Plus all the highlights from the week just gone
It’s the end of the week and time for another edition of First Look Friday, our round-up of highlights from the past seven days, plus a look at some of the hottest new tech to arrive at BikeRadar towers.
Kicking off the week, we published an in-depth guide to rolling resistance and why it matters. It’s a complicated topic, but one that affects cyclists of all stripes, so understanding what it is and what affects it is key.
We also published a feature on the new Body Rocket drag force measurement system. Essentially, the system puts wind tunnel sensors on your bike, giving you live drag numbers you can use to optimise your riding position and equipment.
Could this tech be a game changer? That remains to be seen, of course, but our initial impressions were very positive, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on its progress.
If you’re in need of bolt-on aero upgrades, though, Ashley Quinlan has recently been testing carbon wheels around the £1,000 / $1,000 price point and his reviews are now hitting the homepage. Of the ones published so far, Hunt’s 50 Carbon Disc wheelset is the highest-rated option, scoring a healthy 4 out of 5 stars.
Over on the knobbly-tyre’d side of things, Rob Weaver’s review of Specialized’s S-Works Stumpjumper 15 – the brand’s longstanding full-suspension trail bike – was also published this week.
While Rob had plenty of praise for its performance, he found it hard to ignore its five-figure price tag – perhaps we should all be looking at the cheaper Pro model instead…
Lastly, have you ever wondered how accurate the heart-rate data generated by smartwatches is? If so, we answered that question this week, along with details of whether the data they produce is good enough to train with.
Now, though, let’s take a look at some of the new tech that landed at BikeRadar this week.
KMC Go Wax chains and chain lube
For many riders, a major barrier to using waxed chains has been the need to thoroughly clean existing chains of the grease brands have typically applied at the point of manufacturing (in order to keep them shelf-stable).
Now, though, KMC – the world’s largest manufacturer of bicycle chains – is producing its own range of waxed chains and a complementary wax chain lube to enable riders to skip that laborious first step.
Marketed under the KMC Go Wax banner, the range comprises a number of 11- and 12-speed chains for road, gravel and mountain bikes.
According to KMC, its wax formulation is more durable than oil-based lubricants and attracts less dirt, keeping them cleaner for longer.
The brand also says this change offers environmental benefits, because the wax is “free from PFAS and harsh solvents”, and that it estimates switching to wax-based chain lubricants will soon help it save “20,000 kilograms of mineral oil-based lubricants per year”.
KMC’s Go Wax drip lube is available in 150ml or 500ml bottles, to re-wax the chain as necessary.
- Chain price: from £41.99
- Drip lube price (150ml): £17.99
Rubber’n’Road Control 3D Bib Shorts
At £437 / $560 / €521.95, Rubber’n’Road’s Control 3D Bib Shorts might be the most expensive cycling shorts we’ve ever featured on BikeRadar.
As you’d hope, though, there’s plenty of innovative technology packed into them, including an N3X Sirio 3D-printed chamois pad made by Elastic Interface – a softer and thicker version of the N3X pad found in Gore’s Ultimate Bib Shorts, focused on endurance cycling.
Rubber’n’Road says this pad “provides excellent breathability, durability, and support, redefining a new level of on-bike comfort”.
Beyond the pad, the shorts are made with high-quality fabrics that have been sourced responsibly and are made in New York.
According to Oscar Huckle, BikeRadar’s in-house ultra-distance fanatic, “the fit is excellent”.
As an independently owned, boutique brand, Rubber’n’Road says it manufactures all its garments in small batches and employs recycled fabrics wherever possible. This, it says, helps it avoid overproduction and cut down on waste.
The Control 3D Bib Shorts are available in black only, with subtle logos, and in five sizes from XS to XL.
Does all of that justify their price? Value is subjective of course, but if you’re looking for high-end, technologically rich shorts, made in the USA, these could be just the ticket.
- Rubber’n’Road Control 3D Bib Shorts: £437 / $560 / €521.95
GripGrab PACR Waterproof Lightweight Jacket
GripGrab’s PACR Waterproof Lightweight Jacket is a new packable waterproof jacket from the Danish brand.
Priced at £162 / $200 / €180, the PACR jacket is designed to be small enough to be stowed away in a jersey pocket, but still be fully waterproof.
According to the brand, the fabric used has a hydrostatic head waterproof rating of 15,000mm and a breathability rating of 40,000 g/m²/24h.
Designed primarily for use on road and gravel bikes, the PACR jacket is cut relatively close for a tight, yet not restrictive fit.
It features elasticated cuffs to help seal out the elements, as well as silicone grippers on the dropped rear hem to stop it from riding up on the bike.
There are also reflective details on the arms and back, so whether you opt for the mustard yellow or black option, these will help with visibility in low light.
Of course, as with all membrane-based waterproof fabrics, it’s important to remember how they work – and how they don’t. While these fabrics typically are fully waterproof, they can only breathe well when the air outside has low levels of humidity (meaning, when it’s not raining).
Unfortunately, the idea of waterproof fabrics being able to breathe in wet conditions is a myth.
Nevertheless, they can keep the rain out and if you’re not going hell for leather on the bike, waterproof jackets such as this can be a great option to have in your arsenal.
- GripGrab PACR Waterproof Lightweight Jacket: £162 / $200 / €180
Silca wax additives
As one of the brands at the forefront of promoting chain waxing, Silca has released two new wax additives that can be used to modify the formula of its existing immersive wax blend.
The range consists of two wax ‘chips’, the SpeedChip and the EnduranceChip.
As the names suggest, these are designed to improve the efficiency or longevity of the wax blend (respectively).
According to Silca, adding one SpeedChip to its standard Secret Chain Wax blend can improve efficiency by 0.4 per cent, at the cost of some longevity and a need to re-wax your chain more frequently.
An EnduranceChip, on the other hand, decreases efficiency very slightly, but enables a single application of wax to last for up to 550km of riding.
Silca also says riders can use additional ‘chips’ in the blend for further improvements to efficiency or longevity, although the trade-offs will increase at the same time.
These new additives can also be used alongside Silca’s recently launched StripChip – an additive that enables a new chain to be waxed straight out of the box, without the need to strip away the factory grease.
- Silca SpeedChip: £29 / $29 / €35
- Silca EnduranceChip: £29 / $29 / €35