Over the weekend a brand new premium element model popped up, as QO debuted three light-weight carbon cranksets and chainring combos. With dimpled aero tech for highway Race & gravel Grava and strengthened influence safety for each Grava & MTB Rocks cranksets, QO is already working with prime small-batch bike builders and may have aftermarket cranks out there inside the subsequent couple months. Plus, they tease that cranksets are only the start, with lots extra elements being ready within the wings…
The place did QO come from, and the place are the QOing?
Sure, pun supposed, in the event you can name it that? QO meant the identify as a synonym of GO, therefore point out of the model “QOing ahead” on this introductory PR marketing campaign, and over the weekend at Velofollies.
However whereas the identify is new, the individuals behind the brand new model are fairly acquainted. Qo founders Pablo Carrasco and Ignacio Estellés simply occur to have additionally been founders of Rotor all the best way again in 1996. That’s the place the 2 pioneered tech like oval chainrings, single & dual-sided powermeter cranks, modular cranksets, even the very cool (if not commercially profitable) Uno hydraulic shifting, and the first manufacturing 13-speed groupset for highway, gravel & mountain bikes. Loads of fascinating drivetrain tech that noticed the highlight beneath a number of Grand Tour and World Championship-winning cyclists in a number of disciplines.
Carrasco left his function as head of Rotor R&D a couple of years in the past, when the 2 began a utilitarian e-mobility firm collectively. However they nonetheless carried on with Rotor as properly till comparatively just lately. Now the 2 are again along with an all-new model, leveraging a lot of their design, engineering & manufacturing information to create an all-new premium element firm.
Qo carbon crankset improvement
The primary product vary to return out of Qo is a collection of carbon cranksets. That appears a becoming place to begin, coming from their Rotor background as carbon cranks on- & off-road had been among the most up-to-date improvements from the model that had centered for many years in machined aluminum.
Qo says the brand new “state-of-the-art carbon cranks” promise to convey “real-world advantages to skilled riders and passionate cyclists alike”. Their design objectives appear to be a stability of “distinctive power, weight, and sturdiness”
Qo designs the brand new elements in Spain, engineers them between Spain & Taiwan, and manufactures carbon in between Taiwan & China with carbon manufacturing associate YMA and machines chainrings in Spain.
Qo Race modular aero carbon highway bike cranks
The spotlight of the highway Qo Race crankset is its aero dimples “impressed by aerodynamic rules… to enhance airflow across the crankset“. The light-weight ‘Mitsubishi Pyrofil’ carbon arms promise stiffness, sturdiness & vibration-damping with dimples on each interior & outer faces of its arms.
The entire UD carbon cranksets function DUB-compatible 28.99mm spindles and a direct mount chainring interface. The direct mount is similar 45-tooth DIN spline because the OCP interface that allowed Rotor to clock oval rings to align with useless spots in your pedal stroke.
The highway cranks add an aero-dimpled 7075-T6 alloy spider with Shimano-standard 4x110mm BCD. And there are aero-dimpled chainrings with “Sensible Shifting” tooth & ramp designs and complicated rear machining. The highway rings are available 50/34T, 52/36T & 54/40T pairs and the arms are available 160, 165, 170, 172.5 & 175mm lengths in each white or black.
A whole highway Qo Race crankset is claimed to weigh 634g (170mm arms & 50/34T rings) – with 149mm Q-factor & 44.5mm chainline.
Qo Rocks modular carbon mountain bike cranks
The important thing function of the Qo Rocks mountain cranks is its KevTex kevlar reinforcement within the ends of the arms for “most safety in opposition to rock strikes and path hazards” for longer service life, plus in addition they get a rubber bumper, too.
Once more the MTB cranks add Mitsubishi Pyrofil carbon for vibration damping. However right here as an alternative of dimples, the arms function ‘MaxStrength Slots’, primarily exterior ribs mid-way via the crankarms to extend stiffness.
The carbon MTB arms are available 165, 170 & 175mm lengths, once more with a DUB spindle & direct mount rings. Right here the CNC-machined 7075 chainrings are available 32, 34, 36 & 38T sizes.
A whole mountain Qo Rocks crankset weighs solely 440g (170mm arms & 34T ring) – with 174mm Q-factor & 55mm chainline.
Qo Grava modular aero carbon gravel bike cranks
The Qo Grava gravel bike cranks mix a little bit of each – the aero from the highway and the off-road KevTex reinforcement. There Qo delivers aero-dimpled carbon arms with inner kevlar reinforcement and rubber bumpers. After which, there are 1x direct mount chainrings, however with their very own aero dimples alongside the periphery.
The carbon gravel arms are provided in 165, 170 & 172.5mm lengths with a DUB spindle & direct mount 1x 40, 42 or 44T chainrings.
A whole gravel Qo Grava crankset weighs simply 478g (170mm arms & 40T ring) – with 153mm Q-factor & 47mm chainline.
Qo carbon cranksets – Pricing, choices & availability
Formally, the Qo model announcement PR we obtained is only a preview of what’s to return – with extra product launches nonetheless slated for 2025 . However the three carbon cranksets – Race, Grava & Rocks – are actual merchandise set to debut in a restricted launch already beginning in March 2025. This primary spherical is claimed to be out there via conventional distributors in Europe, beginning with their residence in Spain and BeNeLux, France, Germany, Eire, Switzerland & the UK, plus China, Japan, Korea & Thailand.
Qo additionally named a number of early OEM companions who will spec their cranks (and future elements) on small-batch & customized bike builds. We’re ready for a listing of associate bikebuilder manufacturers, and can replace right here after we know extra.
Not introduced extra broadly although, we’ve a good suggestion of anticipated pricing. Crankarm units alone will promote for 550-570€. A whole highway Race crankset with chainrings for 750€, full gravel Grava crankset with 1x ring for 700€, and full MTB Rocks crankset with a chainring for 650€. Qo additionally affords direct mount chainrings & the spider individually.
Examine in with Qo immediately within the coming months to then discover your native distributor if you’re a type of first nations to get entry to the brand new cranksets. And we’ll preserve you up to date as Qo expands into extra markets.
QObike.com
