It might be February but winter hasn’t released its chilly grip just yet. As such, our weekly tech roundup covers everything from the best winter cycling gloves to keep your hands cosy to understanding the differences between gravel and road bikes. We also take a look at Colnago’s latest addition to its C Series, the C68 Gravel bike, and Scott’s new Ransom enduro bike.

Orange Bikes – the story of Britain’s most iconic bike brand

Orange Bikes
Orange Bikes (Image Credit: Orange Bikes)
Orange Bikes, by Orange Bikes

Starting the week off on a positive note is the news that Orange Bikes will continue to make bicycles. The news was welcomed by long-time Orange fans around the world and, though it could be said Orange is not going anywhere for now, the company is moving two miles up the road to new premises. 

Best winter cycling gloves 2024 – mountain bike gloves to keep your hands warm

2024 best winter glove.jpg
2024 best winter glove (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
2024 best winter glove.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Sure, the warmer summer months might be getting closer but the temperatures aren’t quite there for gloveless riding, yet. We’ve gone through all the wintery MTB gloves we have tested and listed the best options in our best winter cycling gloves buyer’s guide. 

Gravel bike vs road bike – understanding the differences

Gravel bike vs road bike
Gravel bike vs road bike (Image Credit: Aaron Borrill)
Gravel bike vs road bike, by Aaron Borrill

The two drop-bar bikes might bear a striking resemblance but road and gravel bikes differ significantly in design and purpose. Road bikes prioritise efficiency, featuring shorter frames for aerodynamics, steep angles for climbing and narrow rims for smaller tyres. In contrast, gravel bikes boast longer frames, slacker angles, wider rims and larger tyres for stability and durability on diverse terrain. If you’re interested in how the two compare, then this feature is just for you. 

Colnago goes all-out on new C68 Gravel bike

Colnago C68 Gravel bike
Colnago C68 Gravel bike (Image Credit: off-road.cc)
Colnago C68 Gravel bike, by off-road.cc

Colnago has added a new bike to its premium C Series and, with that, the Italian brand now has two gravel bikes in its ranks. The existing G3-X remains the race-orientated gravel machine, whereas the C68 focuses a little more on compliance and style than outright speed. The C68 Gravel can accommodate up to 42mm tyres and comes with a new integrated CC.01 Wide bar-stem arrangement. Prices start at £5,269 for the frameset only and range to £11,100 for the top build. 

Shimano releases three new lightweight cycling glasses

Shimano Technium sunglasses4.jpg
Shimano Technium sunglasses4 (Image Credit: Shimano)
Shimano Technium sunglasses4.jpg, by Shimano

Shimano has introduced three new lightweight cycling glasses models – Technium, Technium L, and Twinspark – equipped with Ridescape lens technology offering six lens options to enhance visibility in various riding conditions. All of the glasses are scratch-resistant, water-repellent and available with interchangeable clear lenses. Prices range from £60 to £100, and the frames are made from 45% bio-based materials.

Scott reveals all-new Ransom enduro bike

Scott Ransom enduro bike
Scott Ransom enduro bike (Image Credit: off-road.cc)
Scott Ransom enduro bike, by off-road.cc

Scott has unveiled its 2024 Ransom enduro MTB with a hidden shock and unique six-bar linkage for super precise suspension tuning. Unlike other models, the shock sits horizontally, which protects it from dirt. The hidden shock design also allows for generous dropper-post clearance and easy adjustability. 

The Ransom comes in five models, including a women-specific Contessa version, with weight ranges from 15.2kg to 16.7kg.

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