Vitus's E-Mythique, Peaty's HoldFast and fresh clothing from YT Industries

The top tech to come into the office along with the best stories

Liam Mercer

Aug 18 2023

This week's Five Cool Things takes kit from all corners of the off-road cycling universe with what looks to be one of the least expensive e-MTBs on the market, along with some uber-fashionable grips and bar tape which some may consider micro upgrades. On top of all that, there's Peaty's latest release and some fresh threads from YT Industries.

But we can't go anywhere without highlighting the best stories of the week, and with the UCI Cycling World Championships coming to a close last weekend, it's proved to be a fantastic time for British cycling. Of course, part of that success has come in the form of Tom Pidock's win, where he made up over 30 places to pass the GOAT, Nino Schurter, and bag a historic win.

Off the back of the race, we raised the question, 'Do technical courses make for better cross-country racing?' where we explore the ever more demanding tracks of modern XC to ascertain whether or not it makes for entertaining viewing.

On top of that, we've had a raft of reviews hit the site, starting with Pirelli's latest Scorpion Race Enduro M tyre that's received a respectable four stars for its velcro-like grip and excellent casing. We also review Vitus's £2,100 Mythique 27 VRX, scoring a whopping four and a half stars for its excellent price-to-performance ratio. At the other end of the scale, we've tested the Bell Full-10, the most expensive helmet on the market at £580.

Peaty's HoldFast Trail Tool Wrap

£35

The latest product to hit Peaty's range is the HoldFast Trail Tool Wrap and it's a cool little wrap that's designed to carry the essentials on your bike. Using a modular design, where the strap stays on your frame, making the wrap easily removable, it offers quick access to its insides, and it's built from a waterproof material complete with welded seams.

On the interior of the wrap, there's a zipped pocket and it comes with a reflective print to boost visibility while riding in the dark. Finally, the HoldFast Trail Tool Wrap is available in three colours, Nightrider Black, Slate Grey and Moss Green.

peatys.co.uk

ODI Vans v2.1 MTB Lock On Grips

£30

Keeping up with the theme of fresh goods, these are ODI's latest grips with the two California-based brands collaborating once again. These grips get an updated design that uses the classic Vans waffle tread pattern which is built using ODI's soft compound TPE material. Further updates come in the form of ODI's latest v2.1 clamp which is narrower to offer more grip space without sacrificing clamping security.

Measuring in at 135mm in width there are six colours available.

www.odigrips.com

Vitus E-Mythique LT VR e-MTB

£3,300

Released last week, Vitus's brand new E-Mythique LT looks set to make waves in the e-MTB space as this VR model is priced at just £3,300, making it one of the least expensive performance e-mountain bikes on the market. It does that by employing a Bafang motor, which is the first time we've seen such a motor from a big mountain bike brand. However, Vitus has worked very closely with the drive system manufacturer to tune it to Vitus's needs.

As such, it gets five power modes offering up to a hefty 95Nm of torque to summon 400% assistance. That motor is then paired with a 630Wh battery.

At a glance, you may notice that it looks very similar to the E-Sommet and you would be correct as it uses the very same geometry as seen on its pricier sibling, as well as the mullet wheel size. Bringing the price down further is an all-killer, no-filler build kit featuring an SR Suntour Zeron36 fork paired with a RockShox Deluxe R shock and there's a Microshift Advent X 1x10 drivetrain. As for suspension travel, this model gets 160mm at both ends.

If you've missed it, be sure to check out our Vitus E-Mythique LT VR first ride review.

vitusbikes.com

Lizard Skins DSP Bar Tape V2

£38

Lizard Skins' DSP Bar Tape is set to be ideal for gravel riding as it comes in four thicknesses right from racy 1.8mm for those who prioritise weight savings through to fat 4.6mm tape to achieve maximum comfort. The V2 tape comes with an updated pattern design which is more technical, offering multiple layers of depth. There's also a new polymer and a screw-in bar plug for a tidy finish.

www.lizardskins.com

YT Industries Gravity and Trail bottoms

£80 - £110

A couple of weeks ago YT Industries expanded its Performance Wear range to include a full range of shorts and trousers and we've got them on test. The shorts and trousers come in two models, Gravity and Trail to suit to rigors of both styles of riding.

Though, what's cool is that even though it's YT's own brand kit, it's not just any off-the-shelf kit and it's been designed, tested, and approved by the YT Mob. The Gravity bottoms are built with a Cordura Ripstop material with a DWR-coated four-way stretch construction. There are stretchy inserts at the ankles to form a tapered shape and there's a combination of a ratchet system and velcro wait adjusters to close them up.

The Trail bottoms are built with a lighter construction but still use the Cordura fabric. They're sorted with pre-shaped knees and there's a four-way stretch material that's coated with a DWR treatment.

www.yt-industries.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.