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Wattbike_Atom_Image_1.jpgFive cool things coming soon from Wattbike, Giant, Sigma, Zipp and Karcher
This week's previews again have a mostly autumnal theme, with indoor trainers, bikes for winter training and plenty of lights all coming our way at a greater rate than we get through coffee beans. Here are the highlights...
£149.99
On paper the new NeosTrack from Giant looks mightily impressive, with a spec list that wouldn't look out of place on computers nearly double the price. It was actually designed in collaboration with Bryton, and features a 2.6” screen, 33 hour battery life, ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, plus turn-by-turn navigation. It weighs just 80g, and includes all the usual training metrics and workout options via the Giant Lab app. Is it really as good as the competition for less cash? Dave Atkinson is currently finding out...
£1,499.00
After successfully becoming the industry standard static bike trainer for serious cyclists in spin classes and gyms across the land, Wattbike's latest Atom trainer is a different beast and intended more for home use. It's mains-powered and works with a tablet or phone, which allows for connectivity to third party apps such as Zwift. There are 22 'gears', and the device's power accuracy is +/-2% according to Wattbike. Is it the ultimate home smart training solution for cyclists? Dave Atkinson's verdict will be in soon.
£21.99
This tiny rear light is bigger in features than its stature would suggest, designed for 'high traffic roads' according to Sigma and with a 1/2 watt high-power LED. It provides visibility up to 400 metres, is USB rechargeable and has a simple belt clip so it can also be used on foot clipped to a jacket or bag. Does size really not matter? Emma Silversides will be giving us her nuggets of knowledge on this light in the coming weeks.
Zipp Tangente Speed tubeless clincher
£71.00
After middling results in rolling resistance tests for the previous versions, Zipp's Tangente Speed tyres have gone tubeless-ready and feature a 220 tpi casing with thin sidewalls for greater road feel. Available in 25mm or 28mm, Zipp say their rolling resistance is now 'segment-leading', and the grip is precise and biting through turns. Are they worth the extra levy compared to most other, cheaper race tyres? Our man Dave Arthur is putting the Tangentes through their paces at the moment.
£149.99
Anyone who's competed in cyclocross or MTB races will know it's a grim feeling loading your muddy bike back into the car, knowing both will need cleaning when you arrive home... the Karcher OC3 portable cleaner aims to take away the stress by allowing you to rinse your bike off on location so there's less muddy carnage afterwards. It weighs just 2.2kg so can be lugged around easily, with a gentle yet efficient pressure so you can give the dog a hose down too. The four litre tank volume should be enough to hose down the muddiest parts of at least one bike, and it's got a 2 metre spiral hose for extra reach. Is it £150 better than waiting until you get home and treating your bike to some good old elbow grease and a bucket of water though? Dave Arthur is currently cleaning his pride and joy with the Karcher OC3, with a verdict coming soon...
For all the latest road.cc test reports, head to our reviews section.
Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.
Latest Comments
- chrisonabike 0 sec ago
Ah yes - something like that has been added in Edinburgh at Haymarket on the CCWEL (but for going straight - not even with a left turn) - and is...
- Dogless 31 min 42 sec ago
You're defending bombing hospitals and refugee camps and starving children.
- Simon E 40 min 59 sec ago
Red lights are frustrating but you either obey the rules or you don't. Like drivers (sorry!), you shouldn't pick and choose the rules you wish to...
- ktache 1 hour 4 min ago
Or any other item that has recently had 5p taken off it's tax.
- mattw 3 hours 11 min ago
Used car salesman is a complete attention-seeking plank....
- tubasti 3 hours 28 min ago
I don't know if they're any better, but they's certainly become more boring.
- FionaJJ 3 hours 54 min ago
At risk of being cynical, and stereotyping the police, it's so they don't have to leave the comfort of their panda cars and pursue on foot when...
- andystow 4 hours 4 min ago
But now you don't have to. Allegedly.
- Patrick9-32 4 hours 12 min ago
Since Kona's rebirth after they kept the stinky for waaaay too long they have been one of the most consistently desireable mountain bike brands. If...
- luk 4 hours 49 min ago
Device with built in battery?? Shocking!!
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25 comments
I live in a part of the country where I could cycle all year. But I've found that I much prefer to keep dry, warm. The convenience of a turbo is unbeatable. I also suffer much less with winter chest infections, probably because I only socialize in the virtual world.
Personally, I like going outside and moonwalking really really fast on the tarmac path by my house. That way, I can simulate running indoors on a treadmill without coughing for a poncy gym membership.
Worse than the technophobe attitude is my own OCD - is it just me that can't stand an off centre cycle computer?!?!
I'm like that with the fan - don't like the screen to block my breeze though, lol.
Gives a nice balance if your light is on the other side.
That Karcher OC3 is only £130 in Halfords at the moment.
I, on the other hand, am sticking with one of these for £11: https://www.homebase.co.uk/pressure-sprayer-7l_p374716
There's also a 5l one for £7.
Does that work well? Is there enough pressure to do much good?
The Little Ghosts are getting big enough to hit the trails, and would be good to clean some of the crud off the bikes (and possibly them) before manhandling them onto the rack.
I'll be waiting for that Karcher review. I like it!
I think it would be a good idea to test it against that garden pressure sprayer.
You keep your offspring on a rack?
Stuffy, preachy technophobe can't/won't understand that not everybody wants to live his life, or even do exactly his version of cycling. Takes to Web to lecture others on their mistakes.
Now THAT, kids, is the definition of 'cool'.
How very philosophical.
I would remind Another David that this forum and website are based from the UK, a place not known for it's 'good cycling weather'.
Then you're living your life wrong by living in the wrong place: For cycling, that is.
let me guess - this was the losing entry for the inscription on Michele Scarponi's gravestone?
Uses for indoor trainers:
- recovering from injury
- poor weather (ice, snow, rain etc.)
- child/spouse care requirements (indoor trainer allows for the rider to quickly tend to screaming child/spouse before getting back on)
- structured training
- multi-tasking (have you ever tried to watch rugby/football/any other television programme while cycling outside?)
- because it's a free country and we can train indoors if we want to, even if the weather outside is perfect
-Extreme allergies (if your allergies force you inside for part of the summer, this could be the best way to keep in shape for when you can venture out again)
personally I find it very difficult to watch anything other than cycling when I'm cycling , and inevitably my cadence starts to match the pros - recovery rides are almost impossible if the race is within the last 50k!
for me the benefits of an indoor trainer are that where I live it is very difficult to do, eg. a 20 minute ftp test without having to stop at the lights, negotiate a roundabout, ease round some tight bend, or brake/swerve for other road users.
I can test under consistent conditions each time and it allows me to concentrate fully on my pedal stroke without having to pay attention to my surroundings - I can sprint to exhaustion and collapse in a heap with the only danger being a coronary.
yeah, because we all get to move wherever we want to purely based on what the weather is like for cycling. family/job/friends be damned.
personally i'd hate to live in a place where it's sunny and warm all the time. the battle against adversity is all part of the fun. and indoor training is all part of the changing of the seasons. plus it's easily the most time-effective way to train.
There is nothing, absolutley nothing cool about a machine for indoor use that tries to simulate riding a bicycle in it's natural environment. If you need one of these, you are living life wrong.
I respectfully disagree.
I have to agree with goldfever, injuring yourself on ice and not being able to ride at all is uncool. Staying fit while eliminating chances of injury is cool.
"Winter miles summer smiles"
Ive been tempted in the past to get a wattbike for a cut-n-shut...they're not so useful for recumbent riders...
I ordered one on release promised for early October. Got 6 week estimate on order and that's just been pushed to 10. Not off to a great start. Meanwhile they have my £1500
Could I borrow the Waftbike when Dave has finished please? Am recovering from surgery and shall be looking at recuperation options.
Assuming you've got a bike already just buy a Tacx flux and save yourself £800
Grahamd asked to borrow it. That saves them the full £1,499.