As always, we’ve got yet another Five Cool Things to show off, this time coming in the form of Troy Lee Design’s latest gravel-specific helmet and Canyon’s trail-going e-MTB, the Neuron:ON. On top of that, we check out another luggage solution from Aeroe and some cool products from Lizard Skins.
- Buyer’s guide to mountain bike waterproof shorts – how to buy the best ones
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- How to service your shock – tips for both Fox and RockShox
But to kick things off in the right way, let’s check out some of the best features and stories to hit off.road.cc this week. First off, Fox announced another addition to its new shoe line-up. This time, the Union Canvas brings the price down a touch through the employment of a canvas upper. We also took a look at the Wyn Masters privateer project.
As for features, we dived into everything mountain bike tyres to give you the best idea of what each of a tyres components and sizes offer, and how they affect a bike’s ride. And with the likes of Tom Pidcock absolutely smashing the cycling scene across all disciplines, our Steve talks about the rise of the cycling multi-disciplinarian.
Of course, we can’t forget about the reviews and there’s been quite a range of products. Ty tested the Endura Hummvee Plus Mips helmet, scoring it a very respectable four stars with WTB’s Gravelier gravel-specific saddle and ODI’s Reflex grips both getting four and a half stars. This biggest ticket item this week is Seido’s RGT gravel fork at £300 so be sure to check that one out. We also published our review of the YT Szepter Core 4 – the brand’s first foray into the drop-bar gravel market.
But most importantly, don’t forget to enter our latest competition, where we’ve teamed up with Trek and Bontrager to offer you the chance to win over £500 worth of Trek and Bontrager prizes. This one closes soon, so be fast!
Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8
£5,349
We first got our hands on Canyon’s latest trail e-MTB ahead of launch during a trip in Italy, where we sampled it on some of Massa Marritima’s finest trails and while that’s all well and good, we’re excited to see how this updated platform performs on home turf.
For 2023, the Neuron:ON gets a look that’s very similar to its bigger travelled sibling, the Spectral:ON, however, it’s been toned down a touch in order to make it more versatile. As such, this bike gets a lengthier 450mm chainstay which should result in some pretty good climbing performance. Elsewhere there’s a 65.5-degree head tube angle, a 69.9-degree seat tube and the reach on this large frame stretches to 485mm.
Differing from the Spectral:ON, the Neuron:ON is driven by Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor offering up to 85Nm of torque – and this model gets a 750Wh battery.
As for componentry, it’s very much a trail spec with a Fox 34 Performance fork offering 140mm of squish, whereas the Fox DPS Performance shock also delivers 140mm of suspension. The carbon fibre frame then boasts Shimano Deore XT shifting and brakes, with a four-piston caliper up front and a two-piston at the rear. The DT Swiss HLN350 wheels are then wrapped with Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres.
Troy Lee Designs Grail
£100
Next up is the latest edition to Troy Lee Design’s helmet line-up, the Grail. It’s TLD’s first-ever visorless helmet that’s designed with one thing in mind – versatility. Even though it drops the visor, it’s equipped with the Mips and 14 ventilation ports to offer significant protection and plenty of airflow. TLD then says that it’s competitively priced to make it an easy decision for the budget-conscious.
As well as the aforementioned features, the Grail dons Troy Lee’s precision fit system that includes three height settings. The helmet then uses a full wrap in-mould construction.
Lizard Skins Monitor Ignite gloves
£25
Lizard Skins’ Monitor Ignite is claimed to be a next-level slip-on glove that uses a neoprene wrist closure complete with a Cool Max mesh backing. The glove is built with a one-piece, perforated palm to boost airflow and there are handy silicone grippers located at the fingers.
Those fingers are articulated for ease of movement and there’s a microfibre wipe, which we reckon is essential for all of the best gloves.
Lizard Skins grips
£32
But that’s not all from Lizard Skins as we’ve also got a small selection of its lock-on grips. Here, we’ve got the Northshore, Peaty, Charger and Moab (which don’t get locking collars). All of these offer different grip textures to cater to anyone’s taste. They also get double locking collars to keep them extra secure on the bar.
The Northshore is the brand’s largest diameter grip which has earned popularity amongst those who ride proper chunky trails. The Peaty is Steve Peat’s signature grip that’s said to be awesome either on a cross-country or downhill bike whereas the Charger is built for maximum cushioning. Finally, the Moab is a stable of Lizard Skins’ range.
Aeroe Handlebar Cradle
£69
Last but not least is Aeroe’s Spider Handlebar Cradle. This mounts to any handlebar attached either vertically or horizontally and enables up to 5kg of carrying capacity.
It does this through the use of a plastic base that’s home to a pair of straps that’ll happily contain anything that’ll fit inside of the cradle. The brand says that this will make a perfect companion to the Rear Rack we saw in last week’s Five Cool Things.
