The latest kit to cross BikeRadar’s digital desks
It all kicked off at Paris-Roubaix last weekend, with riders tackling the iconic spring classic’s cobbled roads.
Bikes and bodies were battered, but among the chaos we picked out 13 tech trends that reigned supreme, including the Scope Atmoz tyre pressure adjustment system.
Eagle-eyed BikeRadar editor-in-chief George Scott also spotted an unreleased Specialized Mondo tyre. Although the new tyre wasn’t able to avoid the tidal wave of punctures synonymous with Paris-Roubaix, we suspect Specialized was happy with its performance in the women’s race, with Lotte Kopecky bagging a top-10 finish.
MBUK video presenter Will Soffe’s first long-term test bike report went live this week. The moustachioed man has an Intense Tracer 29 for the year, running 29in hoops front and rear. Will the ultimate mullet fan switch to a smaller back wheel? Watch this space.
Elsewhere, we saw Garmin release updated versions of its popular GPS bike computer series, the Edge. New to the line-up are the 540 and 840, both now featuring solar charging as found on the Edge 1040 Solar that was also updated recently.
Mavic announced its first ebike motor, the X-Tend. The French brand claims it’s the lightest ebike motor yet, and could help create sub-10kg electric road bikes.
Canadian brand Devinci launched a heavy-hitting high-pivot park and enduro bike called the Chainsaw, which tech writer Luke Marshall has spent some time aboard. By blending long travel, a slack head angle, adjustable geometry and a steep seat tube angle, Devinci hopes the Chainsaw will be equally at home pedalling to the trailhead as it is on a shuttle to the top.
Rapha Brain Dead Trail Hip Pack
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Rapha’s collaboration with Brain Dead – a “creative collective of… artists and designers” – is supposed to turn up the dial on the brand’s usually subdued approach to styling.
The 293g Trail Hip Pack has undergone the visual Brain Dead design transformation; its once muted olive green or black colour is now a rowdy bright orange, deep purple and gaudy green.
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The pack’s functionality is, however, unchanged.
There are two zipped pockets, totalling a 3-litre capacity; the larger pocket has internal elastic organisers, while the smaller outer one has a key clip.
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On the sides are two mesh pockets ideal for storing water bottles, handy given there isn’t a a dedicated pocket for a hydration bladder.
An elasticated loop sits atop the pack, designed for storing clothing such as waterproof jackets or other items.
Its strap uses a single clip, but its length can be adjusted from either of its anchor points. Meanwhile, its back pad has three chunky, soft sections designed to improve comfort.
- £80/$97/€90
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Deity Deftrap flat pedals
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As the more affordable little sibling of Deity’s five-star winning TMAC pedals, the Deftrap’s nylon fibre body is claimed to be 28 per cent stronger than nylon composites used by other manufacturers.
At 403g a pair, they’re lighter than the TMACs and measuring 113x103mm they’re slightly bigger, too.
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Deity claims they have 1.5mm of concavity across their length, measuring just under 18mm at the centre and 19.5mm at the leading and trailing edges.
They boast eight removable, long and sharp pins per side, with two additional moulded inboard pins.
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Running on two sealed bearings and a DU bushing, Deity claims they’re fully rebuildable. The nylon body is also said to brush off rock strikes without getting hung up or ‘stuck’ on impacts.
They’re available in 10 colours, including black (pictured).
- £47.99/$54.99
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DMR Sect Rail DJ saddle
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DMR’s Sect Rail DJ saddle continues the brand’s dirt jump heritage, most likely appealing to the niche world of trails riders.
All aspects of it are chunky, as demanded by dirt jumpers.
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Weighing 368g, boasting a 140mm width and CroMo rails, it’s going to roll with the punches at your local trails.
Its camouflage design – available in both snow and jungle patterns – should match the grime-led underground DJ scene to a tee.
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A hard-wearing cover wraps over foam padding, designed to offer a relaxing pew between sessions.
DMR claims it’s big enough to use for manoeuvring the bike about in the air, yet isn’t so big that it’s constantly in the way.
- £40
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Unparallel Dust Up mountain bike flat pedal shoes
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With a 20-year background in rock climbing shoes, Unparallel has branched out into the world of mountain biking and BMX.
Offering five models, the Dust Up is the brand’s flat pedal gravity-focused shoe.
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It has a dual-compound outsole. Its inner portion uses a softer-compound rubber than the outer part, designed to improve grip and absorb vibrations. The outsole has two trad patterns to further improve grip.
The midsole is designed to be stiff to improve stability.
It has a traditional cross-lacing pattern and a Velcro strap, so fit and tightness can be tuned.
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Made from synthetic materials, the Dust Ups are also vegan-friendly.
A pair of EU42-sized shoes weighed 842g, and feel closer in terms of weight and stiffness to the Endura MT500 Burner flat shoe than Five Ten’s Impact Pro.
Stay tuned for a full review soon.
- $149.95