Hello and welcome to First Look Friday as we enter November and another fun-packed week on BikeRadar comes to an end.
There's been a typically diverse wealth of news, reviews, features and opinion pieces onsite in the past seven days, so sit back while I bring you up to speed.
I kicked us off a mere minute into the week with the news that Swytch is launching its own ebike, plus a couple of new conversion kits.
Alex Evans followed up with his review of the Atherton Bikes A.150.1, which he described as a "cheat code" with an otherworldly suspension feel. I also ran the rule over Rondo's excellent Ruut CF1 G2 gravel bike.
Elsewhere, following the news that ITV will no longer be broadcasting the Tour de France after the 2025 race, commentator Ned Boulting lamented the departure of cycling's greatest race from free-to-air TV, while I took an alternative view.
Simon von Bromley spotted that Campagnolo has filed a patent that hints at the return of its famous thumb shifter, while Nick Clark explained why budget cuts could spell the closure of every legal trail in Wales.
There was still time for my review of the new Skarper DiskDrive Ebike Drive System that looks set to shake up the lightweight ebike market and a round-up of the best budget mountain bike forks.
And don't forget, now the clocks have gone back, it's an ideal time to make sure you're equipped with a set of the best bike lights for winter.
With that rapid-fire recap done and dusted, let's take a look at the latest dazzling products to have arrived at BikeRadar HQ.
Cadex Max 40 wheelset
I first experienced the Max 40s when Giant launched the latest TCR, and ever since then, I’ve been itching to get hold of a set for more in-depth testing. Now, they’ve finally arrived.
The wheelset was designed to perfectly complement the new TCR aerodynamically.
That said, you don’t have to own a TCR to have the Cadex Max 40s. Their low weight, along with the unique integration of the carbon bladed spokes with thin aerodynamic hub flanges and the 40mm-deep aero rims, puts them up with the most exclusive lightweight carbon road wheels around.
Cadex claims the Max 40 front wheel is 28.4 per cent laterally stiffer than Lightweight’s Obermayer EVO, and 10.3 per cent to the good compared to the Syncros Capital SL. For the rear wheel, it’s even greater, at 44.9 per cent and 20.8 per cent respectively.
The 40mm-deep rim uses a hookless profile and has a broad 28mm width with a 22.4mm inner width. Cadex says this is optimised for tyres from 25c to 32c.
The rear freehub runs on a 48-tooth ratchet engagement. As you’d expect with wheels at this price, all the bearings are ceramic, and Cadex offers a lifetime warranty for registered owners, as well as a lifetime ‘Incident replacement’ policy.
Our test set of wheels, replete with valves and tubeless tape, tips the scales at 580g for the front and 730g for the rear (with a SRAM XDR freehub), for a total of 1,310g.
The wheels are making their way onto one of my bikes now and a test will be heading this way soon.
- £3,500 / $4,500 / €3,600-4,000 (depending on country) / AU$6,800
Fidlock Pinclip S saddle pack
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The Pinclip S is a compact, well-put-together saddle pack. The expanding design has a 400ml/13floz capacity. With enough room for an emergency tool kit and spare tube, the closure system uses Fidlock’s V-Buckles, which combine a simple drop-in connection and Fidlock’s signature magnetic action.
The Pinclip name refers to the saddle-rail mount. A base is bolted to your saddle rails and the pack slots into it and locks magnetically in place. The slot and magnet connection are neat, and free of play and rattles. You can also use the Pinclip base mount with Fidlock’s Pinclip action cam mount.
The bag's material is waterproof and all the seams are welded. Fidlock rates the bag to IPX5 standard, meaning it can withstand direct water sprayed on it from a high-pressure nozzle – a standard more usually associated with cycling headphones and outdoor portable speakers.
The bag and base unit together weigh 139.5g.
- £49.99 / $54.99 / €49.99
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Bridgedale MTB socks
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British brand Bridgedale has made socks for outdoor use for over 100 years. Its range of MTB socks (also, I’m reliably informed, great for gravel) use the brand's own Fusion technology. This is a combination of traditional fibres (Merino wool) in a high-grade yarn, along with microfibres, a mix of Endurofil (a proprietary polypropylene) for warmth on the winter sock, nylon and Lycra (Elastane).
The mid-season sock ups the Merino wool content in place of Endurofil, whereas the summer-weight sock forgoes the warming Endurofil yarns in favour of Coolmax to help regulate your foot's temperature when working hard in the heat.
It’s not only the materials that set the Bridgedale socks apart – the brand also claims its socks are designed to have a vibration-damping footbed, Achilles and ankle protection, plus a heel band that offers support and helps give a close fit.
They have an asymmetric foot-specific shape intended to eliminate creasing or bunching and minimise any friction between foot and shoe.
Bridgedale tells us the MTB socks were developed over two years, with the help of a team of 15 amateur mountain bikers.
The socks are available in three weights: summer, mid-season and winter
- Winter weight: £25 / $27.85 / €28
- Mid-season weight: £24 / $25.96 / €26
- Summer weight: £21 / $23.15 / €23
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Muc-Off inflation aids
Muc-Off Big Bore Lite Tubeless Valves
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Muc-Off’s new patent-pending Big Bore valve uses a ball system with an integrated lever to open and close the straight-through bore valve.
Muc-Off claims the Big Bore Lite has up to 230 per cent higher airflow rate than a standard Presta valve. That should make tubeless setup and tyre seating much simpler. Having the integrated lever also means you can fine-tune tyre pressures, even when out on the trail.
Muc-Off says the Big Bore valve eliminates the need for Presta valve internals, which need to be removed to fill with sealant and can clog in use too.
The Big Bore range comes in a Hybrid version that accepts both Schrader and Presta pump heads and is claimed to have a 254 per cent faster airflow than a standard Presta valve. Coming soon is a Ludicrous version, which fits both Presta and Schrader pumps, with a claimed 264 per cent better airflow.
The Big Bore valves are made from 7075 aluminium with a stainless-steel ball valve and Muc-Off says they are fully serviceable using the included spanner.
Our Big Bore Lite test set is large for rim depths up to 38mm and weighs 9.3g per valve.
Hey! Dipstick tool
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Usually, checking your sealant level and condition means unseating the tyre and peeking inside to see if the sealant is still flowing and hasn't turned into a congealed lump.
Muc-Off’s neat Hey! Dipstick is a mini dipstick with a semi-circular blade that has a serrated tip that slides into a Presta valve (with the core removed) to check the sealant level and condition. It’s a potential time saver and means you can check your tyre-sealant condition more often.
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AirMach inflator
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Rechargeable inflators are becoming more common. The original Fumpa design has seen a few challengers from the likes of Flextail, and now Muc-Off has joined the fast-inflating, fast-recharging party.
Designed as a replacement for C02 inflators, the compact AirMach weighs in at only 113.8g and is easily pocket or saddle-pack sized at 60x30x50mm.
Inside is a brushless motor powering the airflow, with Muc-Off claiming a single charge is enough to inflate two tyres up to 100psi in a flash. It recharges via a USB-C port in 25 minutes.
The clever compact design uses the USB-C port as the air intake and a small, recessed button that doubles as a battery-level indicator. The recessed design means it won’t accidentally trigger in your pocket or a crammed saddle pack.
The head is switchable between Presta and Schrader valves, and Muc-Off offers a hose extension (£5) to help fit wheelsets with tighter spaces.
- Big Bore light valves: £40 / $50 / €45
- Hey! Dipstick: £10 / $15 / €12
- AirMach inflator: £90 / $115 / €105
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Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid clothing
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The new Dottore Hybrid range from Italian clothing specialist Q36.5 is the third generation of its collection for high-intensity riding in mid-season and early winter.
I’m not usually a fan of non-black Lycra, but I’m making an exception with the Dottore Hybrid range. I sort of like the light grey/black pseudo-Stormtrooper look here.
The Dottore Hybrid bib tights are constructed using Q36.5’s proprietary UF-Hybrid Shell PLUS fabric, which the brand says is a super high-density woven material augmented for extra warming by a smart fibre on the inside faces (called Heat Fiber).
The material is made from the residue left over from coffee-bean processing and it’s claimed the fibre attracts far infrared rays from the environment and uses them to heat the body. Q36.5 says its tests show an increase of 1ºC compared to the previous-generation bib tights.
The design has also evolved by reducing the number of seams and by using anti-stress panels, with laser-cut finishing. The saddle area uses a highly durable abrasion-resistant Dyneema insert to aid longevity.
The Dottore Hybrid bib shorts came at the request of the Q36.5 pro team for a pair of shorts to use at Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.
The shorts are designed with a woven fabric through the seat and lumbar area, while the legs use a brushed knit fabric to increase warmth and reduce friction, yet still maintain good breathability.
The Dottore Hybrid shorts are designed for early-winter use.
The third-generation Dottore Hybrid jersey is a hybrid between jersey and jacket. The design is said to have been refined thanks to improved body-mapping technology. Three distinct fabrics are employed in its composition.
The signature UF Hybrid fabric is used on the chest and outer arms for wind protection. The inner arms and stomach area use a soft insulating fabric. At the back is a pinstripe woven fabric that provides ventilation. Q36.5 claims version 3.0 of the Dottore jersey will be the most-used item in your winter wardrobe.
The third-generation Dottore Hybrid vest was also the subject of advanced body mapping, with Q36.5 working with its pro team and the Japanese Cycling Federation, conducting months of wind-tunnel studies to evaluate the movement of cold air around the flanks of a cyclist.
The result is the vest now gets the thermal UF shell fabric not only on the front panels, but also wrapping around the flanks of the torso, leaving only an 85mm mesh panel for breathability. Q36.5 has added three mesh pockets to the rear and a laser-cut hem and sleeve openings.
The new Rain Overshoes are minimal at 85g a pair (medium) and ultra-thin. Q36.5 claims that because of the unique double-coated fabric that’s a blend of polyamide, elastane and fully coated with polyurethane, they're waterproof and highly insulating.
Q36.5 also claims this new material is much more durable than silicone overshoes and, thanks to its ultra-close fit and thin high-stretch material, it brings aerodynamic advantages too.
The men's clothing range is available in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL, and the women’s specific range in XS, S, M, L.
- Overshoes available in small: 36-39/4-7.5, medium: 40-43/8-10.5, large: 44-47/11-13
- Dottore Hybrid bib tights: £240 / $380 / €280
- Dottore Hybrid bib shorts: £209 / $300 / €220
- Dottore Hybrid Que long-sleeve jersey: £238 / $340 / €250
- Dottore Hybrid Vest: £181 / $260 / €190
- Rain Overshoes: £89.16 / $140 / €100
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