It's like Christmas everyday at road.cc Towers for our review team. Here's some of the latest kit that's out on test...
£1700
These 40mm deep carbon clincher wheels weigh in at 1450g for the pair, with Cole’s patented DSA hubs to allow for high spoke tension and better power transfer. The straight-pull, butted spokes are supposed to eliminate the stress and breakage of traditional j-bend spokes.
The wheels are treated with Heat Shield tech to minimise heat when braking, and Cole’s Pink Pad braking compound offers “class-leading performance” according to Cole. We’ll be putting these £1700 hoops through their paces shortly…
£28.99
Schwalbe say the X-One gravel is one of the fastest cross tyres ever, with their One Star rubber compound optimised for better rolling resistance. Schwalbe recommend they’re run tubeless always, and you can run them at very low pressures for cyclocross on tubeless-compatible wheels without any pressure being leaked during your ride. Dave Atkinson’s verdict will be live on road.cc shortly…
Leyzene Digital Pressure Overdrive
£139.99
With a classy wooden handle and digital LCD display system, the Digital Pressure Overdrive from Lezyne is a cut above your average floor pump. It has tubeless seating and a high grade aluminium barrel, and works by pumping a central chamber up to 220psi. Once it’s filled you attach to the valve (presta or Schrada) release a foot pedal and the pressure is released, inflating the tyre instantaneously. Leyzene say it pumps tyres up in seconds and it certainly looks convenient, but £140 worth of convenient? Dave Arthur is testing now…
Rapha Packable Waterproof Jacket
£160.00
This emergency rain jacket from Rapha is a bit more robust than your average packable jacket, being fully waterproof and supposedly capable of withstanding far more than a light shower. It’s made from the same lightweight nylon fabric used in Rapha’s Core rain jacket, has windproof properties and zip pockets at the front. Safety features include a high-vis collar and useful high-vis straps on the cuffs so you can be seen when signalling in the dark or low light.
As to be expected from a piece of Rapha gear £160 is a lot of cash, but is it justified? Our reviewer George Hill’s verdict will be in next month…
Hill and Ellis Professor Bike Bag
£195.00
Hill and Ellis was founded in 2012 by Catherine Ellis, who after being unable to find a suitably stylish bike bag anywhere, decided to start manufacturing her own to fill the gap in the market. The Professor bag is crafted in Britain, with luxurious leather beige straps, discrete pannier hooks and a waterproof cover included for when the heavens open.
Hill and Ellis say the bag is “perfect for your ride around town, to the varsity bar or to the university boat race” and “the ideal present for any Oxtonian” - which may narrow the target market down somewhat, but you can’t deny it looks like a fine piece of leatherwear. Our reviewer Simon MacMichael (not an Oxtonian) is currently swanning round the Cotswolds with the Professor in tow before delivering his verdict soon…
Head to our reviews section for all the latest in-depth product reviews by road.cc'st team...
After cobbling together a few hundred quid during his student days off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story), Jack bought his first road bike at the age of 20 and has been hooked ever since. He joined road.cc in 2017, having previously worked for 220 Triathlon magazine. Jack's preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking (the latter being another long story), and on Sunday afternoons he can often be found on an M5 service station indulging in his favourite post-race meal of 20 chicken nuggets, a sausage roll, caramel shortbread and a large strawberry milkshake.