EUROBIKE - Hope Technology

It is easy to get lost in the halls at Eurobike, navigating past Taiwanese pedal manufacturers, E-bikes, city bikes, fat bikes, and past the models you’ve seen around for a couple of months already.

But then, you can stumble on the smaller manufacturers who are world renowned for making good kit, the smaller booths you’ve marked on your massive map for the show.

Hope Technology is one of them, and beyond an already brilliant line up of hubs, brakes and more, they were launching their new cranks and guide at Eurobike.

At this point Hope are whistling their own tune, eschewing the more standard splined options from the BB30 standard, GXP or anything similar to Shimano. Instead, they have opted for a polygon shape, not unlike those used in a machine driveshaft. In that use, this style of fitting is known to transfer the highest torque of any drive shaft system.

The shape of the arms was developed in the lab, then field testing under a broad range of riders, from staff to team riders. They are made from a 7000 series aluminium which is forged then heat treated and artificially aged to achieve the best fatigue life.

Cranks need to push a gear and the spline attachment is proprietary, but it does allow for fitting a spider, or spiderless chainrings. That means you can run just about any bolt circle pattern you want. Single in XX1 or 104, double, triple – whatever. And if standards for bolt circles change, no worries, you’ll be able to just get a new spider, not new arms.

The arms are available in black or silver – although team riders get other colours to remind us that they can really ride their bikes. 170 and 175mm lengths are available, and they use a 30mm axle. Currently 26T-36T Spiderless Retainer chainrings are available, and Single (104BCD) and double (64/104BCD) spiders are available, both of which can fit a bash ring.

Guide the Way

Hope also launched the new Slick Guide – because although Narrow-Wide chainrings are great, like clutch rear mechs – chains do still drop. Worn chains, long travel, chainring wear, freak accident… it doesn’t matter why, but it can still happen. A guide helps.

There are two models available, although either can be mounted via the ISCG-05 or ISCG-OLD back plates. The STD (Standard) Version is designed around a single chainring and just keeps the chain in place, with no protection for the ring. But the IB model (Integrated Bash) is designed to work with Hope quarter bash rings. Both will fit 32-36T rings.

The backing plates are 7000 series aerospace plate, but the cages are CNC machined from an engineering grade polymer with inbuilt dampers to ensure they run quietly.

No word yet on when these will make it to Australia, but ask your local Hope dealer to make some enquiries.

Hope Tech Extras

Not to be left out, Hope also offer the T-Rex Sprocket, which will give 10sp Shimano or Sram users an 11-40 option, in a similar manner to the E13 and FRM units already on the market. The sprocket is available in black, silver or green, and weighs 74g.

And to help keep dropper posts looking clean, even if your frame isn’t stealth compatible, their new seat clamp has a small guide to route the hose through. Goodbye snagged hoses and pricey repairs bills!