Canyon’s Exceed gets new colours and models, and Cannondale adds to its premium collection
Our round-up of the very best tech stories of the week
Fresh paint jobs, new clothing and bike upgrades can best describe one of the busiest weeks in the world of off-road cycling. Canyon’s cross-country steed, the Exceed, received new colours and a budget-friendly model and a slinky gravel-inspired speed suit was unveiled by Nopinz. Shimano’s direct-mount derailleur concept has also just hit patent listing while Cannondale topped up its Lab71 range with the Topstone.
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Canyon Exceed gets a fresh look
2023 canyon exceed riding.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Canyon’s cross-country bike, the Exceed, has all the pro-level qualities of a winning machine with a perfect blend of weight, power, agility and geometry. And now the brand has upped the ante with new models carrying some impressive upgrades. The CF SLX utilises the same construction as always but with a Fox 23 Step-Cast fork, a carbon cockpit and wireless SRAM GX Eagle shifting. More importantly, dropping the price from £4,500 to £1,600 is thanks to the new Exceed CF 4. This new model has a frame weight of 1,312g, RockShox Recon Silver RL 32 fork, SRAM SX shifting, Shimano MT200 brakes and Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres.
Aerodynamic speedsuit with cargo pockets by Nopinz
2023 Nopinz Pro-1 Gravel speedsuit men's, by Nopinz
Devon-based clothing brand Nopinz has launched its first ever gravel-specific garment for those who enjoy riding fast on dirt.
Designed with the progression of gravel racing at the forefront, the new suit provides aerodynamic performance, premium materials, durability and function to suit the demands of competitive gravel racing. Details such as crash ‘guard’ panels on the hips and large mesh rear pockets with two mesh cargo-style pockets on the legs are big selling points for riders that require extra storage. The suit is called the Pro-1 and costs £199.99.
Shimano joins the direct mount mech game
2023 shimano direct mech.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Following SRAM’s latest offering - a derailleur that fits directly onto the bike’s rear axle without needing the hanger, Shimano seems to have followed suit. Shinamo’s version looks wireless with the battery house on the mech. At the moment, it seems there isn't much between the two, except that Shimano’s patent includes a B-tension screw that will allow for more shifting adjustment.
Cannondale Topstone gets the ‘premium’ treatment
2023 cannondale topstone lab71 frameset.jpg, by Liam Mercer
You will stumble across the machines of dreams within Cannondale’s ‘top tier cut above the rest' range - known as the Lab71. With every detail refined and special touches scattered throughout, its Lab71 bikes are designed for pure performance. The claimed 160g weight saving - compared to the standard Topstone's weight - has been achieved by taking a dive into the carbon layup to fine-tune the weight and overall performance, without compromising the Topstone's known toughness and stiffness
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