German security and safety specialists Trelock have been in business for over 150 years and they have a sizeable range of bike accessories, including lights and computers. We’ve just received their new handlebar-mounted road/commuter light, the LS 950.
This USB-rechargeable LED headlight features an innovative system called Ecopower Contol. This allows the user to choose between five levels of brightness – from 10 to 70 lux – and uses an LCD display to show the light intensity, battery charge and runtime – so no more running out of juice before you get home. Trelock say a full charge will give between six and 45 hours, depending on brightness. RRP £120.
Elite Pria Pavé bottle cage
Elite, the Italian company renowned for their indoor trainers, also produce workstands, water bottles and bottle cages, and it’s the latter category that the Pria Pavé falls under. Made from fibreglass-reinforced nylon, its USP is a thumbwheel-operated tensioning system that allows you to adjust it for different size bottles, from 70 to 76mm wide.
The tight fit this system provides should also help to keep your bottle in its cage over uneven ground – which is why it takes its name from the infamous cobbles of the Northern Classic road races. RRP £13.99. Claimed weight is 40g.
Catlike D’Lux sunglasses
Spain's Catlike are 15 years old this year and are known for helmets, sunglasses and shoes, among other cycling accessories. The top-end model in their eyewear range, the D’Lux has an adjustable nose bridge to get the right fit and a one-piece replaceable lens.
They can be purchased in a number of combinations, each of which comes with two lenses: Basic (£99.99) – clear and smoked; Blue Blocker (£129.99) – clear and blue blocker (glare reduction) red or silver; Technical Photochromatic (£139.99) – clear and photochromatic.
The Catlike D'Lux, with photochromic lens option
Cobra Tire Tool
The unusually-shaped Cobra Tire Tool is billed as the "world's fastest bike tire tool". The idea is that you hook the curved front end under the bead of the tyre, as normal, but then place the large rear hook over your bike's chainstay. Turning the wheel then removes the tyre from the rim. The Cobra is also said to make it easier to get the tyre back onto the rim.
We haven't tried it out yet but there's a video demo showing how it works. Its makers say the shape of the lever helps to reduce the risk of pinching your new tube and causing further flats. It's available to buy from the Cobra Tire Tool website, via PayPal, for $5.99 per lever.
Santini Crono AirPro
Italian clothing brand Santini are a big name in the professional ranks, producing kit for teams including Katusha and Lampre. They've sent us some gloves and shoe covers from their Crono AirPro range which, as the name suggests, is aimed at riders looking for an aerodynamic advantage.
Italian bike clothing tends to be on the small size, but the medium/large shoe covers were too big for our tester's size 43 feet (UK size 9, USA 10), so size down if you're thinking about buying some. RRPs TBC.
Sugoi RPM shorts
Aimed at the novice looking for a piece of starter kit, the eight-panelled 80/20 percent nylon/spandex RPM shorts are made using Sugoi's new P3 fabric, which they say provides stretch comfort and muscle support. It's available in a choice of seven logo colour schemes, including Rainbow, Olympian and, befitting Sugoi's origins, Canada. RRP £45.
Selle San Marco Arami Arrowhead saddle
New from Italian saddle manufacturers Selle San Marco is the Arami Arrowhead, designed for the sportive rider looking for comfort during all-day riding. Weighing in at a claimed 214g, it has gel padding and a cut-out section that should relieve pressure during extended spells on the bike. Also available in black, RRP TBC.
Ergon PC2-L flat pedal
Germany company Ergon are known for their ergonomic grips, but it's their new PC2-L flat pedal we've just taken delivery of. They say it's the "first flat pedal to provide an ergonomic and positive connection between bike and user" and claim it increases power transfer, allows for more control and leads to fewer knee complaints. Designed for touring and commuting, with a section of skateboard-style grip tape across the centre, it's available now for £54.99 a pair.
Minoura mounts
Two new handlebar mounts from Minoura round off this week's new gear. The iH-100M smart phone holder (£25) weighs 121g and allows you to fit your iPhone or Blackberry (and most other smart phones) to your bar so you can use the in-built GPS for navigation. It comes in two clamp sizes; small (22-29mm) and medium (28-35mm). The VC-100 Le'Korde quick-release camera mount (£15.99) comes in the same sizes (101g small, 105g medium) and is suitable for all compact cameras.
The Minoura Le'Korde VC-100 handlebar camera mount
