Hello and welcome to First Look Friday, your weekly round-up of all the latest news, reviews and tech treats keeping us busy at BikeRadar.
We're now 14 days on from the launch of our annual Bike of the Year mega test, and reviews have been dropping on the site all week.
On the road and gravel side of the fence, we published our verdicts on the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Aero, Specialized Allez E5, Ridgeback Arcus 3, Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro and Santa Cruz Stigmata.
The shredders in our audience were treated to a similarly enticing line-up, with the Trek Slash 8, Propain Ekano CF Ultimate and Canyon Spectral CF7 among the contenders to go live.
Away from the Bike of the Year, the big news was the release of Shimano GRX Di2, with Simon von Bromley breaking out the office scales for an in-depth analysis of the new gravel groupset.
Nick Clark cast a quizzical eye over the radical-looking Mornera Daimon saddle, Alex Evans took the new Marin Alpine Trail E electric mountain bike for a spin and we saw the Swytch Go ebike conversion kit go on sale from a mere £299.
With that rapid content refresher served up, it's time to tempt you with a tantalising selection of the latest tech to arrive at BikeRadar HQ. Enjoy!
Challenge Gravine tyres
Italian tyre brand Challenge has a new all-conditions gravel tyre, called the Gravine.
The tread is made up of widely spaced lugs, which are taller than any of the brand’s current options.
The tread is based on Challenge’s all-conditions cyclocross option, the Grifo, although Challenge says it paid particular attention to the shoulder design for cornering control in both muddy and rocky conditions.
The Gravine is made using the brand’s H-TLR construction methodology – it’s handmade and tubeless ready – and is said to use a carefully selected blend of compounds to minimise rolling resistance.
The Gravine is available in 700x40 and 45c sizes, with tanwall and black sidewall variants.
My sample 40mm-wide tyres, in tanwall, weigh 475g each and measure up at 42.2mm set up tubeless on a 24mm-wide (internal) rim.
The Gravines are priced at £83 / $89.99 / €63.85 for the tan-walled ‘Pro’ version, and £88 / $89.99 / €67.95 for the ‘XP’ black version.
- 'Pro' Tan-walled: £83 / $89.99 / €63.85
- 'XP' Black: £88 / $89.99 / €67.95
New Prologo saddle and bar tape
Prologo Nago R4 PAS 3D MES saddle
The catchily titled Prologo Nago R4 PAS 3D MES marks the arrival of the first 3D-printed Nago saddle.
3D-printed saddles have become more popular since Fizik debuted its Adaptive range in 2019, with Specialized following close behind with the Power Mirror in 2020 – and many others since.
Prologo thinks it has a different take on 3D-printed saddle design, though, with the honeycomb patterning combining both dedicated structures (as is usual) and varying material compositions.
The brand claims this gives different levels of compliance and pressure relief from nose to tail.
In total, Prologo says there are 10 sectors within the Nago R4 PAS 3D MES saddle’s padding, exhibiting dedicated patterns, material composition and elasticity.
The new saddle is based on the same shape and sizing as the standard Nago R4 PAS, as used recently by Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas, although I haven’t spotted yet if either has switched to the 3D version on their current Tour of Hungary and Giro D’Italia endeavours.
Our test saddle tips the scales at only 148.9g, making it one of the lightest 3D-printed saddles we’ve seen to date.
- £362 / €416.55 / $382
Prologo Onetouch 3D CPC bar tape
Prologo has adapted its CPC technology, first seen on its saddles, to create the new Onetouch 3D bar tape.
The CPC surfacing takes the form of a rubber-like material with a series of minute chimney-like pillars. The technology has also been used in the brand’s gloves.
The Onetouch 3D tape is claimed to offer superior grip in poor conditions and improve comfort without adding bulk (it's 3.5mm at its thickest).
We’ve already seen the tape used this year in the Classics, on bikes of riders from EF Education-EasyPost, Astana, Bahrain Victorious and UAE Team Emirates.
Prologo says it has previously prototyped CPC-layered bar tape, but it was prohibitively expensive to produce.
It claims a new (and undisclosed) manufacturing technique means the new Onetouch 3D tape can be sold at a similar price to other premium bar tapes, at £43 / €49 / $44, though.
- £43 / €49 / $44
Vallon Watchtower sustainable eyewear
Vallon’s first cycling sunglasses sport the retro-modern styling and muted colours that are so very ‘gravel’ in 2024.
The 1980s-inspired sweep lens and toughened frame certainly look the part.
With the frames made from ‘Nylon 6’, which is produced using 85 per cent recycled fishing nets, Vallon claims every set of Watchtower glasses made results in 1kg of plastic clean-up from the oceans.
A Ripel lens by Zeiss is said to offer high optical clarity, and is shatterproof with a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating.
The Cat 3 lens is available in three tints (Smoke, Copper and Blue) and three frame colours. The Watchtower sunnies are also backed by a lifetime warranty.
- £122 / $159
Vision 5D ACR EVO handlebar
Vision’s new one-piece carbon bar and stem has evolved, with plenty of changes in the shape and dimensions.
There are three width options, two grip size options and a lower stack, with a new forward-facing shift in the shape of the tops.
The wing-shaped top now has a 10-degree forward sweep and a redesigned internal-routing compatible stem section (designed to work with FSA’s ACR system) has dropped 15mm in depth, lowering the stack height to 40mm.
The drops also have a new shape, with a compact 80mm reach and 125mm drop, along with a 5mm outward bend just below the clamp area.
This effectively enables you to use a narrower overall-width bar (centre-to-centre), yet still have a wider hold in the drops.
All options have a -6-degree effective stem angle.
The wing-shaped top comes with either ‘L’ or ‘XL’ depth to suit different hand sizes and there are plenty of options when it comes to effective stem length and width, as follows:
Size XL
- 110mm stem / 440mm bar width
- 120mm stem / 420 or 440mm bar widths
- 130mm stem / 420 or 440mm bar widths
- 140mm stem / 420mm bar width
Size L
- 90mm stem / 380, 400 or 420mm bar widths
- 100mm stem / 380, 400 or 420mm bar widths
- 110mm stem / 400 or 420mm bar widths
- 120mm stem / 400mm bar width
My sample features the XL depth, in a 130mm stem / 440mm width combination. It tips our scales at 436.1g and comes with a selection of 3D-printed spacers to tune the fit for your bike.
The bar is priced at £644.95 / $698 / €698.
- £644.95 / $698 / €698
Pas Normal Studios Mechanism road kit and new Fizik collab
Pas Normal has updated its Mechanism road cycling kit range.
The range has expanded to include jackets, long-sleeve jerseys and gilets, alongside bib shorts and short-sleeve jerseys for men and women.
The range also now includes a Mechanism Pro variant, where the fit is said to be even closer than the already-racy standard Mechanism kit. This uses lighter and more elasticated fabrics, with enhanced UV protection, and employs laser-cut edges and bonded seams where possible.
Not being a racer, I’ve opted for the standard Mechanism range and the stylish understated looks certainly appeal – as does the quality of the materials and fit.
The sleeveless baselayer (£60 / $75 / €65) is available in six colours, men's and women's fits, and is made from an ultralight mesh with plenty of stretch.
The jersey comes in a wide range of colours (13 in all) and has an aerodynamic fit with elbow-length sleeves. It’s made from a lightweight fabric that PAS Normal claims is suitable for temperatures as high as 30ºC.
Three pockets, a full-length zip with a garage, plus a high neckline mean it has the practical features I’d want to see, too.
The jersey is priced at £160 / $200 / €185 in both men's and women's fits.
The bib shorts are available in men's and women's versions, and see a diamond-patterned Lycra on the legs, which is said to offer a compressive fit. Deep elastic grippers keep the shorts in place.
The chamois is said to be built for the rigours of long days in the saddle. The low-profile bib straps are broad and designed to sit flat on the shoulders, while the rear panel is meshed for ventilation.
The Mechanism bib shorts are available in five colours and cost £225 / $280 / €255.
The Stow Away Gilet (£125 / $155 / €140) is designed to be packable and comes in 11 colour options.
It features a two-way zip, stretch mesh panels on its flanks and a slightly dropped tail. Pas Normal says it employs a lightweight nylon fabric made by Japanese brand Toray (the same company that makes carbon fibre for bike and wheelset brands) and features a non-perfluorinated DWR (durable water repellent) coating.
The Stow Away jacket is available in 14 colours, and is made with the same nylon material and DWR treatment as the gilet. This also has a two-way zip and a close-fitting collar, and is positioned as a back-pocket emergency jacket for light rain showers. It’s priced at £175 / $220 / €200.
For increased rain protection there is the Mechanism Rain jacket, available in five colours.
It’s made from a Pertex Shield Air 3-layer construction with bonded seams and internal taping.
It also features a two-way zip, a dropped tail with full-circumference grippers and a soft lining at the collar. The material is noticeably soft-touch, and the jacket has a racy fit. It's priced at £250 / $310 / €280.
For the record, my 6ft 2in / 188cm, 92kg frame is wearing XL kit throughout.
Finally, PAS Normal has collaborated with Fizik to release the Mechanism road shoe. This is based on the Fizik Vento.
The Mechanism shoe has twin Boa dials, a TPU upper and Fizik’s R2 carbon sole. A muted silver laminate finish helps the shoe stand out, with lasered patterning.
The Mechanism road shoe is priced at £390 / $490 / €450, and my set weighs in at 564.2g (size EU45).
- Mechanism sleeveless baselayer: £60 / $75 / €65
- Mechanism s/s jersey: £160 / $200 / €185
- Mechanism bib shorts: £225 / $280 / €255
- Mechanism Stow Away gilet: £125 / $155 / €140
- Mechanism Stow Away jacket: £175 / $220 / €200
- Mechanism rain jacket: £250 / $310 / €280
- Mechanism road shoe: £390 / $490 / €450
