A new Specialized vented lid, eco-friendly bike apparel, Continental gravel tires and a neat tool kit
Another week has passed, but following an incredible Tour de France Women, BikeRadar has continued to circle around, covering the latest news and posting our latest reviews.
On Monday, we brought news of Unno’s refreshed Dash off-road bike and the collaboration you didn’t know you needed between beer makers Corona and State Bicycle Co.
Tuesday saw more mountain biking news, with new coverage from Santa Cruz Nomad and Evil Epocalypse, leading into a Wednesday with the revamped Bird Aeris 9, as well as reviews of the E/1 Rohloff urban e-bike from Vaast and ATAC XC4 off-road pedals from Time.
We were also able to take a peek behind the curtain at the HQ of Italian component brand Miche – and what a joy it was to see a working factory again!
Then Thursday brought Simon von Bromley’s review of the Cervélo S5 aero road bike and a breakdown of the best road bikes you can buy for around £1000 today.
It was also Cycle to Work day in the UK, so we thought as seasoned cycle commuters and updated the BikeRadar guide on cycling to work.
Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 Helmet
The big S recently launched updates to two of its high-performance helmets: the aero Evade 3 and the lightweight Prevail 3.
In particular, the Prevail 3 caught my eye with its neat integration of MIPS technology, while featuring simply cavernous holes for airflow. Perfect for my sweaty brows.
The EPS foam bridges have been removed, replaced with an Air Cage design – essentially, thin aramid cables that run through the main EPS body.
MIPS integration comes in the form of Air Node technology, which effectively combines padding into the mobile rotating inner shell.
According to Specialized, the Mindset Fit System, which includes an occipital base adjustment for optimal cranial fit, as well as a Tri-Fix strap adjustment, makes the Prevail 3 comfortable to wear on a variety of head shapes.
This mid-size model tipped the scales at a svelte 260g, right in the claim of the American brand.
Kostüme Edit: 002 kit overview
British boutique clothing brand Kostüme are on a mission to reduce material waste in their cycling clothing.
It uses recycled materials wherever possible in its clothing, with an emphasis on utility and ride comfort for the wearer.
The brand, created by Ed Bartlett, launches its new season kit in editions, and only manufactures the kit ordered by customers. The result would be less environmental impact on the planet.
Kostüme’s attention to detail is meticulous, yet economical. He only used five fabrics for his original Edit: 001 series (currently available) out of seven pieces, using off-cuts wherever possible – but, says Bartlett, without sacrificing performance.
For example, arm warmers and leg warmers are made from scrap jersey fabric and are thin at the darts to create a seamless overlap with the jersey and shorts.
Clamps are printed everywhere after construction, so there is less wasted silicone left on the factory floor.
Another benefit of the brand’s “small and limited” approach is the ability to iterate designs quickly.
Where major brands will already see their designs mass-produced well over a year in advance, Kostüme is able to make improvements between modifications. In the case of this Edit:002, which is coming soon, a new fabric panel has been added to the cap to increase longevity.
Kostüme is also refreshing about where he can improve and says he continually pushes himself to do so. Its packaging is biodegradable, but it publicly prints its goal of finding better and even more sustainable alternatives for the future.
Well done, we say.
All items are available for shipping to the United States and Europe.
Continental Terra Hardpack Tires
German tire powerhouse Continental launched the Terra Hardpack in May, saying it was an ideal tire for performing on “paved roads, while allowing you to safely traverse gravel sections”.
At 50mm wide, the tire features a flattened midsection with a tile-like tread and more pronounced knobs around the shoulders for extra grip when things get a little loose.
The tire features Continental’s PureGrip compound, which is a tougher, tougher rubber than the BlackChili compound we’re used to seeing on the brand’s racier tyres.
It’s backed by ShieldWall puncture protection, which lines the entire surface of the construction to allow lower pressures to operate.
Additionally, ShieldWall should be a godsend in case you are unlucky enough to encounter side-ripping rocks on your adventure.
Terra Hardpacks are tubeless ready and are compatible with hookless rims up to 73 psi. They are available in sizes 700c and 650b.
- £39.95 / €39.99 / $49.95
Syncros Guide Multi-Tool Kit
It’s not gift-giving season yet, but if you’re shopping early for someone, Syncros’ Guide Multi-Tool Kit might just do the trick.
It incorporates a small 5Nm torque wrench and seven bits, including 3, 4, 5 and 6mm Allen keys, T15, T25 and T30 hex heads, and a PH2 Phillips screwdriver bit.
On top of that, the guide kit includes a chain breaker, a Mavic M7 spoke wrench, six tire patches and two heavy-duty tire levers.
Everything rolls up into a fabric case, which Syncros says makes it perfect for stashing in a jersey pocket or backpack.
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