MADRID (BRAIN) — At Eurobike next week, Rotor Bike Components will debut a new road bike group that includes hydraulic-activated shifting and braking. The Spanish component brand worked with Magura on the brakes, which will be available in rim and disc versions.
Rotor has been developing the group, called Rotor UNO, for six years and said it will launch globally next spring.
Pablo Carrasco, co-founder and chief innovation officer for Rotor, said the company first began developing a cable-activated system.
"Our initial idea was to improve upon existing shifting systems; we knew that our system was a small step forward with its increased precision compared with other cable-actuated systems but we still suffered the same disadvantages of those systems, like friction, devolving inconsistent force over time, and other inconveniences ... We knew that disc brakes for road were about to become a reality and we challenged ourselves to further the concept and apply hydraulics to actuate shifting as well."
The company said smooth activation, low maintenance, multiple shifting positions, both rim and disc hydraulic brake options, internal hose routing, and low weight were the key goals for the system.
"Hydraulic systems are already something we use everyday without thinking twice," said Carlos Cartón, the lead engineer for the project, "in car brakes, construction equipment, and airplanes. So it made sense to apply this proven technology to bicycle transmissions, where the advantages are really clear."
