The big day has arrived. No, that's not First Look Friday, on this occasion.
Not one but two BikeRadar Evanses are getting married tomorrow: myself (Jack) and Alex, of mountain bike repute.
In case you're wondering how our parents will attend two weddings on the same day, we're not related. Credit for that gag goes to Gary Walker. He'll run through the week on BikeRadar as we finish our beauty treatments.
The biggest story to break on the site this week was the unveiling of the new Trek Procaliber, with Nick Clark on hand to fill us in on the details.
We also shared our interview with Josh 'Ratboy' Bryceland who's planning his return to downhill racing.
Elsewhere, Finlay Anderson compared entry-level 12-speed mountain bike drivetrains: SRAM’s SX Eagle and Shimano’s Deore M6100. The following day, we brought you another head-to-head, between Shimano 105 Di2 and Ultegra to help you decide whether the extra outlay for the more premium road groupset is worth your while.
We then rounded up six of the best recovery drinks for cyclists, coupled with an in-depth buyer's guide to cover all your post-ride recovery needs.
After taking a deep dive into the vast and occasionally confusing world of bike tyres, we updated our essential list of the best downhill mountain bikes.
With that rapid refresher of the week's highlights ticked off, let's get on to what we're all here for – bring forth the cycling tech.
power2max Rotor NG G-X power meter
The power2max Rotor NG G-X is one of the few spider-based power meters compatible with Shimano GRX cranks. This is why you'll often see Shimano-sponsored gravel racers using crank-based watt measurers from Stages or 4iiii, or running Dura-Ace road cranksets, which come with power meters.
The advantage of a spider-based power meter, according to the German brand, is they independently measure power output from both legs to an accuracy of +/- 1 per cent, while also recording pedal smoothness.
So far, I haven't subjected that claim to the same scrutiny as my colleague Simon von Bromley does in his reviews. But for now, the numbers the NG G-X is sending to my bike computer seem consistent.
Controversially for some gravelistas, I've added this €990 NG G-X set to my Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 long-term test bike.
Training with power off-road has underlined the stochastic nature of gravel riding. This sees your effort level spike up and down on different surfaces and gradients more than on tarmac. In light of this, I've moved my gravel endurance rides on to smoother and less undulating terrain.
I kept my Shimano GRX 40T single chainring (2x setups are also compatible) while switching to Rotor power2max edition crank arms. power2max says the forged and hollow-drilled aluminium cranks equate to the level of Shimano Ultegra.
Because this crankset fits Shimano Hollowtech II bottom brackets, existing GRX users shouldn't have to switch bearings.
Lake CX302 road cycling shoes
Lake calls the CX302 "the ultimate, lightweight climbing shoe", which doesn't forgo comfort, secure fit or power transfer.
This sounds just what I need as my weight-saving measures become increasingly obsessive at the start of the UK hill climbing season.
And, considering they're size EU46, my test pair are fairly light at 552g (with insoles, without cleats).
Lake is known for its wide cycling shoes and the racy CX302 is quite narrow by the brand's standards. My size-EU46 feet measure 104mm (left) and 107mm (right) wide.
That's not especially girthy. But bike fitter Dan Smith, from UK Bike Fit, recommended the wide-fit version of the CX302, which fits me well.
Costing £300 / $379.99, the CX302 sits at the top end of the road cycling shoe market.
But, at first glance, the shoes incorporate the premium features you'd expect at this price: dual Boa Li2 dials for multidirectional adjustment; a ventilated microfibre outer; a full carbon fibre sole; and replaceable heel bumpers.
Nopinz Pro-1 Evo RR Suit Men's
Nopinz released the new Pro-1 Evo range earlier this year, claiming to have improved ventilation and chamois comfort while maintaining WorldTour-level aero performance.
I called in a Pro-1 Evo RR skinsuit in the colours of my club, Gorilla Coffee Cafe Cycling, so I could race in our polka-dot pattern. 'RR' stands for road racing (an even more snug Speedsuit option is also available).
The Pro-1 Evo RR costs £179.99, which is £100 less than the Hypersonic Speedsuit, Nopinz' "fastest ever TT-suit". I think that's reasonable given the cost of buying the best bib shorts and best cycling jerseys these days.
Quality touches on the racing onesie include a mix of aero fabrics, a silicone gripper band on the legs and arms for a no-flap fit and two rear pockets. I also opted for NoPinz' trademark Speedpockets, which hold your race number without the need for safety pins.
As we know from our own wind tunnel testing, a skinsuit can be a good-value aero upgrade. What's more (or less), the Pro-1 Evo RR weighs 285g in size large. This represents an impressive 100g saving over the jersey and bib shorts combo I raced in last year – I did say I was counting the grams.
At 190cm tall and weighing 75kg, I'd describe the fit of the large suit as snug but not suffocating.
Although not luxuriously padded, the chamois is sufficiently comfortable for riding a few hours out and back to races. Ventilation is also fine for this length of ride in the British summer.
G8 Performance Pro Insoles Series 2620
Following my bike fit, I was also recommended the G8 Performance Pro Insoles Series 2620. These "uniquely customisable" foot beds are a bike fitter's favourite.
When used correctly, cycling insoles can help solve several common cycling injuries by providing better support to your feet. Usually but not exclusively, they reduce foot pain.
GB Performance supplies the Pro Insoles Series 2620 with five different heights of arch support for each shoe. On the back of the insole, there are 11 different positions for the insert. You can move it forwards, backwards and sideways by clipping it into different dots.
Besides improving comfort, G8 claims the Pro Insoles Series 2620 boosts cycling performance by enabling you to transfer power over a wider surface area.
The idea behind the Pro Insoles Series 2620 is to start with the lowest arch insert (L1). You then gradually raise the height while trying different positions until you're more comfortable. But if you have low arches, you might not need to progress beyond L1 or L2, according to G8.
At £108.14 / $142 / €127.66 / AU$211.17, the Pro Insoles Series 2620 costs at least twice as much as other cycling insoles. But most competitors' insoles are designed for one arch height (low, medium or high) and offer no or limited adjustment.
So if you want to experiment with the level of arch support to find comfort and strengthen your feet, G8 Performance could, in effect, give you multiple foot beds for the price of one.
The Pro Insoles Series 2620 are available in different sizes: small (EU37-40), medium (EU41-43), large (EU44-46) and extra-large (EU47-49).
