Ogden, Utah's TRP Brakes was one of the companies stopping off at the 2016 North American Handmade Bicycle Show to unveil revamped products as well as new offerings. With the goal of providing the best braking systems in the cycling industry, they have upped their game with new features, as well as new looks for the discerning rider.
Included in the new appearance with new features category, are TRP's new Hylex RS brakes. Based on the existing Hylex system that features one of our favorite levers, the RS offers drilled out brake levers and a high polish chrome finish on both the levers and the calipers. Like the original iteration, the Hylex RS is compatible with Shimano's R600 satellite/climbing shifter for those wanting to run a Di2 drivetrain with the unique look of the Hylex RS levers.
The Hylex RS, which were displayed on a bike from Portland, Oregon's Ti Cycles, will retail for $169.00 USD when they become available later this year, and will be offered in a polished black finish as well. The RS600 shifter adapter will be publicly available as well.
As for products TRP is further updating, their highly popular Hy/Rd brakes now comes in a new flat mount option.
Shown on a matte red Mars Cycles steel cyclocross bike, the flat mount version creates a braking option that for some is more suited to road, gravel or cyclocross bikes, being smaller in appearance, lighter weight and not as overbuilt as post mount models. It's worth noting that SRAM too has adopted the flat mount standard first pioneered by Shimano. Students of handmade bikes may recall Mars Cycles winning the People's Choice Award with a cyclocross bike at the 2015 NAHBS and this year's show bike in the TRP booth was similarly stunning.
Finally, while it's a bit more rare than the 15mm "standard" front thru axle option, TRP is now offering their thru-axle cyclocross/gravel fork in a 12mm size and with a fender mount option.
TRP also showed the thru axle fork and the Hylex levers and brakes on a Squid Bikes cyclocross bike, similar to the one ridden by Anthony Clark, Emily Kachorek and Junior rider David Thompson. The singlespeed on display was built for Pat Bailey and custom painted by artist Micah Crandall-Bear.
Stay tuned for more 2016 NAHBS coverage, and see our ever-growing collection of cyclocross and gravel bikes and components from the show here.
This Ti Cycles, made-in-Portland cyclocross bike paired TRP’s Di2 climbing button adapters and Hylex RS levers and brakes with an XTR Di2 rear derailleur and a single chainring. TRP Brakes booth, NAHBS 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
