UK machining maestros Middleburn, try saying that after a lunchtime pint, took the BIKEmagic bribe this morning and revealed all: New products, re-designs, and pipe dreams, all in time for tea, err well Christmas…

Originally scheduled for release in April 2000 the Middleburn disc brake has had its problems. Middleburn bloke Jon told us he has ‘been ragging a Middleburn disc brake on my DH bike for over a year now without any problems’. And that the problems ‘have been to do with sourcing materials rather than with the innovative design’.
Middleburn’s system is an opposing twin pot, open design (which means the brake doesn’t bind when the fluid heats up on a long descent) with spring-mounted pads and a novel pad adjustment system. The pad adjustment allows you to set the brake up so it doesn’t rub without resorting to shims. Another nice touch is the adjustable pivot on the lever which will mean tons of modulation adjustment.
Although we haven’t got a picture, yet, production starts soon and you should be able to buy them well before Christmas.

There’s a new XC crank, the RS-8. Essentially a shaved down and aesthetically pleasing version of the much loved RS-7, the 8 is around 20g per arm lighter. Middleburn are using a new spline system to prevent the lightweight RS-8 XC spiders from being used on the RS-7 DH crank.
The RS-7, favourite with brain-out DH and trials riders has been beefed up and given a makeover. Both cranks will use a new, Shimano compatible, 4-arm spider. There’s also a new, one piece spider and bash guard for the hoppy people called the Super Trials guard.

The hubs are broken into two groups: QR axle and a 20mm thru axle. And all hubs are available disc compatible and not disc compatible. We’re told that the non-disc front hubs weigh in at 130g, and the disc comp at 195g. Competitive to say the least. Quality, strength and sealing Jon? ‘The quality is up there with the best US manufacturers, we only use really high quality bearings and completely UK proof seals.

IF that’s not enough also in the pipeline are a rear hub, a bottom bracket and a headset, apparently.

I know that Middleburn’s site has had its forthcoming re-design yet but I want to to take a look anyway.

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