THE LATEST GEAR –TESTED BY EXPERTS
OUR RATINGS
90+% BUY NOW A GENUINE CLASS LEADER
80-89% IMPRESSIVE ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY
70-79% GOOD A DECENT PERFORMER
50-69% AVERAGE IT’LL DO THE JOB WELL ENOUGH
0-49% POOR SIMPLY PUT, DON’T BOTHER!
WAHOO SPEEDPLAY POWRLINK ZERO DUAL SIDED POWER PEDALS
£849.99 Wahoo’s latest release has a high price, but is it worth it?
Wahoo has taken its acquisition of Speedplay beyond simply rebadging with the launch of Powrlink Zero, adding a power meter to the existing Speedplay Zero design which means you can clip in on both sides of the pedal. Claiming +/-1% accuracy, the pedals are rechargeable via power pods on the spindle, and weigh 138g each (not including cleats) Compared to other leading power pedals, they’re priced lower than Garmin’s Rally (reviewed in issue 397), but considerably more than Favero’s Assioma.
Like all Speedplay pedals, cleat set-up is pretty arduous compared to Shimano and Look, so be prepared to consult instructions unless you’re an experienced Speedplay user. Before adding the cleat cover to make your shoes more walkable (elbow grease required), you have the option to adjust float, another handy Speedplay benefit. Whether you like plenty of wriggle room or your feet completely fixed to the pedals, either are possible by adjusting a single screw.
When you’ve fixed them to your bike with an 8mm wrench and paired with the Wahoo app, you’re ready to calibrate with your GPS computer and ride. Clipping in was tough at first, but we found that after a few clicks the entry system slackened off. We found the ride experience itself excellent, with the low 13mm stack (1.5mm more than the Zeros without power) making you feel very connected to the bike.
“We found the Powrlink pedals were impressively accurate on every ride”
We can understand why triathletes like Jan Frodeno are Speedplay fans, though we find the cleat entry system more involved, and it’s not our preference when having to deal with general traffic conditions on UK roads.
What of the actual power meter? Testing against a Quarq dual-sided crank with two head units running simultaneously, we found the Powrlink pedals to be impressively accurate on every ride. Average power was always within the +/1% we were promised and during explosive efforts there were no unexpected peaks or troughs. Wahoo claims Powrlink Zero tracks accurately in very wide temperature ranges thanks to ‘temperature compensation’ and, while we didn’t get chance to try them in the heat, riding in close to 0°C didn’t affect accuracy. Cadence tracked perfectly and you can also analyse left/right leg balance in real time.
Overall, this tester would struggle to justify splashing out on the Powrlink Zero over more affordable options; but if you’re a real fan of the Speedplay cleat interface and extra adjustment options, don’t mind extra set-up faff and have the cash, you’ll get a highly reliable and accurate power meter for your investment. JS uk.wahoofitness.com
79%
VERDICT: EXPENSIVE AND NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT ACCURATE POWER READINGS
TWEAKD NUTRITION MEALS
£7.50 Fast food for endurance athletes
Lockdown saw a rise in home delivery food services like Oddbox, HelloFresh and Gusto.
Now, thanks to chef Omar Meziane and world-leading nutritionist Michael Naylor, we have Tweakd, a home-delivery meal service whose ‘mission is to inspire personal, positive change through a fusion of great taste and science’.
Food categories are split into ‘Fuel Endurance’, ‘Build Muscle’ and ‘Get Lean’, with factors like macronutrient and calorie count tweaked depending on your goal. There are also glutenfree, vegan and vegetarian meals.
The idea is sound and the collaborators’ background is, too, with Meziane working with Premier League football clubs (and the Spice Girls!). We also recall interviewing the knowledgeable Naylor when he worked with Southampton FC.
For testing, we tried a few offerings including the Grilled Salmon SuperMac, Mixed Kebab and Sweet Chilli Chicken Noodles. The first two were delicious, the latter a little too sweet for us.
Nutritionally, we’ll focus on the salmon. A serving contained 747cals, of which 39.2g was from fat, 53g carbohydrate and 45.5g protein. It was aimed at fuelling endurance and building muscle. That’s a good amount of protein to stimulate muscle repair, though we’d’ve liked to have seen a little more carbs and a little less fat for textbook endurance fuelling. Still, there are always a few compromises when it’s this tasty. Each meal is microwaveable, swimming with vitamins and costs around £7.50 per meal. Worth a punt if you’re short of time. JW tweakd.uk
83%
VERDICT: TASTY, NUTRITIOUS AND QUICK, BUT COST MAY BE AN ISSUE FOR SOME
HYDRAGUN
£269 Quiet recovery
This is one of the quietest massage guns we’ve tested, with limited noise no matter which of the six settings you use. Switching between them is easily done with one hand, while a max speed of 3,200rpm offers plenty of choice. It comes with seven different attachments and a handy carry case, while battery life is around six hours. While not cheap, this massage gun offers great value versus others on the market. RS hydragun.com
90%
VERDICT A QUALITY MASSAGE GUN AND ONE OF THE QUIETEST WE’VE EVER TESTED
EXHALE ORGANIC HOUSE ROAST COFFEE
£9 Coffee with benefits?
As triathletes, we know of caffeine’s performanceboosting qualities, including playing around with the brain to help you dig deeper. It’s also packed with polyphenols for better health. But only if, says Exhale, the picking and production process is sound. This is one of the brand’s USPs. It’s hard to verify these superfood claims without the luxury of a lab. But we appreciate the fair-trade ethos. Taste is a little light for our palate, though that’s subjective. The Dark(ish) Roast would be our preferred choice and there’s an organic decaf version, too. Exhale recommends no more than two cups a day, which is good for health though arguably doesn’t tap into any endurance-performance benefits. JW exhalecoffee.com
73%
VERDICT A FINE ETHOS BUT MODERATE TASTE AND SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE
NIKE AIR ZOOM TERRA KIGER 8
£124.95 Stylish trail shoes
The Kiger 8 is Nike’s newest neutral trail shoe in a line that aims to be a ‘no frills shoe built with only what you need, for a secure fit and feel’. At first glance, the women’s version’s a stylish affair, built with the classic mesh upper, heel loop, and multidirectional lugs we’ve come to expect in a pair of trail kicks.
Meanwhile, updates from the Kiger 7 include a new mesh upper, which features an additional layer to help keep out debris. We like the style, but that extra layer makes the shoe less breathable after a few sweaty miles.
The main feature Nike aims to capitalise on is fit, which we have no qualms with thanks to the shoe’s cushioned heel, gusseted tongue and padded lacing system, which all help to securely lock in the foot when in motion and leave no sore pressure points. That’s not to the detriment of space, however, as the shoe feels true to size, with a generous toe box for toe splay and foot swelling over longer distances.
We wouldn’t reach for the Kiger 8 for fast efforts or racing as, despite the React foam cushioning and Air Zoom pod being designed to provide an ‘extra spring’, the 255g (UK5.5) runners felt a little cumbersome, flat and hard, especially during forefoot running, lacking that responsive feel needed to get into a proper rhythm on the trail.
The Kiger 8 sports the same 5mm multidirectional lugs as the 7, which provide ample traction in dry to mildly muddy conditions. KM sportsshoes.com
85%
VERDICT DECENT TRAIL SHOES, BUT LIKELY TO BE TOO RIGID FOR FOREFOOT STRIKERS
VIVIDA LIFESTYLE AW PUFFER CHANGING ROBE
£220 Post-swim comfort
Surely, there can’t still be a gap in the changing robe market We didn’t think so until we were sent this robe from Vivida. Soft, warm and lightweight, it acts as a coat (if you size down) or a coat/robe if you size up to get more room. It looks subtle and doesn’t scream ‘wild swimmer’, while the warmth and cosiness was second to none, and it even withstood light showers. It isn’t the easiest to get on when wet due to the clingy fleecy lining, but a quick towel off first (which we would do anyway) and it worked well. A hood, good selection of pockets, adjustable sleeves and a stash pocket are all included. Admittedly the price is higher than most robes, but we’ve already found it a daily reach-for item. HW vividalifestyle.com
83%
VERDICT WARM AND COMFY HYBRID ITEM FOR THOSE THAT WANT SUBTLE VERSATILITY
MAAP DRAFT JACKET
£130 Lightweight bike layer
This is a impressive lightweight layer. It weighs just 150g and packs into its singular zip pocket to the size of an apple. The fabric keeps most of the wind out and light or short showers at bay. Lazer-cut ventilation panels help you vent when working hard, while the stretch fabric ensures a close fit and ample freedom of movement.RS maap.cc/uk
86%
VERDICT NOT ONE FOR HEAVY RAIN, BUT A HANDY, LIGHTWEIGHT LAYER FOR MIXED CONDITIONS