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The clocks have gone forward, peak cycling season is approaching rapidly, and we’re into full-on reviewing mode here at road.cc, so check out some of the coolest products we’ll be telling you about over the coming weeks.
From a feature-packed Wahoo GPS bike computer and an adventure-ready smartwatch from Garmin to a helmet with a focus on sustainability and an intriguing e-bike conversion system, there’s plenty here to get stuck into.
Some of these products build on already well-regarded predecessors, others aim to shake things up with innovative ideas, but all of them aim to make your riding better in one way or another. The big question, of course, is whether they actually deliver out on the road.
Our reviewers have been busy clocking up the miles, and we’ll be bringing you their full verdicts very soon. In the meantime, here’s a closer look at what’s recently arrived for review.
Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 GPS Bike Computer (£399.99)
We described the Wahoo Elemnt Roam 2 as “a quality, well-thought-out and reliable cycling computer at a great price” when we reviewed it four years ago, and gave it a very good 8/10 review, so we’re interested to hear what reviewer Michael Drummond thinks of the third incarnation, which he has been using for almost a year.
> Read our Wahoo Elemnt Roam 2 Bike Computer review
The updated model features an anti-glare 2.8in touchscreen display, while Wahoo reckons the mapping is easy to read, and the navigation is intuitive. Syncing to third-party apps and services is also said to be much slicker than before.
Find out if Michael agrees when we publish his review in the next couple of weeks.
Rudy Project Sinergy Helmet (£59)
Rudy Project’s Sinergy helmet is an interesting one in that it’s made with over 60% recyclable materials and is priced at just £59. We like both of those things.
Sinergy is part of Rudy Project’s Ride to Zero initiative, its long-term commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its products. The company says it looks at the full product lifecycle, creating items that not only last but can also be easily disassembled and fed back into new production cycles.
Both the outer shell and the inner protective layer are constructed from the same base polymer – polystyrene. By relying on one material for the key structure, Rudy Project says disposal and recycling are made simpler and more effective.
How does it perform, though? Caroline Dodgson has been wearing this one, her review is in, and we’ll be publishing it shortly.
BBB Signal Radar Rear Light (£119.99)
Radar rear lights have become ever more popular over the past few years, detecting traffic approaching from behind and warning, usually via your bike computer or smartphone.
The BBB Signal Radar has that capability, and it also has a built-in speaker for standalone operation, so it can let you of traffic approaching even if you don’t have it connected to a computer or phone via ANT+ and/or Bluetooth.
You get six modes, a maximum of 80 lumens in daylight flash mode, and up to 14 hours of runtime.
Mike Stenning has submitted his review, and we’ll be publishing it in April.
Buy from Merlin Cycles for £99.95
Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Solar 45mm smartwatch (£399.99)
Although road.cc is very much a cycling website, we occasionally foray into more general products with a cycling application, such as Garmin’s Instinct 3 adventure watch.
It continuously takes your heart rate from your wrist, for example, and has built-in sports apps for tracking activities, including cycling. You can also use it for Garmin Coach adaptive or prebuilt training plans, or create step-by-step workouts from the Garmin Connect app and send them directly to the watch.
There’s a lot of capability here, but is it worth £400? Dave Atkinson will be letting us know shortly.
Skarper eBike Drive System (£1,495)
If you fancy some electronic assistance, Skarper’s eBike Drive System has just arrived for review.
Rather than needing to invest in a completely new e-bike, Skarper turns your existing bike into an e-bike. The Skarper device clips onto the rear brake disc – not your own disc rotor, but the DiskDrive supplied by Skarper. Then, the motor and battery unit clips onto that and also a removable chainstay mount, which allows a quick-release but secure means of attachment and removal.
Skarper boasts that you get 250W of power and 76 Nm of torque, and multiple assist modes.
We’re intrigued to find out how well it performs. We’ll share our findings as soon as we can.
