Plus new components from Hope, cyclocross-inspired gravel tyres and a diamond-coated lock

By Jack Luke

Published: Friday, 23 February 2024 at 10:00 AM


COREbike is one of the UK’s biggest cycling trade shows and an early opportunity for us to lay eyes on the tech launched at the start of the year. 

As the show has grown in significance, it has now become the place many brands choose to launch new products.

This year saw a wide range of new swag from manufacturers big and small. Here are our top road, gravel and mountain bike tech highlights from this year’s show. 

Mavic revives the iconic DeeMax DH and DeeMax Park

Scott Windsor / Our Media

Ridden by the likes of Nico Vouilloz, Greg Minnaar and Sam Hill, Mavic has released its DeeMax DH mountain bike wheelset in a limited-edition yellow version to commemorate the iconic wheels’ 25th anniversary. 

The wheels, designed specifically for downhill racing, are laced with 28 spokes and feature a 30mm-wide rim that’s said to smooth out vibrations in rough terrain. 

Scott Windsor / Our Media

The more affordable DeeMax Park joins the premium DeeMax DH.

These are available in 27.5in, 29in and – in an unusual move for 2024 – 26in wheel size options. They use 32 spokes and are much more affordable, at just £400 for the pair. 

Panaracer shows off GP5000-challenging Agilest Fast

Panaracer Agilest FAST road bike tyre
Scott Windsor / Our Media

The Agilest Fast is Panaracer’s all-new go-fast road bike tyre.

The tyre’s different layers are attached using electron beam bonding before vulcanisation. According to Panaracer, this is a new technology in cycling and is said to result in a tyre with fewer imperfections.

Read our full story with insight from Panaracer’s Jeff Zell for more information. 

Hope adds carbon option to crank range, plus brown is so in right now

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Hope’s new Carbon Cranks complement the brand’s existing alloy crankset range.

The cranks are moulded around a foam insert. This is very firm to the touch and, according to Hope, provides impact resistance, transferring energy from a side-on impact to the other side of the crank arm in the event of a crash. It’s also said to dampen vibrations. 

Speaking to BikeRadar, a Hope spokesperson said the learnings gained from developing the HBT track bike have accelerated the brand’s knowledge in carbon fibre design: “We’ve learned what could have taken 10 or 15 years in two years with [that bike] and our collaboration with British Cycling.”

Scott Windsor / Our Media

Hope was also showing off its range of new ‘bronze’ anodised components. The highlight of the stand was this absolutely brown-tastic version of its HB.916 enduro bike.

The DMR Trailstar is back, plus new urban pedals

Scott Windsor / Our Media

The Trailstar was DMR’s first mountain bike frameset. The name has been revived to celebrate the company’s upcoming 30th anniversary 

The new DMR Trailstar is a titanium trail hardtail with adjustable rear dropouts, a 140mm fork and a 65-degree head angle. 

The frameset is available for £1,800 in limited numbers.

Scott Windsor / Our Media

DMR also had its new Flat 4 pedal on show. This is the brand’s first non-mountain bike pedal, and is designed as a premium option for the likes of high-end urban ebikes or for gravel riders who don’t want to use clipless pedals. 

The modular £60 pedals ship with plastic grip plates as stock, but these can be swapped for pins for a more tenacious grip. 

Campagnolo teases cheaper Ekar GT groupset

Campagnolo Ekar GT groupset on Basso Palta
Scott Windsor / Our Media

The first Campagnolo Ekar GT groupset in the UK was on show, fitted to this limited-edition Basso Palta gravel bike.

The new gravel bike groupset sits beneath the existing Ekar groupset, with Campagnolo opting for an alloy crankset over carbon. The shifter ergonomics and gear options have also been refined. 

Check out our full news story and video for more details.