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Pro Vibe monocoque UD carbon handlebar - detail 4.jpgFive cool products coming soon to road.cc
Another week, another flurry of the latest bikes, tech and accessories tested to the max by road.cc’s team of roving reviewers. Here’s five things we’ll be giving our verdict on very soon…
Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX Disc 8.0
£2,999.00
It might not have the snappiest name, but our reviewer Tass Whitby will be hoping for a snappy performance from the new WMN CF SLX Disc 8.0 from Canyon. This women-specific bike is an entirely new line, with a geometry designed from scratch that Canyon say is "based on the average female size" for optimum comfort levels. The carbon frame prioritises responsiveness and absorption of road buzz, achieved by using slimmer tube profiles and less material, thus resulting in a more aero and lighter set-up for the female racer. The bike is equipped with Shimano Ultegra, a Canyon cockpit with adjusted lever reach for smaller hands, and DT Swiss PR 1400 Dicut wheels with disc brakes. Sizes go from 3XS to medium (the smallest two sizes come with 650b wheels), and as always all Canyon bikes are sold directly from their website.
PRO Vibe monocoque UD carbon handlebars
£299.99
First shown at Eurobike last year, this version of the PRO Vibe bars are top-end and crafted with a full carbon monocoque for the ultimate in stiffness, low weight and seamless integration for your components . They have a Kammtail cross section and slimmed frontal area on the drops for increased aero efficiency, and internal cable routing for Di2 and mechanical componets for a totally clean look out front. The weight starts from 245g for a 40cm wide bar (you can also get it in 42cm). Stu Kerton is currently testing them to see if they ride as smooth as they look...
£260.00
While you can't ignore that whopping great price ticket, Castelli fans are accustomed to paying a premium for what is usually quality kit, and this packable jacket squeezes a whole load of tech in possibly the smallest space we've ever seen. The jacket has Gore-Tex technology to make it totally waterproof, and YKK waterproof zippers for easy pocket access. The Idro weighs in at just 123g, and packs down/zips up to a half-pocket size that fits in the palm of your hand with ease. But do the best things (or technical bike jackets) always come in small packages? Jez Ash will be giving his verdict soon...
£60.00
For those who "ride hard on a regular basis and prefer to be seen when speeding across the landscape", the Verve Glow has reflective details on the chest and back to make you extra visible. Stretchy technical fabrics combined with bodymapped mesh panels purport to provide efficient moisture transport and cooling for optimal performance. There are three open back pockets and one zipped, and an opening for a headset wire. Will the extra safety points earn this jersey a glowing review? Stu Kerton is testing now...
American Classic Argent tubeless wheels
£875.00
All American classic wheelsets are "obsessively engineered" by designer Bill Shook, and the Argent tubeless set is crafted with their Series 3 group spoke lacing to create the strongest, stiffest and lightest wheel possible. The concept behind this lacing pattern is to create equal spoke tension for the drive and non-drive sides of the rear wheel, which American Classic claim can't be reached in traditionally spoked wheels. Shook calculated the optimal position for the non-drive side hub flange to create the ideal bracing angle of the non-drive side spokes, and says his three group spike design yields the best spoke tension on both sides of the rear wheel, which means no chance of broken spokes and no flex out of the saddle. Jez Ash is currently testing the credentials of this smart-looking wheelset around the south west...
Check out all our latest tests in our reviews section
Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story).
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13 comments
@David Arthur Thanks
Interesting that canyon have gone for a women specific model at around the time that Specialized have switched the tarmac to essentially a unisex frame with changed contact points. The theories and logic behind womens bikes gets a bit confusing at times (although men's bikes aren't much better with all the marketing BS)
Wouldn't buy another pair of American Classics. A new pair of 2016 argents lasted me less than 6000 km of moderate riding before the rims became dangerously worn. Disappointing for not cheap wheels.
Could you put your heaviest rider on the Am Classics test? I'm intrigued at the concept of equal tensioning on the drive and non-drive side spokes on the rear wheel: my most comfortable set of wheels have a discernable difference in the tensioning, whereas my least comfortable on UK roads (HEDs, which I rode today) have more even tensioning and tend to give feedback and resonate at certain frequencies. All my wheels are handbuilt, and I was thinking of getting them retensioned, when I read your article...I'm intrgiued that someone is going against convention.
It has Gore-Tex technology! You'll never find that anywhere else, £260 well spent.
You're forgetting the YKK zips.
Exactly. Cycling seems to be one of those sectors where manufacturers routinely jack up the price for no reason.
You can get a high quality Goretex walking jacket, which has a lot more material in it than a cycling jacket, for under £150. It's not as if Goretex is even the best breathable waterproof fabric anymore. Event and Pertex Shield are a lot better. Fly fishing is another sector where premium prices apply for the same technology.
Interesting, from my experience E-vent is fantastic the first time it faces a rain-shower, then it's as useless as a soft polyester tracksuit.
My experience of materials is mostly based on mountaineering kit rather than riding, so I can appreciate the demands of use are slightly different, but while Goretex isn't as breathable as E-vent it's held up against a sustained downpour more consistently for me.
All that aside, the price is still about £100 too steep.
You're clearly not aware of Gore's latest Shakedry fabric then? That's okay, it was only launched last year. It's pretty impressive; I've tested it in Gore's own jacket and without a doubt, it's the best waterproof I've ever tested. Breathability is incredibly good - I wore it for 4-5 hours in constant rain in mild temperatures at the weekend and was dry and never overheated
Is this jacket shake-dry? It doesn't say so in the article.
It's using the same 2-layer permanent beading One Active fabric, yes
"While you can't ignore that whopping great price ticket...".
Yes I can. Because it's going to be attached to the jacket, which I am also going to completely ignore. £260 for a bloody cycling waterproof - I swear the pricing of cycling gear is now largly driven by marketing people playing "dare" around boardroom tables.
Potty-mouthedness aside... I could not agree more!