New product roundup featuring Fizik, Brooks, Topeak and Walz

We’ve just had a visit from UK distributor Extra UK to sort out some new products for review on road.cc over the next few months. Before they arrive for testing, here’s some of the most interesting stuff.

Fizik

Fizik – or fi’zi:k, if you prefer, pronounced ‘physique’ – are offering shoes in a Boa closure option for the first time in the 2015 range.

If you’ve not used a Boa closure system before, it comprises a super-strong steel lace that’s micro-adjusted either way via a clicky dial. It’s a really simple operation to perform from the saddle. Specialized, Lake, Scott and a bunch of other brands already use Boa.

Fizik are offering a Boa closure on two road shoes: the R5B (the B standing for Boa) and the R3B.

The R5B is made with a carbon reinforced nylon sole and Fizik claim a weight of 520g for a pair of size 43s. They’re priced £129.99.

The R3B has a unidirectional carbon fibre sole, weighs a claimed 460g for a pair of size 43s, and is priced at £215.

If you don’t want the Boa system, the shoes will still be available with a ratchet tensioned at the top at the same prices.

Fizik have also updated the Aliante saddle, making it slightly flatter than before.

This is the Aliante R1 Braided that comes with a composite carbon co-injected nylon TwinFlex shell, and it weighs in at a claimed 185g. We don’t have a UK price for this one yet.

The Kurve has been revamped too. This is a saddle that’s designed for plenty of flexibility.

The Re-Flex areas – the yellow areas you can see on the underside of the shell – are now made from Kevlar rather than glass-fibre, the idea being to add strength and durability.

The Kurve is now available with either carbon (£239.99) or aluminium (£189.99) rails. The carbon versions weigh a claimed 180-185g, depending on the shape you go for, with the aluminium models at 220-225g.

Fizik’s Superlight Dual Touch handlebar tape is new too. It gets its name because it is tacky on the drops with a normal feel – what Fizik call ‘classic’ – on the top sections. It’s made out of Microtex fibre and it’s 2mm thick.

Brooks

We’ve told you about Brooks’ new JB Collection Carrera Foldable Helmet before so click on the link for more details.

We now have UK prices. The Classic version is £99.99 while the Special model, with a patterned textile added to one panel, is priced at £119.99.

Brooks have also released a version of their Cambium C17 saddle with a cutaway central section to relieve pressure on the perineum. The top of the Cambium C17 is made using a combination of vulcanised natural rubber and organic cotton canvas, and the new Carved version is priced at £124.99 – so you’re actually paying £9 extra for the hole. It’s available in black and rust finishes, as is the existing C17.

Topeak

Topeak have a range of electroluminescent iGlow products including this Aero Wedge pack at £26.99.

Available in two sizes, it’s made from 1000 denier Teflon coated fabric and you can set it in either blinking or constant mode. It runs off 2 CR2032 (coin type) batteries.

We like the look of this new iGlow bottle cage too. A small LED sits at the bottom of the bottle cage and lights up a clear bottle in various colours.

It works best when there’s liquid in the bottle. We don’t have a price on this one yet.

The MiniRocket iGlow is a micro pump with a transparent barrel that houses a red optical element. You can set it either to glow constantly or to blink. It’s priced at £24.99.

Walz

We reviewed a Walz cap here on road.cc way back in 2009 and now they should be more widely available in the UK. 

There are four types of cap in the range: cotton (£17.99), wicking (£16.99), wool (£24.99), and winter (£27.99),

They’re all made in San Diego, California and they come in two different sizes.

For more information on all of these products go to www.extrauk.co.uk.