The new Specialized Recons and Quoc's latest Gran Tourer XC Lace

Plus this week's top stories.

Liam Mercer

Apr 5 2024

This week has been hot on the shoe launches with Specialized revamping its Recon shoe range, and Quoc bringing a more budget friendly version of its Gran Tourer XC. We've managed to wrangle both for test so in this week's Five Cool Things, we'll take a look at what those shoes are all about, as well as check out Fox's knee guards, more shoes from Northwave and a brand-new mudguard from Muckynuts which looks ideal for the UK's current conditions.

But before diving into the good stuff, let's take a look back at this week's top stories. Despite the 2024 Cape Epic being done and dusted, our Dino has still been pumping out the bike checks. First, we took a deep dive into Ila's Stow's Liv Pique and then got a tour around Lukas Baum's Orbea Oiz.

Then, to catch up with RockShox's latest releases, we've brought you an updated guide on RockShox rear shocks for 2024. Speaking of guides, we gathered the best mountain bike goggles we've tested, as well as the best mountain bike brakes.

As for reviews, we gave our impressions of OneUp Components 70cc EDC Pump, awarding it a very respectable four and a half stars as not only is it a very handy method of carrying extra kit but it's also a stellar and lightweight pump. Our Matt also gave us his views on the Fox Crossframe Pro helmet which comes as a first for the brand as it's a helmet that's designed for cross-country and gravel riding.

Specialized Recon 3.0 shoe

£210

The updated Specialized Recon shoes borrow elements from S-Works Recon but balance stiffness and comfort with a special focus on improved walkability. The improved comfort is a result of the brand's new Stride technology, which comprises a flexible outsole and upper. There are three models in the range: the Recon 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0, which meet specific price points.

The Recon 1.0 is the most affordable shoe in the range and will set you back £100. Built around the notion of commuting and mixed gravel adventures, the shoe uses a road-inspired design complete with a nylon-injected sole plate and a single L6 Boa dial. It weighs just 291g per shoe.

One model up is the £165 Recon 2.0, which gets a Li2 Boa retention, a stabilising Velcro strap and a comprehensive off-road tread design. They weigh 307g per shoe and will find favour with those who enjoy mixing up their riding with the odd gravel race.

The Recon 3.0 is closely related to the S-Works variant and subsequently gets similar racy touches including twin Li2 Boa dials, a carbon plate sole, laser-cut perforations for improved ventilation and a seamless upper, the result of which has boosted the total system weight to 345g per shoe. The Recon 3.0 is the most versatile option in the range and can double up as both an everyday or racing option.

specialized.com

Quoc Gran Tourer XC Lace

£220

Second in what's shaping up to be a shoe special is Quoc's Gran Tourer XC Lace. This shoe takes everything found on the pricier Gran Tourer XC and graces it with a lace closure, which drops the price by £20. This prioce point will be appreciated by those who are after Quoc's high-quality footwear but need to be tight on the purse strings.

Although cheaper, the lace closure brings greater reliability but the shoe gets the very same carbon composite outsole found on the original Gran Tourer XC as well as a TPU tread both of which blend efficiency with comfort, and grip when walking. A toe cap then adds durability as well as a hint of protection.

The heel is cushioned and there's a selection of arch inserts to boost comfort even further. There are two colours on offer: pictured here we've got the shoe in its Chalk livery.

quoc.cc

Northwave Rebel 3 Epic Series

£189

And third in this week's shoe roundup is Northwaves Rebel 3 Epic Series which fits in very nicely with the Cape Epic theme that's run across the site for the past couple of weeks. Northwave acknowledges that the Epic Series is an incredible challenge and the Rebel 3 Epic Series shoes have been designed in collaboration between Northwave and marathon racers.

With that in mind, these shoes are designed to be rugged enough to take on the many lengthy stages that come part and parcel of an Epic event. The shoe's features come in the form of Northwave's SLW3 closure which is the only dial that comes with a step-by-step and a full release in a single button, so there's a lot of adjustability on offer here. The shoe benefits from a Carbon XC 12 sole that sits at a 12 on the brand's stiffness index and there are TPU inserts at specific areas of the shoe for traction and wear resistance.

www.northwave.com

Fox Launch D3O Knee Pads

£85

Next up, taking a more trail and gravity angle, is Fox's Launch D3O Knee Pads. These use a slip-on construction combined with a pair of Velcro straps for security. They then employ D3O inserts to combine all-day comfort with CE certified protection. Around the D3O insert are then four foam pads to up protection around the knee.

As for the fit, it's pre-curved for the riding position and it's built with perforated neoprene to encourage a bit of airflow. Fox also says that these pads use a moisture-wicking fabric.

foxracing.co.uk

Mucky Nutz MugGuard Rear

£38

Even though it's spring, it's still seriously wet out there so mudguards are still a must. And, while rear mudguards aren't commonplace, Mucky Nutz looks set to change that with its easily fitted and adjustable MugGuard Rear. In one guard, it offers two lengths thanks to an included extension. In its small guise, it's built to protect the rear shock, pivot hardware and your calves from getting covered in filth. The extension can be added when things get properly muddy, offering protection for your back.

What's cool about this particular guard is that it uses an interesting dial feature that allows the guard portion to rotate and adjust to your rear tyre and your bike's seat stays. Because of that and its size, the MugGuard rear can fit tyres up to three inches wide. The attachment arms that are Velcroed to a bike's seat stays are sorted with rubber bases too, so it shouldn't harm your bike's paintwork.

The MugGuard is made using 100 per cent recycled plastic and the reusable velcro fasteners reduce the use of single-use plastics.

muckynutz.com

Author block

Liam Mercer

Since beginning his mountain biking career while working as a resort photographer in Greece in 2014, Liam became a freelance contributor at off.road.cc in 2019. From there, he’s climbed the journalism job ladder from staff writer to deputy technical editor, now finding his place as technical editor.

Partial to the odd enduro race, heart rate-raising efforts on slim-tyred cross-country bikes, hell-for-leather e-MTB blasts or even casual gravel jaunts, there’s not a corner of off-road cycling where Liam fears to tread. With more than 40 bike reviews under his belt and hundreds more on MTB, e-MTB and gravel parts and accessories, Liam’s expertise continues to be cemented and respected by the industry.