Another week is done and dusted and this one has flown by for us, we took delivery of a new Verenti Substance gravel bike and editor Jon has been reliving his recent and rather damp adventures in Iceland with the quirky brand Lauf (see their brand new bike here). Back in the office and we've been discussing critical topics such as 'the timing of milk incorporation to tea' and favourite helmet colours, it's all go here.....

We've also unwrapped gear from Kask, Shimano, Funn and Duo so here are the items that will be coming to a review page near you soon. 

Funn G-Wide Handlebars

Think you've already gone as wide as you can go on a drop bar? Think again - Funn have just announced this uber wide drop bar, the G-Wide. The vital stats are 500m across the top and 620mm at the widest point at the tips thanks to a healthy flare. We've got these in to test plus a slightly smaller version in at 480mm width. These giant bars are promising more stability at high speeds and a re-education of the gaps you think you are going to fit through!

• £60 per pair
• Visit www.decade-europe.com

Verenti Substance II

Verenti is the in house brand of retail gargantuan's Wiggle and a brand we'd temporarily forgotten about until a Facebooker asked if we'd give one a test. At first look, the Substance II is an attractive proposition for the relatively small price tag. Verenti have managed to kit this steel gravel bike out with hydraulic SRAM Apex Hydro R stoppers, SRAM single front chainring crankset and Apex1 11spd transmission with a generous 10-42T spread on the cassette all for £1300. You can check out our First Look here.

• £1,300
• Visit - www.wiggle.co.uk

Shimano XC7 Shoes

Autumn is approaching and as we are expecting a fair amount of gravel bashing to be coming our way these Shimano XC7's look to be just the shoe for the job. They close using the Boa dial system and have a carbon sole so we can rely on eeking out as much performance from our legs as possible. We weighed them to be 543g in a size 39 without cleats. They also come in a glossy red if you are feeling snazzy. 

• £140
• Go to www.shimano-lifestylegear.com for more

Gemini Duo Light Set

Up until now we've been in slight denial about the state of play of the seasons but we can't avoid it any longer. The nights are drawing in and aside from cold weather, chilly rain in our commuting faces and mud encrusted trail shoes for the next 6 (who are we kidding, 9) months it also means light testing time. FIrst in is this LED light set from Gemini, a wirelessly controlled 1500 lumen light bundled with a neat handlebar mount, helmet mount, and a head strap and a run time of 2 hours 20 minutes in the medium mode (900 lumens). OK night riding, come at me.....

• £165
• See more at www.i-ride.co.uk

Kask Rex Helmet

Only a lid made by an Italian company would come with a 'Lux Leather' chin strap! We've got a Kask Rex in a lurid green colour in for test, and after rubbing the leather straps across our faces in a not-too-weird way we also noticed this lid looks pretty comfy, with this packs and a super adjustable rear cradle. 

• £150
• See www.velobrands.co.uk