Friday Five-a-side: this week’s best new bike gear

Featuring NS Bikes, EVOC, Torq, Look and more

Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

Published: February 21, 2014 at 12:00 pm

It's that time again! Your chance to take a look at the latest road and mountain biking kit that has found its way into the BikeRadar office. Here are the most exciting bits and pieces that we've picked out this week.

New mountain biking gear

NS Bike Eccentric

NS bikes eccentric: - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

The Eccentric is a tough new hardtail from Polish brand NS Bikes. Introduced to address a trail bike shaped gap in the NS line-up, the £1,600 two-tone Eccentric is built around a 140mm X-Fusion Sweep fork and rolls on own-brand 650b hoops. With a claimed weight of 12.9kg (28.4lb) the NS is impressively light, particularly considering the frame is made of 4130 chromoly. A SRAM 2x10 transmission provides ample range for nearly all riding and stopping is taken care of using Avid's proven Elixir brakes. There really is very little not to like with this one. It's also available as a frame-only option.

£1,599.99 / $US2,751.99

www.ns-bikes.com

EVOC FR Enduro Blackline pack

EVOC fr enduro blackline pack: - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

Designed specifically for enduro riders, this new pack from EVOC features an integrated and replaceable spine protector. There's either 15 or 16 litres of internal space depending on which of the three pack sizes you choose, along with room for a hydration system of up to 3 litres. It's scattered with all sorts of pockets and compartments for your gear and tools, as well as a helmet carrier that's compatible with open or full face lids. Every effort has been made to make this pack as cool as possible, including ventilation channels and an extra-wide hip belt that maximises airflow.

£139.99 / $240.99

www.evocsports.com

Production Privee Cedric Gracia signature cockpit

Production privee cedric gracia cockpit: - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

This new 7075 alloy stem and bar gives you the opportunity to ride the same cockpit as Cedric Gracia. Produciton Privee even chose to include the same two-tone anodising that the super stylish French rider uses, meaning that - should you be lucky enough to have a DVO Emerald fork - the green on this cockpit will match it perfectly! The bars are 780mm wide and are available in either a 1 or 1.5in rise, the stem is a 50mm integrated unit and is compatible with most of the latest generation dual-crown forks. Those green stripes don't only look pretty, they also allow you to line your bars up quickly and easily.

€199

www.production-privee.com

Cannondale 6 Function Multi-tool with CO2 inflator

Cannondale 6 function multi-tool with co2 inflator: - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

This multi-tool features quite a lot of what you'd expect - 3, 4, 5, and 6mm allen keys, a T25 torx head for disc rotors and a flat-head screwdriver - but it's what is on the side of the tool that's really interesting. Yep, that's an integrated Co2 tyre inflator, and it's compatible with 12g to 20g threaded CO2 cartridges!

£16.99 / US$30

www.cannondale.com

Wheel Wellies

Wheel wellies: wheel wellies - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

If you frequently travel with your bike in the boot of your car or store your pride and joy inside your house then these Wheel Wellies might come in useful. Simply fit the Wheel Wellies over your dirty tyres and wheels (26-29") and they'll stop mud getting all over your living space or car interior. The design allows for these to be fitted with wheels either on or off the bike, once you've used them it's just a case of cleaning them off with a warm hand wash, then rolling them back into their cases. These could well save a few arguments!

£16.99

www.limitlessoutdoors.co.uk

New road bike products

Torq energy products

Torq energy products: torq energy products - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

We've just received a batch of Torq energy products and there's plenty of fresh produce. First there's a new apple crumble flavour gel, constructed from a blend of natural flavours that apparently took Torq two years to develop. Then there's the new cookies and cream flavour recovery drink, described as 'probably the perfect post-exercise treat'. It's functionally identical to the rest of the recovery range. Torq also dropped us a sample of its new natural blackcurrant flavour energy drink. Okay, now we're hungry...

www.torqfitness.co.uk

Northwave Extreme Tech Plus road shoes

Northwave extreme tech plus road shoes: northwave extreme tech plus road shoes - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

The Extreme Tech Plus' are Northwave's top-end race slippers. As you'd expect, all efforts have been made to reduce weight and make power transfer as efficient as possible through the ultra slim carbon sole. There's a new, lighter adaptor system for those using Speedplay pedals/cleats, the stack height of which has been reduced to just 0.3mm instead of the 3mm of the normal adaptor. The SLW 2 (Speed Lace Winch) ratchet retention system means that adjustment is quick and easy too. Oh, and don't worry if you can't abide that fluro colouring, they're also available in black and white.

£299.99 / US$374.99

www.northwave.com

Zipp Service Course SL70 ergo handlebars

Zipp service course sl70 ergo handlebars: zipp service course sl70 ergo handlebars - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

The alloy Service Course SL-70 Ergo handlebars aim to provide endurance comfort despite being a ready-ready bar. It has the same compact reach and drop as Zipp's regular Service Course SL-70 bar but gets a contoured top section for a natural ergonomic grip on the bar tops. It's available in 38, 40, 42, and 44cm sizes, weighs a claimed 260g, and is offered in two finishes.

£79.99 / US$109.99

www.zipp.com

Alé cycling clothing

Alé clothing: alé clothing - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

Here's a bundle of new clothing from Italian firm Alé. It's packed with technical features and the yellow fluro finish manages to be bright without being too harsh.

www.apgcycling.com

Look 675 Light

Look 675 light: - Jonathan Ashelford/Future Publishing

The Look 675 aims to offer both performance and great ride comfort in a lightweight package. The head tube, bottom bracket and dropouts of the all-new frame are 100 percent carbon, making it around 250g lighter than its predecessor and bringing the claimed overall frame weight down to just below 990g. Notice how the stem is neatly integrated? That's not just for looks - Look says it makes for a stiffer and more accurate cockpit. Well, there's only one way to find out if that's the case - stay tuned to BikeRadar for a first ride on this machine soon.

£3,799.99

www.lookcycle.com