Plus highlights from the week just gone
It’s been a busy week in the world of cycling, but it’s almost time for a break.
Before the weekend, though, here’s your weekly dose of First Look Friday, our round-up of the top stories from the week and a look at some of the latest tech and kit to arrive at BikeRadar HQ.
We kicked off the week with some good news – Orange Bikes has been saved by owner Ash Ball. After it had previously appointed administrators, the mountain bike brand has restructured and appears set to continue trading.
Bossi announced its Grit SS, a AU$6,920 (around £3,560), fully integrated titanium gravel bike frameset with hydroformed aerodynamic tube shapes.
According to the Australian brand, the Grit SS also makes use of 3D printing for various small parts, such as yokes and dropouts.
Sticking to the theme of expensive gravel bikes, Colango announced its C68 Gravel, the latest in its line of premium C Series bikes.
Handmade in Italy from carbon fibre, prices for the C68 Gravel start from £6,899.95 / $7,995.95 / €7,250 – although, in fairness, that gets you a complete bike.
If you’ve been looking to pick up a new waterproof jacket or set of bib tights, then credit must go to BikeRadar’s senior technical editor, Ashley Quinlan, who’s been braving the wet and cold this winter testing the latest models from all the big brands.
This week saw his review of Sportful’s flagship Aqua Pro jacket go live – there’s a lot to like for racers looking for a close-fitting waterproof jacket, but at £425 / $400 / €399.90, such performance doesn’t come cheap.
Of course, if (like me) you prefer riding indoors whenever it’s too cold or wet, then check out our guide to playing Zwift on Apple TV. Given its reasonable price and excellent performance, it’s a great device for using the popular virtual indoor cycling app.
Finally, Hunt announced its new SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc wheelset yesterday. With a claimed weight of 1,380g and backed by some impressive wind-tunnel data, the SUB50 Limitless is the British brand’s new flagship all-round aero offering for road bikes.
Van Rysel D900 smart trainer
Having been unveiled recently as part of a new range of Van Rysel smart trainers, the Van Rysel D900 takes aim at the premium end of the market.
With a maximum power output of 2,000 watts and the ability to simulate gradients of up to 20 per cent, the Van Rysel D900 is – on paper – competitive with some of the most expensive smart trainers available.
Despite this, it costs only £549.99 / €600. This is in the same ballpark as mid-range direct-drive smart trainers, such as the Zwift Hub and Wahoo Kickr Core.
In order to hit this low price point, claimed power accuracy sits at ＋/- 2 per cent, as opposed to ＋/- 1 per cent, as typically seen on high-end smart trainers such as the Wahoo Kickr V6. The flywheel is also slightly more modestly sized, at 5.2kg.
A cassette is not included either, so you’ll need to supply your own.
Does it live up to its promises, then? I’ve been putting it through its paces over the past few weeks and an in-depth review is on its way shortly, so watch this space.
Aerosensor ACS Body Package
With Aerosensor’s Aerodynamic Cycling System having launched last autumn, we’ve now got our hands on the ACS Body package (£1,155), which includes the Aerosensor and the Aerobody.
With these devices, Aerosensor says riders can quickly, easily and repeatedly measure their aerodynamic drag out on the road.
The Aerosensor, which costs £850, uses a patented probe design that’s claimed to deliver usable data even in windy conditions.
This is key, because other similar devices, such as the Noti Konect sensor, often require you to test only on wind-free days.
The Aerosensor mounts to your bike via a GoPro-style mount and can communicate with Garmin Edge bike computers to record data.
The Aerosensor itself measures wind speed, wind angle and altitude.
When paired with a power meter, a speed sensor and tyre rolling resistance data (which can be gleaned from independent sources), it can then calculate a rider’s live CdA.
Though not an essential part of the drag-measuring package, the Aerobody complements the Aerosensor by offering a way to ensure greater repeatability between tests.
The Aerobody, which costs £365, mounts to your stem via a standard quarter-turn mount and uses optical sensors to measure the position of your body.
If you then deviate from this position during tests (which would almost certainly affect the CdA values recorded), it can notify you via the Garmin Connect IQ app.
Is the Aerosensor about to put wind tunnels out of business, then? Probably not, but it is exciting to think riders could soon be measuring and optimising their aerodynamic drag, in the same way many now use power meters to chart their performance.
For more on this topic, check out our podcast with Aerosensor’s founder and CEO, Dr Barney Garrood.
Tubolight EVO gravel inserts and valves
With two of my most trusted colleagues recommending tubeless tyre inserts as gravel accessories they couldn’t live without, I was keen to try a set out on my recently acquired Kinesis GX Race gravel bike.
Tubolight’s EVO gravel inserts are claimed to be the lightest available, at just 35g each. That’s barely any heavier than a TPU inner tube for a road bike.
Despite this low weight, Tubolight’s EVO gravel inserts are claimed to offer protection against rim damage and pinch-flat punctures, and improved cornering stability at low tyre pressures.
Like other tubeless tyre inserts, they should also help the tyre stay on the rim in the event of a puncture, improving safety.
The shape of the EVO gravel insert is also crucial to its performance, according to Tubolight.
Specifically, Tubolight claims the movement of air molecules between the inner and outer channel of the insert when the tyre is compressed can potentially reduce rolling resistance while riding.
Tubolight EVO gravel inserts are compatible with tyres from 37 to 45c and with rims with internal widths of 19 to 25mm. They cost £59.99 / €59.90 per pair of inserts.
Tubolight also makes its own tubeless valves, which have a four-channel airflow port to ensure they aren’t blocked by the inserts. A pair of 70mm valves weighs 13g and costs £24.98 / €24.90.
The valves feature removable cores, though Tubolight recommends against putting tubeless sealant in through the valve when using its EVO gravel inserts.
Sportful Fiandre Pro jacket and Fiandre bib tights
As someone who suffers more in the cold than most, I’ve long understood the value of a good winter jacket and a set of weather-proof bib tights.
Named after the Italian word for Flanders (the region of Belgium where many iconic Spring Classics take place), Sportful’s Fiandre range is designed for fast riding in cold and wet conditions.
Sportful’s flagship Fiandre Pro jacket (£270) is constructed from Polartec’s Neoshell fabric – which Polartec claims is ”the world’s most breathable waterproof fabric”.
It’s also much stretchier than a dedicated waterproof jacket, too, which allows the cut to be slim and form-fitting.
The rear of the jacket features three standard jersey pockets, with the outer two being mesh to reduce weight and improve breathability.
At 245g for a size small, it’s also impressively light for a jacket with a recommended temperature range of 0 to 10ºC.
Sportful’s Fiandre bib tights (£210) also make use of Polartec’s Neoshell fabric on the calf and knee area – two areas prone to getting drenched in wet weather, if your bike doesn’t have mudguards.
The upper leg is then treated with Sportful’s NoRain Durable Water Repellent to fend off splashes and showers.
The chamois pad featured is Sportful’s flagship TC Pro Seatpad. This is 15mm-thick and shaped for riding in aggressive positions.
Sportful recommends a temperature range of -5 to 5ºC.