3T is making its first foray into the cyclo-cross market with the launch of the Luteus fork and Ergoterra handlebars.

The state-of-the-art products, geared towards top-level ‘cross riders, will hit the shelves from April 2011.

Luteus is an all carbon fibre front fork designed expressly for use with disk brakes. Features include a tapered headstock, faired cable housing, and alloy-faced fork-ends.

Ergoterra is a wide drop ‘bar, shaped specifically for cyclo-cross, with flared drops for elbow clearance on rough ground, and a reinforced central section for cross-top brakes.

3T started design work on the Luteus fork in mid-2010 when the UCI changed its technical rules to allow disc brakes. It is intended to support brake units with standard 160-mm brake rotors, and has generous mud clearance – a minimum 17 mm all-round when the maximum permitted 33-622 tyre is installed.

The left fork-blade is reinforced at the brake mounting points to compensate for the stresses imparted by braking. On its outer face there is a recessed channel with two integrated fixing points for tidy cable management.

The fork ends face forwards and have alloy inserts to better resist the lateral stresses transmitted through the hub by rough terrain.

Initial production of Luteus has a tapered 1-1/8″~1-1/2″ steerer for increased strength and stability.

Ergoterra seeks to answer the need for a suitable ‘bar, specifically for use in cyclo-cross racing, to match the fork. It has the same compact drop and reach as the Ergosum road bar, with additional width at the drops to provide more control over technical terrain.

Viewed from above, the drops angle outwards by 6°, meaning the 45cm model is 42 cm at the hoods (47-cm model, 44 cm). Compound-curved bends preserve the vertical alignment of brake/shifter levers at their mounting point, so the transmission manufacturer’s designed ergonomics are not compromised despite the bar’s outward flare.

Over rough ground that jostles the rider’s handhold, Ergoterra offers more lateral clearance for the forearms, permitting the rider to stay longer in the drops. More elbow-room should also help with run-ups, when the bike is shouldered over unrideable sections.

The Luteus will retails at $595/€450 and the Ergoterra at $325/€250. UK prices are yet to be confirmed.