Friday Five-a-side: this week's best new bike gear 28/02/14

Friday Five-a-side: this week's best new bike gear 28/02/14

Featuring Easton, fi'zi:k, Ritchey, Michelin and more

James Huang/Future Publishing

Published: February 28, 2014 at 12:00 pm

The weekend is finally upon us and with it comes another installment of our Friday Five-a-side round up of some the most interesting road cycling and mountain biking gear that has recently landed at BikeRadar HQ. Take a closer look at what we'll be testing in the upcoming weeks and months.

New road cycling gear

Easton EC90 Aero 55 Tubular wheels

Easton says its new EC90 Aero 55 Tubulars are the ultimate 'one wheel' solution
Easton says its new ec90 aero 55 tubulars are the ultimate 'one wheel' solution: easton says its new ec90 aero 55 tubulars are the ultimate 'one wheel' solution - James Huang/Future Publishing

Easton touts its new EC90 Aero 55 Tubular as the ideal 'one wheel' solution for riders and racers seeking a lightweight and aerodynamic wheelset that's still highly manageable in blustery conditions. Easton certainly nails the lightweight portion of that formula, with actual weights of 587g for the front wheel, 766g for the rear, and 141g for the pair of included (internal cam) skewers.

We'll have to wait for some tunnel time to objectively verify Easton's claim that the new 55mm-deep Fantom rim profile is the "fastest 50-60mm wheel on the market" but spring in the Colorado Front Range should give us plenty of opportunity to test the very wide and bluntly shaped rims' handling personality in blustery crosswinds.

Easton's flagship wheels get an all-new Echo hub design too, with extra-wide bearing spacing, improved seals, and angular contact cartridges for increased wheel stiffness and durability relative to the previous R4 SL model.

US$2,400 / £1,799.98 / €2,100

www.eastoncycling.com

fi'zi:k Cyrano R1 handlebar and Cyrano stem

Fi'zi:k has applied its Spine Concept to a new range of road handlebars and stems. This 'Chameleon' version features a semi-anatomic bend with a middle-of-the-road 85mm of reach and 135mm of drop
Fi'zi:k has applied its spine concept to a new range of road handlebars and stems. this 'chameleon' version features a semi-anatomic bend with a middle-of-the-road 85mm of reach and 135mm of drop: fi'zi:k has applied its spine concept to a new range of road handlebars and stems. this 'chameleon' version features a semi-anatomic bend with a middle-of-the-road 85mm of reach and 135mm of drop - James Huang/Future Publishing

fi'zi:k has expanded its Spine Concept philosophy to a new range of road handlebars and stems for 2014. Our Cyrano R1 shoots the gap with its middle-of-the-road Chameleon bend that features 135mm of drop, 85mm of reach and a semi-anatomic curve. Carbon construction keeps the weight of our 40cm (c-c) sample down to just 206g.

The matching Cyrano stem is offered with either a -7-degree or hyper-aggressive -20-degree angle, both with forged aluminium construction and self-aligning Torx-head titanium hardware. The actual weight for our 100mm x -7-degree sample is 123g.

Cyrano R1 handlebar: US$300 / £229.99 / AU$360

Cyrano stem: US$125 / £89.99 / AU$140

www.fizik.it

Gaerne Carbon Speedplay G.Chrono shoes

The Gaerne Carbon Speedplay G.Chrono shoes are built with supple synthetic uppers, dual Boa reels, and ultra-stiff carbon fibre soles
The gaerne carbon speedplay g.chrono shoes are built with supple synthetic uppers, dual boa reels, and ultra-stiff carbon fiber soles: the gaerne carbon speedplay g.chrono shoes are built with supple synthetic uppers, dual boa reels, and ultra-stiff carbon fiber soles - James Huang/Future Publishing

We've noted the tremendous stiffness of Gaerne's full carbon fibre road shoe plates before, and the latest Carbon Speedplay G.Chrono model looks to continue the trend with dual reinforcing ribs that run from the base of the four-plate interface all the way to the replaceable heel tread.

Supple synthetic upper materials, plentiful mesh panels, well shaped footbeds and twin Boa cable reels suggest that the Carbon Speedplay G.Chrono should be comfortable over the long haul, with an even fit across the top of the foot and ample ventilation.

Our size 43 test pair weighs 598g with insoles.

US$450 / £299 / €319

www.gaerne.com

Ritchey WCS Zeta II wheels

The all-new Ritchey WCS Zeta II road wheels feature 17mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible rims and sleek cartridge bearing hubs with hidden spoke flanges
The all-new ritchey wcs zeta ii road wheels feature 17mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible rims and sleek cartridge bearing hubs with hidden spoke flanges: the all-new ritchey wcs zeta ii road wheels feature 17mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible rims and sleek cartridge bearing hubs with hidden spoke flanges - James Huang/Future Publishing

Ritchey's new WCS Zeta II aluminium road clincher wheelset shares little more than a name with its predecessor. The rims are now tubeless-compatible and have grown in width to a healthier 17mm (internal width). They're laced with bladed stainless steel spokes to all-new cartridge bearing hubs with cleverly hidden flanges.

The so-called Phantom Flange design yields an impressively clean and uncluttered appearance, but Ritchey has also cleverly managed to do so while still using conventional J-bend spokes for easy sourcing when replacements are needed. Brass nipples are used to boost long-term durability, but total weight is still just 1,499g (652g front, 847g rear, plus 91g for skewers).

Owners of Ritchey Break-Away or S&S coupler-equipped machines will also find appeal in one particularly neat trick: the freehub body (with the attached cassette) and rear axle can be instantly removed without tools, cutting the width of the wheel roughly in half for easier packing.

We've already got our test set stuffed in a case for our upcoming trip to Taipei. Time for some scooter surfing…

US$949.95 / £610 / €699

www.ritcheylogic.com

Van Dessel Hellafaster frameset

Van Dessel is slowly moving all of its aluminium frame production to the US. The new Hellafaster road frame is built in Portland, Oregon by Zen Fabrication
Van dessel is slowly moving all of its aluminum frame production to the us. the new hellafaster road frame is built in portland, oregon by zen fabrication: van dessel is slowly moving all of its aluminum frame production to the us. the new hellafaster road frame is built in portland, oregon by zen fabrication - James Huang/Future Publishing

Hot off the heels of its made-in-USA Aloominator cyclocross frameset, Van Dessel is now adding a road variant that will also be TIG-welded from custom 6061 aluminium tubing by Zen Fabrication in Portland, Oregon. Features on the new Hellafaster include a tapered head tube, PF30 bottom bracket shell, machined dropouts, offset and slim-profile seat stays, and dual routing for electronic or mechanical drivetrains.

Frame geometry is essentially carried over from Van Dessel's carbon fibre Rivet model but with increased clearance for 28mm tyres. Our early-production test sample came with an Enve Composites 2.0 carbon fork (an upcharge of US$250) but standard Hellafasters will come with a new broad-stance house-brand model.

The actual weight for our totally bare 52cm sample is 1,250g.

US$1,499 / £958 / AU$1,780

www.vandesselsports.com

New mountain biking gear

Michelin Wild Rock'R 2 tyres

Michelin's new Wild Rock'R 2 tires feature a relatively low-profile center tread, burly side knobs, and a dual-ply reinforced casing. Available low-rebound Magi-X dual-compound tread promises excellent traction in dry conditions
Michelin's new wild rock'r 2 tires feature a relatively low-profile center tread, burly side knobs, and a dual-ply reinforced casing. available low-rebound magi-x dual-compound tread promises excellent traction in dry conditions: michelin's new wild rock'r 2 tires feature a relatively low-profile center tread, burly side knobs, and a dual-ply reinforced casing. available low-rebound magi-x dual-compound tread promises excellent traction in dry conditions - James Huang/Future Publishing

Michelin's new enduro-focused Wild Rock'R 2 tyres actually look to live up to the requirements of the burgeoning sport. They have a relatively low-profile and ramped center tread designed to make climbing a little less taxing, burly side knobs and multiple sipes to boost cornering performance on the way down, and a reinforced dual-ply casing built to withstand some serious punishment on dry terrain so that you can actually finish your segment.

Michelin offers the Rock'R 2 in 26, 27.5 (650b), and 29in diameters, all with a true-to-size 2.35in width and in your choice of standard Gum-X or low-rebound Magi-X dual-compound rubber. We received a 27.5 x 2.35in sample of each, which weighed 1,075g and 1,117g.

The BikeRadar UK team have already taken a first ride in on the Wild Rock'R 2s, but the US team now have a set in for long-term testing.

US$99.99 / £102.99

bike.michelin.com

Industry Nine 27.5in Enduro wheels

Industry Nine's revamped Enduro wheelset is built with a 26mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible rim, custom aluminum spokes, and the company's own hubset with an ultra-fast-engaging rear freehub
Industry nine's revamped enduro wheelset is built with a 26mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible rim, custom aluminum spokes, and the company's own hubset with an ultra-fast-engaging rear freehub: industry nine's revamped enduro wheelset is built with a 26mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible rim, custom aluminum spokes, and the company's own hubset with an ultra-fast-engaging rear freehub - James Huang/Future Publishing

Industry Nine has completely revamped its long-running Enduro model with brand-new rims, hubs and spokes. The new tubeless-compatible aluminium rims feature a very generous 26mm inner width to better support high-volume tyres, while the updated hubs slim down and add seals as compared to earlier versions but retain their ultra-speedy 3-degree engagement speed.

Industry Nine's trademark anodised aluminium spokes carry over but even those have been reshaped for improved durability while still supposedly being a bit lighter than before – and of course, they're still offered in a wide range of colours.

Actual weight for our test set is 1,707g, with 142x12mm and 100x15mm through-axle end caps and a SRAM XD driver body.

US$1,210 / £880

www.industrynine.net

Pedro's Pro T/L Torx wrench set

Pedro's Pro T/L Torx Wrench Set features every common size, each with a comfortable molded plastic handle and made in durable S2 tool tool
Pedro's pro t/l torx wrench set features every common size, each with a comfortable molded plastic handle and made in durable s2 tool tool: pedro's pro t/l torx wrench set features every common size, each with a comfortable molded plastic handle and made in durable s2 tool tool - James Huang/Future Publishing

Component makers continue to move away from traditional hex-head hardware to Torx fittings and for serious work, those cheap L-keys that you previously used occasionally just won't cut it. Pedro's Pro T/L Torx wrench set features long lengths for leverage, moulded soft-touch plastic handles for comfort, and heat-treated S2 tool steel for durability. More importantly, each of the wrenches is covered by Pedro's lifetime warranty.

Included in the set are T7, T10, T15, T20, T25, T30, and T40 sizes.

US$65 / £48.03 / €57

www.pedros.com

Smith Optics Forefront helmet

Smith Optics truly pushes the envelope with its new Forefront helmet
Smith optics truly pushes the envelope with its new forefront helmet: smith optics truly pushes the envelope with its new forefront helmet - James Huang/Future Publishing

Smith Optics has truly upended the apple cart with the radical Forefront helmet. Instead of a traditional expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner, the Forefront instead primarily uses a collapsible honeycomb of hollow plastic cells called Koroyd. According to Smith Optics, Koroyd absorbs 30 percent more impact energy than EPS to help reduce the incidence of traumatic brain injuries.

Koroyd's unique form factor should also make for excellent breathability, though perhaps at the cost of flow-through ventilation given the radial layout of the tubes. Smith has packed in the features, too, which include an integrated mount for a GoPro camera or light, an easily adjustable VaporFit retention system, a tilt-adjustable visor, goggle strap guides, and real carbon fibre accents.

Our sized medium sample weighs 331g with visor. And don't fret if orange isn't your thing; Smith Optics offers the Forefront in 10 different colour options.

US$220 / £N/A / €220

www.smithoptics.com/forefront

SwissStop disc brake pads

SwissStop is best known for its road rim brake pads but the company also offers a wide range of disc brake pads in multiple compounds and fitments
SwissStop is best known for its road rim brake pads but the company also offers a wide range of disc brake pads in multiple compounds and fitments: swissstop is best known for its road rim brake pads but the company also offers a wide range of disc brake pads in multiple compounds and fitments - James Huang/Future Publishing

SwissStop is best known for its outstanding rim brake pads for road bikes, but it also offers 32 different styles of disc brake pads in sintered metallic and organic compounds. Certain fitments are even offered in E-bike-specific compounds with a more forgiving friction profile and extra-long wear.

We took delivery of a set of organic-compound Disc 31 pads for a set of persistently squawky Avid X0 Trail brakes and they quietened right down.

Organic compound: US$29.99 / £21.99 / €24.30 / AU$37.95 (per wheel)

Sintered metallic compound: US$33.99 / £24.99 / €28.50 / AU$43.95 (per wheel)

E-bike compound: US$26.99 / £N/A / €21.90 / AU$35.95 (per wheel)

www.swissstop.com