More kit from SEIDO, bar tape from SQlab, a jacket from Specialized and some cool Granite Designs kit
And as usual, the best stories of the week
Yet again we've got another five very cool things to show you but this week it comes from Specialized, SEIDO, SQlab, and Granite Design. This plethora of cool cycling tech covers everything from rain jackets, bikepacking essentials through to bike security.
- The best winter mountain bike gloves you can buy - tried and tested
- The best glasses for mountain bike and gravel riding - top glasses reviewed and rated
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The best mountain bike jerseys for men - Men's kit tried and tested
But we can't forget about some of the most interesting stories to grace off.road.cc's home page. Starting off with our new winter mountain biking guide, which outlines everything you need to know about the kit you should use when the temperatures plummet. We've also outlined all of the best international gravel events on this year's calendar, to help you get planning as early as possible.
Speaking of gravel events, organiser Hot Chillee has announced its latest event, the Ekoi Stone Circle. This new event takes riders through the south's Druid history, including some of the must-see sights of the region, with Stone Henge being one of them.
Moving onto our detailed reviews, we've awarded USE Exposure's Zenith MK2 light a very respectable four stars for its high-end build, and excellent beam pattern. However, it is rather costly. We've also reviewed the DMR Defy 35+ stem in its special edition liquid camo colour, as well as Shimano's PD-M540 clipless pedals, so be sure to check those out.
Specialized Men's Trail Rain Jacket
£125
2023 specialized trail rain jacket 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Kicking off this week's five cool things is Specialized Men's Trail Rain Jacket. As you may have guessed, it's a jacket to keep the rider dry when it rains thanks to the use of a 2.5-layer waterproof fabric. This fabric is DWR treated and utilises a waterproof middle membrane along with a .5 print backing layer for comfort.
It's cut specially for use on the bike using Specialized's rider data. This means that it's articulated for the best fit when in the riding position.
SEIDO Cargo Cage
£64
2023 seido fork cages.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Seido's Cargo Cage is built for triple cage mounts and it's made from aluminium. It measures in at 210 x 98mm and is claimed to weigh 249g, and that's with its nylon straps.
It's a simple bit of kit, so unfortunately there's not an awful lot to say, so for this one, I'll leave it to tester Suvi when she comes to review it.
SEIDO Tackle Handlebar
£47
2023 seido handlebar 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Another piece from Seido's component range is the Tackle handlebar. This drop bar is made specifically for gravel riding with a wide 25-degree flare and a choice of 380 up to 440mm widths on offer.
It's Di2 ready and comes with a reach of 77mm and a drop of 128mm. Its 6061-T6 butted aluminium construction tips the scales at a claimed 366g in its 400mm width.
SQlab Handlebar Tape 712
£31.51
2023 sqlab bar tape 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
All good drop handlebars then must be taped and here, we have SQlab's 712 bar tape. Coming from the brand best known for its efforts in ergonomics, this tape is constructed of a special rubber compound with a non-slip diamond texture which should keep the bar grippy in all conditions.
It then comes with what SQlab calls the 'nub' structure which is designed to increase damping. Then, its three rows of knobs act as a reference point for wrapping your handlebar to the desired thickness. And as expected from SQlab, you must measure you hands before wrapping your bar to determine which row of dots you wind the tape towards to offer the best fit for your hands.
Granite Design Stash Airtag Mount
£15
2023 granite design air tag holder.jpg, by Liam Mercer
While at first it doesn't look like much, this is an airtag holder from Granite Designs that's built to attach to the new Stash RT steerer stored multitool. This neat little cradle replaces the Stash's lower cap and sits at the fork crown end of the head tube, keeping your airtag safe but out of immediate view. It also only comes in black to further its covert cause.
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