Plus all the latest news and reviews from the week
The final working day of the week has arrived and that means it’s time for First Look Friday, your weekly hit of the latest red-hot tech to land on our desks at BikeRadar (I hope your wallet isn’t in close reach).
You know the drill – before I unveil this edition’s sumptuous pickings, let’s recap on the week just gone.
On Sunday, we were treated to the written version of Pro vs Punter. Senior technical editor Tom Marvin headed to BikePark Wales on a dismal dreary day to see if he could beat multi-discipline pro rider Hattie Harnden down the esteemed Dai Hard black-graded trail on a range of Trek mountain bikes.
It’s an idea Tom’s been trying to realise for the best part of seven years and the results of which bike was fastest down the trail may surprise you.
Digital writer Nick Clark then introduced us to the Ari La Sal Peak Elite, which will be his long-term review bike for the year.
Nick also brought us news of the RockShox Psylo, a new entry-level mountain bike suspension fork, which inherits tech from the Pike and Lyrik at half the price.
One of the most notable news stories of the week was the announcement of Cane Creek’s Invert fork. The brand boldly claims the Invert is the “world’s first” true gravel fork with the reasoning that current options are either too firm or offer too many adjustments that simply aren’t needed for gravel.
We’re looking forward to getting the gravel suspension fork in for testing, to see whether the Invert delivers on these heady claims.
Finally, Simon von Bromley delivered an insightful investigation on why the pros are using bigger chainrings. You’ll need to read the article to find out whether profesionals are now simply stronger or whether there’s more to the tech than meets the eye.
Right, enough dilly-dallying, now let’s get on to what you’ve been waiting for.
Silca Ultimate Chain Waxing System
Chain waxing has grown in popularity in recent years, with reduced drivetrain friction, resistance to contamination and an increased chain life among the purported benefits.
It’d be fair to say, though, there’s traditionally been a serious amount of work to achieve a fully waxed chain.
Silca’s Ultimate Chain Waxing System and Strip Chip simplifies chain waxing into a 15-minute process.
We’ve covered the StripChip in a previous article but to briefly recap, the chocolate-bar like square chip is designed to be combined with Silca’s Secret Chain Blend Hot Melt Wax, removing the factory grease and waxing the chain in one go. This saves the need for degreasers and solvents to fully strip the chain of all the factory grease.
Typically, a slow cooker has been used to wax chains, but Silca says its new Chain Waxing System will work better. This is because it has custom temperatures preset for its various chain waxing products – 75°C for its Secret Blend, 85°C for its Hot Wax X and 125°C for the StripChip.
When using one block of StripChip and Silca’s Secret Chain Blend wax, the brand’s instructions involve putting the new chain into the wax melter at a 125°C temperature and letting it sit for 10 minutes. There’s a separate aluminium pot for easy cleaning, alongside a vented, transparent lid so you can see how the wax melting is progressing.
You then agitate the chain before letting the wax cool to 75°C. Finally, the chain can be removed and allowed to dry on the integrated stand.
As the chain is drying, all the excess wax simply drips back into the pot, saving any mess. What’s more, the included chain coupler has a steel cable so you can wrap your chain through it without having to touch the hot wax.
I’m looking forward to seeing if Silca’s simplified system will finally convert me to chain waxing. Until now, senior technical writer Simon von Bromley has been the sole member of the BikeRadar chain waxing parish.
- £99 / $99.99 / €119 / AU$179
Attaquer x Merrell Hydro Moc AT Cage
Attaquer has collaborated with American shoe brand Merrell on what are sure to be conversation-starting crocs.
The Hydro Moc All-Terrain Cage is an evolution of Merrell’s Hydro Moc, only optimised for bikepacking.
While I’ll leave you to decide whether crocs are fashionable, it’s fair to say that carrying a spare pair of shoes for the downtime of a bikepacking trip can be a real chore.
I’ve experimented on both ends of the spectrum over the years. I’ve carried a pair of flip-flops on some trips and last year when I rode the Pictish Trail, I braved wearing a pair of Stomp Lox Slack shoes throughout.
The latter decision came back to bite me because the central seam of both shoes rubbed on my midfoot, meaning I had to put plasters on my feet every morning.
Despite the high cost, I reckon these crocs could be the way to go.
The Hydro Moc ATs are constructed from an EVA foam cage upper, which is claimed to be waterproof, paired with a bonded rubber tread. The tread feels a lot more textured than the typical foam you’d find on crocs.
There’s a removable Hypalon heel tab and the front of the shoes has a bikepacking interlocking system.
You can pick between Black and Olive, and there are seven sizes from EU 40 to 46.
- £124.95 / $140 / €139.95 / AU$189.95
Attaquer All Day Summer Long Sleeve Jersey
Attaquer’s All Day range is designed to keep you comfortable on your longest rides and the short-sleeve variant of its All Day jersey is a piece I’ve found myself coming back to very regularly. The fit is spot-on and keeps me well-ventilated on rides over 16°C.
However, for chillier rides, I’m hoping this is where this long-sleeve variant will come into its own.
The jersey is built from recycled Italian materials and is Oeko-Tex certified, a label that means the garment has been rigorously tested against a list of up to 350 toxic chemicals.
Attaquer has worked on shortening the zip slightly, to improve on-bike fit, and flatlock seams are utilised for a smooth finish and improved durability.
You get the usual three pockets at the back, which are nice and deep, as well as an extra zipped pocket for valuables.
There’s reflective detailing too, to ensure you’re seen in low-light conditions.
The jersey is available in four colours and six sizes – I’ve opted for the striking Blue Eggshell colourway in a size medium.
- £154.95 / $175 / €179.95 / AU$249.95
Fizik Vento Powerstrap Aeroweave shoes
Launched last week, Fizik’s new Vento Powerstrap Aeroweave is the brand’s lightest and most breathable road cycling shoe – perfect for the weight-weenie riding in hot weather.
An overhaul of the Vento Powerstrap R2, the new kicks feature Fizik’s second-gen Aeroweave upper, which is claimed to be even lighter and softer than before. Feeling net-like, the upper combines nylon fibres interlaced with filaments of thermoplastic polymers.
The next-gen upper is paired with an all-new full-carbon sole. Called the R3, Fizik rates the new sole as a 10 on its arbitrary stiffness scale and there are two wide vent inlets in front of the cleat holes for extra ventilation.
Rather than use Boa dials, which add more weight, Fizik is using its own Powerstrap. This sees two Velcro straps, with the lower, longer strap criss-crossing twice at the bottom of the shoe to keep your mid and forefoot secure.
Fizik claims an unspecified shoe size weighs 408g for the pair. I weighed my size-45 shoes in at a scant 470g on my digital scales.
They’re available in Coral / Orange or White (the latter of which I have here) and in sizes 36 to 48, with half-sizes available from 37.5 to 46.5.
- £334.99 / $140 / €139.95 / AU$189.95
Specialized Search helmet
Specialized has been busy updating its second–tier products this year, such as its Propero 4 helmet and Torch shoes – great news for those (me included) without an S-Works budget.
The American brand has recently turned its hand to gravel products and the Search is a new helmet “designed for riders who seek adventures”, which could mean road or off-road.
Specialized boldly describes the Search as “like having an air conditioner on your head”. There are certainly some gaping vents on show with this helmet, particularly at the back, which Specialized says are directly inspired by the S-Works Prevail 3.
The Search features 4D Brow Cooling Technology, which sees a gap between the helmet and forehead to draw airflow into the internal air channels.
A MIPS Evolve Core Solution liner is specced, which is claimed to allow for a sliding motion of 10 to 15mm in all directions.
There’s in-built storage too for cycling sunglasses and the helmet has received a 5-star rating from independent tests carried out by Virginia Tech.
The helmet’s available in four colours – Black, White, Clay and Taupe/Gunmetal. Specialized claims a size medium in CPSC weighs 300g, with my size-large black helmet weighing 330g.
I’ve got some long-distance events coming up over the summer and the conditions are likely to be scorching, so I’ll be thoroughly testing the Search’s ventilation claims.
- £125 / $160 / €150 / AU$200
Cycplus AS2 Pro and AS2 Pro Max electric pumps
Standing by the side of the road or trail fixing a puncture is never a fun job, especially in the cold, but Cycplus aims to change that with its Cycplus AS2 Pro and AS2 Pro Max electric bike pumps.
Both are small cuboid-shaped units designed to be carried in your pocket on a ride and feature a nozzle you can push directly onto the valve.
The pumps also come with a separate, flexible hose for hard-to-reach valves and Cycplus says you must use the hose if you’re inflating a TPU tube to prevent the valve from melting.
On the opposite side from the nozzle is a display, which gives you a real-time pressure reading and you can also set the desired amount of air to a pre-determined amount.
The AS2 Pro is claimed to have enough battery to inflate a 700c x 25mm tyre to 80psi in 50 seconds four times, or it can inflate the same size tyre to 110psi twice.
The AS2 Pro Max is the AS2 Pro’s chunkier sibling, and it’s claimed to inflate a 29×2.2in tyre to 50psi seven times or a 700c x 25mm tyre up to 120psi four times.
Think of the pump as a CO2 inflator, only with the ability to be used multiple times.
The pump comes in a silicone insulation case and is claimed to charge to full in 30 minutes via an included USB-C cable. It can be used with both Presta and Schrader valves and Cycplus includes a needle if you want to inflate a football.
The AS2 Pro is claimed to weigh 120g without its silicone case and the AS2 Pro Max 205g.
I found these weights to be accurate, with the AS2 Pro Max coming in 1g under than claimed.
My early impressions of the pumps are positive and it took 51 seconds to inflate a 700c x 32mm tyre to 55psi. You’ll definitely want to keep your cycling gloves on, though, because the valve gets hot.
- Cycplus AS2 Pro – $109
- Cycplus AS2 Pro Max – $129 (prices converted to local currency for international markets)