We may earn affiliate commission from some of the links on this page
Once again, we’ve got a fresh batch of Five Cool Things to show off, including Rudy Projects’ latest entry into the world of MTB, Roval’s super light gravel wheelset, and fresh grips from SDG. That’s not all, as we’ve got riding shades from A.P.E Optics, and Apidura’s latest frame bag. Of course, we’ll kick things off with a brief reminder of what’s happened in the world of off-road cycling throughout the week.
This week has been a big old week for both cross-country and e-MTB releases. First up, we might be facing a new standard of cross-country as both Specialized’s new Epic 9 and Canyon’s Lux World Cup both claim to weigh in at under 10kg, with the former touting a total weight of 8.5kg, and the latter coming in at 9.82kg. Impressive stuff, if you ask me, especially as they’re lighter than some modern road bikes. On top of that, SRAM revitalised the Ochain, bringing fresh sealing, Scribe unveiled its new aero gravel wheels, and Cotic brought a linkage inspired by its e-MTB to the Jeht.
With World Cup racing happening as we speak, we got in touch with legend Thomas Frischknecht to chat about the XC circuit after Nino Schurter’s departure and how MTB talent is being tempted over to road. We also chatted with Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar to get a feel for what might be a changing of the guard in the downhill race scene, with young guns performing so well.
As for reviews, we checked out Open’s latest U.P 2.0 frameset. With aero features and a racy feel, it certainly pleased our Stu. We also took a look at Renthal’s entry into the trail clipless pedal world in the form of the Revo-TRC. It’s somewhat unique take on an SPD binding looks to have made it a real winner.
Rudy Project Terraform helmet
€179.90
Released alongside the three-quarter Terraform Pro, this is the regular half-shell Terraform. With it, Rudy Project claims to “raise the bar for performance, safety, and sustainability” for mountain bike riding, whether you’re riding regular trail bikes or something assisted with a motor. In a bid to keep temporal and occipital areas protected, it features coverage especially for those zones. Boosting protection a bit further is TwiceMe integration, which allows personal information to be stored digitally in the helmet and accessed by emergency services that use such tech.
Of course, air flow is a priority for the helmet, and Rudy has aimed to achieve that through large intake vents at the front of the hat and sizey exhaust ports, so nothing really new there. But there is the Air Frame Band structure, which claims to improve ventilation while soaking up sweat. Under the impressively large breakaway visor is enough space to store eyewear.
SDG Thrice Open Core grips
£18.95
SDG’s Thrice grip has been around for quite a while now, but its new Open Core version gives it a well-deserved shake-up. As its name suggests, it comes with a cutout in the core, which puts the grip’s rubber right against the bar. The brand says that this, combined with a soft 20A rubber, helps reduce vibrations. On the grip itself is a classic knurled pattern along with a ribbed thumb zone, and finger grabbers – a similar design to the older Thrice.
The grip’s tapered core has been added to boost bar security, and it features a more ovalised shape for comfort.
Roval Terra CLX III wheelset
£2,748
Roval has put some mighty bold claims behind this wheelset, stating that it’s the lightest and most compliant gravel wheelset on the market. Bold, for sure, but it does come in at a claimed weight of 1,079g, which is certainly nothing to sniff at. With these wheels, Roval has built a 21.52% improvement in lateral compliance to bring better comfort, and that’s aided by Roval’s Aero Composite spokes, built by ARRIS. The bead hooks are then pretty wide at 4.86mm, with the aim of broadening tyre compatibility, while staving off pinch flats.
These wheels don 25.5mm deep profiles, 27mm internal widths, and they use DT Swiss’s Ratchet EXP freehub with 36 teeth. We’re then told that these rims can accommodate tyres up to 60mm wide.
A.P.E Optics Vega Evo sunglasses
£39
Offered by the folks behind Victory Chimp, the A.P.E Optics Vega sunglasses use a TR90 frame and impact-resistant lens. Additionally, that polycarbonate lens is built to be scratch and water-resistant. WIth 100% UV protection, interchangeable lenses and an adjustable nose piece, it looks like these specs are offering a tonne of bang for your buck especially as they come with an RX insert, clear lens, a wipe and a microfibre bag all within the asking price. There’s an awful lot of colours to choose from, too!
Apidura Expedition Frame Bag
From £117
Frame bags are an excellent way of carrying extra kit, but without seriously affecting how your bike handles, because you’re placing that weight fairly centrally on the bike. Apidura’s Expedition Frame Pack does exactly that while throwing in waterproof construction and internal zipper control rails, which have been added to keep the pack from bulging for improved knee clearance and to make using the zip easy and consistent.
It’s sorted with panels that are built to conform to the shape of your frame to achieve a solid fit, while Hypalon straps equipped with silicone prints keep the pack exactly where you want it. On the bag’s exterior are anti-rattle pockets, and there’s an internal mesh pocket to keep smaller items safe. There’s also an integrated gear attachment point inside the pack added to secure pumps, tent poles and other tools. But you’ll need to source your own strap to make full use of it.
