After the heady last week full of eye-watering tech drops all around, the madness seems to have dialled down a bit. But there’s still a lot to get excited about, from snazzy data-pumping pedals to really cool tubeless repair kits. So gather around, put on your reading glasses, grab a cup of coffee and let’s get ready for another tech of the week roundup.
- Buyer’s guide to mountain bike pedals – what’s best, flats or clips?
- off-road Opinion – E-bikes aren’t a menace, it’s all about trail etiquette
- Is there a difference between road and mountain bike saddles?
Look’s X-Track pedals aimed to satisfy data-hungry riders
There’s a fine margin of getting the balance between packaging and features right, and Look’s engineers and designers have sought to perfect this tightrope act with their new power meter pedals X-Track.
These pedals have a stack of only 10.7mm and a Q-factor of 53mm, but despite their compact size, they can measure an almost exhaustive host of pedalling parameters riders need to evaluate and compare, including normalised power, intensity factor, power zones, training stress, functional threshold power, pedalling smoothness, and torque effectiveness.
While shedding weight wasn’t the primary goal here (unlike last week’s Favera Assioma Pro MX), the Look X-Track pedals weigh in at 400g per pair and come with 60 hours of battery life. Besides, if you’re worried about all the sensors and electronics in the pedal getting damaged by moisture, mud, and dust, they are rated IPX7. Look is also offering a three-year crash replacement if you do end up suffering that unfortunate pedal strike.
For a deeper look at the Look X-Track power meter pedals click here.
Crankbrothers added laces to its Stamp and Mallet Trail shoes
While last week’s Stamp and Mallet shoes from Crankbrothers already addressed the off-bike grip issues we had experienced with the current lineup, now, the California-based company has also introduced two new cheaper laced versions to go along with the Boa dial-equipped ones.
The laces allow for a more relaxed fit, making them suitable for long rides where comfort is desirable. The uppers, which use the same synthetic material as the Boa versions, are also well-perforated to encourage lots of breathability and ventilation.
For more on Crankbrothers’ Mallet and Stamp Trail shoes, read our news story.
Canyon continued to innovate its lineup with Grizl:ON, an all-terrain carbon e-bike
Grizl:ON is Canyon endeavouring its fusion of gravel riding with aero-position riding. The “adventure-ready” e-bike features a carbon frame and RockShox front suspension and is designed to carry up to 15kg of luggage for those Instagram-worthy excursions.
The chunky downtube houses its 400Wh battery pack, which powers a Bosch SX mid-drive motor, delivering 55Nm of torque but only weighing 2kg. Enhancing traction and smoothing the Grizl:ON’s ride quality is also the large volume 45- or 50mm Schwalbe G-One tyres, which come as standard across all models.
For more details, check out the story.
WTB expanded its offerings with tubeless repair, TPU inner tubes and max-flow valves
Three new products were launched by WTB this week, and the one that caught our eye the most was the TCS Rocket Tyre Plug Kit. Though it may not look (and even function) much different than other tubeless repair kits, the ace up its sleeves is the anchor that WTB calls Rockets, which offers a fresh take on traditional tyre repair.
The new launches also included the TSC Max-Flow Tubeless Valves with Presta core, which are said to provide an 84% increase in air capacity and reduce the chances of sealant from clogging. Finally, the TPU inner tubes mark WTB’s first foray into the field, with the NanoAir TPU Tubes. While nothing spectacular, they claim to possess all the benefits over their butyl counterparts, similar to what we’ve seen from other companies as well.
To learn more about these products, head over to the story: WTB bolsters its range with the TCS Rocket Tyre Plug Kit.
Does cycling depend too much on technology?
Technology and cycling go hand in hand. In fact, cycling wouldn’t exist as we know it today without the monumental advancements in cycling tech. We’re talking hydraulic brakes, dropper posts and even wirelessly actuated drivetrains. But is the industry going too far and is it just getting more confusing for the consumer?
Liam answers these questions, concluding that while the massive saturation of cycling products on the market does require a level of education and research, there are ways in which these things are improving the everyday lives of cyclists. It’s also pretty easy to ignore all of the technological innovations going on and ride without.
What do you think? Does cycling depend too much on technology?
Whyte ELyte 150 RSX first ride review
Whyte has been producing killer e-mountain bikes for years now but the ELyte is the brand’s first step into the world of lightweight e-MTB. It’s equipped with Bosch’s Performance Line SX motor and a full carbon frame. And, as always, it benefits from Whyte’s massive focus on weight distribution.
We headed out to the Forest of Dean to get a first ride in on Whyte’s latest platform to get a feel for the bike and initial impressions are good.
For more on this bike’s ride, check out the Whyte ELyte 150 RSX first ride review.
