Hello and welcome to another edition of First Look Friday, where we show you the latest and greatest tech that has passed over our desks this week.
With the sixth door of the BikeRadar advent calendar being opened today, there's no denying the countdown to Christmas is on, so expect to see some stocking fillers below.
Before getting into that, let's take a look at what we've put out on site this week.
At the start of the week, we saw the launch of Wahoo's Elemnt Ace. Ashley Quinlain shared his review and compared the flagship cycling computer to Garmin's Edge 1050 in a head-to-head.
In eMTB-related news, we also saw the launch of Scott's Patron yesterday, with Alex Evans sharing his initial impressions of the bike with a first ride review.
Elsewhere on-site, we gave you some tips on how to stay warm with our winter cycling clothing guide and highlighted the importance of reach measurements.
With that brief recap out of the way, here's some highly coveted clothing and components.
Aenomaly SwitchGrade
One of the biggest advancements in mountain bike design has to be the dropper post, with the ability to move your seat out of the way – helping you control the bike better.
Aenomaly’s SwitchGrade builds on that theory, enabling you to change the angle of the saddle via a lever on its underside.
The brand says this means you can tilt the saddle forward for a more comfortable pedalling position on the climbs, while giving you more clearance on the descents when tilted back.
Having the seat tilted forward is said to improve lumbar support and stop you from sliding off the saddle on steep inclines.
The forward position angles the nose of the saddle 10 degrees down, while the rear position angles it 12 degrees up from the 0-degree mid position.
Aenomaly says the feedback from the lever makes it easy to change this position on the fly.
The Switchgrade is machined from 7075 T6 and 6061 T6 aluminium and fits on most dropper posts, while changing the effective seat tube angle by less than 1 degree.
It is suitable for both round and oval rail types and is available in a range of colours.
- £135
Rab Men's Cinder Kinetic Waterproof Biking Jacket
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This shell from Rab’s Cinder cycling collection features the brand’s Proflex fabric, which is said to offer the performance and protection of a hardshell with the comfort, stretch and feel of a softshell.
Rab says the jacket is waterproof, while staying clear of fluorocarbons, and is designed for long days in the saddle – whatever the weather.
An extended back panel features in the rear to provide protection when hunched over the bar, with silicone grippers on the hem to keep it in place.
The cycling-specific fit is carried onto the arms, with the extended cuffs designed to fend off cold chills.
The hood is large enough for a helmet and there’s adjustability at the rear, which should enable you to tighten it onto a helmet and minimise rustles during downpours.
A large zipped rear pocket seems big enough to leave your hip pack at home, and while it doesn’t appear designed for it, you can pack the jacket away into it.
The British brand says the jacket is made from 100 per cent recycled materials, using renewable energy.
Sizes range from XS to XL and there are four colours to choose from, with the jacket I've got coming in Orion Blue.
- £240
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e*thirteen Plus Pedal
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e*thirteen’s Plus Pedals are the brand's top-of-the-range flats.
Like many high-end mountain bike pedals, the Plus Pedals are machined from aluminium billet and feature an anodised finish that should help them stand up to trail wear and tear.
The pedal features 22 steel pins (11 on each side) and has a concave platform that should offer plenty of bite.
The platform itself measures 100x110mm and e*thirteen says it has been designed to deflect rock strikes.
A triple-bearing axle is used, with a larger bearing on the inside of the pedal and two smaller bearings sitting in the middle section.
The brand says it is fully rebuildable and easily serviced.
- £119.95
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Smith Loam Goggles
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Smith’s Loam Goggles bring the brand’s style and fit to a more affordable price without losing too many features.
Simpler than the brand’s Rhythm Goggles, the Loams continue to use a large frame for a gap-free fit with the brand’s helmets.
This is twinned with a low nosepiece, which Smith says gives the wearer a wide field of view.
The Cylindrical Carbonic-x anti-fog lens sits in the frame and is said to aid in clarity, while remaining impact-resistant.
Two-layer DriWix face foam is said to wick moisture from your face, while an ultra-wide silicone-backed strap keeps the goggles in place.
Six colour options are available and the goggles come with a microfibre cloth carrying bag.
- £49.99
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