‘Tis the season of dark commutes, soggy shoes, and the never ending dread of the alarm clock’s call. Hello, autumn!
Perhaps you’re not bummed out by the onset of winter because, let's face it, mud and snow make mountain biking even more fun than usual. To help you get the most out of your winter shredding, Seb's compiled a list of the best mountain bike suspension forks that he's tested.
Matthew set the internet on fire this week (he didn't really) when he made the shocking revelation that "there's more to life than cycling". If you have a stomach as strong as your Strava data, it makes a great lunchtime read.
- Death of the derailleur? Shimano has patented a bicycle gearbox and we are extremely excited about it
- Why it’s important to slow down and enjoy the ride | Mildred Locke
The news broke this week that Colnago is on the gravel train, announcing the release of its G3x gravel bike. We ask, is it a unique design or a V3Rs on steroids?
Another big news story that dropped was the announcement that Cannondale is launching the SuperSix EVO Neo, an e-road bike that's claimed to weigh just 11.3kg.
But it has to be said, the most jaw-dropping story that landed this week is most certainly what could be the world's most expensive stem. Would you buy it?
Finally, with Black Friday on the way, we're keeping you in the loop with all the best deals as they arrive, such as saving 75% on Rapha gloves.
Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert
This slick-looking offering from Specialized is the brand’s attempt to dominate the e-road market as it continues to grow. The Turbo Creo SL Expert is constructed from the same Fact 11r carbon chassis that’s used in the S-Works model.
It comes with the new Future Shock 2.0, which has been revamped with added damping and on-the-fly adjustment. It offers 20mm of travel and works much like a mountain bike fork with a single-circuit system and oil port to control compression and rebound damping.
The dedicated Future Stem Pro, which also features, comes with an adjuster where the top cap would normally be, so you can fine tune the front end on the go.
The Turbo Creo SL Expert is equipped with the majority of a 1x Shimano Ultegra groupset, combined with an XT rear derailleur and 11-42t cassette. The frame is gender neutral and comes complete with the ever-popular Power Expert saddle, while the Roval C 38 Disc carbon wheelset is dressed with 28mm Turbo Pro tyres, and up top there’s a set of alloy Expert Hover bars.
Of course, we’ve not even touched upon the motor yet. The Turbo Creo SL Expert has a Specialized SL 1.1, the brand’s custom lightweight motor. It has a built-in power meter that’s ANT+ compatible, while the Mission Control app allows you to tune the ride, monitor the battery life and record your data.
This motor, paired with a fully integrated down tube battery that puts out 320Wh, is claimed to have up to 80 miles of range. There’s an optional range extender available to buy as well, which adds another 40 miles to that.
But is this the lightest e-bike in its class, as Specialized claims? We’d like to say yes, but weighing 12.68kg on our scales, we’ve found it to be exactly one kilogram heavier than the Ribble Endurance SL e in the same size. Still, for an e-road bike it’s pretty damn light.
- Weight: 12.68kg (size L)
- Price: £7,499 / $9,000
Continental Terra Speed gravel tyres
Conti has finally jumped on the gravel bandwagon, releasing its new Terra models: Terra Speed and Terra Trail.
We’ve got our hands on the Speed tyres, which as the name suggests, are the faster of the two, with a smaller tread pattern for less rolling resistance.
Naturally, they’re tubeless-ready, and feature the brand’s ProTection casing, usually reserved for its premium mountain bike range. For those not in the know, ProTection is an extra layer of casing comprised of both 180 and 240 TPI on the tyre walls and top, respectively. In theory this should decrease the risk of pinch flats while running lower pressures. We’re yet to put this to the test.
The Terra Speed tyres come in both 650b and 700c, with the option of either 35 or 40mm width in both sizes. Choose between black or super trendy tan wall, and stick to dry conditions.
- Weight: 432g (single tyre)
- Price: £59.95 / €57.90
POC Omne Air SPIN helmet
This is one good looking helmet, and while it’s not brand-new right now, it’s the first time we’ve had a close-up look at the POC Omne Air SPIN in the office.
Launched earlier this year, it’s the brand’s mid-range offering that features its patent-pending SPIN technology. SPIN stands for Shearing Pad INside, and refers to the interior silicone padding.
The EPS liner is apparently density-optimised, which POC claims offers ideal impact force absorption. Weighing 345g, it’s not the lightest, but appears to be easily adjustable with a 360-degree size adjustment system.
The POC Omne Air SPIN helmet is available in a range of colours and in sizes S, M and L.
- Weight: 345g
- Price: £140 / €160
SKS Compit+ smartphone holder
The SKS Compit smartphone holder is a nifty gadget that mounts your phone to your handlebars and charges it while you’re riding.
It comes with different fixing options to suit your cockpit set up, whether it’s a simple clamp, one with light adaptor, or one that replaces the bottom clamp on a Bosch e-bike head unit.
The Compit includes a power bank with a 5,000mAh battery capacity that is claimed to charge a phone within a couple of hours. It’s NFC charging compatible, so there’s no need for a cable while riding, which adds to its already IP54 water-resistant rating. Off the bike, you can use a standard USB cable to charge.
It uses a similar twist-lock mechanism to a Garmin, allowing you to mount your phone vertically or horizontally, and is compatible with iPhone (6/7/8, 6+/7+/8+, X/XS), Samsung Galaxy (S7, S8, S9), and Huawei P20 Pro. For everything else, there’s a universal stick-on cover mount.
- Weight 188g
- Compit+ unit: €79.99
- Phone cover: €9.99
- USB cable: €12.99
Fumpa Pump
This battery-powered electronic pump from Fumpa features a patented compressor design with brushless motor technology. It compresses air at high speed so you can pump up your tyres at the push of a button, which is pretty neat.
Its casing design is also patented and – according to Fumpa – it provides strength, reduced vibration and thermal stabilisation for the internal compressor. It also includes a digital pressure gauge, which can display pressure readings in psi, kPa, and Bar units, and claims that a single charge can inflate six tyres.
It’s powered by a lithium-polymer battery that is rechargeable using a micro-USB cable, and is both Presta- and Schrader-compatible. It’s suitable for a maximum of 120 psi, and the brand states that it can charge a 700 x 23c tyre to 100 psi in 20 to 25 seconds. We’re yet to put this to the test.
This particular version of the Fumpa Pump is fairly hefty, measuring 42 x 73 x 87mm, so it’s probably not the sort of thing you’ll want to carry around in your jersey pocket. If you want the full-size model with all its power, then you’re better off sliding it into a bag of some sorts.
If you’re determined to pack as light as possible, then there’s also a miniFumpa available, which measures 32 x 56 x 68mm, has a claimed weight of 190g, and is apparently capable of inflating two tyres on a single charge. It’s Presta-fit only, however, and takes twice as long to fully inflate the same tyre mentioned above.
- Weight: 374g (full-size Fumpa)
- Fumpa: £149 / €173.25
- miniFumpa: £109 / €126.74
- Buy now from Sigma Sports (£149)
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