News
10.12.2009
Test result "very good" - BIKE 1/2010
In the suspension fork test of the Fachzeitschrift BIKE, the Xcite Criterion obtained a "very good". The edition 1/2010 of the magazine is available the 15th of december.
27.11.2009
World champion 2007, 2008, 2009
Sandra Sumerauer and Markus Pielenz from Medsport Checker Pig Team reached their own highly set goal: They won the 24h MTB world championship in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, category double-mixed- team, for the third time in a row.
Link to World champion-Suspension fork.
29.10.2009
E-Rider presented in the Bike Sport News Edition 11-12/2009
“It’s the mixture: High-tech mountain bike products 2010 can be of totally different nature. Hand-made titan frames with interesting features are aboard just as well as the study “E-Rider” from the suspension-fork developer german:A.® ..."
Vision for the future: E-Rider
Currently only being a futuristic study, the E-Rider concept from german:A.® might well lead the path into the future of MTBs. The fully suspended, long-travel endure fun-machine features an electric motor within the bottom bracket. This motor is able to support the driver while pedaling. The e-motor and its batteries are fully integrated into the bike’s frame and are placed on the central spot of the bike- around the bottom bracket. Even inexperienced riders will be able to quickly go uphill with E-Rider, while the bike will also provide a massive plus in safety for the track down again. The driver can access the tour information via the cockpit-display. The carbon-chassis of the E-Rider with its single-side rear-wheel attachment and its massive dual-bridge telescopic fork should reduce E-Riders total weight to about 18kg. Thus, the bike should easily be driven through hard technical tracks and also pulled up into the air. In the short future german:A.® is going to present a fully functional prototype, on which they currently work.
Interview with Thomas Kamm: (Bike Sport News 11-12/2009)
Electric bikes: with this topic you could have easily filled a whole hall at the Eurobike this year. Branded as an political incorrect vehicles in the past, now even MTBs with electric support fight their way into the market. Here an interview with german:A.® founder and developer Thomas Kamm:
BSN: Why an e-motor on the sporty bike?
TK: Simple answer: We want to make money! (He laughs). The electro MTBs will define a new category. The MTBs, which support their drivers with an electro motor, short “E-Rider” are not going to replace the “old” MTBs! More likely they will define a new sport, which allows better training (e.g. keyword: training the basics). It also is a real alternative to categories which need a bikepark with chair-lift, like Freeride or Enduro .
BSN: Are electric components and e-motors the bike future?
TK: Yes, this change is already in process. Still, “mechanical only” systems will always be there. However, the possibilities of modern control technologies, based on electric systems are enormous. This change happens to the advantage of the bikers, who will receive better and better working technology.
You can order Bike Sport News (in German) here, or directly by mail.
02.-05.09.2009
Eurobike 2009
Some impressions (30 pictures) from our stand at Eurobike 2009.
25.08.2009
World champion - 24h MTB Sulzbach-Rosenberg
Sandra Sumerauer and Markus Pielenz from Medsport Checker Pig Team reached their own highly set goal: They won the 24h MTB world championship in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, category double-mixed- team, for the third time in a row.
“As usual,” we were on the ride with our Carbon Race Pig CP, german:A.® suspension fork (Kilo) and Continental Race King
23.08.2009
Bonnekessel Nord-Rhein-Westfalen state champion in MTB marathon.
This weekend the international MTB marathon took place in Schmallenbeg-Grafschaft. Over 850 bikers came and competed under finest weather.
In addition to the international competition, on the long distance track (110Km and 3200meter altitude difference), the state championships of Nord-Rhein-Westfalen were held. Two rounds had to be completed for this. Michael Bonnekessel (Team Poison-German-A) started, although his injured hand was not fully recovered yet. Thus, he wasn’t the odds-on favorite. This was the ”job” of Günther Reitz (Team Firebike), who won the trophy last year. However, the favorite Reitz saw a big challenge coming up with Poison-German-A driver Bonnekessel, who showed outstanding performance, endurance and especially stamina to reach a sensational 4th rank at the German MTB marathon championships in Garmisch.
“Energy scheduling” very important
Bonnekessel started gently, saving energy for the later parts of the competition. This paid off in the second half. Bonnekessel finished after 4:36 without having sections of low power or hardware breakdown- 5minutes in front of rank two! Bonnekessel won his first state trophy in MTB marathon in his 4th run. After winning the German championship in cross-country and the state championship in cross-country, this is his third remarkable success in 2009.
01.08.2009
Vice world champion 2009
Sandra Sumerauer and Markus Pielenz are vice world champion in the double-mixed-team category of the 12h MTB world championships in Fischbachau-Bayern. Pielenz uses our Kilo No.1 Carbon.
24.07.2009
E-Rider presented in BIKE 8/2009.
Under the theme „Where does the journey go?“ E-Rider takes a look into the following 20 years in their 20th anniversary edition. We were asked to present our current project “E-Rider”. Read it yourself...
„E-Rider scans the ground in front of the bike and adjusts suspension accordingly. It features an electric motor and a hydraulic transmission- but that is by far not all.”
“When Thomas Kamm from german:A.® talks about his E-Rider, his eyes start glowing: “ Of course, there’s still much development to do, but most of the technical stuff is already possible today”, he is sure.
Despite all, he is taking a long look into the future. E-Rider is the electronic marvel: The fully- adaptive chassis analyses the ground in front and adjusts the settings according to the upcoming obstacles. To realize that, an stereo vision system looks at the ground in front and an micro computing unit evaluates the information in real time. Additionally, the drivers weight distribution counts into the calculations of the E-Rider. This brings detailed information about the current driving mode.Saddle, handle bar and pedals are monitored all the time. There is a light e-motor and a battery around the down tube. Braking energy and energy from the photovoltaic surface of the main-frame are charging the battery, while the motor supports the drivers leg power with up to 500 Watt.
The rear wheel is moved by an hydraulic transmission. Via oil flow the force is carried to the rear wheel. This brings several advantages: Transmission is continuously, maintenance is not necessary and braking of the back wheel is done via the oil flow, which makes an additional brake redundant. The saddle pose is fully variable. Via an human-machine-interface in the cockpit, the driver is able to setup his E-Rider. Of course he has access to GPS and all kinds of other information there,too.”
04.07.2009
1st rank- 24h Univega MTB-race in Steindorf
Saturday 1pm: The race was on! After the first jump, Markus Pielenz and Christian Fischer were able to push themselves into the front of the field of double-teams. For the next couple of rounds they worked together to improve their positions and so it was no surprise that they were in front of the other teams by 5minutes after the first hour.
Sandra Sumerauer switched on for Markus Pielenz. She won another couple of minutes to the other teams, but unfortunately she got off the track while overtaking a slower driver in the second creek crossing. Her tire burst, and she overturned. The fall and the necessary repair set the two drivers far back, but they both showed stamina and worked themselves up to the top positions. Around evening they were leading again and by staying at high speed for the whole night they were in front by various minutes when the sun raised again. Over the last couple of hours they even increased the distance to their next competitors. With 84 rounds they were the obvious champions of this double-mixed-team competition, in front of Look-speed with 73 rounds and Team Sportschule Puch with 58 rounds.
Both, Pielenz and Sumerauer drove our Kilo.
Kind regards
Markus Pielenz
14.06.2009
1st rank “Rocky Mountain Bike Marathon” Willingen
Michael Bonnekessel won the BIKE marathon in the category “Masters”, of course using our Kilo suspension fork.
13.-15.06.2009
12. SYMPATEX BIKE Festival Willingen
Again, german:A.® shows it‘s best part(s).
08.06.2010
Xcite / Kilo 2011 Flyer:
Have a look of the development of our current projects:
29.09.2009
Double X - sneak a peek:
01.07.2009
First pictures of our E-Rider: