"Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him! But then he switched to triathlon and wouldn't shut up about his lactate threshold, so I unfriended him on Facebook. Now I've got no one to talk to about cycling kit, and all this useless money just piling up."
Is this you? A cyclist with mounds of moolah and no idea what to do with it? Well happy day! You can stop flicking bogies over your cubicle wall right now, because the week is nearly over and that means 11 new ways to spend the kids' inheritance. (You never liked them anyway.) Yes, ladies, gents, convicts and the yet-to-be-convicted, it's 11spd, and boy do we have some treats for you today...
New mountain bikes and kit
Cannondale Habit Carbon Alloy SE
We’ve already had a good go on the Habit Carbon 1, Cannondale’s range-topping 120mm trail ride, and, as good as it is, its price tag puts it way out of the hands of many.
Step in this part-carbon SE spec bike and all of a sudden you’re dealing with a considerably less expensive Habit.
Gone is the flex-pivot carbon rear triangle of its spendier sibling, switched for an alloy part. The bike’s Lefty fork also changes from carbon construction to an alloy version and, more interestingly, its travel has bumped up by 10mm over the more expensive bike. This leggier Lefty makes for a slightly slacker head angle of 67.5 degrees, something that should only improve on what we found to be the Habit’s forte – descending.
You still get a 1x drivetrain, a tubeless-ready wheelset from WTB and Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres that are also ready to ditch the tubes. Our test bike tipped the scales at 27.84lbs 12.63kg without pedals, and that’s within 2lbs of the full-carbon bike.
We’ll report back once we’ve got some miles in on it.
£2999 / $4,480
Maskinen Prodigy R1 27.5+
The Prodigy from Danish firm Maskinen is a fat bike you’ve probably not heard of. Tipping our scales at just 11.47kg (25.29lbs), our test bike gets a spendy spec sheet including a full SRAM XX1 drivetrain, a RockShox Bluto suspension fork and SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes.
As a brand Maskinen is all about customisation, and so should potential owners not want one of the six spec levels then this frame can be built from the ground up.
Despite having room for even the largest of fat bike treads, our Prodigy has come built with Maskinen’s own 650b carbon wheelset and so is currently running with slimmer, plus-sized tyres from Vee.
We’ve yet to get those tyres turning on this one but will soon be following things up with a first ride.
Custom build, complete bike pricing starts at $3,199.
Zeus Handy Tool
Arriving all the way from Australia is this curious tool, which aims to consolidate the contents of your tool box into one compact unit. Although not cycling-specific, the Zeus has been designed with the cyclist in mind, and sure enough it packs most of the things riders require – plus a whole lot more.
As well as 16 Allen/hex and screw bits, the mostly metal Zeus also arrives with a tape measure, spirit level, knife/saw and snips – if that wasn’t enough there’s even a torch and, we’ve saved the best for last – a hammer!
Our pre-production sample isn’t the most refined of objects but should this tool reach its funding target on Kickstarter (you can check the full pledge here), then it’s expected to sell complete with a 10-year warranty.
From AU$55 / £26 / $39
Fabric Co2/lever kit
Components manufacturer Fabric has put together this minimal tyre repair package. Strapping neatly to a seatpost, the kit features two reinforced tyre levers - the sort you don’t mind using in anger, with a Co2 inflator. The head of the inflator can accept both Presta or Schraeder valves and features useful adjustment that means gas delivery can be controlled completely – so the 16g cartridge need not get spent in just one use.
£20 / $40
Scott Tyrant Goggles
Perfect for wet, muddy conditions, the new Scott Tyrant goggles are available in a veritable rainbow of colours, though we’re particularly taken with the turquoise and blue version. This is not least because the Electric Blue Chrome lenses are impact-resistant, 100 percent UVA/UVB protective and (did we mention?) come in a lovely shade of blue.
The nose guard does look a little beak-like, but we’re sure we’ll be appreciating it if we faceplant over the bars at any point. Plus, it can be shifted to 3 different positions to suit noses of all sizes and shapes.
Also handy for the downhillers and enduro riders out there, the fit is adjustable, there are mounts for tear-offs, and the Revolutionary Air Management (or RAM) system allows air to flow through the goggles top to bottom to prevent fogging. Handy!
New road bikes and kit
Pinnacle Dolomite 5
Hydraulic discs for road bikes are nothing new, but until recently prices have meant they were a rare sight on bikes in the mega-popular sub-£1000 / $1500 / AU$2000 price bracket, which is where many of us look when we're shopping for a commuter or general purpose machine. The advent of Shimano 105-level hydraulics and their ilk is set to change that, making bikes like the Dolomite 5 from Evans house-brand Pinnacle a reality.
The new shifters may be hideous, but there's a lot to like about this 9.5kg (in size small) beast. In addition to its thoroughly modern brakes, it's got proper mounts for a rack and mudguards, as well as clearances for 28mm tyres (25 with guards). We've reviewed the rim-brake Dolomite in the past and liked it, so we're expecting a lot from this one.
£1000 / $1500 / AU$2000 (converted amounts)
B'Twin VIOO Clip 300 USB light
Modern USB lights are a complete godsend for everyday cyclists, offering mega lumens in exchange for minimal hassle. We may have carpet-bombed your newsfeeds with Christmas gift ideas already, but if you still need a last minute stocking stuffer you could do a whole lot worse than this handy little thing from B'Twin. It works as a front or rear light thanks to red and white LEDs, which you can switch between. It's also extremely versatile when it comes to mounting, with a clip that will work on clothing or bags, and a strap designed for bars and seatposts. For the money, it would be rude not to...
£8.50 / $13 / AU$18 (converted amounts)
Muc-Off Luxury Chamois Cream
Not content with keeping your bike clean and operating smoothly, Muc-Off has turned its attention to your undercarriage with its new chamois cream. High-end pricing may put some off, but the 250ml tub should go a long way, and it smells almost too good to go slathering it on your nethers.
250ml: £20 / $TBC / AU$TBC
The Original Flandriends hand-painted metal cyclists
Do you find yourself pressing your nose against toy shop windows, growing misty-eyed at the sight of Airfix model aeroplane kits? Do you wish it was socially acceptable for adult humans to play with dolls? At BikeRadar, we've grown out of Action Man and Barbie, but cycling superheroes are A-OK with us. We'd be quite happy to have a mini peloton of these figurines from The Original Flandriens on our desk – perhaps another one for a last-minute Christmas present.
Pair £15 / €15 / $16 / AU$22 (converted amounts)
www.ison-distribution.com (UK trade)
Cadence Keirin Raw Denim Relaxed Fit jeans
If the idea of cycling-specific jeans offends you, keep on scrolling. If on the other hand you live in the big city and spend a lot of time hopping on and off your bike, take a look at the latest threads (that's what the cool kids call them) from Cadence. Recognising that not everyone wants their denim to look painted-on, and that cyclists of all kinds are likely to have bigger thighs than most, the company has come out with a looser-fitting take on its bike-friendly jeans.
They come with the same features as previous versions, with a few refinements: strategic crotch reinforcement (oo-er), a reflective patch, a little Lycra for stretch, and now a waist that's raised at the rear to adapt better to a riding position.
£87 / $120 / AU$TBC
Trek Madone Race Shop Limited
We've written at some length about the new Madone already, but now BikeRadar UK has finally got its hands on one, so let's do some more ogling. Whatever your feelings about integrated-everything designs like this, there's no disputing that the Madone looks bloody fantastic, especially in the red and white livery of the Trek Factory Racing team. As pictured, this 58cm bike with Dura Ace Di2 and Aeolus 5 TLR clinchers weighs a little under 7kg – not bad for a machine with more aero tech than some TT bikes, as well as the IsoSpeed shock-absorbing system borrowed from the Domane.
£9750 / $12999.99 / AU$15999.99
