Caffeine might be all that is holding you together right now but fear not, Friday is once again upon us. Before you slip into your weekend be sure to check out all of the latest bikes and gear to arrive with BikeRadar this week. It's all below.
New road cycling gear
Recon Jet
First introduced to us back in 2013, the Jet sunglasses from Recon manage to pack a ludicrous amount of tech into their plastic frame – namely GPS, WiFi, ANT and Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility, several accelerometers, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a front-facing HD camera, a microphone, speakers, an altimeter, a barometer, a thermometer, an optical track pad and a micro-USB rechargeable Li-polymer battery.
What the Jet sunglasses aim to offer is a wealth of ride data and information directly front of a rider's eyes, quite literally. A head up display visible through the right hand lens of the glasses feeds data from a long list of compatible devices. So, whether you want turn by turn maps, stats on your ride or even to read that text you’ve just received, it’s all just a glance away.
Whether these sell well or not, they’re no doubt an indication of things to come. We’ll be filing a full review once we’ve got some miles in with these so stay tuned for more.
US$699/£579
Duke Of The Downs jersey
Brighton based firm Duke Of The Downs offer cycling jerseys with a difference. This skull jersey is part of a four piece collection penned by artist Chris Gordon, each of which stands out massively from any kit we’ve had in before, and in a good way. Each of the polyester jerseys features a full length zip, three pockets at the rear plus and additional zipped valuables pocket and reflective tabs. Overlocked seams are used throughout and there’s a silicone gripper at the hem to keep everything in place. It’s well worth checking out the other designs at the Duke Of The Downs website.
£49 / US$ / AU$ NA
Lazer Blade helmet
The Blade bears a striking resemblance to Lazer's range-topping Z1 helmet, giving a cool pro look at a fraction of the price. 22 vents give ample cooling while the Advanced Rollsys retention system allows quick adjustment on the top of the helmet. The rear of the cradle has a scooped-out shape, making this a good candidate for riders with ponytails. Considering the price, weight is a very respectable 240g, only 50g heavier than the Z1.
If you'd not guessed from the design, this is the British Cycling version, so each purchase makes a contribution to the governing body's development programmes. It also comes with a thin, clip on plastic cover for improved aerodynamics or protection from the elements. The Blade is also available in white / silver, white / red, black / yellow and black.
£60 / US$95 / AU$140
Velopac Mussettes
Made in the UK, the Musette from Velopac is a modern take on the traditional cyclists musette bag. Two designs are on offer: Le Peloton, which features riders with international jerseys racing for their countries in an era that predated teams. The second is called Les Casquettes and features some of the most iconic team liveries represented in the world of professional cycling over the last four decades. Each gets a zip closure, adjustable strap and waterproof fabric.
£25 / US$ / AU$ NA
Cannondale Slice Ultegra 6800
The newest version of the Cannondale Slice is touted as being that rarest of things – a practical TT bike. Though it does outdo the old Slice in the aero stakes, Cannondale eschewed the wind tunnel obsession that accompanies most aero bike development in favour of producing a lightweight TT bike that’s easy to live with. That means a direct mount Shimano brake on the front, a matching one under the chainstays and a regular stem setup. There’s even a 52/36 crankset paired with an 11-28 cassette as standard.
This mechanical Ultegra spec Slice doesn’t have the ultra-high modulus carbon of the top-end models, but frame weight is still a claimed 1,250g – lighter than virtually everything else on the market. All up weight with Mavic Aksium S wheels is 8.12kg – trust us, that’s light.
£2,500 / US$3,790 / AU$TBC
New mountain biking gear
Trek Stache 9
We heard about Trek’s new 29 Stache hardtail back in April and now we’ve got one to play with. This is the flagship model and boasts a Manitou Magnum 34 Pro fork and a SRAM X1 drivetrain. The big story with this one is of course those 3in 29er tyres, which Trek says grip in a way that amplifies the advantages of a 29er bike. That driveside chainstay might look odd, and it means the Stache is compatible only with 1x drivetrains, but it allows for a laughably short rear end which should add up to fun on the trails. Even the plus sized sceptics are finding it hard to knock the chunky image of the Stash and all of us here in the UK office want to give it a go!
US$3,880 / £2,800
Schwalbe Procore
The Procore system from rubber giant Schwalbe has been spoken about for a long time and well awaited here in the BikeRadar office. A joint development between Schwalbe and Syntace, the Procore system uses two chambers, a special tube-like inner core that sits directly on the rim contains high pressures (4-6 bar), this provides support under heavy loads and resists pinch flatting. On the outside there’s another chamber, this time tubeless, that contains low pressures (0.8-1.5 bar) and allows the outside of the tyre to deform in a way that’ll offer maximum grip. Both chambers can be inflated via one clever switchable Presta valve. Once again we’re super excited to give this one a try.
€195
YT Tues CF Comp
The Tues CF is an updated revision of YT's hugely popular 26in-wheeled alloy downhill bike, the Tues. Now boasting 650b hoops, the carbon-framed 37.9lbs/17.2kg Tues offers the type of value you’d expect from direct sale brand YT. This Comp build is the cheaper of two and packs a RockShox Boxxer Team fork and Vivid coil shock, SRAM X9 10-speed transmission and Race Face finishing kit for barely above the frame only price of some of its competitors.
€3,499 / US$4,595 / AU$5,299
Rockguardz CG330 EVO2-STEALTH mudguard
Handmade in Shropshire is this new Evo2stealth Mudguard (that's fender, international readers) from Rockguardz. Essentially a revised version of the company’s proven carbon fibre front 'guard, the Evo2stealth is instead produced from laminated GRP. For a very minor weight penalty you get the same protection as the carbon model at a price that’s easier to swallow. What’s not to like?
£25 / US$N/A / AU$N/A
Muc-Off athlete protection
The people behind Muc-Off already sell everything to keep your bike clean and well lubricated and now they’ve turned their hands to doing the same for people too. Sold as part of a wider range that includes shampoo, a shower scrub and even a sports towel, these balms each serve a different purpose to help aid – or so it's claimed – your cycling performance. Firstly there’s a luxury warm up cream which, just as the name suggests, is meant to warm, strengthen and stimulate muscles prior to exercise. Then there are two other creams that use amino acids, one for ‘explosive power’ and another for ‘ultra endurance’ – bold statements, that’s for sure. Lastly there’s a recovery balm, also featuring amino acids said to improve the body’s regenation process.
Prices vary
