Hunt's Proven XC wheelset, Merida's latest e-mountain bikes, Prestacycle's new multi-tool and cold weather gloves from TLD
Five Cool Things is back!
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Five Cool Things is back – and we've got some seriously cool kit to show off.
This week's five cool things and the top stories of the week!
We take a look at the best coffee table literature as well as this week's hottest products.
This week's Five Cool Things and the best stories.
After a small Christmas break to recharge, Five Cool Things is back for 2025 and, in this year's first edition, we're not holding back. We've got Hunt's top-end cross-country carbon wheelset, Merida's latest e-mountain bikes and fresh gloves from Troy Lee Designs. Wrapping things up, there's also a very neat tool from Prestacycle, but first, let's take a look at the week's top stories.
- 11 mountain bike things you think you need... But probably don't
- 7 best mountain and gravel bike upgrades for less than £50
- The best hip packs you can buy for MTB and gravel - tried, tested and reviewed
It's still mighty cold out there so we've been refreshing our winter cycling guides to offer you the best advice on staying warm, dry, and rubber side down through the harshest conditions of the year. In winter mountain biking - your guide to riding in the cold, we cover every type of product you can buy to make your winter riding more comfortable while presenting the pros and cons of each. As for winter cycling clothing, we focus only on the wearables to keep you toasty. We also cover all of the facets of winter bicycle maintenance.
A lot has been going on in our features as Lance dives into the realm of shifters, asking the question, which grip shift vs trigger shift is best? Because although grip shifters aren't common, they still pose real advantages. We also look at shorter MTB cranks, exploring their advantages and disadvantages after riding longer cranks for so long.
Despite the industry still ramping up after the Xmas break, there has been some exciting news, especially with OneUp Components pulling the covers on its new Clip Pedal. It uses a slightly modified version of the SPD mechanism to eradicate free play between itself and a cleat but importantly, it's set to be the slimmest pedal in the world.
Finally, Dangerholm's been at it again, creating the coolest e-gravel bike we've seen, the Solace Wasteland. Mad Max-themed, chopper-style steel fork and yes, sawblades for brake rotors.
Hunt Proven XC UD Carbon Spoke MTB 29 Wheelset
£1,599
HUNT Proven Race XC UD Carbon Spoke Wheelset Hero.jpg, by Matthew Page
Claimed to be the lightest and most advanced wheelset in Hunt's range, the Proven Race XC UD Carbon spoke wheelset is exactly what it says on the tin. Complete with UD carbon spokes; these wheels tip the scale at 1,254g. That weight has been achieved by designing a 22mm rim with a 36mm external width. Weight savings have also been made through Hunt's choice of resin and construction methods.
Shaping up as a cross-country wheelset, these get 30mm internal diameters and they're optimised to work with 2.25in up to 2.4in tyres, however, Hunt says that the rims will happily accommodate tyres anywhere from 2.0in and 2.6in in width. The freehub comes in the from of the S-Rapidengage, which provides a speedy two-degree engagement thanks to a three-by-two pawl design.
Ramping up the efficiency is a set of EZO bearings.
Merida eOne-Eighty 900
£7,500
2025 merida e180 hero.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Late last year, Merida unveiled two brand-new electric mountain bikes and the eOne-Eighty is one of them. As its name suggests, the eOne-Eighty is a mega-burly e-MTB equipped with 180mm of travel at either end, making it ideal for heavy hitters and bike-park regulars. Powered by a beefy 800Wh battery (that can be boosted thanks to the PowerMore range extender) is the Bosch Performance Line CX motor rustling up 85Nm of torque.
Every bit of the eOne-Eighty is big – especially the range-topping 900 build. It's equipped with a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork with the Charger 3.1 damper and combined with the RockShox Vivid Air shock in its Ultimate guise. Shifting is provided by Shimano's 11-speed XT Linkglide drivetrain, paired with XT brakes slowing a 220mm rotor up front and a 203mm disc at the rear.
This is a mullet bike as standard with Maxxis tyres: an Assegai up front and a DHR II at the rear, both of which are considerably specified with the Assegai getting a MaxxGrip compound and EXO+ casing whereas the DHR II gets a MaxxTerra rubber and stronger Double Down casing.
Merida eOne-Sixty SL 6000
£6,000
Merida E160SL_1.jpg, by Ty Rutherford
The eOne-Sixty SL is the brand's first lightweight e-MTB. Boasting Bosche's Performance Line CX motor that knocks out 55Nm of torque,, it draws heavy inspiration from the One-Sixty enduro mountain bike. There's 160mm of travel at both ends and it follows the brand's Agilometer sizing concept, so there's a mighty long dropper post. Oh, and that 400Wh battery can be boosted with a 250Wh range extender.
As for the spec, the 6000 build is the entry into the eOne-Sixty SL range that gets Marzocchi suspension with a Z1 at the front and a Bomber Air shock. This bike gets a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain and brakes. The rest of the build is Merida-branded apart from the Maxxis Assegai up front and a DHR II at the rear.
Troy Lee Designs Swelter Pro and Swelter Plus gloves
£60 - £70
2025 tld gloves 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Not one, but two winter gloves from Troy Lee Designs and both do things in their own way. The Swelter Pro gloves are thin and designed towards weather resistance rather than all-out insulation. They're built with a softshell ripstop fabric with an extended cuff and articulated fit to fend off weather rather than encourage airflow. The Swelter Pros are complete with a DWR coating, too.
As for the Swelter Plus', TLD says they provide warmth and protection when riding an e-bike. These get thicker PrimaLoft insulation, ripstop fabric and a DWR coating. There's a neoprene cuff and stealth closure and the whole palm has a micro-silicone print for grip.
Prestacycle T-Ratchet Pro Set
£32
2025 prestacycle 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Prestacycle's latest tool takes the humble Allen key and pushes the boat out. It's a t-handle-type Allen key that's rather common among mechanics' toolboxes, but this one features a ratcheting mechanism to further boost ergonomics. The brand says it's rated to withstand up to 60Nm of force, so it can even remove pedals.
Prestacycle states that it's a workshop tool, so there's no carrying pouch but its bits are housed within neat rubber holders that help keep things organised. The tool's extension is textured, too, which can really come in handy when initially screwing bolts in place.
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