How often does a mainstream cycling brand do something that different? Okay, they may find a way to make a bike more integrated or lighter, decide to get behind a new cycling sub-discipline (has anyone heard much about downcountry recently?), or add a ‘speed sniffer’.
But, ultimately, these changes feel like finessing a formula rather than making anyone go ‘wow’. Except influencers, of course.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As Alex Evans argued recently, maybe bikes are just great now. Yet, I feel that if we shift our focus to different bikes and aims, we can still see great innovation, even if it’s not on Grand Tour bikes.
Cargo bikes are one example. From once being a niche thing you’d occasionally see couriers riding, they are now used commonly to ferry kids to school, or unbelievably, deliver eggs, at least in my overly middle-class east London enclave.
One bike that launched this week that arguably fits into this category of innovation is the Brompton G Line, the brand’s first off-road folding bike, which it hopes will appeal to a broad audience.
It’s more intriguing than the other bikes released this week, the now-slighty-more-affordable Specialized Stumpjumper 15 and the Santa Cruz Hightower which is… er, more capable than before.
With these thoughts in mind, Will Soffe’s feature on the history of mountain bike innovations made me think. Maybe it’s time we bring back the genuinely inventive. And hey, maybe Ribble has.
Pirelli P Zero Race RS TLR with FSC-certified rubber
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The Pirelli P Zero Race FSC tyre is the world’s first bicycle tyre with rubber certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council.
The certification indicates that the natural rubber used in the tubeless-ready road bike tyre comes from plantations managed to preserve biodiversity and benefit the lives of the local communities and workers.
The tyre was launched earlier this year and is an update to the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR. WorldTour team LidlTrek used the tyre at this year’s Grand Tours.
This tyre is part of Pirelli’s ongoing efforts to develop greener products, having put together its Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy in 2017 and as one of the founding members of the Global Platform for Sustainable Rubber.
Pirelli says it created the first tyre to contain FSC rubber in 2021 before launching FSC-certified tyres for Formula 1 two years later.
The P Zero Race FSC is produced in Pirelli’s Bollat factory in Italy and the brand says all tyres made in the facility will eventually be FSC-approved.
In terms of performance, the tyre is said to focus on perfect grip in any weather conditions; provide excellent handling under braking, accelerating and turning; have low rolling resistance; and reduce weight. What doesn’t it do?
- £86.99
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Smith Triad helmet
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The Smith Triad is a versatile helmet for road, gravel and cross-country mountain biking.
Launched in April, this lid closely followed Smith’s Payroll mountain bike helmet and has the same safety tech.
The Triad combines Zonal Koroyd and MIPS to absorb impacts and rotational forces.
There is also an integrated skeletal structure, to use Smith’s phrasing, which creates a roll cage for strength and further impact protection.
Elsewhere, the VaporFit dial adjustment provides 270 degrees of fit adjustment, while Y-strap dividers keep the straps flat and close to the face.
As an eyewear brand, it’s not a huge surprise that the Triad makes a big deal of integrating with Smith’s optics.
The AirVac ventilation system is said to work with Smith’s sunnies for fog-free lenses and you can store glasses on the helmet in not one, but two locations at the front or rear.
There are 19 vents for airflow and an antimicrobial lining to minimise odours.
Finally, Smith says the helmet weighs 290g in a size medium.
- £169.99 / $190 / €190 / AU$275
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Ultimate USE’s Vybe gravel suspension seatpost and stem
Gravel suspension is a hot topic, with more bikes featuring bump-damping designs and some commentators still wondering why people don’t just ride mountain bikes. It’ll never get old.
Aftermarket gravel suspension forks continue to crop up alongside suspension seatposts and stems, including Ultimate USE’s Vybe seatpost and stem.
Vybe seatpost
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Ultimate USE began life in 1990 and claims to have created the first suspension seatpost in the same year.
Fast forward 34 years and the Ultimate USE Vybe seatpost provides 50mm of tuneable travel to reduce “the effect of terrain on the body allowing energy to be concentrated on the pedals”.
Ultimate USE says the seatpost enables consistent seated pedalling for increased power and comfort.
You can choose between soft, medium and hard suspension based on your weight. There is the option to fine-tune the suspension via a pre-load adjustment screw at the bottom of the post.
The seatpost has a Duro saddle clamp that's said to be simple to adjust for the correct saddle position.
Available in one length and a range of diameters, the aluminium post is 400mm long with 10mm of setback.
- £120 / $132 / €120
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Vybe stem
Said to complete Ultimate USE’s gravel range, the new Vybe stem can allegedly be set up to suit every individual’s riding style and terrain.
It comes with five elastomers that can be switched out to tune feel and feedback.
There are two elastomers in the stem at all times. The same elastomer is used in the upper position at all times, acting as a 'bump stop', while the lower elastomer can be changed based on rider weight or preference.
The stem isn’t listed on Ultimate USE’s website just yet, but it will be available in two lengths, 70mm or 90mm.
- £180
Litelok’s X3 Tactical Mount
Litelok’s incredibly tough X3 lock was one of the stars of our recent bike lock test.
However, one of the downsides to this angle grinder-resistant lock was the lack of a carrying mount. At 2.258kg, the X3 is hefty and although it comes with a pouch to protect the contents of your backpack it is a lot of weight to add to your commuting carry.
Well, Litelok was listening and has added the X3 Tactical Mount (X3TM) to its range, enabling you to carry the X3 on your bike.
The X3TM uses a high-strength glass-reinforced polymer. The threaded adjustable clamping system is lined with soft rubber to protect your bike.
The X3 shackle threads through the body of the mount and you then lock the bolt into place and twist and click the X3 into the mount.
While the X3TM is only compatible with the X3 lock, we wouldn’t be surprised if Litelok adopted a similar design for its X1 model in the future.
- £19.99 / $24.99 / €24.95
