It’s currently electric bike week here at BikeRadar, where we’re showcasing all the latest and greatest ebikes and tech the industry offers.
Whether you’re an electric enduro shredder, a regular e-commuter, or you’re wanting a bit of a boost while road or gravel riding, there’s an ebike out there for you.
If ebikes are a brand new concept to you, or you’re just not sure how they work and would like to find out, we’ve prepared an explainer detailing exactly what an electric bike is and how they work.
And before you take the plunge into the world of electrical assistance, or even if you’re a seasoned ebiker, it’s worth reading up on the the law surrounding electric bikes.
One of the questions we get asked frequently is can you get fit on an electric bike? Without giving away too many spoilers, the answer to that is a resounding ‘yes’.
Ebikes are an incredible tool to help with fitness, and many top-level athletes use them to help with their training.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a factory-made ebike, then check out Swytch’s ebike conversion kit, which means you can transform your non-assisted bike to one with a motor for under £1,000.
Away from the wonderful world of electric bikes, Thursday saw a flurry of breaking news stories hit the site. There were new bike launches from Scott, YT, Orbea and Ribble, while Bianchi confirmed its return to the 2023 WorldTour, removing the Air Deflector wings from its new Oltre RC aero bike to comply with UCI regulations.
Stay tuned to BikeRadar over the coming days for even more high-powered electric and non-assisted bike content.
Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Infinium Jacket
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Rapha-Mens-Trail-Gore-Tex-Infinium-Jacket-5-1957b8b.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
Rapha is undeniably prolific in producing lust-worthy mountain biking and cycling clothing. That’s thanks to the brand’s hard work not only creating a premium image, but also offering good-looking, high-performing items.
The Trail Gore-Tex Infinium jacket appears to continue that trend.
As the name suggests, this Rapha mountain biking jacket is made using a three-layer Gore-Tex Infinium material.
According to Gore, the Infinium range of fabrics are windproof, breathable and have “unique water repellency”.
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Rapha-Mens-Trail-Gore-Tex-Infinium-Jacket-3-03f4873.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
Splitting hairs for a second, that choice of wording means Rapha’s Trail jacket isn’t claimed to be waterproof, so prospective wearers should align their expectations accordingly.
That’s not to say it isn’t feature-packed, however.
Its inner surface is made from C-KNIT, another Gore material that’s stretchy and is claimed to feel soft next to its wearer’s skin.
The over-the-helmet hood has a single draw cord on the rear, which pulls an elastic cord tight that spans the hood’s entire circumference. This is designed to keep the hood up and in place in bad weather.
It has two chest pockets – one on the left and one on the right – where one is internal, and the other external.
!["Rapha]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Rapha-Mens-Trail-Gore-Tex-Infinium-Jacket-2-370e574.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Rapha")
!["Rapha]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Rapha-Mens-Trail-Gore-Tex-Infinium-Jacket-7-7e47983.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Rapha")
!["Rapha]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Rapha-Mens-Trail-Gore-Tex-Infinium-Jacket-6-e2b6b00.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Rapha")
!["Rapha]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Rapha-Mens-Trail-Gore-Tex-Infinium-Jacket-4-472e9da.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Rapha")
!["Rapha]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Rapha-Mens-Trail-Gore-Tex-Infinium-Jacket-1-065c5b3.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Rapha")
A lighter-weight material features under the arms to improve breathability and augment the wearer’s range of motion.
It’s available in four colours (blue/navy pictured) and six sizes, from extra-small to extra-extra-large. The medium-sized jacket weighed 307g on my scales.
Of course, Rapha’s aforementioned image and quality comes at a price, and the Trail jacket retails for a whopping £275 / $375 / €325.
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PNW Components Pebble Tool
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/PNW-Components-Pebble-Tool-1-3a7e0dd.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
PNW Components’ Pebble Tool offers a minimalistic and lightweight (51g) approach to trail-side repair.
It is likely to appeal to riders who tend not to take a backpack or hip pack onto the trails, bridging the gap between a full roster of tools and nothing at all.
Its smooth, rounded corners and blunt shape should help reduce the chances of it wreaking havoc with your pocket liners, or if the worst were to happen, causing an injury.
Included in the tool’s arsenal are 3mm, 4mm, 5mm and 6mm Allen keys and a T25 Torx key that’s hidden beneath the single Dynaplug tubeless repair plug.
!["PNW]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/PNW-Components-Pebble-Tool-2-f20076f.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"PNW")
!["PNW]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/PNW-Components-Pebble-Tool-3-e759867.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"PNW")
!["PNW]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/PNW-Components-Pebble-Tool-4-e71685a.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"PNW")
Although it only ships with one repair plug, a compatible five pack of Dynaplug refills can be bought directly from PNW for $12.99.
Its diminutive size (65x21x15mm) means it’s only fractionally bigger than a SRAM AXS battery, so even the most weight-conscious ‘free-riding’ bikers should have space for the tool.
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Bluegrass Rogue Core MIPS helmet
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Met-Bluegrass-Rogue-Core-MIPS-mountain-bike-helmet-2-57f441c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
The Rogue Core MIPS mountain bike helmet is Bluegrass’s top-of-the-range open-face offering.
It uses an in-mould EPS liner and polycarbonate shell, where the protective foam liner is integrated into the outer shell.
This makes the helmet easier to manufacture, but can also reduce weight; the medium Rogue Core MIPS weighs 366g.
In terms of safety, it has in-built MIPS-C2 that is claimed to reduce the chances of brain injuries caused by rotational impacts. The peak is adjustable, but is also made from a flexible material, which can deform in the event of an impact.
!["Met]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Met-Bluegrass-Rogue-Core-MIPS-mountain-bike-helmet-1-ec40502.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Met")
!["Met]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Met-Bluegrass-Rogue-Core-MIPS-mountain-bike-helmet-3-19c5d56.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Met")
!["Met]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Met-Bluegrass-Rogue-Core-MIPS-mountain-bike-helmet-4-bbe6bff.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Met")
!["Met]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Met-Bluegrass-Rogue-Core-MIPS-mountain-bike-helmet-5-99eb477.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Met")
!["Met]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Met-Bluegrass-Rogue-Core-MIPS-mountain-bike-helmet-6-c0d9b11.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Met")
The peak’s outer vents double up as glasses storage, while the lid is claimed to be goggle and glasses compatible. Goggle straps can pass under the peak’s ‘wings’ beneath its anchor bolts.
To tune fit, there’s a 360-degree circumference and height-adjustable cradle, dubbed Safe-T Heta, while the buckle uses Fidlock’s magnetic technology. The sweat liner is gel-padded to improve comfort.
It has 16 air vents to aid cooling, and the EPS liner has formed air channels to help concentrate the flow of fresh air.
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Scott Trail Storm WP One Piece
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Scott-Trail-Storm-WP-Mens-One-Piece-waterproof-6-68a875c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
One-piece riding outfits aren’t new.
Endura has its MT500 and Singletrack one-pieces, while Dirtlej – who arguably made the original bike-specific onesie – offer several models.
Understandably, other brands are wanting a slice of the one-piece pie now that materials are becoming more breathable and lessons from the first one-pieces have been learnt.
Scott’s Trail Storm WP One Piece is the brand’s first go at top-to-bottom waterproof integration.
The trousers and jacket are inseparable, where the rear jacket hem and upper backside panel of the trousers are sewn together in a bid to keep muck, water and mud away from its wearer’s skin.
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Scott-Trail-Storm-WP-Mens-One-Piece-waterproof-2-5d80afd.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
It’s a slightly different story at the front, however, where the jacket opens up more traditionally and is detached from the bottoms.
This serves a purpose, where the jacket can be removed, rolled and folded up and stowed in a rear-facing pouch without needing to remove the trousers. On a hot climb, or if you’re between heavy downpours, this looks like a great feature.
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Scott-Trail-Storm-WP-Mens-One-Piece-waterproof-1-ac3445c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
The DRYOsphere three-layer material is claimed to have a 30,000mm waterproof column rating, and also a 30,000g/m2/24hr moisture evaporation rate.
In real-world terms, this means it should be very waterproof and very breathable.
The hood can be folded away, but also has enough space to fit over a helmet.
!["Scott]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Scott-Trail-Storm-WP-Mens-One-Piece-waterproof-4-bc8fe8c.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Scott")
!["Scott]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Scott-Trail-Storm-WP-Mens-One-Piece-waterproof-5-d9d281f.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Scott")
!["Scott]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2022/10/Scott-Trail-Storm-WP-Mens-One-Piece-waterproof-3-6de7a19.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208 "\"Scott")
There are full-length two-way leg zips that should help with ventilation, but will also make taking the onesie off or putting it on easier without needing to remove your shoes.
It’s available in one colour – black – which will be great for hiding mud stains (unlike POC’s khaki-coloured Consort Dungaree), but comes in six sizes from extra-small to extra-extra-large.
The size-medium onesie I’ve got weighs 665g, which is pretty light given the hefty performance, features and integration offered.