Q36.5’s “game-changing” pedal and shoe system, Van Rysel’s £300 rain jacket, plus more pro-level kit from Vittoria, SRM and Deda

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We have a range of the latest pro-level cycling kit in for testing at road.cc HQ, including Q36.5’s “game-changing” pedal and shoe system, Van Rysel’s surprisingly pricey rain jacket, and other race-focused kit from Vittoria and Deda. Here are the previews, with full reviews landing on the site soon. 

Q36.5 Unique Pro 4.0 Road Shoes White (£550)

> Best road cycling shoes

“Engineered for total control”, the Q36.5 Unique Pro 4.0 Road Shoes are said to “use proprietary Italian manufacturing technologies to achieve a new level of stability, power, and comfort”.

The Unique Pro shoes have a carbon fibre sole and have been developed to work with the SRM X-Power Direct cleat/pedal with a four-hole configuration (more on that below). Importantly, the shoes also retain compatibility with standard three-bolt systems such as Shimano SPD–SL and Look Keo, so you won’t need to commit to an entirely new shoe and pedal system.

The Unique Pro 4.0 is available in 19 sizes, ranging from EU 37 to 48, with half sizes offered from 39 to 45. Our test pair tips the scales at 432g in a size 45. Alongside white, the range also includes black, check blue and check white colourways.

Buy for £550 from Q36.5

Q36.5 SRM X-Power Direct Road Pedals Grey (£550)

At the end of last year, Q36.5 and SRM launched a new shoe and pedal system that they described as “game-changing” in that it increases the contact area between shoe and pedal and “reduces total pedalling stack height by 6mm relative to current marketing leading figures”.

The Unique Pro 4.0 shoe is the only shoe to offer compatibility with SRM’s X-Power Direct road pedal system. As a result, the complete pedal-and-shoe set-up comes in at £1,100 – unless you already own a pair of the Unique Pro 4.0 Road Shoes. The price does, however, include the proprietary cleats.

Despite the name and the fact that SRM is famous as a pioneering power meter brand, the X-Power Direct pedal comes without power measurement. For comparison, you can get a pair of single-sided Wahoo Speedplay Power pedals for £479.99.

The SRM X-Power Direct pedals weigh in at 318g (including cleats and fastenings)on our scales. We weighed Shimano Dura-Ace pedals at 309g, with the cleats and fastenings, so there’s not much in it in terms of weight.

Sam Smith is testing both the Unique Pro 4.0 shoes and SRM X-Power Direct pedals, so check back soon for his full verdict.

Get the pedals for £550 from Q36.5

Van Rysel RCR-R Pro Ultralight Rain waterproof road cycling jacket (£299.99) 

> How to choose the right waterproof cycling jacket 

Van Rysel is well known for it’s high-performance/high-value offerings such as the Road Cycling Shoes RCR and for having one of the best value road bikes in the WorldTour peloton, so I was surprised to see the price of this rain jacket. It’s a similar price to rain jackets from other high-end brands such as the Assos Mille GTS Wasserschnauze Rain Jacket S11 which costs £280, but this is out of character for Van Rysel.

The RCR-R Pro Ultralight Rain Jacket is billed as being developed for professional cyclists, and serves as the rain jacket of choice for the riders of WorldTour team Decathlon CMA CGM.

Protection comes via a 20,000mm-rated membrane, a hydrostatic head figure that suggests the fabric is capable of withstanding sustained heavy rain. Van Rysel also claims “100% watertight” seams and zip.

Practical details include two large rear pockets, and our size M weighs in at an impressive 158g on the road.cc Scales of Truth. 

Buy now for £289.99 from Decathlon

Vittoria Corsa Pro Tubeless Tyre (£89.99) 

> road.cc Recommends Tyres of the Year

Widely used in the pro peloton, including Team Visma Lease a Bike, the Vittoria Corsa Pro tyre is described as “delivering unmatched pro-level racing performance and riding feeling”.

The latest Corsa Pro claims to be “faster with increased puncture resistance” thanks to the graphene and silica compounds, balancing speed, grip, and durability, according to the brand. The 320TPI casing remains from the previous generation.

The tyre is available in six widths from 24mm to 32mm, with our test tyre measuring 28mm. Check back soon for Sam’s full verdict.

Buy from Freewheel for £89.99

Deda Superzero RS Carbon Bars 42cm (£299) 

Italian component manufacturer Deda Elementi supplies WorldTour team Decathlon CMA CGM with its handlebars, and one of the options available to the team is the Superzero RS Carbon Bars.

The Superzero RS is engineered to be “more aerodynamic, lighter, and stiffer”, while providing a more comfortable position, according to the brand. Its RHM-EVO shape is an evolution of Deda’s existing geometry, featuring a 120mm drop that allows riders to “keep the low position much longer with an increase in comfort”, meaning less position in your on hoods position and drops position. Many handlebars that come standard on bikes feature a similar drop. 

The bars allow for full cable integration in compatible frames, or semi-internal routing if preferred. The Superzero RS Carbon Bars are available in four widths – 40 cm, 42 cm, 44 cm, and 46 cm.

Buy from ChickenCycleKit for £299

For all the latest full reviews on road.cc, head over to our reviews section. For more advice before splashing the cash, you can check out our buyer’s guides, and head over to road.cc Recommends to find all our top-rated products in one place.