New Bike Tech: A $479 Frame, a $479 Aero Saddle, and Tailfin’s New Rack

Welcome to Velo’s weekly tech roundup. We sift through the week’s industry news to bring you the standout gear, subtle component updates, and fresh accessories you actually need to know about. If it’s clever and it makes your ride better, you’ll find it here. Dive into all our new bike tech coverage here.

Logan Jones-Wilkins is normally the one to handle this roundup but this week he’s away testing a really cool new bike I can’t tell you about. That leaves me to grab the wheel and direct you towards the launches I thought were the most exciting this week but also to catch up on something that keeps slipping through my grasp. First we’ll start with new.

Tailfin rack system gets a complete update

The basic idea with Tailfin is that most bikes aren’t set up for seriously big adventures. Gravel race bikes and modern road bikes just don’t have a good way to carry the gear you need if you decide to ride across a continent or even just ride to work. To solve that puzzle, Tailfin offers a system that stabilizes using the seat post and rests the weight of what you carry on a modified thru-axle with a quick-release system for the rack. It’s all very slick, and there are a few versions depending on your needs.

The most affordable of those is the Alloy Rack, but after eight years, it’s been replaced by the Journey Pannier Rack. Tailfin built this new 6061-T6 aluminum system in a pannier option rated to carry 32kg / 70.5lbs and a non-pannier version rated for 22kg / 48.5lbs, both featuring an updated 33x10cm top deck and triple or quad cargo bosses depending on the version. You’ll also find a redesigned fast-release dropout system and seatpost connector designed to be both stronger and easier to use.

Pricing starts at £150 / $205 / €180 for the non-pannier version (includes axle) and goes up if you opt for the pannier version or add the optional mudguard and light mounts. For more information, visit the Tailfin website.

Prologo introduces an aero saddle

This is real, but it’s also not brand new. I’ve been chasing the Prologo Choice for weeks as I’ve traveled to the Taipei Cycle Show, Sea Otter Classic, and most recently, China Cycle. Each time, I found myself trying to wrap my head around what this actually is, pushing it off in favor of something else at the show. Now that I’m home, I dove in, and it’s a lot less complicated than I thought.

Start by imagining what stack height means in a shoe. Simple, right? It reduces the space between the pedal axle and the bottom of your foot, resulting in a more direct feel while riding. Now, what if you did that in a saddle?

The Prologo Choice is exactly that. It is a reduced-stack saddle that shrinks the vertical footprint by around 7mm compared to a traditional option.

The headline effect is that it’s now possible to shroud the sides for better aerodynamics. Prologo doesn’t provide specific numbers on that, though, and when I’ve talked to the company, aero gains don’t seem to be its primary focus. Instead, Prologo emphasizes that this design mimics a reduced stack height in a pedal system. The brand claims “the saddle ensures greater structural rigidity, resulting in more efficient power transmission and a more precise and controlled ride.” The other knock-on effect is that the rails unbolt from the top of the saddle, making it possible to replace the upper or the rails separately.

Pricing is set at $479, with options for a 140mm or 147mm width paired with a 240mm length. Rails are 7×9, and the weight is a claimed 152g / 195g. For more information, visit the Prologo website.

Stinner officially launches a 32-inch gravel bike

I wrote an article about how “32-Inch Wheels Are Leaving Everyday Riders Behind,” but hey, maybe I’m wrong. It could be that Jones-Wilkins was the one who hit the nail on the head when he wrote about how “The 32-Inch Wheel Revolution Is Coming Whether We Like It or Not.”

The new Stinner Refugio 32 makes the case that this new standard is here and worth paying attention to. Stinner claims that this new bead-blasted raw titanium 32-inch bike “carries momentum over rough terrain with ease. Roots and trail chatter disappear beneath it, handling stays calm and precise, and when the trail tips down, it absolutely comes alive.” Stinner also seems to acknowledge it might not work for everyone, as the brand is only launching the Refugio 32 as a limited batch of 50 frames in sizes Medium to XXL.

Prices range from $7,295 for a complete Rival/GX mullet build with Stoic Carbon wheels down to $2,999 for a frameset only. If you decide to build it up yourself, it’s a wireless-only frame and max tire clearance is 32″ x 2.4″. For more information, visit the Stinner website.

State bikes has a frame that costs the same as that saddle

I couldn’t resist calling attention to the fact that the State 4130 All-Road frameset actually matches the price of the Prologo Choice saddle at $479.99. You can pick three colors for the steel frame too. If you prefer your bikes to have wheels, then the price does go up, obviously, but at $999.99 it’s still pretty incredible.

This isn’t a completely brand new bike though. There was already a bike with this model name and price, it’s just been out of stock since last year. Now it’s back in stock and the tire clearance increases to 700×55 or 650bx60 and cable actuated disc brakes are now included in the price.

For more information, check the State Bikes website.