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TECH NEWS
2021 Wilier Cento 10 SLFive cool things coming soon from Wilier, Wahoo, Aftershockz, Evoc and FFWD
Well what a wet old week! We'll be hoping for some better weather before the clocks go back, but at the moment it looks like soggy rides for the foreseeable. Here are some of the best things we've been testing in the rain (and indoors) over the past few days...
Aftershokz OPENMOVE Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones
£79.95
If you enjoy music while you ride, you'll be wanting headphones that allow you to hear the world around you (cars basically)... and the OPENMOVE bone-conducting headphones from Aftershokz should do the job, with the brand claiming they "allow the sound of traffic and music to be heard at the same time". Fitting just over your ear, you don't have to worry about earbuds being unsuitable for the shape of your lugholes, and Aftershokz claim sound quality isn't compromised thanks to their seventh generation bone conduction technology to deliver "superior dynamic stereo
sound". A six hour battery life will be fine for all but the longest rides, and IP55 sweat resistance will allow them to hold up against all kinds of moisture and dirt. Does Steve Williams now like the sound of the OPENMOVE even more after trying them out? His review is due this month.
aftershokz.co.uk
£999.99
This is the fifth version of Wahoo's popular Kickr smart trainer, and it's very much a case of evolution over revolution with some subtle tweaks compared to V4. Wahoo say the new Kickr Axis action feet contribute to an improved power meter accuracy, which they claim is now down to +/-1%. A carbon steel body makes it highly durable, and the ability to run three simultaneous bluetooth connections means you can have a boat load of data spat at you from various devices while you're training, if that's your thing. Of course it's fully compatible with all of Wahoo's impressive add-ons, such as the Kikcr Climb for grade simulation and the Bluetooth-controlled Kick Headwind Smart Fan. If Gianni Moscon happens to be reading this he'll be glad to know that the Kickr can handle up to 2,200 watts of power, so he and his Ineos teammates should be able to warm up without worrying about anything conking out during this year's rearranged Giro.
Has Wahoo's new and improved top-end trainer given Dave Atkinson's indoor training an extra kick? His test report is due soon...
uk.wahoofitness.com
£1,499.85
Described as "the wheel set for all types of terrain", the RYOT 44 is described as an all-rounder that doesn't sacrifice on aerodynamics - and as you can fit tyres up to 42mm wide, they could even be used as a fast gravel wheelset. Built around the new DT Swiss 240 EXP hub system, FFWD promise fast engagement, high levels of stiffness and lower weight, with the pair weighing in at 1,520g. Accessories and a protective wheel bag are included if you decide to splash out.
extrauk.co.uk
£5,290.00
While the five grand price tag might not make it 'mid-range' to most of us who aren't millionaires, the Cento 10 SL trickles down most of the tech from their top-end Cento 10 Pro. but comes in at a slightly more affordable price point. A cheaper carbon layup is used compared to the Pro, which adds a bit of weight but means it still comes in at 8kg on the nose. The tube shapes are the result of much wind tunnel and CFD analysis and cabling is all internal, thanks to the new Stemma SL alloy stem that integrates on the underside with a carbon cover through which the cables are routed. The max tyre width possible is 28mm, and Wilier say a pressfit BB86 bottom bracket allowed them to create a super chunky bottom bracket area to add extra stiffness. Has it saved Stu Kerton some time and watts on his regular test ride stomping ground? Find out in his review later this month.
wilier.com/en
£69.99
This backpack is built to do the job on or off the bike, described as a "sporty city backpack for everyday use". There are various compartments for all your super important documents and equipment, plus side pockets and a padded notebook section. The capacity is a shade under 20 litres, with dimensions of 47 x 28 x 15 cm. Has it become Lara Dunn's everyday backpack of choice? The test report is due soon...
zyrofisher.co.uk
For all the latest road.cc test reports, head over to our reviews section. If you want some more advice before splashing the cash, check out our buyer's guides.
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).
Latest Comments
- stonojnr 1 hour 33 min ago
well at least they didnt go for British Racing Green as well ,as then theyd have two trademark licensing cases up against them....
- BIFFSTER 1 hour 38 min ago
well no, there isnt a pavement in Richmond Park, so cyclists and pedestrians are sharing the same space. It's quite busy at times, so not really...
- ktache 1 hour 50 min ago
They are professional cyclists in elite world teams, I say no to budget caps, they should be able to have expensive caps!
- Rendel Harris 1 hour 54 min ago
No names, no packdrill, you note!
- ktache 2 hours 1 min ago
Often the first indication of a dog walker I will have is the reflection in the dogs eyes.
- Laz 2 hours 32 min ago
I think the best solution would be to automatically charge every driver who hits a cyclist on the road with attempted murder, and plain murder in...
- SimoninSpalding 2 hours 50 min ago
Can definitely relate to this. I got to the age of 38 and was seriously unfit, to the extent that I was laid up in bed with a bad back every other...
- David9694 3 hours 45 min ago
Car crashes into front of home in Briggs Mead, Wymondham...
- nowasps 3 hours 56 min ago
I've worked my way through a gifted box of these, and the review tallies exactly with my own experience.
- E6toSE3 4 hours 27 min ago
Quite wrong. The really interesting stuff was good goggles for under £80 - my budget and I was previously limited to Tifosi. Had to ask about...
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9 comments
I've discs and rims, my rim bike is by far best for racing, training, general road riding.
My disc bike is set up with 28mm road tyres or 33mm knobby nicks and can handle most everything else I want to do, if it's wet, out comes the disc brake bike, I've had far too many 'oh my gawd squeeky bum' moments in the rolling hills of warwickshire and the cotswolds, just knowing you can brake predictably when you need to is enough to put up with the SKREEEEEECH of braking and the shuffle shuffle of a sticky pot pushing one pad in just close enough to touch the disc. It is a lovely bike, corners great, surges forward on the flats and is comfy with the plumper tyres, however I feel every gram of the additional 2kg weight as soon as the road rises and that's the one reason which I'll choose the rim brake bike over it every time it's dry.
It's now 'possible' to buy a disc brake bike off the shelf at less than 7kg's, but they are top top end.. I hope the costs will trickle down with the tech.. but I fear we'll still see a premium put on disc brake bikes financially for as long as they can get away with it.
My initial reaction on that Willier was 'blimey seems expensive', but actually, it's probably not that far off, a similar spec TCR comes in at £4.8k and I'd bet a similar Tarmac would be higher priced. No I think we're all just coming to the realisation that bike price hikes we all knew about are now hitting home.
5k+ for an 8kg bike and some semi aero wheels, it also comes with a liquid pump for extracting the urine. Seen the frame weight is close to 1200g which is a good 200g off the the average in class, most of which squeeze under the 1kg mark.
you're having a giraffe.
Peak Torque did a really good video on this recently where he stated that rim brake top of the range bikes were coming in a lot lighter than the disc equivalent but since a lot of manufacturers are going disc only you have to spend £10K+ to get the same weight as a rim brake £5K bike. So in this case you either spend £5K on an 8KG bike or £10K on a 7KG bike. Just another way the bike industry squeezes more money out of us.
Bike technology peaked about 5 years ago, the only reason disc are being forced on consumers is because they ran out of reasons to sell new stuff. Rims brakes just function better in my experience, the only reason I have a disc frame is so I can avoid damaging my good bikes on bad days. I'll never in my life buy a "high end" disc frame, too much faff getting the piss poor tolerances to work adequately
Yes and no. Carbon wheels and discs are less of a faff. But having gone disc, especially in the wet, I wouldn't go back. Not saying rim is inferior because it's all personal preference but for me, I just appreciate the modulation and control I get on discs. Weight not being a massive issue for me
yes me too, if I want to save 200g, Ill just eat less cake
I don't mind a faff - I ride tubulars daily by choice - as long as there's a benefit from it. The carbon rims I ride brake better, just as powerfully and provide more modulation, than the disc brakes I ride. Frame manufacturers don't even bother to build their bottom brackets to tolerance, what chance can we expect them to build their brake mounts square and level. Rim brakes have always been set and forget, my experience with discs has so far meant nearly every ride gives me a reason to fiddle with the calipers afterwards. In the wet and shite though, sure - I'd rather trash my disc bike than any of the good ones
Canyon do a disc bike for a couple k more coming in at 6.59kg. You could probably drop a groupset or two and drop the price right down and the weight only slightly up.
It can be done, not necessarily by Willier