FSA – Passion for Bike Components
FSA was founded in the 1970s. The company was originally called TH Industries. In 1993, a high-end component brand was introduced, which was called FSA – Full Speed Ahead. The headquarters of this new brand was established in California, USA. In the beginning, TH produced headsets and bottom brackets. Today, FSA is one of the largest bicycle component manufacturers in the world. Production takes place in Asia, where FSA not only manufactures its own products, but also those of other well-known brands. With Vision, FSA produces parts for a second own brand. Vision focuses on aerodynamically optimized products for road bikes and triathlons.
The FSA Product Portfolio at a Glance
The number of products manufactured by FSA is impressive and includes all essential bicycle parts for road bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes. FSA is best known for its headsets, as well as for bike components such as wheels, handlebars and drivetrain components. In the FSA product portfolio you will find, among other things
- FSA wheels
- FSA brakes
- FSA discs
- FSA stems & handlebars
- FSA bottom brackets
- FSA cranksets
- FSA chainrings
- FSA seatposts
The FSA Headset
One of the best-known FSA products is the FSA headset. It stands for precision and durability and is used in countless bicycles of all brands. Whether road bike, mountain bike or gravel bike – FSA has the right headset in its range. Full Speed Ahead headsets are available for tapered steerer tubes, for classic 1 1/8 inch and for 1.5 inch steerer tubes. Of course, the Americans also have headsets for bottom bracket cups integrated into the frame in their range.
FSA Technologies: High Tech for Your Bike
At FSA, nobody relies on gut feeling. Instead, they rely on state-of-the-art technology. Technologies are used that were originally used in aviation or motor racing. Safety is the top priority here. FSA does the same with its bicycle parts. One of these technologies is FEA – Finite Element Analysis. With the integration of FEA into product development, FSA is one of the pioneers in the bike industry.
By using the latest technologies, FSA is able to manufacture products with an exceptionally good stability-to-weight ratio. FSA develops the optimum process for every material. With the help of Hollow Forged Technology, for example, the component manufacturer obtains a hollow crankset made from aluminum. These cranks have an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. A comparable process for FSA carbon cranks is called Hollow Molded Carbon Technology. With CSI technology (Carbon Structural Integration), FSA combines the properties of aluminium and carbon in an exceptionally stiff component.
Full Speed Ahead: Tests for Maximum Reliability
FSA doesn't just use state-of-the-art technologies. The company also ensures that they deliver what they promise. To this end, all products are subjected to intensive scrutiny in its own test center. FSA tests its products according to the strict CEN standard. The in-house tests are regularly supplemented by independent test laboratories.
FSA ensures that all products meet or exceed industry standards. To this end, Full Speed Ahead tests far beyond the loads. Handbars, for example, are subjected to tough, destructive drop tests. This ensures that durability meets the highest standards. Material fatigue tests are also an important part of FSA quality assurance. This does not involve maximum loads, such as those that can occur during a rough landing. Instead, countless small loads simulate an entire bike life in a short period of time.
In addition to safety-related tests, FSA carries out further tests and optimizes the aerodynamics of its products in its own wind tunnel, for example.
FSA and Professional Sport
FSA supports many professional teams and individual professional athletes. This is not done exclusively for marketing reasons. Rather, FSA values communication with its athletes in order to gain input for new ideas and for the development of new technologies. Well-known teams supported by FSA are, for example, the road teams Team Jubo Visma or Team Cofidis. In the mountain bike sector, FSA supports the Santa Cruz FSA Team and the German Bulls Team. Well-known individual athletes include Ryan Nyquist, Logan Bingelli and many more.