Festive greetings for what is the last First Look Friday before many of us will be flinging a turkey in the oven, roasting some spuds and dousing our Christmas pudding in brandy.
Before we clock off for a hard-earned break, it’s time to bring you some of the kit that has landed with our tech team, ready for a proper post-Christmas thrashing as we try to burn those excess calories and prepare our bodies for the potential onslaught of New Year’s Eve.
Being close to the end of the year, I thought I’d run you through some of this week’s Gear of the Year selections.
Our senior road tech writer Simon von Bromley and tech writer Oscar Huckle have brought their favourite curly-bar suggestions to their pieces this week, while Warren Rossiter also weighed in.
Keep an eye on our social channels and YouTube for plenty more.
Our main review focus at this time of year revolves around lights, given it’s the darkest month of the (Northern Hemisphere) year. Do yourself a favour and check out our essential lists of the best bike lights and best mountain bike lights for our recommendations.
If views are more your thing than reviews, Simon brought us his analysis of the news that the UCI is to ban the use of turned-in brake levers from 2024. He also let off some steam about the worst Christmas gifts for cyclists.
Now that round-up has been covered, it’s time to move on to the kit. With plenty of testing going on, it’s pretty heavy on the clothing this week, as we try to stay warm and dry.
Partington R-SERIES MKII R39/44 carbon disc wheels
Australian brand Partington claims this is the lightest tubeless-compatible clincher wheelset in the world.
Our test set tipped the scales at 664g for the rear and 554g for the front (including valves and tapes), totalling 1,218g. This is remarkably light for a disc wheelset, especially when you consider it's not a shallow lightweight climber’s wheelset.
These are proper aero wheels, combining a 39mm-deep, 26.5mm (21mm internal) front rim and a 44mm-deep, 26.5mm (21mm internal) rear.
Partington builds its wheels very differently too.
The all-carbon hubs forgo traditional flanges with spoke holes. Instead, the hub flanges are channelled to lock in the unique V-shaped IN-TENSION spoke design.
The individual spokes hook around and lock into the hub (so one spoke is in fact two) and are then tensioned to the rim with traditional spoke nipples.
Partington says the spokes are made using a proprietary process that produces spokes made from 108,000 continuous filaments per spoke.
These spokes tension at the rim then wrap around the hub and re-tension at the rim. Partington claims this makes for an even load distribution that contributes to the R-Series being one of the most laterally stiff wheels available.
We’ve got the R-Series on test and are intrigued to see how they fair against the best road bike wheelsets, such as the impressively stiff Cadex 42 and UCI-outlawed Black Inc 5.
- £5,499 / €6,000 / $6,400
Santini Terra Nova clothing
Santini’s Terra Nova range covers everything from Lycra-based gravel race kit to street wear made from technical fabrics.
We asked Santini to send over a selection of its more urban-styled gear. What’s particularly impressive with the Terra Nova range is the vast range of sizes – from XS to 4XL with women’s-specific options.
Santini Terra Nova Dylan shirt
The Dylan is made from a premium, technical wool-blend fabric that Santini claims brings the thermo-regulating properties of wool and the antibacterial and odour resistance of a polyamide yarn.
It's styled like a classic plaid flannel shirt, complete with collar and press-stud fastening, while a semi-brushed lining makes it warm.
As well as looking on point off the bike, it has plenty of on-bike features, making it a useful performance top.
The jersey-style stretch cuffs won’t flap or ride up, and at the rear there’s a generous pocket, with a hidden side-entry zip. There are subtle reflective inserts on the flanks too.
Santini describes the fit as ‘ergonomic’, which means it won’t flap on the bike or look weird off it.
- £165 / $180 / €180
Santini Terra Nova Denim
Perhaps the strangest garment in the Terra Nova range is the Denim.
It’s a classic-style button-down denim jacket, replete with brass buttons.
But it's not made from a denim fabric – in fact, it’s a stretch fleece with a DWR treatment.
The outer fabric feels remarkably denim-like and Santini has got the look right too.
The fit is close but comfortable and the fabric stretches with you as you move. Like the rest of the Terra Nova range, it has heaps of features too.
There are twin hidden zipper pockets on the front, reflective inserts on the cuffs, a reflective trim insert on the subtly dropped tail and a brushed fleece lining for winter warmth.
- £125 / $140 / €140
Endura Humvee Flipjak
The Flipjak looks like a classic hooded puffa, and in this matt ‘Harvest’ orange colourway is very 2023 gravel.
As the names suggests, the Flipjak is reversible; turn it inside out and you’ve got the brightest, boldest neon orange colourway. It wouldn’t look out of place on a traffic cop.
Mixing trail aesthetics and hi-vis looks isn’t the only smart thing about the Flipjak; it's pretty loaded technically too.
The PFC-free DWR finish on both sides of the outer sandwiches a filling of PrimaLoft Silver insulation.
Add in large hand-warmer pockets, reflective print details on all sides and a fit that’s close enough to work on the bike, yet sufficiently generous to be worn over normal street clothes, and it’s a versatile piece.
The Flipjak is relatively lightweight for its warmth and packs down small, making it a good option for bikepackers too. It's available in sizes XS through to XXL
- £149.99 / $189.99 / €164.49
Troy Lee Designs Crestline jacket
Troy Lee Designs' latest addition to its range dials down the moto styling and uses a colour palette that’ll appeal to commuters and gravel riders alike.
The Crestline is a lightweight insulated jacket using PrimaLoft Gold insulation, while the water-resistant outer is treated with plant-based Teflon Ecolite.
With reflective details, twin zipped pockets and a large rear pocket, it has enough on-bike features, while we like that it has a standard collar and no oversized hood. This makes it a great jacket for use both on and off the bike. It's available in sizes S through to 2XL.
- £160
Scott Torica glasses
Scott’s range of clothing and kit is extensive, and usually impressive.
The Torica is the latest addition to the brand's eyewear range, and looks to be a set of sunnies ready for road, gravel and trail riding.
The large lens is curved in both planes with a toric shape, to boost clarity – yes, I had to look up what toric lenses are, and the explanation is long-winded.
However, toric lenses are used in the likes of cataract lens implants, so rest assured the shape has scientific worth.
Anyway, back to cycling.
The Torica has a large, deep lens, there to keep wind, water and debris out of your eyes, while offering an uninterrupted view of what’s coming your way.
The straight arms are low-profile, so should work with most helmets, while the curved, soft tips should boost stability.
The nosepiece is built from a sticky, flexible rubber.
Scott offers the Torica in a huge array of colours, with numerous lens options. Our test pair, with a black frame and clear lens, are as stealthy as it gets, but you can go wild with mirrored lenses and bright pink frames, if you wish!
