Love is in the air. Valentine's Day is a big one for plenty of reasons, but confessing your undying love for another person on our planet is the biggest.
For cyclists – whether that's mountain bikers, roadies or gravel riders, or any permutation of our beautiful two-wheeled passion – it can mean something a little different.
The confessions of love are the same but rather than to a specific person, they're focused on the beautiful carbon tubing, high-tech components or amazing handling of your one true love; your bike.
This confession of love came a few days early from me, for Santa Cruz's Vala eMTB. Entranced by its balanced handling, impossible-to-upgrade spec list and great motor, I confessed to all that it's the best bike I've ever ridden.
Of course, the week on BikeRadar hasn't just been about me and my love for a bike, we've had plenty of banging content from my delightful colleagues.
Jack aired his difficult relationship with handlebar width and geometry, saying he's been struggling to find the perfect model. Opening up suggestions to the floor, he's put it to you – our dear readers – to help him find his true love.
MBUK magazine – BikeRadar's sibling title – has just relaunched its online merchandise shop, with a load of special MBUK-branded goodies to wear, drink out of or hang keys from, among other things. Take a look if you fancy some reasonably priced, well-made MBUK swag.
Warren Rossiter spotted a Classified patent on the web, indicating the brand is investigating self-charging shifting and solar-powered brakes.
In the world of leaks, Nick Clark brought us a story that shows off what he thinks is Shimano's next-gen Di2 XTR groupset. Details are scant, but the new group looks close to production.
And without further ado, keep reading to see this week's hottest products to pass over BikeRadar's virtual desks.
ENVE M8 wheels
ENVE's latest M8 wheelset – designed for enduro riding – is made from a high-tech carbon construction with an undeniably beautiful finish.
But the glossy black exterior hides a host of under-the-hood improvements over the wheels these replace.
According to ENVE, the M8 wheels are up to 76 per cent more compliant than their predecessors, but also boast 20 per cent more impact resistance.
For the average rider, that means they should feel smoother on rough trails, and withstand more bangs and bashes before getting damaged.
But that extra strength doesn't come with a weight penalty.
A set of 29in wheels weighs 2,010g – only marginally heavier than DT Swiss's equivalently priced (£2,349.98) EXC 1200 wheels, which weigh 1,814g.
That's a winner given they cost the princely sum of £2,500 / $2,300. Yikes.
They are backed with a five-year warranty and are covered for incidental damage, so if they get broken when you're riding, ENVE will replace them.
Thanks to a hookless rim design, ENVE claims the M8 hoops can reduce pinch-flat punctures by up to 50 per cent compared to a traditional hooked rim.
With a wider rim profile, the rear one offers more puncture protection than the front's skinnier profile.
But that's not the only difference between the two. The front wheel has been built to be smoother-feeling, while the rear is tougher and stiffer.
The rims are built to ENVE's Innerdrive hubs, which use J-bend spokes.
These have a ratchet-style freehub with inter-changeable 40, 60, 80 and 100-teeth ratchets, depending on how quickly you want your freehub to engage.
- £2,500 / $2,300
Fox Speedframe RS Paranoid helmet
Fox's all-new Speedframe RS helmet – which sits above the Speedframe and Speedframe Pro in the new range – is the safest lid currently on the market, according to Viriginia Tech's independent testing.
But this range-topper isn't cheap at £224.99 / $279.95.
Exclusive to the new lid, according to Fox, is the MIPS Integra Split system.
This uses two types of foam with different densities, separated by a 'Low Friction Layer' to help dissipate and absorb rotational forces in the event of an impact.
This functions similarly to the MIPS Spherical design, where the lid's protection can be thought of as a ball-and-socket style joint.
The retention cradle uses a Boa ratchet to adjust fit and the chin straps are fixed with a Fidlock Snap clip.
The visor is adjustable, and is claimed to be compatible with both glasses and goggles.
There's also a dedicated storage system on the front of the lid for your specs.
It's available in three sizes – small (51-55cm), medium (55-59cm) and large (59-63cm).
- £224.99 / $279.95
OneUp Components Clip Pedals
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Said to be only 26.8mm thick, OneUp claims boldly that its first pair of MTB clip pedals are the thinnest on the market.
But if you're counting only the pedal's body, they're even thinner at 14.4mm.
This combines with an 80mm-wide and 90mm-long platform, which is as big as some flat pedals, with four removable pins per side.
With five degrees of float and a 12-degree release angle, the clip mechanism is compatible with SPD cleats, and 1mm cleat spacers are included.
Release tension is adjustable, too.
The chro-mo steel axle spins on three cartridge bearings and a single igus-branded bushing.
True to OneUp's other products, they're available in a range of bright colours to match your bike.
- £142.99 / $159.99
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