Plus the best news, reviews and advice from BikeRadar this week
Here we are again for another dose of First Look Friday, BikeRadar’s highlights reel from the past week and a quick look at some of the latest kit to land on our desks.
If you’ve been checking the website, you’ll have no doubt seen it has been gravel week here at BikeRadar.
We’ve got all the latest tech, news and reviews from the gravel world, from explaining what a gravel bike is to reviews of the some of the best gravel bikes available.
You can check out the best carbon, steel, titanium and aluminium gravel bikes out there, and find detailed guides on how to choose the best gravel handlebars and how to set up your gravel bike.
If that’s not enough gravel to get stuck in to, there’s the first gravel bike from mountain bike brand Commencal to check out. Plus, if you want to take your gravel riding more seriously, you can learn all about gravel racing and how to train for it.
It’s not all about gravel though, and we have big reviews of SRAM’s new Apex Eagle groupset and its latest, cheapest Apex AXS XPLR electronic drivetrain that should help bring electronic shifting to the masses.
If you don’t have time to read all the in-depth details, check out the BikeRadar podcast that gives you the lowdown on the new groupset.
Elsewhere, Simon von Bromley reported on the new Zwift Play handlebar-mounted controller.
If you’re hunting out mountain bike news, look no further than the latest trail ebike from Canyon, the Neuron:ON, and the new hard-hitting Rocky Mountain Slayer.
We also brought you the latest tech from the first round of the 2023 UCI Downhill World Cup in Lenzerheide.
With that taster of this week’s news served up, let’s get on to the pick of the latest tech to arrive at BikeRadar.
Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro M tyres
!["Pirelli]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Pirelli-Scorpion-Race-EN-M-tyre-511472f.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Pirelli")
It’s no secret that when Pirelli entered the MTB market, performance didn’t quite cut it against the best mountain bike tyres in terms of traction and control.
Still, with Fabien Barel heading up development, and a host of teams including Trek Factory Racing, Canyon CLLCTV Pirelli, and Canyon CLLCTV Dainese now developing and racing Pirelli rubber, these new and updated tyres may elevate the famous motorsport giant to new heights of mountain bike glory.
!["Pirelli]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Pirelli-Scorpion-Race-EN-M-tyre-tread-pattern-64823fe.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Pirelli")
The Scorpion Race Enduro M we’ve got our hands on is the brand’s ‘mixed terrain’ tyre. Claimed to be the most versatile tyre in the range, it should be capable from hard-packed rocky trails through to soft, mixed dirt.
The DualWALL enduro casing is a two-ply 120 TPI carcass with added rubber protection around the bead to increase puncture protection.
A change to the Race version of the Scorpion M tyres is the dual compound. The original non-Race tyre used just one rubber compound. Now, there’s a firmer rubber layered under Pirelli’s 42a SmartEVO DH compound tread blocks.
!["Pirelli]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Pirelli-Scorpion-Race-EN-M-tyre-proile-and-tread-blocks-5873d68.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Pirelli")
The goal of this construction is to give improved traction and control by managing not only the softness of the rubber, but also its rebound properties.
For this enduro version, there are two sizes available: 29×5.5in and 27.5×2.5in, with weights of 1,304g for our test 29er and a claimed 1,210g for a 27.5in tyre.
- £81.99
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Sweet Protection Bushwacker V2i MIPS helmet
!["Sweet]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Sweet-Protection-Bushwacker-2Vi-MIPS-helmet-81ebbda-2.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Sweet")
Built with the modern mountain biker in mind, Sweet Protection’s latest Bushwacker helmet is aimed at e-bikers and long-travel shredders alike. Or anyone who wants to get creative and wild on a bike without resorting to a full-face lid.
At the heart of the protection is a MIPS Air liner, there to help reduce rotational impact forces while keeping weight low and ventilation high.
Sweet Protection has strategically placed mixed-density EPS foam in critical areas in a bid to best protect the head from high- and low-speed impacts.
!["Sweet]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Sweet-Protection-Bushwacker-V2i-MIPS-Air-liner-6bf0348.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Sweet")
It also uses a variable-elasticity shell to aid protection, along with its deep coverage at the rear of the head and around the temples.
13 vents help keep air flowing through the lid, and it uses Sweet’s STACC (Superficial Temporal Arteries Cooling Channel), which increases airflow over the temples in a bid to better improve cooling.
To keep the Bushwacker V2i MIPS secure, it uses Sweet’s 360 Occigrip fit system. This retention device uses a dial at the rear to tighten the 360-degree cradle and tailor the fit.
!["Sweet]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Sweet-Protection-Bushwacker-V2i-MIPS-cradle-dial-and-rear-vents-61c24a3.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Sweet")
There are rubber details for glasses storage under the peak to help keep your eyewear safe. The Bushwacker V2i MIPS comes in three sizes and six colours.
- £219
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First Degree Flite XT shoes
!["FIrst]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/FIrst-Degree-Flite-XT-shoes-8f2ef02.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"FIrst")
Small Austrian brand First Degree is making some big waves in the mountain bike shoes market with its flat-pedal shoes. Founded in spring 2022, the brand already has the incredible talent of Fabio Wibmer and Rob Warner representing it.
This Flite XT model is a beefed-up version of the brand’s Flite shoe and features a durable leather and an added layer of protection around the toe box. This makes the Flite XT suitable for ripping up laps of the bike park as well as enduro rides or more casual dirt-jumping duties.
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/First-Degree-Flite-XT-shoes-sole-rubber-and-pattern-9ee21a6.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"First")
To keep the all-important flat-pedal traction, First Degree uses a ‘specially formulated’ rubber compound, but details are thin on what this includes. The hexagonal tread pattern is aimed to supply grip on the pedal and traction when walking.
The mid-stiff soul should help transfer power to the pedals, while still offering enough comfort on the bike to soak up vibrations and bumps. The padded tongue has also been designed with an impact-absorbing foam, and the deep heel cup and lace system should keep them secure no matter how wild the trails.
!["First]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/First-Degree-Flite-XT-shoe-lacing-options-78b7ca4.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"First")
Styling is impressive and we see a lot of people taking a second look at these. Look out for a review coming soon to see how the rubber sole stands up against the big players of Five Ten and Specialized.
- £115.95
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Topeak Mountain Digital 2Stage pump
!["Topeak]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Topeak-Mountain-Digital-2Stage-pump-d0588d6.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Topeak")
Nearly every rider relies on a multi-tool for trailside repairs, and for those who enjoy longer, more remote rides a pump is an essential too.
So, why not have a multi-pump? This hand pump from Topeak can be used as a high-volume pump for inflating tyres, or a high-pressure pump for inflating air suspension.
By the twist of a dial at the base of the pump, you can switch between an 84cc high-volume pump or an 11cc high-pressure pump.
!["Topeak]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Topeak-Mountain-Digital-2Stage-pump-high-pressurehigh-volume-switch-3803627.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Topeak")
The digital gauge can toggle between psi, bar and kg/cm2, and can record tyre pressures up to 300psi/20.7 bar.
The connector can be used with Presta and Schrader valves. It can be threaded or pushed on to Presta values and is threaded onto Schrader valves. While it’s not cheap, it’s less expensive than two dedicated pumps.
!["Topeak]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Topeak-Mountain-Digital-2Stage-pump-screen-b76964d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Topeak")
For those who love to fiddle with pressures on the trail, this could be a great item. And if you have to carry a pump with you, why not have a shock pump at your fingertips too? I’m interested to see how well this works in practice.
- £94.99