American Metal: White Industries, Phil Wood and Bathtubs for Bicycles Keep Production Domestic

Advertisement White Industries, Phil Wood and Bathtubs for Bicycles are proving

White Industries, Phil Wood and Bathtubs for Bicycles are proving that America is still great. Check out these updates to old classics and something completely different from a new brand.

White Industries has been turning blocks of aluminum and steel into high end componentry since 1978. Along the way, the Northern California company has garnered a cult-like status among bike lovers for its quality domestic production, functional designs and aesthetic appeal.

The White Industries R30 crank is one of three new crank offerings debuted at Interbike 2016. The crank arms and spindle (no rings) weigh in at 560g with a retail price of $300 USD. © Cyclocross Magazine

The Petaluma, California-based company has been producing its square taper cranksets for quite some time, yet the problem was that they were only compatible with a bottom bracket standard that had all but vanished on performance-oriented bikes. White Industries was aware of this fact, as well as the demand for its cranks to be produced for more modern frames.

For 2017, White Industries is launching an updated version of its beloved cranks. Gone are the days of sole support for the square taper, as the brand ushers in a new era of cranks that are compatible with outboard bottom brackets. The cranks are available in three versions: the R30, G30 and M30. The G, R and M stand for Road, Gravel and Mountain, respectively, while 30 represents the 30mm diameter of the spindle that joins the two crank arms. The separate spindle design is similar to the Easton EC90 SL cranks we recently reviewed.

The R30, G30 and M30 (pictured here) utilize White Industries’ new splined 30mm spindle for compatibility with external bottom brackets. © Cyclocross Magazine

All three cranks are available in lengths ranging from 165mm to 180mm, with 5mm incremental changes between sizes. Only the R30 has an additional option of 172.5mm. The difference in the crank arms can be found in their respective Q-factors. The R30 has a Q-factor of 157.2mm, the G30 sees the biggest spacing jump, up to 171mm, while the M30 has the widest stance at 176mm. The various crank arms styles can also be interchanged with either the road/gravel or mountain spindles.

The 30mm spindle is splined for a proprietary fit with the White Industries cranks, and a star shaped adjustment ring works to remove any play in the system. The 175mm cranks and spindle weigh in at 560g for the R30, 570g for the G30 and 575g for the M30. The crank arms and spindle retail for $300USD and will be available in black or silver sometime in October.

After years of producing proprietary chainrings for their beloved crank arms, White Industries finally unveiled its first narrow/wide rings at Interbike 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine

In its quest to update, White Industries realized that modern cranks need modern rings. With the launch of its cranks, the brand has also put a fresh face on its chainrings with the addition of narrow/wide. Officially dubbed the TSR (tall short ring), the rings feature familiar narrow wide alternating tooth pattern, with the wider teeth standing a bit taller than the narrower teeth–hence the name.

The rings are mounted directly to the crank arms via a proprietary splined interface. TSRs range in tooth-count from 28t to 48t, and vary in price from $75 USD to $95 USD depending on size. White Industries also offers double Variable Bolt Circle rings for those not using 1x systems. Availability on the rings is also sometime in October.

Check out the slideshow for more White Industries coverage, and find additional info over on its website: whiteind.com

Phil Wood products have a bit of a reputation that precedes them. Not often cited for their light weight or exotic composite construction, the reputation that surrounds the San Jose, California-based brand is that of attention to quality. Phil Wood has taken its years of experience building hubs and applied it to a new range of threadless headsets.

Phil Wood brought out its new 1⅛" headsets in a full spectrum of colors. The Phil logo on the top cap is engraved and hand painted. The headsets retail for $150 USD, but for an additional $20 USD, Phil Wood will include 42.5mm worth of color matched headset spacers. © Cyclocross Magazine

The headsets are made from 7075 aluminum or stainless steel, both of which are sourced from stateside producers. Stainless headsets are on the way. A range of anodized colors are available at no extra charge, all of which can also be found on their hubs and outboard bottom brackets for those looking to color coordinate. Retail is set at $144 USD, which is on par with, if not a bit cheaper than, other high end headsets like those made by Chris King. For an additional $20 USD, Phil Wood will throw in a 42.5mm stack of headset spacers that were anodized in the same batch as the given headset for exact color matching.

Weighing in at 144 grams (not including spacers), the headsets are available now direct from Phil Wood or through an authorized stocking dealer. The cherry on top is undoubtedly the engraved top cap, as the inset Phil logo is hand painted just like the logo on every hub that leaves the factory.

Phil Wood's outboard bottom brackets are made from 7075 aluminum and feature an internal sleeve emblazoned with the Phil logo. © Cyclocross Magazine

Headsets weren't the only colorful components at the Phil Wood booth. Also on display were its fully serviceable thru-axle disc hubs. The hubs come with several configuration options including 135 QR, 12×135 TA or 12×142 TA. Options continue onto the freehub bodies, which are offered in Shimano, SRAM XD or Campagnolo 11.

Phil Wood QR hubs can be disassembled with two Allen keys giving riders easy access to pawls and bearings for servicing. The thru-axle hubs make servicing even easier as the internals are accessed by simply popping off the end caps. Hubs are available in either a Classic model with stainless steel end caps, axle and freehub body or in the Pro model which swaps those steel bits for aluminum. Rear hubs start at $430 USD for a 135 QR configuration.

The Phil Wood booth had this Santa Cruz Stigmata fitted with one of itd own cranksets, but don't be fooled, that's still a square taper, 144 BCD track crank. © Cyclocross Magazine

Lastly, there was a Santa Cruz Stigmata in the booth that was drawing considerable attention. The bike was fitted with a Phil Wood crank and while some hopefuls thought this was a new offering for 1x drivetrains, the crank was actually the company's long standing 144BCD track model. The trick lies in the compatibility.

The Phil Wood track crank is square taper, while the Stigmata has a PressFit 30 bottom bracket. The solution? Custom machined PF30 cups that are threaded to accept a JIS square taper BB. This likely isn't something that will ever see production, although if you too want to trick fellow bike geeks, give Phil Wood a call and they just might make one for you.

More info: www.philwood.com

Rounding out our list of American makers is a brand with a product that may seem self-explanatory, yet the image that might come to mind–of your favorite two wheeler soaking in the jacuzzi at Mandalay Bay–is a far cry from the industrial cleaning station that bears the title. Made from 14-gauge stainless steel and weighing in at a presumptive value between a washing machine and a Smart car, the Bathtub for Bicycles or BFB as we’ll refer to it, is a muddy crosser's dream.

The tub is made from 14-gauge stainless steel and is welded domestically in Omaha, Nebraska. The bike is held in place at both tires, and the adjustable retainers can accommodate sizes ranging from the skinniest road tires up to bulbous fat bikes. © Cyclocross Magazine

The BFB features fully TIG-welded construction and is produced domestically in Omaha, Nebraska. Nebraska may be better known for gravel riding than muddy ‘cross courses, but it seemed foolish to overlook the BFB's potential to be the ultimate one-stop-shop after a slippery race. Complete with a nine foot coiling hose and ball valve nozzle, blasting away the grit and grime should be a relatively mess-free job.

To make things better, the BFB has a backsplash that wraps around the sides to further ensure that the water stays within the unit instead of on the surrounding jealous onlookers. The bike is secured into the tub at both wheels by two steel bars with the mounts being adjustable to fit just about any bicycle tire under the rain clouds. Bikes are positioned atop a rubberized grate allowing the dirt clods and other souvenirs to slide down into a collection basket instead of the drain. The basket can then be removed for easy disposal of the debris, saving a call to the local plumber.

The tub comes with a nine foot coiling hose and ball valve nozzle which provides users with easy access to the entire bike. © Cyclocross Magazine

There are several key points to consider before buying one of these tubs: one being the 95 cubic feet of space it requires and the other being the $7,000 USD sticker price. Jokes aside, this is an industrial grade appliance that is not likely targeted towards the individual, but rather at complexes and organizations that have amenities for a large number of bikes (think bike share program). It could also be a useful tool for shops that have limited outdoor space for washing bikes during a tune up. For those individuals that do have the space and cash to spare for one of these, we think you’d be hard pressed to find a better option than the BFB for your BFF's post-race soak.

More info: bathtubsforbicycles.com

See our ever-growing collection of new product news from Interbike 2016 here.

How to Select a Ribbon Blender

Sea Otter Classic 2022: New Products That Caught Our Eye

News

American Metal: White Industries, Phil Wood and Bathtubs for Bicycles Keep Production Domestic