PRO'S VIBE GOES SUPER LIGHT

New PRO Vibe SL handlebar designed to be lightest fully cable integrated handlebar on the market.

In the planning for PRO’s latest product line up its product developers set themselves a goal: to create the lightest brake and shift cable integrated handlebar with its Innegra Inside safety feature. Not only that, the handlebar had to pass PRO’s stringent safety standards, which build on the ISO 4210/JIS benchmark.  

Creating a light and stiff handlebar is a delicate process. Different areas of the handlebars are subject to different forces, such as torsional, tensional (fatigue) and compression (impact) forces, so they need different strength properties, which comes from using the right amount of high modulus or high strength carbon in the correct places. But adding integrated Di2 or mechanical shift cables, and mechanical or hydraulic brake cables means that entry and exit ports are needed in the handlebar’s structure, which can be points where stress can build up. As well as that, PRO’s Vibe range uses an Innegra layer, which is a safety feature that helps carbon retain its structure in the event of an impact. Managing these competing demands takes expertise, experience and a lot of testing with PRO’s professional athletes.

However, by using a new method of combining high modulus M4075 carbon fibre with high strength T800 fibres PRO’s developers were able to use less resin to create a handlebar that was not only 15%  lighter but also does not sacrifice on stiffness. This new model will be introduced to the market as the VIBE SL range.

This new fully cable integrated VIBE SL comes in two styles, either a Compact or Aero design. The Compact bar comes in widths of 40cm, 42cm and 44cm with a target weight of just 184g. The Aero bar with its wind-cheating flatter top section and narrower drops has a target weight of 209g and comes in 38cm, 40cm and 42cm widths.

The Vibe SL models will be launched at Eurobike 2018 and will be available in stores from October 2018.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1.       EMBARGO TIME/DATE: Saturday 7th July 5pm (CET)

2.       IMAGES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yzjc8av13ghxk6t/AACbjm2EXMtUKk8YL0tUbHaga?dl=0

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4.       ABOUT PRO: At PRO we have a simple mission: To work together with the best people in the world to make the best products in the world. That’s why we work with the best riders, designers and The Shimano Dynamics Lab to co-create the products you use. The pro’s who put their name to our products are not just figureheads – they actually help design, prototype, test, modify, improve and fine-tune the most important components on your bike. They push our products to and often beyond their limits – on some of the world’s toughest road, trails, mountains and tracks.  PRO. POWERS YOUR PERFORMANCE