Plus a round-up of what’s new on BikeRadar this week
Welcome back to First Look Friday. If you’ve visited the site this week, you’ll know it’s all about our Indoor Training Week.
We have plenty of brilliant content, from a beginner’s guide to indoor training to our lists of the best smart trainers.
Plus, you can get our top five indoor training trips, find out how to take an FTP test on Zwift, and read up on the best indoor cycling apps and the best free alternatives.
It’s not all indoor training though, and we’ve brought you a host of news and reviews too. There have been a couple of big trail bike updates to digest, with the new YT Jeffsy and Cotic Jeht released this week.
Also, check out our reviews of the Vitus Venon EVO-GR Rival AXS 1X gravel bike and the speedy Focus Izalco Max.
Don’t forget about our bustling YouTube channel and the BikeRadar podcast, where you’ll find all our latest audio and video content.
Madison DTE 3-Layer waterproof bib trousers
In this week’s FLF, the theme is all about winter mountain biking kit.
Madison’s new waterproof bib trousers kick off the show, and they look set to be a polarising choice.
Crafted with fully taped seams and DWR-coated waterproof fabric, they should fend off rain and wind, making for cosy winter rides.
The high-top dungaree style is designed to boost weather protection, distinguishing itself from regular waterproof MTB trousers.
They’re made from four-way stretch fabric, and sewn with an articulated fit, pre-curved knees and tailored cut, allowing for unrestricted movement on the bike.
Whether climbing or descending, you should be able to move around the bike easily in these.
Strategically placed reflective inserts boost visibility in low light. With multiple pockets, including one on the chest and a phone-friendly hip pocket, you’re covered to keep your ride essentials protected.
Squeezing in and out should be simple thanks to the long side-access zip and stretchy quick-release shoulder straps.
Riders can choose from three leg lengths and five sizes for the perfect fit. Wear them over a mountain bike jersey for added spray protection or under a waterproof jacket on the nastiest days.
These dungarees could be your bike wardrobe’s top winter performer.
- £199
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Fizik Terra Ergolace GTX Clip shoes
Whether you’re pounding out the winter gravel miles, or tackling puddle-soaked singletrack, spending all day riding with wet feet can be a real chore.
Introducing the Terra Ergolace GTX Clip. This is Fizik’s new off-road shoe designed for versatile, wet-weather performance. This trail performer is intended to cater for trail riders, bikepackers, and off-road endurance racers.
Gore-Tex provides a triple-layered waterproof and breathable membrane protection designed to keep water out while retaining as much breathability as possible.
The rugged ripstop woven fabric uppers are claimed to help resist abrasion, with added durability from a PU-laminated toe cap and side reinforcements.
The Ergolace pattern ensures a secure and comfortable fit, while its silhouette is designed to reduce bulk and maintain a sleek appearance. The Ergolace doesn’t sacrifice style, looking equally at home in the countryside and urban settings.
The X2 outsole is intended to strike a balance between pedalling efficiency, riding control and off-bike comfort.
A compressed EVA midsole offers stability and cushioning, while the Vibram rubber tread provides grip in various conditions, with a lug pattern shaped to deliver confident footing on soft soil or slick rocks.
The extended cleat track offers flexibility in cleat placement, whether riders prioritise bike control or pedalling efficiency.
- £199.99 / $209.99 / €189
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Nukeproof Blackline Wind Jacket
The Nukeproof Blackline Wind Jacket is designed for those unpredictable mountain bike adventures when you’re out on the trails and the weather’s playing tricks on you.
It’s all sunshine one moment, then a cold gust of wind hits you. That’s where Nukeproof says the Blackline Wind Jacket comes in.
Made from a 100 per cent nylon ripstop fabric and boasting a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating on the outer surface, it’s designed to deal with unpredictable weather changes.
The Blackline is a lightweight jacket intended to act as an additional layer to help keep you cosy against downhill wind chill and add an extra layer of warmth as you climb higher.
Underarm vents are there to make sure you don’t feel like you’re pedalling in a sauna, while elastic cuffs and a tailored fit help keep the wind out and boost riding functionality.
If the weather gets warmer, the jacket can be stuffed into the handy chest pocket and you’ve got a compact, go-anywhere essential that will fit in a pack, pocket or internal frame storage.
- £100
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Fox Crossframe Pro helmet
Fox enters the peakless helmet market with its new Crossframe Pro helmet, a fresh addition designed for thrill-seekers who love pushing their limits.
Crafted to complement high-intensity rides, whether an all-out sprint or adventurous trail jolly, Fox states the Crossframe Pro is the ideal mountain bike helmet.
It’s constructed from a dual-density Varizorb EPS foam to provide improved protection by spreading impact forces over a wider area. An in-moulded shell wraps the foam.
For further protection, there’s a MIPS liner to help reduce the transfer of rotational forces to the head during a crash.
To keep the helmet in place, a Boa retention system is used, offering micro-adjustability and enabling you to fine-tune the fit. There’s an adjustable cradle too.
There’s a magnetic Fidlock SNAP helmet buckle, providing a fast and secure way to put on and remove the helmet, even when wearing winter MTB gloves.
The Ionic+ liner, which is removable and washable, is said to possess antimicrobial properties to combat odours and effectively wick away moisture from the head.
Fox says the vents have been optimised to provide efficient cooling through the EPS foam.
- £189.99 / $219.95 / €199.99