Best pedals, threaded bottom bracket replacement tips and more

We bring to you this week’s tech news roundup.

Adwitiya Pal

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May 11 2024

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We are finally getting a bit of the sun and spring might be finally upon us. This means, more time in the saddle and, in case you were too busy riding on the gravel, the trails or the mountains, don’t worry about missing any tech news because we’ve got you covered to catch up with all the tech news this week quickly. Including some reviews of cool bikes and a handy read on threaded bottom brackets…

Versatile and comfortable was the verdict for the new Liv Devote

Getting some high praise from Suvi, the Devote is one of the few women-specific gravel bikes available. The Devote Advanced 0 has been made racier and more performance-oriented.

The new improvements come in the form of a full revamp of the geometry to make it more aligned with modern gravel bike trends and internal storage nestled in the downtube and the flip-chip dropouts. The top models also come with the new Contact AeroLight Stem which routes cables from the handlebars below the stem and through the frame.

For more thoughts (mostly good!) on what we had to say about the bike, read the full review: Liv Devote Advanced 0 gravel bike review.

What’s the Life Time Grand Prix all about?

Launched just three years ago, the format and approach of this unique Life Time Grand Prix have created something of a buzz in the USA, mainly due to its eccentric format.

The Life Time Grand Prix is essentially a ‘race within a race’ classification series of gravel and MTB biking, with seven races, 60 riders (30 men and 30 women) and a $300,000 prize purse. The first one took place in Sea Otter, California this year in April, and the next races are scheduled throughout the year until October across different parts of the USA.

To read more about this unique, interesting and brand-new race, click here: Life Time Grand Prix - everything you need to know about the series with the biggest purse in off-road racing

We reviewed the super-comfortable, but a bit pricey 3T Extrema Italia gravel bike

3T believes the Extrema Italia is its most capable gravel bike yet. Aaron agreed in his review, saying it was one of the most complete, comfortable and competent gravel bikes he’s ever rode — that’s high praise!

It’s designed around 50-57mm tyres and 700c wheels and optimised upwards with a head angle of 70.5-degrees. Although it’s not as light as the racier options available, coming in just over 10kgs.

Click here for the full review: 3T Extrema Italia gravel bike review

Our guide to the best mountain bike pedals

Pedals are one of the most important decisions when picking out a new mountain bike or even looking for a new upgrade on your current gear. So we’ve come up with a guide to help your decision, whether you’re after a trail, XC, enduro, gravel or downhill pedal.

Some highlights in the list include the Look X Track EnRage, Hope Union, Time Special and the Crankbrothers Mallet. You can check out the full buyer’s guide here: Best mountain bike pedals 2024 - the best options from XC to Enduro.

Get some excellent puncture performance from the WTB TCS Rocket Tyre Plug Kit

The smart black WTB TCS Rocket Tyre Plug Kit is a black 84mm-long capsule with removable caps at either end, one large and one small. It features an adjustable depth Rocket launcher with small and large Rocket Anchors, and 15 plugs.

Despite the £50 price tag, Patrick thought that, for the amount of plugs and the puncture protection, it would make for a worthwhile purchase. In fact, according to him, it has all the ingredients to be one of the best tubeless tyre repair kits available.

Our handy guide to replacing a threaded bottom bracket

Yes, we know how daunting of a task it can be to replace the bottom bracket — one of the hardest working bearings on your bike. While it’s responsible for keeping your pedalling smooth and taking the brunt of any impact as you ride over uneven terrain, as with any bearings, it can and will wear out over time, especially if you ride predominantly in the wet.

We’re covering all the bases so you’re never again afraid of how to change this crucial piece in your bike – from figuring out when to replace your bottom bracket and which bottom bracket you need to the tools and the step-by-step instructions.

Click here to become a pro at changing your threaded bottom bracket: How to replace and upgrade your threaded bottom bracket.