Answer is coming out with new full carbon ProTaper SL handlebars and seatpost. The SL bars will come in three models, a flat with 8º backsweep, a 1/2" rise with 4º upsweep and 8º backsweep, and a 1" rise with 4º upsweep and 8º backsweep. The bars will come in a 720mm width, along with a special 660mm x-country version. The ProTaper technology adds material at the clamp and riser for strength and stiffness (the stress areas), and decreases it elsewhere for lightness, and it uses internal and external tapered walls to accomplish those goals. The 720mm width should come in around 200 grams.
The very trick SL carbon seatpost will come in 350 and 400m lengths, 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6 diameters, and 20mm and 0º offsets, weighs in at the 210 gram range. The highly sculptured post uses a unique two bolt arrangement with a large cutout at the rear by the clamp.
Both SL products should be officially released at Eurobike.
The new Gentleman's Collection of handlebars was an interesting product. The 7050 series alloy aluminum bars will be made in limited production graphics, including designs such as Flannel, Houndstooth, Paisley, and Tweed. They use a special proprietary military grade hard anodization process, which makes a durable and scratch resistant finish, which Answer Product Manager Tom Porter was more than happy to demonstrate its toughness by attempting to scrape it along the metal display case. The current spec's are a 780mm width, and a 1/2" rise with 4º upsweep and 8º backsweep, and a 1" rise with 4º upsweep and 8º backsweep, and a 335 g weight.