Hope clipless pedals, Rapha Trail Windblock jersey, BAT lube and more

By Luke Marshall

Published: Friday, 12 November 2021 at 12:00 am

Welcome back to First Look Friday. Below is a selection of the products that have landed with me recently, but first, here are a few highlights from the BikeRadar team this week.

 

Now the clocks have changed and the dark evenings have arrived, we’ve compiled a list of the best mountain bike lights for 2021 as well as a round-up of the best bike lights for road cyclists. Even on your local trails, night riding can be a whole new experience, so don’t let the early evenings shrink your bike-riding time.

 

And don’t let wet, cold feet put you off either. With our list of top-rated winter cycling shoes, you can keep your toes toastie and dry throughout the winter months.

 

On the news front, Cannondale has added a new Scalpel HT to its cross-country bike range. Like its full-suspension stablemate, it features progressive geometry. In addition, it includes a front-wheel sensor that connects the Cannondale app to record and show ride data.

 

We also get the lowdown on WTB’s re-released Vulpine tyre, a low-profile, go-fast gravel tyre. Plus, check out the new DT Swiss ERC DICUT aero wheels, with a new profile that’s claimed to outperform competitors in the wind tunnel.

 

However, what’s most exciting is the opportunity to come and work with us at BikeRadar. We’re recruiting for three positions. So, if you love bikes, this could be your ideal opportunity. Check out all the info you need here.

 

Hope Technology Union TC Clipless pedals

"The
The Halifax brand has jumped into the clipless pedal market with three models. These TC pedals are the mid-size trail version.
Immediate Media

Hope is constantly filling up its components catalogue with new parts. These clipless pedals released in August this year join its H2O flat pedals. There are three guises available: the RC, TC and GC, which stands for Race, Trail and Gravity respectively.

 

The TC version here is the mid-sized trail platform built around a Cr-Mo axle. However, a titanium one will be available. We’re keen to see if the three sealed bearings and a Norglide bushing keep them spinning freely through a British winter.

 

Of course, being Hope, the pedals’ bodies are CNC’d from aluminium billet and available in six colours. We’d expect nothing less from the Halifax brand. They also feature four pins per side for additional grip when riding clipped out.

"You
You can see the CNC’d pedal body and there’s a screw to tune the spring tension for entry and release.
Immediate Media

Hope has forgone using SPD-compatible cleats and used its own proprietary system. It supplies two sets of cleats with either 4-degree float and 12-degree release angle, or 5 degrees of float and 13-degree release angle.

"Hope
Hope uses proprietary cleats, and the pedals come with a 4-degree or 5-degree float option.
Immediate Media

The clip mechanism is spring-loaded at the front and back, which Hope claims helps ease of entry. Plus, it’s made from stainless steel, so it shouldn’t corrode or lose its looks through the life of the pedal.

 

We’re keen to see how Hope’s first take on a clipless pedal stacks up against the established order.

  • £150 / €185 / $190 (ex tax)