Based in Cologne, Germany, Wethepeople Bike Co. have been going strong for quite a long time now. The worldwide team is amazing, the graphics are cutting edge and the product range is unparalleled. In a word, it could definitely be said that Wethepeople go the extra mile when it comes to product design, testing and product production. In 2008, WTP have stepped it again, releasing new versions of their Helium forks, brand new Ashley Charles signature handlebars and updated versions of the Supreme front and cassette hub.
To begin with, the new Helium forks from WTP are available in two offsets, 25mm and 35mm. The 35's are the normal offset, while the 25's offer a more responsive steering radius. Plus, the 25's make nose wheelies a lot easier, and they're what I ride too. The Helium 25's features WTP's new heat-treating process called Magma, which is applied to the full Japanese Sanko 4130 cr-mo construction. The steer tube is fully cnc'd, single-butted, Magma heat-treated with a revised taper. The steer tube also has a built-in headset race, so you don't need to hammer one on anymore. The Helium 25's weigh in at 2.09 pounds and are available in black, white, chrome and lime, with or without brake mounts.
Next up are the Ashley Charles Lock Stock handlebars. Constructed of Magma treated full Japanese 4130 cr-mo multi-butted tubing with an 8 inch rise and a 25.98 inch width, these bars feature a 10 degree backsweep and a 2.5 degree up sweep. Weighing in at 1.38 lb, the Lock Stock bars are again available in black, white, chrome and lime.
And then there are the Supreme front and cassette hubs. These aren't just taken out of the Taiwan Buyer's Guide and stamped with a Wethepeople logo. A lot of independent thought went into these, and it shows. The front hub features a hardened cr-mo female axle system, 7075 washers and cones, a hub body constructed of 6061 T-6 aluminum, and it's available in both 3/8" and 14mm axle sizes. Colors are black, chrome, orange, white and grey, and the weight is 0.57 pounds. Each bolt is replaceable, and aftermarket hub guards are available as well. The cassette hub is constructed of 6061-T6 aluminium hub-shell based around the Q-Lite system, only available with a 14mm hardened cr-mo axle, features 6 Japanese bearings (four in the driver, a WTP exclusive), 36 and 48h along with rhd or lhd options and a weight of 1.01 pounds. It comes with a 9t driver. My hands are tired. Wethepeople's '08 component range is awesome. Go get some...
UK DISTRO: Hot Wheels http://www.hot-wheels.co.uk
US DISTRO: System Cycle http://www.systemcycle.com
FOR MORE INFO: http://www.wethepeople.de
