We might have spent the last couple of days celebrating Christmas, but that hasn't stopped new and interesting bike kit arriving at the BikeRadar office. Here are the most exciting bits and pieces of road cycling kit and mountain biking gear that found their way to us this week…
New road bike gear
Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 Aero
Cutting through the air requires plenty of energy, which is why bike companies are spending more R&D time on reducing the drag caused by bikes. German direct-buy specialists Canyon have created the Ultimate CF SL 9.0 Aero. With components such as Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLE 52mm deep wheels and a frame that's designed to cut through the air, this should be fast. Canyon’s Vertical Comfort Lateral Stiffness (VCLS) technology should improve both comfort and performance.
£2,399 / US$N/A
StantoVelo Protective arm warmers
Body armour might be more commonly associated with our mud-loving mountain biking cousins, but crashing on a road bike can be pretty unpleasant too. StantoVelo have designed some subtle armouring integrated into an arm-warmer, with a layer of high-impact foam built into the area that covers the lower elbow and forearm. The arm-warmer can still be rolled, folded and stuffed into back pockets. Its microfleece lining offers warmth, and the reflective details improve visibility. It won’t stop a broken bone, but might prevent some skin from being left on the tarmac.
£25.99 / $USN/A
Granger’s Performance Proofer
If your waterproofs have not been used for a while, or they’ve not been cleaned, they’ll probably benefit from a bit of TLC. Granger’s Performance Proofer applies a DWR coating to waterproofs, replenishing what would have been there originally. This keeps water beading off the surface and maintains the waterproof’s breathability.
£10.99 / $12
Brooks Cambium C17 saddle
Brooks are legendary in the world of comfy saddles. The Cambium is a limited edition, built not from Brooks' usual leather, but from vulcanised natural rubber and organic cotton. Brooks claims that the Cambium is maintenance-free as a result. The Cambium is based around the racier B17 saddle, and with production limited to a run of 1,000, you’ll have to get in there quick if you want one. The is also a run of 200 C17s saddles, which are more suited to women.
€125 (approx £105 / US$160)
Nathan Fire and Ice bottle
Nathan’s Fire and Ice Bottle is an insulated drinks bottle which has a double-wall construction, sandwiching a reflective layer of material, aiding both visibility and insulation.
£11.99 / $12
New mountain bike gear
Trek Slash 9 27.5
The evolution of the all-mountain and enduro markets has had a profound effect on the way many of these bikes now look and ride. The Trek Slash 9 is a great example of this, having migrated from a 26in chassis to a 27.5in (650b) one, with an 11-speed X01 transmission. The Slash also offers adjustable geometry and Fox suspension with DRCV rear shock to increase its gravity orientation, while Trek’s ABP linkage maintains grip on descents when things get wild!
£4300 / US$5769.99
Hope Tech 3 E4 brakes
The Tech 3 E4 brakes feature on-the-fly bite-point control with reach adjustment and are compatible with direct mount Shimano I-Spec shifters, with a SRAM mount available after market. Hope have increased power by five percent over the original Tech Evo master cylinder, while making it smaller to increase integration on the bars. A new piston, dust cover and reservoir diaphragm design have also been introduced. They're available with either black hose (pictured) or braided for £10 more per brake and compatible with rotors from 160mm to 200mm.
£149.99 (no rotor) / US$N/A
Syncros Micro Pump
The Syncros Micro Pump is just over 17cm long and weighs 86g. Its small stature is not to be underestimated though – it works with both Presta and Schrader valves and Syncros claims it can inflate tyres to 120psi in record time.
£22.99 / US$35.45
Gusset Magnum stem
Gusset’s latest stem, the Magnum, features several aesthetically pleasing features including an alternately anodised handlebar front clamp and matching hidden steerer binder with subtle laser-etched graphics. Available in only 50mm size, it's ideal for everything from enduro to dirt jumping. It's relatively light (less than 200g), comes in five colours and good looks like a great stem for a variety of bikes.
£44.99 / US$N/A
Blackspire MonoVeloce-WP chainring
The Blackspire MonoVeloce, aimed at 1x9 and 1x10 setups, along with those who choose the simple life of the singlespeed. The laser etched aluminium rings are available in a vast array of ring sizes and BCD sizing, so should suit almost everyone.
Prices from £32.99 / US$50
