Hands up, who loves looking at new bike kit? We’re guessing the answer is most of you! And it’s certainly all of us.
So allow us to bring you another helping of shiny new kit, including kids' cycling clothing from Alé, Endura's Durapak packable jacket for those summer showers, Smith's Reverb sunglasses, new mountain bike shoes from Ride Concepts and a Van Rysel bike that looks astonishingly well-specced for the money.
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So what else has been happening in the world of cycling lately?
Well, the amazing Fiona Kolbinger put in a sensational ride to become the first outright female winner of the Transcontinental, a 4,000km ultra-endurance race across Europe.
Downhill fans will pleased to hear that there’s now a slightly cheaper aluminium version of the Scott Gambler, while Specialized has introduced the new S-Works Epic hardtail with a crazy-light 790g frame.
We've also been to see the latest 2020 bikes from Genesis and Saracen, while, in the racing world, we’re gearing up to watch the Vuelta a España.
Van Rysel RR920 CF Ultegra
Earlier this year, the French cycling superstore Decathlon rebranded its higher-end Triban road bikes as Van Rysel, in order to gain ground at the performance end of the market.
And while there may be an element of marketing spiel about the Dutch- or Belgian-sounding name, if our first glance at Van Rysel’s RR920 CF is anything to go by, it’s backed up by some substance and an impressively light 7.61kg weight (on our scales).
The RR920 even comes with genuine race pedigree, being the weapon of choice for the AG2R La Mondiale U19 team.
For £1,999.99/€2,500, you’d expect lightweight carbon and this Van Rysel frame comes in at a claimed 850g with a 320g Evo Dynamic fork that’s equally feathery on the scales.
You might also expect a full raft of Shimano Ultegra R8000 for that price, and this bike includes the pro-compact 52/36 chainset.
What you’re less likely to find is a pair of £989 Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon wheels with 45mm NACA aero-profile carbon rims, even if they do have an aluminium braking track. These help make the Van Rysel one of the best equipped bikes at this price, with Fizik’s Antares saddle also headlining.
The frame has a PressFit 86 bottom bracket shell and is Di2 compatible, with the £3,499.99/€3,600 Van Rysel RR940 having the same frame and wheels but with electronic Ultegra.
We’ll be putting our Van Rysel RR920 CF Ultegra to the test in the near future.
Van Rysel RR920 CF Ultegra specs:
- Weight: 7.61kg (medium) — measured weight
- Frame: Full carbon, PressFit 86 bottom bracket, 850g claimed weight
- Fork: Full carbon, 320g claimed weight
- Gears: Shimano Ultegra 52/36, 11-28
- Wheels: Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon
- Brakes: Shimano Ultegra, direct-mount front
- Finishing kit: Deda Zero stem and bar, Fizik Antares saddle, 25mm Mavic Yksion Pro tyres
- Price: £1,999.99/€2,500
Alé Sartana women’s and kids' cycling kit
If you like your kit bright and colourful then Alé has just the outfit for you, or for your mini cyclist, for that matter, because this kit also comes in kids' sizes.
The Sartana kit has a multi-coloured floral jungle print that will certainly stand out on the club ride, but the features aren’t restricted to looks.
Designed for warm weather riding, the jersey's fabric has been chosen for its breathability, with a lighter mesh on the sides and arms to help keep you cool in hot weather.
The wide arm bands should mean that they sit in place without squishing or squeezing, and there are three deep pockets at the rear.
There's a silicone band around the hem to help keep the jersey in place, and there are subtle reflective highlights too.
The adult bib shorts feature a sex-specific chamois pad and a panelled construction for figure-hugging support. The kids' kit comes with waist shorts instead of bibs.
The men’s version of this kit comes in a more subdued monochrome colourway, which is a bit of a shame. That said, there's also a more low-key version of the women’s print too, so if you like the flowers but don’t want to go completely rainbow, Alé has you covered.
Price: £185 / €177 / $TBC
Ride Concepts Skyline Shoes
A fresh arrival in the world of flat pedal shoes, Ride Concepts has just hit the UK from the US and already has a raft of high profile riders on its roster, including downhill World Cup racers Gee and Rachel Atherton.
The brand hails from Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains, an area known for its great mountain biking, and the extensive range includes several flat pedal and clipless shoes that cover everything from trail riding to downhill racing.
The Skyline shoe here though is a rugged, protective shoe that looks well suited to aggressive or technical riding.
It features a rubber outsole with a custom-moulded toe and heel cup for added protection from hits. The inner ankle cuff is cut higher to provide a bit more protection for the ankle bones from the bike.
There are two colour options: a blue outer with a grey sole or black with dark purple highlights.
Ride Concepts offers a good range of sizes, from US5 to US10.
In the UK, they’re available from UK4 to UK8. However, British riders take note; the sizing is a bit off, with the UK7 that we have in fitting more like a UK6.
Price: £134.95 / $150
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0qaJtaBo51/?igshid=fphq8kg8lrlz
Smith Reverb glasses
A good set of performance specs should be on every rider's kit list.
Smith's Reverb sunglasses have a minimalist design consisting of a central one-piece lens, with detachable arms which click into place. This makes swapping the lens over to suit different light conditions very easy — good news if you live somewhere with changeable weather.
Each set of glasses comes with two lenses, typically one lightly tinted to suit most riding conditions and a more heavily tinted lens for brighter conditions.
There’s also a range of arm colours, so you’ll be able to find a set that suits your kit. You can also buy spare lenses if you want a different tint or have an accident with the set you have.
The Matte Moss set pictured comes with the Chromapop Red Mirror lens for bright conditions and contrast-enhancing Chromapop Contrast Rose lenses for dull weather. You also get a storage case and bag to keep everything together.
Price: £189 / $189
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0i1ntAB4TI/?igshid=bcas4hfdg6pi
Endura Durajak packable windproof jacket
Summer riding in some parts of the world can be an... interesting experience. Your ride might start off cool and crisp in the morning, then warm up rapidly.
Endura’s very packable Durajak is designed for exactly this scenario; when you need something light and windproof to keep the chill off in the morning, on long descents or when stopping for lunch.
The lightweight jacket squishes down to a size that’s small enough to stow in a pocket or waist bag. It features a full-length zip, hood and is constructed from a windproof Cordura fabric with a DWR coating, which should help keep light rain showers at bay.
The fit is relaxed and it comes in sizes S to XXL.
Price: £79.99 / €89.99 / $119.99
