5 cool things from TRP, VAAST, Specialized, ASSOS and Lezyne
We've got more brakes on test along with a magnesium framed bike and more!
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Flat pedals, clipless shoes, a hydration vest and a posh saddle
A brand new full face helmet, the first ever mtb first aid kit and more in this week's 5 cool things
New lids, clipless pedals, pants and grips fresh for testing
Even more new tyres, an interesting looking gravel bike and a carrier
In this week's 5 cool things we've got adventure clothing from Fjällräven and Specialized's collaboration, a pump that should make tubeless installation simpler, along with some brakes made especially for modern trail and e-bikes. There's also a pair of minimalist shorts. Here's a sneak peek at what we've got in for testing.
- The best mountain bike trail and enduro helmets - tried, tested and reviewed
- Buyer's guide to mountain bike and gravel shoes - flat and clipless option
-
How to prepare for your first gravel race - kit, bike setup and training
Lezyne Pressure Overdrive
£150
As great as tubeless tyre technology is, we know all to well that seating a tubeless tyre is never plain sailing. Lezyne's Pressure Overdrive floor pump is designed to make the task easier with its unique chambered design. It comes built with a secondary chamber that can be pressurised and with the flick of a foot-operated lever, it'll release all of that pressure quickly into your tyre, seating it quickly. The pump uses a steel and aluminium construction and an analogue pressure gauge. Its hose is then extra-long and braided with nylon.
ASSOS TRAIL Women's Cargo Shorts
£105
2022 Assos Trail shorts women.jpg, by Liam Mercer
ASSOS saw baggy shorts' tendency to bunch up in weird places and the unnecessary weight caused by zips, fasteners and webbing, and set out to change that. The brand's TRAIL Cargo short is set to show ASSOS' minimalist approach with a cut that's trim to avoid saddle snag, a length that's designed to work well with or without pads and a fabric that flexes as your legs move.
The shorts' lightweight comes from a high-density bi-stretch woven fabric that gets a DWR treatment for a touch of water resistance.
Fjällräven/Specialized Anorak
£265
2022 Specialized-Fjallraven Anorak -5.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Outdoor clothing brand, Fjällräven, has teamed up with Specialized to create a range of adventure cycling kit, including an Anorak. For all intents and purposes, this anorak is Fjällräven's classic jacket but it gets an on-bike fit designed by Specialized to make it ideal for hiking and biking. It's made with a G-1000 Lite fabric combined with a four-way stretch material on the back and lower sections for wind resistance where it's needed. There are reflected details on the articulated sleeves and the jacket benefits from zipped hand pockets, mesh interior pockets and two chest pockets.
TRP Trail EVO brakes
£180 per end
2022 TRP trail evo brakes 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
When designing the Trail EVO brakes, TRP wanted to make a brake system that catered for the needs of modern mountain bikes. That means that the brand had to take faster speeds and the heavier weight of e-bikes into account, along with the extra heat that's generated.
To achieve that goal, these brakes use a 2.3mm thick rotor, increased from 1.8mm which decreases the operating heat by 8% and reduces rotor warping by 47%, says the brand. The Trail EVO brakes also benefit from a new open-top calliper design allowing for easy pad inspection and the lever body has gotten a new design which retains TRP's renowned Aaron Gwin designed lever.
- trpcycling.com
- The best four piston hydraulic brakes you can buy for enduro and trail mountain bikes
VAAST Bikes A/1 Apex 700c
$2,200 (around £1800)
We've seen all bikes made of all of the frame materials, including bamboo but it's rare to find a bike made using magnesium. In for testing is VAAST Bikes' A/1 which comes with a magnesium frame and some pretty bold claims, including higher strength than titanium with comparable weight to carbon fibre. We're told that it's great at absorbing shock too, which sounds ideal for a gravel bike that's shaped to go fast.
This bike comes equipped with 700c wheels but can take up to a 650x50mm tyre if the smaller wheel is more your thing and the frame is internally routed while treated with an anti-corrosion coating to keep that magnesium from reacting with the air.
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