The uh-oh, autumn’s here edition! Five cool things coming soon from Karcher, Trek, Wahoo, Santini, and GripGrab

Here at road.cc HQ – and in other parts of the UK – we were having an Indian summer last week but autumn has well and truly arrived now so let’s take a look at some of the cycling products that’ll help you handle the shift, from Trek, Wahoo, Karcher, and more.

Before we start, don't forget to check out our reviews regularly because new ones are added every day…

Trek Commuter Comp R and Flare R City Bike Light Set – £99.99

If you want to increase your visibility on dull days and dark evenings, check out this Trek light set.

Trek says the Commuter Comp R front light is bright enough to show the way as well as to get you seen, coming with what it calls a ‘Kindbeam’ that “keeps more light on the path ahead of you while avoiding oncoming riders’ eyes”. Meanwhile, the Flare R City provides a 35-lumen beam at the back. Both lights have modes designed to improve your visibility during daylight hours.

Although you can use them on pretty much any bike, these lights are Blendr-compatible, meaning that they’ll fit especially neatly on Trek’s Blendr stems, helmets and helmet mounts.

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Wahoo Kickr Move Trainer – £1,399.99

Helping you avoid the autumn weather and the dark evenings, Wahoo has recently launched the new Kickr Move trainer that, it says, offers “the closest real-world ride-feel”.

> Wahoo introduces £1,400 Kickr Move indoor trainer with “the closest real-world ride-feel” 

Essentially, the Kickr Move is the existing Kickr Smart Trainer (£1,099.99) but with the addition of 8in (23cm) of fore-aft movement to the trainer body. The trainer sits on wheels within a fixed, curved track.

What’s the point of that? Wahoo says, “The result is a more engaging, more comfortable and more realistic riding experience than ever before.”

> Read our review of the Wahoo Kickr Smart Trainer v6 

Is it successful? Reviewer Iwein Dekoninck is finding out right now and will be back with his conclusions soon.

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Karcher K7 Premium Smart Control Home High-Pressure Washer – £549.99

Keeping your bike clean in autumn and winter is a challenge, so should you resort to a high-pressure washer?

There are those who believe a high-pressure washer should never be within spitting distance of a bike for fear of damaging the bearings, and there are those who think it’s perfectly acceptable to use one, as long as you’re careful around the hubs, headset, bottom bracket, and so on. Which camp are you in?

Karcher specifically lists bicycles among the ‘application areas’ for this product but would you be happy giving your pride and joy a once-over with something that’s also intended “for cleaning fences and smaller garden paths or flagstones”?

We have reviewer Tom Weijand on the case. Good or bad, we’ll be back with his findings soon.

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Santini Adapt Multi-Jacket – £250

We all know the saying ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing’. It’s an absolute load of hogwash, of course – British weather is clearly dreadful by any sensible standard – but good kit makes a big, big difference, which is why we have Mike Stead currently riding around the wilds of Scotland in Santini’s Adapt Multi-Jacket.

“Made of Polartec’s waterproof Powershield Pro fabric (5000mm water column) and fully thermosealed, it guarantees complete thermal balance in any climate conditions, and it is ideal for cold rides and wet weather,” says Santini.

Those are some big claims; we can’t wait to find out whether Mike thinks they’re justified.

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GripGrab Ride Windproof Deep Winter Lobster Gloves – £54.95

As the name suggests, these GripGrab gloves are intended for the depths of winter, but it pays to be prepared – they taught you that in the Cubs/Brownies – because cycling with cold hands isn't a whole lot of fun. GripGrab reckons these will sort you out even when the temperature is below freezing.

As you can see, each glove houses three of your fingers together for warmth while leaving your index finger out on its own for shifting and braking.

The GripGrab Ride Windproof Deep Winter Lobster Gloves come with Thinsulate insulation and a soft fleece lining. They’re not intended to be fully waterproof – they’re primarily meant for cold, dry conditions – but a PFC-free DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating on the outside is meant to keep out light rain and spray. 

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