbound, and will make it’s in-race debut at Kansas’s gravel classic, L’Esperance and Faction have a more long-term vision for this contraption. And, interestingly, Faction says they’ll share any insights and results following the event.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…