As well as offering a promising looking range of own-brand mountain bikes, German company Rose sell thousands of parts, clothing and other cycling bits online, and these products are now available in the UK for the first time.
There's a full line of Rose-branded gear to go with your new bike, plus kit from other manufacturers whose wares were previously hard to get hold of in the UK, like clothing companies Starshot and Gonso, and accessories brand Xtreme.
To give you an idea of the size of their range, their catalogue is more like a phonebook at 924 pages long. Available from www.rosebikes.co.uk, the first products are starting to make their way over the English Channel, so here's a quick look:
Rose clothing
Rose offer a full range of branded kit, including jackets, jerseys, shorts and base layers. The Wind Vest Pro Fibre is a superlight windproof gilet with a 'sportive' cut – handy for anyone who doesn't have the physique of a Grand Tour climber. It's available in a choice of six colours and six sizes for £25.90.
The confusingly named Rose Bib-Tights TOP – they're actually bib shorts – feature a six-panel construction, with a two-part pad that has saddle-shaped 3D foam padding at the centre covered with wicking microfibre, with a flexible surround that's designed to mould to the shape of your body rather than creasing or wrinkling. RRP is £50.90.
Taller riders in particular may be interested in Rose's Undershirt, as it's significantly longer than most base layers. The 'Moist Transport System' (MTS) polyester fabric includes 60 percent Dacron 138, which is designed to stop the unsightly 'pilling' effect you get with many synthetic tops. The feel is more like a thermal vest than a conventional base layer. It's available in black or white, in six sizes, for £21.90.
In a similar vein are the Wind Protection Bike Underpants – MTS polyester undershorts which include extra material at the front to protect your vitals from the wind and a thin polyester fleece pad. RRP is £30.90.
Xtreme accessories
First up from Xtreme is this tiny Airik Mini pump, which is just 12cm (4.7in) long – actually slightly longer than the miniscule Max Gear Micro 100 we tested last year. It certainly looks neat, but we doubt it's the fastest inflator on the block. It comes with a five-year guarantee and weighs just 66g on our office scales. RRP is £17.90, in black or silver.
The Xtreme Shock Blow Pro shock pump can reach a claimed 300psi (21 bar) and has a special lever that stops you losing any pressure when you connect or disconnect it. RRP is £24.90, which seems good for an all-metal pump of this quality.
The Xtreme Barnizer CA is an extension bracket that gives people with cluttered handlebars 70mm of extra space for mounting lights, computers, etc. The carbon fibre tube (not just carbon-effect or carbon-wrap) sets it apart from the pack and keeps weight down to a claimed 55g. It comes with shims to fit 25.4, 25.8, 26.0 and 31.8mm bars. RRP is £15.90.
There are plenty of chain cleaning devices on the market, but this Caretec unit from Xtreme seems particularly sturdy and displays typical German efficiency, with a big brush for the outer sides of the chain, three more for the inside and a removable sponge to wipe off any remaining dirt. RRP is £10.90.
