Another week has passed but after an incredible Tour de France Femmes, BikeRadar continues to whirl away, covering the latest news and posting our latest reviews.
On Monday we broke news of Unno’s refreshed Dash all-mountain bike and the collaboration you didn’t know you needed between beer makers Corona and State Bicycle Co.
Tuesday saw more mountain bike news, with a new Santa Cruz Nomad and Evil Epocalypse breaking cover rolling into a Wednesday featuring the revamped Bird Aeris 9, plus reviews of Vaast’s E/1 Rohloff urban electric bike and Time’s ATAC XC4 off-road pedals.
We also got a behind-the-scenes look at the headquarters of Italian components brand Miche – and what a joy to see a working factory again!
Then Thursday brought Simon von Bromley’s review of the Tour-wrecking Cervélo S5 aero road bike and a breakdown of the best road bikes you can buy today for around £1,000.
It was also Cycle to Work Day in the UK so as seasoned bike commuters we gave some thought and updated the BikeRadar guide to cycling to work.
Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 helmet
The Big S recently released updates to two of its high-performance helmets: the aerodynamic Evade 3 and the lightweight Prevail 3.
The Prevail 3 in particular caught my eye with its clean integration of MIPS technology while featuring some simply cavernous holes for airflow. Perfect for my sweat prone forehead.
The EPS foam bridges have been removed and replaced with an Air Cage design – essentially thin aramid cables running through the EPS main body.
MIPS integration comes in the form of Air Node technology, which effectively combines padding with the articulated rotating inner shell.
Specialized says the Mindset Fit System, which offers an occipital base adjustment for an optimal cranial fit as well as a tri-fix strap adjustment, makes the Prevail 3 comfortable to wear on a variety of head shapes.
This mid-size model tipped the scales at a slim 260g, just like the American brand’s claim.
Costumes Edit:002 Kit Preview
British boutique clothing brand Costumes is committed to reducing material waste in its cycling clothing.
It uses recycled materials in its garments wherever possible, with an emphasis on riding utility and comfort for the wearer.
Founded by Ed Bartlett, the brand launches their new season kit in edits and only makes the kit ordered by customers. The result is said to be a reduced environmental impact on the planet.
Costume’s attention to detail is sophisticated but sparing. It used just five fabrics for its original Edit:001 run (currently available) across seven pieces, using offcuts wherever possible – but, according to Bartlett, without sacrificing performance.
For example, the arm and leg warmers are made from remnants of the jersey fabric and are thin at the grippers to create a seamless overlap with the jersey and bib shorts.
The grippers are printed end-to-end after construction, leaving less wasted silicone in the factory.
Another benefit of the brand’s “small and limited” approach is the ability to quickly iterate on designs.
Where larger brands nail their mass-produced designs well over a year in advance, Costumes is able to make improvements between revisions. This Edit:002, available soon, has a new fabric panel added to the cap to increase durability.
Costumes is also refreshingly open about where it can improve, saying it’s constantly pushing towards it. Its packaging is biodegradable, yet it publicly expresses its aim to find better and even more sustainable alternatives for the future.
Well done, we say.
All items are available for shipping to USA and Europe.
Continental Terra hardpack tires
German tire powerhouse Continental launched the Terra Hardpack back in May, claiming it was an ideal tire to perform on “sealed roads and still get you safely through gravel sections”.
The tire is 50mm wide and features a flattened center section with a tile-like tread and more pronounced knobs around the shoulders for grip when things get a little loose.
The tire features Continental’s PureGrip compound, a harder, more resilient rubber than the BlackChili compound we’re used to seeing in the brand’s race tires.
It’s backed by ShieldWall puncture protection, which lines the entire surface of the construction to allow lower pressures to be run.
Also, ShieldWall should be a boon should you be unfortunate enough to encounter rocks that rip apart the sidewalls on your adventure.
The Terra Hardpacks are tubeless ready and compatible with hookless rims up to 73psi. They are available in sizes 700c and 650b.
- £39.95 / €39.99 / $49.95
Syncros Guide multi tool kit
It’s not gifting season yet, but if you’re shopping early for someone, Syncros’s Guide Multitool Kit could be just what you’re looking for.
It includes a small 5Nm torque wrench and seven bits including 3, 4, 5 and 6mm allen keys, T15, T25 and T30 hex heads and a Phillips PH2 screwdriver bit.
In addition, the Guide Kit includes a chain tool, a Mavic M7 spoke wrench, six tire patches and two heavy-duty tire levers.
Everything is packed together in a cloth bag, which Syncros says is perfect for stowing in a jersey pocket or in a backpack.
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