Another week has passed, but in the aftermath of an incredible Tour de France Femmes, BikeRadar has continued to whirr away, covering the latest news and publishing our newest reviews.
On Monday, we brought news of Unno’s refreshed Dash all-mountain bike, and the collab you didn’t know you needed between beer producers Corona and State Bicycle Co.
Tuesday saw more mountain bike news, with a new Santa Cruz Nomad and Evil Epocalypse breaking cover, leading into a Wednesday featuring the revamped Bird Aeris 9, plus reviews of Vaast’s E/1 Rohloff urban electric bike and Time’s ATAC XC4 off-road pedals.
We also got a sneaky peek behind the curtain at Italian components brand Miche’s HQ – and what a joy it was to see a functioning factory again!
Then, Thursday brought Simon von Bromley’s review of the Tour-crushing Cervélo S5 aero road bike and a breakdown of the best road bikes you can buy for around £1,000 today.
It was also Cycle to Work Day in the UK, so we got our thinking caps on as seasoned cycle commuters and updated the BikeRadar guide to cycling to work.
Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 helmet
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The big S recently launched updates to two of its high-performance helmets: the aero Evade 3 and lightweight Prevail 3.
In particular, the Prevail 3 caught my eye with its neat integration of MIPS tech, while featuring some simply cavernous holes for airflow. Perfect for my sweat-prone brow.
The EPS foam bridges have been removed, replaced by an Air Cage design – essentially, thin aramid cables that run through the main EPS body.
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MIPS integration comes in the form of Air Node technology, which effectively combines the padding into the movable rotational internal shell.
Specialized says the Mindset Fit System, which features Occipital Base Adjustment for optimal cranial fitting, plus a Tri-Fix strap adjustment, makes the Prevail 3 comfortable to wear on a variety of head shapes.
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This size medium model tipped our scales at a svelte 260g, bang on the American brand’s claim.
- £275 / $300 / AU$475
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Kostüme Edit:002 kit preview
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British boutique clothing brand Kostüme is on a mission to reduce material wastage in its cycling attire.
It uses recycled materials wherever possible in its garments, with a focus on riding utility and comfort for the wearer.
The brand, set up by Ed Bartlett, launches its new-season kit in edits, and only manufactures the kit ordered by customers. The result is said to be less environmental impact on the planet.
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Kostüme’s attention to detail is fastidious, yet sparing. It used just five fabrics for its original Edit:001 run (currently available) across seven pieces, making use of off-cuts wherever possible – but, Bartlett says, without sacrificing performance.
For example, the arm and leg warmers feature material from off-cuts of the jersey fabric, and are thin at the grippers to create a seamless overlap with the jersey and bib shorts.
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The grippers throughout are printed on post-construction, so there’s less wasted silicone left over on the factory floor.
Another benefit of the brand’s ‘small and limited’ approach is the ability to iterate designs quickly.
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Where larger brands will already have their mass-produced designs nailed well over a year in advance, Kostüme is able to make improvements between edits. In the case of this Edit:002, which is coming soon, a new fabric panel has been added to the cap to increase longevity.
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Kostüme is also refreshingly up front about where it can improve, and says it’s continuously pushing itself to do so. Its packaging is biodegradable, yet it publicly prints its goal to find better and even more sustainable alternatives for the future.
Bravo, we say.
- Jersey: £135
- Bibs: £180
- Baselayer: £45
- Cap: £35
- Neck warmer: £30
- Arm warmer: £45
- Knee warmer: £45
- Buy Edit:001 direct from Kostüme
All items are available for shipping to the US and Europe.
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Continental Terra Hardpack tyres
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German tyre powerhouse Continental launched the Terra Hardpack back in May, claiming it was an ideal tyre to perform on “sealed roads, yet get you safely through gravel sections.”
50mm wide, the tyre features a flattened midsection complete with a tile-like tread, and more pronounced knobs around the shoulders for grip when things get a little loose.
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The tyre features Continental’s PureGrip compound, which is a tougher, more resilient rubber than the BlackChili compound we’re used to seeing on the brand’s racier tyres.
It’s backed up by ShieldWall puncture protection, which lines the entire surface area of the construction to enable the running of lower pressures.
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Plus, ShieldWall should be a boon in case you’re unfortunate enough to come across sidewall-ripping rocks on your adventure.
The Terra Hardpacks are tubeless-ready, and are compatible with hookless rims up to 73psi. They’re available in 700c and 650b sizes.
- £39.95 / €39.99 / $49.95
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Syncros Guide Multitool kit
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It’s not gifting season yet, but if you’re shopping early for someone, Syncros’ Guide Multitool Kit could fit the bill.
It incorporates a small 5Nm torque wrench and seven bits, including 3, 4, 5 and 6mm Allen keys, T15, T25 and T30 hex heads, plus a Phillips PH2 screwdriver bit.
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On top of that, the Guide Kit includes a chain tool, a Mavic M7 spoke key, six tyre patches and two heavy-duty tyre levers.
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Everything wraps together in a fabric case, which Syncros says makes it perfect for stowing in a jersey pocket, or away in a backpack.
- £63.99 / €69.90