The sun has been shining on BikeRadar HQ, and this week we've ridden exciting new bikes from Rocky Mountain and Lapierre. We started a big old argument about whether bike tech has got boring, and we've learned all about riding with a bun in the oven. Staffers Jack Luke and Reuben Bakker-Dyos somehow survived the Jeroboam 300 gravel challenge, and Specialized announced a new version of its entry-level Allez road bike.
It's almost the weekend, and to get you through the final few hours of the working week, here are 11 shiny new things for you to lust after.
Van Nicholas Skeiron
If tidy titanium titillates, then this beauty from Van Nicholas might be dangerously arousing. The Skeiron is named after the Greek god of the north-west wind, not to be confused with that other Skeiron, a noted robber and expert on turtle husbandry. It’s the brand’s latest, greatest and most advanced frame to date, claiming to be ‘aero optimised’ and offering some lovely design tweaks, such as the fork crown that blends beautifully with the frame.
The finish looks gorgeous, and we particularly like the beautiful cast dropouts. This 57cm bike with Shimano R785 levers, Ultegra Di2 bits and low profile FFWD F3D carbon clinchers weighs 8.8kg.
- Frameset: €2,099 / £1,852 / $2,368 / AU$3,105
- Bike as pictured: €6,934 / £6,119 / $7,822 / AU$10,267
Sven Cycles Pathfinder
Do you like rides long and your bars dorky? Then the Pathfinder from Dorset-based brand Sven will be right up your street. This Reynolds 931 stainless steel adventurer-cum-tourer-cum-mountain-bike sports 650b wheels fitted with 2.2in tyres.
It’s got all the eyelets and bosses you could possibly want, and this 57cm bike weighs 10.6kg built up with SRAM Force components, White Industries cranks and TRP Spyre cable disc brakes.
- Frameset: from £1,600 / $2,042 / AU$2,679
- Complete bike: £4,000 / $5,106 / AU$6,698
Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones
The wearing of headphones while cycling is a bit of a sensitive subject for some, but so-called bone-conduction ’phones offer a solution that might just keep everybody happy. Instead of being inserted into your ears, which naturally blocks out ambient sound, bone conduction transmits sound through your cheekbones, leaving your lugs uncovered.
The Trekz use Bluetooth to pair with your audio device, and claim to offer up to six hours of playback from a single charge.
What do you think, headphone haters?
- £109.99 / $129.95 / AU$199
The Oxford Brush Company bike brush
Need to give your bike the brush-off? This double-ended fiets-fluffer from British bristle specialists the Oxford Brush Company could be just the thing. Aimed at cyclists, motorbikers and car owners alike (as a rim rinser, dontchaknow), this versatile hub scrubber measures 38cm long. Its bristles are horsehair and its handle is beechwood.
- £11.95 / $15 / AU$20
The People’s Poncho Hardy Navy Poncho
Are you a fashionable dandy about town with a strong desire to stay dry? Do you dream of imitating a flying squirrel? The People’s Poncho is your poison. Made from three layers of waterproof polyester, this premium rain cape is a far cry from the disposable items beloved of festival-goers.
It comes with its own pouch and has cycling-specific features, including reflective piping for visibility and handlebar straps to keep you fully covered on the move.
A zipped waterproof pocket gives you easy access to your valuables.
- £50 / $64 / AU$84
Stolen Goat cycling T-shirt
There’s a huge untapped market out there for Godzilla-themed cycling apparel, and Stolen Goat is on it with a design that features the famed building-stomping reptile astride a fat bike. Made from nice soft ringspun cotton, this T-shirt is a little longer than most to make it work better on the bike. It’s one of a range of designs for both ladies and gents.
- From £25 / $32 / AU$42
- Chomp T-shirt (pictured) £30 / $38 / AU$50
Ritchey WCS carbon Bullmoose integrated bar-stem
Back in the day Tom Ritchey developed the original Bullmoose bar to counter the bar slipping in the stem, having had a bit of slippage mid Repack race.We’re largely over these issues these days, thanks to decent stems and textured bars, but why not bring an iconic piece of MTB history back in carbon fibre form?
If you can look past the inability to rotate the bars to fine-tune the position, and the somewhat 90s-inspired 100mm stem length, then you can join BikeRadar’s Jack in the ranks of Bullmoose retro riders.
Keep your eyes peeled for a first look on these bars on the site next week.
- £250 / $260 / AU$TBC
RockShox Pike RCT3
There’s almost too much to mention here, but having had a First Ride on the new Pike in April we actually have one here in the BR office now.New lowers fit up to 2.8in rubber, there’s the new Charger 2 damper and DebonAir air spring for improved feel and control, and the whole thing is in a tidier, stiffer, lighter package. Basically, the Pike just went from being great to being really, really great.
- £825 / $875 / AU$TBC
One Up Components Aluminum Pedal
Who needs a fancy name for a pedal, when Aluminum Pedal will do? (Apologies to UK readers, yes, they spell aluminium wrong.) At least you know what you’re getting (there’s a Composite Pedal too – answers in the comments if you can work out what that is…).With 10 pins per side and a very thin construction (8mm at the leading edges), it should provide plenty of grip for your shoes, but hopefully fewer pedal strikes in the process.
However, what caught our eyes most was the massive bearing by the crank – bigger bearings generally mean more reliability, so we’re intrigued to find out. It’s accessible via a cassette removal tool too, for easy maintenance.
- £TBC / $125 / AU$TBC
SRAM GX Eagle
You’ll have seen the full First Ride release and (hopefully) the rather wonderful First Look video but here is it, in full BR 11 Speed Glory.We figured X1 would be ripe for Eagle treatment, but with bike manufacturers pressing for a more budget 12-speed group from SRAM, they skipped X1 and went straight to GX. We think this was a stellar idea, and with prices as cheap as they are GX Eagle is going to be everywhere this year.
- £425 / $495 / AU$850
Crank Brothers Highline Post
Would it be unfair to say that Crank Brothers kit doesn’t always have the best rep when it comes to reliability? Well, Crank Bros has some big claims with the Highline, and on paper, it certainly sounds like its new dropper could prove reliable.
The sealing comes from Trelleborg, bearings and keys from Igus, cables from Jagwire and the cartridge is a sealed hydraulic unit. The remote also looks smart, and has plenty of adjustment. 160mm, 120mm and 100mm options are available.
Oh, and if it does go kaput, there’s a three-year warranty to keep you sweet.
- £300 / $350 / AU$600
