Cane Creek has announced new AER headsets with aluminum cartridge bearings, AER hybrid steel/aluminum bearings, the eeCycleworks eeNut preload assembly for carbon steerer tubes and lastly the ViscoSet headsets with viscous steering damping technology.
Press Release
Cane Creek Cycling Components is very proud to introduce four new headset products for 2017. First of which are the new 2017 AER Series headsets and bearings. Cane Creek first introduced the AER Series as the world’s lightest headsets in 2009 with the use of Norglide T composite bearing technology and other gram-reducing design features. The Norglide T bearing technology was originally intended for race-day applications and had reduced durability and life span relative to a standard headset bearing.
AER Headsets and Bearings
New for 2017, all AER series headsets are now equipped with Cane Creek’s new AER aluminum cartridge bearings, with the Norglide T composite bearings only available upon request. This gives all AER Series headsets both a considerable weight reduction over a standard headset and now increased bearing longevity. The AER series aluminum bearings also can be used in an 110-Series or 40-Series for weight reduction over the black oxide and stainless steel bearings. Five additional lower headset assemblies have been added to the AER Series (IS47, IS52, ZS56, EC44/33, EC44/40), allowing the AER Series headsets to not only be used in road and cyclocross, but also on mountain bike applications. An AER Series headset assembly can save up to 50 grams off a 40-Series or 110- Series headset. The 2017 AER series is available now.
The new AER stuff looks sweet and would be an excellent way to save some weight and still get the great Cane Creek headset and bearing quality and craftsmanship. The headset cover with its cutouts looks trick!
Long recognized as the world’s lightest headset, the new AER now offers a hybrid steel and aluminum bearing that provides even greater durability and a 40% weight savings over comparable models. Strategic machining and precision contours provide an optimal balance between weight and strength. The new AER headset is now an ideal headset choice for both road and mountain bike applications- a high-quality, durable headset at the lightest weight possible. For an ultralight race day application, riders can outfit the AER with a Norglide composite bearing for even greater weight savings.
| Cups and Covers | 7075 T-6 Aluminum Contoured and relieved to provide an optimal balance between strength and weight |
| Bearings | Blue anodized lightweight sealed hybrid steel/aluminum bearing
“RACE-DAY” (Top Bearing) Option: Revolutionary Norglide T composite bearing — 1.5 grams |
| Crown Race | Aluminum Crown Race with integrated low-friction seal |
| Manufacturing | Cut in Cane Creek’s Fletcher, NC machining facility from U.S.-made aluminum |
AER Hybrid Steel/Aluminum Bearings
The stainless steel bearings in our 110-Series headsets and black oxide bearings in our 40-Series are the industry standard when it comes to high-quality sealed cartridge bearings. It was time to raise the bar. For riders with an eye on weight, this hybrid steel/ aluminum bearing maintains the quality and durability our bearings are known for, in a blue-anodized cartridge that is 35% lighter. All headsets in our product line were meticulously designed to have interchangeable parts, making this bearing cross-compatible with all assemblies. Precision engineered by Cane Creek in Fletcher, NC.
eeCycleworks eeNut
In addition to the lightweight offerings of the AER Series, the eeCycleworks eeNut preload assembly is also now available through Cane Creek. Designed for carbon steerer tubes, the eeNut preload assembly offers a beautifully functional new concept for an extremely lightweight preload assembly. A total weight of only 9.6 grams for the full assembly, saves 30 grams over the typical top cap and preload. The eeNut is a unique and patent pending design providing ultra light weight, solid locking action and ease of installation in one package. The recessed cone shape provides greater tensile stiffness. This increased stiffness facilitates precise headset adjustment and sets it apart from other lightweight caps. To learn more about eeNut preload assembly, please refer to the product information below. The eeNut preload assembly is available now.
Reminds me of some of the German weight weenie stuff but this has a lot better technology, strength, and durability. The nut should be a great item for the roadie with a carbon steerer on their bike.
The eeNut offers a beautifully functional new concept for an extremely lightweight preload assembly. A total weight of only 9.6 grams for the full assembly, saves 30 grams over the typical top cap and preload. The eeNut is a unique and patent pending design providing ultra light weight, solid locking action and ease of installation in one package. The recessed cone shape provides greater tensile stiffness. This increased stiffness facilitates precise headset adjustment and sets it apart from other lightweight caps.
- TOP CAP – 7075 T-6 Aluminum 2.6 grams
- TOP BOLT – 7075 T-6 Aluminum 1.6 grams
- COMPRESSION CONES – 7075 T-6 Aluminum 1.0 gram each (2 per assembly)
- PRELOAD NUT BOLT – 7075 T-6 Aluminum 1.8 grams
- PRELOAD NUT – 7075 T-6 Aluminum 1.6 grams
- TOTAL WEIGHT – 9.6 grams
- AVAILABLE FITS – Fits Steerer Inner Diameters from 22.8mm to 25mm (1 1/8th Steerers and Stems)
ViscoSet
As part of its dedication to superior headset technology, Cane Creek Cycling Components is introducing the ViscoSet, a new steering damper headset. ViscoSet (patent-pending) offers viscous steering damping within an upper headset assembly to inhibit the uncontrolled steering oscillation known as speed wobble. ViscoSet was designed for bikes and e-bikes that have increased weight distribution over the rear tire, step-through top tubes that encourage frame flex, fat bikes, adventure bikes with cargo, and any other bicycle or tricycle in need of steering damping. The ViscoSet houses 12 damping plates interlaced with fluorocarbon gel within the headset cup. Six outer damping plates contact the headset cup (frame), and six inner damping plates contact the compression ring (fork). With the twelve inner and outer damping plates interlaced, it forms 11 friction planes that create damping in steering, but the configuration of damping plates can be changed to achieve different “tunes” of steering damping. ViscoSet is available now.
The ViscoSet some pretty innovative technology, and I can see it being extremely useful for e-bikes and anything that has a rearward weight basis.
ViscoSet (patent-pending) offers viscous damping to make bicycles safer by inhibiting the uncontrolled steering oscillation known as speed wobble. Speed wobbles are vibrations that start small and get worse due to harmonics. This frightening shimmy can affect the handling of any bicycle under certain conditions and is the result of many different factors. Utilizing specially designed damping plates above the bearing in the upper assembly, ViscoSet stops the oscillation before it can grow to a dangerous level. These micro-thin plates are interleaved in an encapsulated cartridge and connected to both the frame and the steerer tube. As they rotate against each other, a fluorocarbon gel between each layer provides viscous damping and stops the oscillation of the handlebars before it grows to a dangerous level.
| Cups and Covers | 7075 T-6 Aluminum |
| Interlok® | Interlok® spacer compatible |
| Crown Race | Fully face-sealed crown race |
| Bearings | Dependable black-oxide, sealed cartridge bearings |
| Assembly | Pre-Greased cartridge. No Re-Grease needed. |
| Stack Heights | External Cup (EC) – 22.2mm Top
ZeroStack (ZS) – 13.5mm Top |
VIscoSet (patent-pending) offers viscous damping to make bicycles safer by inhibiting the uncontrolled steering oscillation known as speed wobble. “Speed wobble” or “head shake” are vibrations that start small and get worse due to harmonics. This frightening shimmy can affect the handling of any bicycle under certain conditions and is the result of many different factors.
Utilizing specially designed damping plates above the bearing in the upper assembly, ViscoSet stops the oscillation before it can grow to a dangerous level. These micro-thin plates are interleaved in an encapsulated cartridge and connected to both the frame and the forks steerer tube. As they rotate against each other, a fluorocarbon gel between each layer provides maintenance free viscous damping, preventing the dreaded speed wobble and allowing riders to maintain control.
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