So, how was the first week of summer? Yes, the clocks have changed in the UK and slowly, and hopefully, things are returning towards what was once normal – and we're thankful for that here at BikeRadar!
And with sunnier times starting to peek from behind the clouds, we've updated our guide on how to get out riding with kids and have refreshed our buyer's guide to women's bikes too.
If you're new to cycling and are thinking about heading out in the nicer weather on a road bike for the first time, it might be worth checking out our tips on how to plan your first ride road.
Alternatively, if you're looking to take a screen break indoors this weekend, the latest episode of our BikeRadar Meets podcast talks to Luisa Grappone, product engineering manager at Hunt wheels. Luisa is an aerodynamics and composite materials expert and has worked on Boeing’s 787 programme, and at 3T and Campagnolo, before joining Hunt in 2017.
When it comes to reviews, Matthew's had his hands on a rather lovely looking Moots Routt gravel bike and Alex has been giving TRP's DH-R EVO brakes a good squeeze. Meanwhile, in long-term bike land, Simon has been spending more time on his Giant TCR.
Alpina RAM HR HVLM+
Alpina says that its RAM sunglasses are designed for enduro mountain biking, but we reckon they'll work well across the cycling spectrum. The RAM family comes in both full and half-frame versions, as we have here.
Though the name isn't particularly snappy, this top-spec version of the RAM comes with a photochromic lens that changes its tint depending on light conditions. The lens has a mirrored finish to reduce glare and UV light transmission, while the colour of the tint itself is designed to improve contrast on the trail (or road).
You can't see it (unless it's not working properly), but the lens has an anti-fog treatment as well as a hydrophobic coating, which should mean that water droplets are more likely to bead up and roll off while you're riding.
The lens is fairly flat through its vertical plane and isn't the most curved horizontally either, however optics are good. The plastic frame is light and the little rubber tips at the end of the arms boost comfort during long rides.
100% Accuri2
The Accuri2 is the latest goggle from 100% and sits in the middle of its range between the Racecraft2 and the Strata2.
The big news with the update is a 17.5 per cent increase in the vertical depth of vision afforded by the goggles. The semi-flexible frame allows for an easy swap of lenses, with various being offered by 100%. Handily, the lens shape is the same as the Racecraft2 and Strata2, so there's cross-compatibility there (and presumably cost-savings for 100%).
The frames are held in place by a 45mm deep strap that comes with two silicone strips to grip your helmet. It supports triple post tear-offs for the racers among you, and the thick, triple-layer foam around the frame should soak up sweat well if you get pretty hot when riding.
Heavy nose breathers will appreciate the extra contouring around the nose, which hopefully won't constrict breathing too much, and all the lenses on offer have fog-prevention coatings. Plenty of frame colour and lens options are available.
- £49.99–£59.99 / $45–$55
- Buy direct from 100percent.com
Canyon S14 VCLS 2.0 seatpost
Is the back of your bike too harsh? While my long-term Lauf True Grit isn't the harshest bike in the world, its racy attitude, arguably limited rear tyre clearance and super-smooth front end meant my little tush was getting a bit more beaten than I'd have liked on longer rides.
The S14 VCLS 2.0 seatpost from Canyon uses a pair of semi-circular tubes that are designed to flex more than a normal post to give me plenty of extra comfort at the back, and Canyon says there's up to 20mm of travel!
Setting the post up was a little tricker than usual because the relative position of the two halves dictates the saddle angle – I needed to fit, remove, adjust and re-fit it a couple of times to get it right. However, once set there's no reason to adjust it again, normally.
The head gives two layback positions (- 2 or -10mm) and it measures 245mm long and weighs 242g on my scales. It comes in a 27.2mm diameter and is set to work with standard 7 x 7mm or 7 x 9mm (non-carbon) saddle rails. There's a 100kg weight limit.
- £259.95 (or £229.95 with purchase of a Canyon bike) + £9.99 shipping / €249.95 (or €224.95 with purchase of a Canyon bike) + free shipping
- Buy direct from canyon.com
Fox Car Seat Cover
If you've got the nattiest of kit and want your motor to look the part too, other than the obligatory VW T6 you're going to need this seat cover from Fox.
We jest, but products like this make a lot of sense for the average mountain biker (T6 or not). While we're almost certainly going to get changed after a ride in the depths of winter, when the weather is a little more friendly we might just jump in wearing our trail shorts.
A removable seat cover stops your vehicle's upholstery from getting dirt ground right into its fabric, meaning your vehicle should remain in ship-shape condition for years to come. If you lease your vehicle, keeping the fabric in decent nick could save you plenty of cash when it's time to swap your car or van for a new one, too.
The neoprene material has a little stretch to it and hooks easily over the headrest of the car seat, while two long, adjustable clipped straps secure it to your seats – so far, mine has behaved itself while getting in and out of my van.
- Buy direct from foxracing.com
Juice Lubes Tyre Juice
There are plenty of sealants out there, and most recently I've been squirting Juice Lubes' Tyre Juice into my rubber.
Since its launch, it's become thinner in its viscosity to help it coat the inside of tyres more easily, and it comes with little particles in the ammonia-free solution to help clog holes up to 7mm in diameter, apparently!
Juice Lubes says that the ammonia-free, synthetic latex solution has fewer allergens, is easy to clean away with water, and shouldn't ball-up or dry out, meaning it should have a much longer lifespan in your tyres than some others.
If you need a quick fill-me-up, then the 140ml pouch should do a pair of MTB tyres, while the 500ml bottle may be more use in your garage if you swap tyres from time to time.
Should you be a serial tyre swapper (or, more likely, work in a shop) the 5-litre container with a pump-action applicator might be more up your street.
- 140ml: £5.99
- 500ml: £14.99
- 5-litre: £89.99
- Buy direct from juicelubes.com
