Another week packed full of new bike tech has been and gone, so let’s take a quick look at some of the highlights before jumping into another edition of First Look Friday.
Our first ride review of Nukeproof's debut e-MTB, the MegaWatt 297 Factory, went live this week and technical editor-in-chief, Robin Weaver, described it as “an absolute belter”.
On the road side of things, Warren Rossiter, senior technical editor for road, described Zipp’s funky 353 NSW wheelset as “the best all-round wheel I’ve ever tested”, despite noting the cheaper 303 Firecrest model might be a better option for most punters.
There was yet another new bike announced for the gravelistas on Tuesday. This time it was Wilier, with its Rave SLR. Unusually, it straddles the line between road and gravel bike, and is “unashamedly high end, with superbike pricing to match”.
For those who want a high performance to value ratio from their mountain bike, Specialized announced its 2022 Stumpjumper Evo Alloy. After all, carbon is cool, but alloy is still a great material for performance bikes, especially for those shopping on a limited budget.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the latest tech to land at BikeRadar headquarters this week.
Endura GV500 gravel kit
Endura has recently expanded its range of gravel-specific cycling kit, adding a number of pieces designed to handle the coming colder, wetter months of the year.
Developed in collaboration with James Hayden, a two-time winner of the Transcontinental Race (an ultra-endurance bike race across Europe), Endura’s GV500 range focuses on packability and simplicity.
Designed in Scotland, the GV500 range has seen its fair share of bad weather testing in the run-up to its release and Endura is confident the range can stand up to everything keen adventurers can throw at it.
The cut of the garments is “slim but not too racy”, reflecting the more relaxed attitude many gravel cyclists now lean towards.
Being a very lucky boy, Endura has sent me a whole box of samples from the new range;
- GV500 Reiver bib shorts: £119.99
- GV500 Reiver short sleeve jersey: £89.99
- GV500 Waterproof shorts: £84.99
- GV500 Foyle Baggy shorts: £79.99
- GV500 Foyle Tech T-shirt: £59.99
- GV500 Insulated jacket: £149.99
- GV500 Waterproof jacket: £159.99
I’m hoping to secure a gravel bike as my long-term review bike for 2022, so with any luck I’ll soon have all the gear and no idea.
PRO Vibe Aero Alloy Pursuit handlebar
Handlebars are a favourite topic of mine, particularly narrow handlebars designed to improve your aerodynamics.
On board with the trend, PRO recently updated its range of aero road handlebars, adding the Vibe Aero Alloy Pursuit handlebar to its range.
It sits alongside its pricier carbon cousins, the £299.99 Vibe Aero Carbon and £599.99 Vibe Evo handlebars, but hits a more palatable price point of £99.99.
The reason for the cut in price is primarily driven by its alloy construction. Given its aggressive aero shaping, though, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was also made from carbon fibre like its pricier siblings.
Available in relatively narrow 36cm, 38cm and 40cm widths, the Vibe Aero Alloy Pursuit handlebar features 10 degrees of flare to the drops, and a 12-degree forward sweep to the hoods position. All of which is aimed at promoting an aerodynamic riding position.
Our size 36cm sample weighs 318g, 12g below the 330g claimed weight.
- PRO Vibe Aero Alloy Pursuit: £99.99.
Sigeyi AXO power meter spider
The Sigeyi AXO is a spider-based power meter, aimed at the more budget end of the market.
Boasting an attractive price of £329.99 and some impressive specs on paper, the AXO power meter looks to challenge established brands like Quarq and Power2Max.
Sigeyi claims the AXO is accurate to within /- 1 per cent, and has an internal USB-rechargeable battery with a 300-hour run time.
The spider itself weighs just 110g and features real-time temperature compensation and an auto-zero function. It also has an IP67 waterproof rating.
This spider is designed for Rotor Aldhu cranksets (both aluminum and carbon), and four-bolt 110 BCD (Bolt Circle Diameter) chainrings, though Sigeyi also makes compatible power meter spiders for a range of road and MTB compatible cranksets and BCDs.
I’ll be putting it through its paces over the next few months, to see if it can earn a coveted spot on our best power meters list.
The AXO power meter spider is available on Amazon, where it will ship directly from China. Alternatively, those in the UK can shop at sigeyi.co.uk, to receive UK-based technical and warranty support.
- Sigeyi AXO power meter: £329.99
Topeak Babyseat II and Babyseat II rack (disc)
If you have a child and want to transport them around by bike (because bikes are great), then you’ll need a child seat.
Topeak’s snappily named Babyseat II and Babyseat II rack (disc) costs £169.99 and mounts on the rear triangle of both rim and disc-brake bikes.
The Babyseat II rack mounts on standard rack mounts, and a clever quick-release system means the seat itself can be mounted and removed from the rack without tools.
With the Babyseat II removed, the rack then functions as a standard bike rack, meaning you can mount pannier bags and the like to it.
It features a wrap-around seat structure that has increased protection versus standard child seats. Up front, there’s also an integrated roll bar for additional head protection, and the Babyseat II even features a suspension system for a smoother ride.
While I’ve not been able to test the ride quality myself (for obvious reasons), my son has given it his seal of approval by promptly falling asleep while on our way to the childminder.
- Topeak Babyseat II and Babyseat II rack (disc): £169.99
Rule 28 Spectral jacket and Heavyweight gilet
Though better known for its range of aerodynamic cycling kit (particularly its aero socks), Rule 28 has recently released a new collection of autumn/winter cycling kit.
Featuring staples like bib tights, long-sleeve jerseys and winter jackets, two stand-out pieces from the range are the Heavyweight gilet and Spectral jacket.
Rule 28’s Heavyweight gilet costs £79.99 and combines a windproof, quilted chest with a high-stretch waterproof back. As with any gilet, it can be worn over the top of a mid-weight long-sleeve jersey on days when a full jacket would be too warm, or over a winter jacket on days when you need even more protection from the cold.
The Spectral jacket is so-called because of its water-resistant glass microsphere fabric, which reflects a range of colours whenever a light is shone on it.
In theory, this should help improve your low-light visibility to other road users. During the day, it’s also slightly more inconspicuous than standard high-visibility clothing.
- Rule 28 Heavyweight gilet: £79.99
- Rule 28 Spectral jacket: £124.99.
