Stages Cycling reveal FSA 386EVO and Shimano 105 5800 models for 2015

Stages Cycling has expanded its power meter crank range for 2015 with the addition of three new models, FSA 386EVO, Shimano 105 5800 and XTR M900 for the mountain bikers.

Stages Cycling has enjoyed a lot of success since it launched its unique non-driveside crank arm power meter in 2012, no doubt given a boost by Team Sky dropping their SRM power meters in favour of Stages at the beginning of the 2014 season.

Stages Cycling take a standard non-driveside (left) crank arm and add a small sensor to the inside face, and this is able to measure the strain forces to calculate power, while an accelerometer measures cadence. It doesn't weigh very much at all, just 20g, and uses ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart to send the data to any compatible device, like a smartphone or Garmin Edge. 

“We’re super excited to offer these new models,” said Matt Pacocha, Stages Cycling marketing manager. “The new XTR M9000 models have been eagerly anticipated by our Shimano sponsored athletes, and the FSA BB386EVO meter and hybrid-carbon crank set represent a creative solution to our current alloy-only meter design. We’re most excited about the fact that they fit almost any bottom bracket scenario that you will find on a contemporary road bike.”

Stages already offered a previous generation 105 5700 model but it is now offering a 105 5800 model, based on Shimano’s newest crank arm design. It will cost £599.

The new 105 5800 Stages model is backwards compatible with 5700, and of course can be used with any Ultegra or Dura-Ace Hollowtech II chainset, providing a low cost option for those on a budget and who don’t mind the little extra weight. Talking of weight, Stages claim it is 208g for a 172.5mm length arm. It’ll be available in February 2015 with 165, 170, 172.5 and 175mm options, and in silver or black.

There is now more choice for FSA users, with the release of the FSA 386EVO model. It's based on FSA’s Energy 386EVO hollow forged 7075 aluminium crank arm. That means anyone using FSA’s latest K-Force or SL-K chainset now has a Stages option. It costs £699 and weighs 240g and comes in four lengths.

FSA’s 386EVO system uses a 86.5mm wide bottom bracket shell with a 30mm diameter axle. It can be used with any bottom bracket standard, B30, BB86 press-fit and most standard English threaded bottom brackets. 

The final new addition is one that will appeal to mountain bikers, and as we know there are some road.cc readers who dabble in the sport, it’s still worth mentioning the new Stages Shimano XTR M9000 Race and M9020 Trail model.

This is a model based on Shimano’s brand new XTR groupset (which ushers in Di2 for off-road application for the first time) and weighs a claimed 196g and will be available in February 2015. There are four lengths, 165 through to 180 for both Race and Trail variants.

Mountain bikers, even downhill and enduro racers as well as cross-country and marathon racers, are increasingly looking to power meters for finding an extra advantage in training for race day, and Stages has proved popular because it’s so easy to fit to just about any bike. It will cost £799.

More at www.stagescycling.com and www.saddleback.co.uk