Tech Roundup: Avanti, Scott, Selle Royal, Lightweight Wheels, Onix, Qimmiq plus more…

New Zealand's Avanti bikes had already picked up a domestic prize for the new Chrono Evo 2 time trial bike but the Red Dot Award bestowed this week has a whole different level of prestige with brands like Audi and Apple as well as Avanti competing for the attention of a jury of 30 international design experts.

Avanti will not be familiar here because the brand has only just been picked up by UK distributor Paligap for first shipments this month but eagle-eyed spectators at last month's World Cup track races at the London Olympic velodrome will have noticed the Kiwi competitors on their bikes.

The range will initially focus on more mainstream road and mountain models, according to Paligap, but at this rate they may need to speed up* the variants on the - now award-winning - Chrono Evo 2 time-trial frame shown on the Avanti website for New Zealand. 

*UPDATE: Framesets arriving in May. Price: £3,200.

Details: avantibikes.com

Lightweight Wheels launch new carbon clinchers

German wheelmeisters Lightweight have had a super light, all-carbon clincher wheel set in their range for a while and the new Meilenstein C model won't reduce the weight any further from the already extraordinary 1,150 grams. An all-new combination of carbon materials and manufacturing process, however, means that the new wheels will resist braking forces considerably better meaning that potentially high temperatures won't make it through to your tyres, which will be reassuring on those long Alpine descents. Price is still £3,349 which puts them at the top of the premium pile.  

Details: lightweight.info

New Scott Split aero helmet already successful

No price yet for the new Scott Split aero helmet and no indication of colourways coming but the GreenEdge pro team have already kicked off with a win wearing the new headware at the team time trial starting Tirreno-Adriatico earlier in the week. There's a video here... 

Onix showing the Black RH models initially at Scottish Bike Show

We posted on the new Rob Hayles signature bikes from Onix recently and now we know that they will be getting an inaugural run-out at the Scottish Bike Show in Glasgow next month. "This is a major coup for The Scottish Bike Show to be seen as a platform for such an exciting new brand of road bike.  I know the Scottish public are going to love the range," says Rowan Mackie of Magdala Media organising the show. Onix will be offering a 10% discount on full bike orders at the show and will be holding a competition to win a signed Rob Hayles Onix jersey.

Details: onixbikesonline.com

How to crack open a Qimmiq energy gel

We also posted recently on new Qimmiq energy gels that taste of delicious raspberry jam - they're in for review at the moment - but their claim to fame isn't even the flavour. It's that they come in a clever package that pops open one-handed for easy sucking up and then folds closed neatly in a way that doesn't coat you, your hands and jersey pocket in sticky goo. There'a a video for that, too...

Details: qimmiq.co.uk

Becoz eco saddle range from Selle Royal

Maybe the Italian Selle Royal saddle folks have been so successful with recent acquisition Brooks that they've gathered confidence in selling their own-branded products more widely in the after-market rather than just the Original Equipment business where they are an important supplier to bike manufacturers. Their new Becoz range comes in multiple shapes for men and women and for functions from racing to leisure. The Unique Selling Point is that the materials for both the saddles, packaging and shop displays are sustainable or recycled including natural cork in in the coverings. Colours are subtle and earth-toned to match retro-styled bikes as well as the bang-up-to-date, to-die-for white bikes.

Jiggernaut instant package for beginner frame builders on Kickstarter

We simply cannot express how impressed we are with this Jiggernaut instant kit of tubes, lugs and machined MDF jig for holding everything together while you braze or weld your very first hand-made bicycle frame. The two guys behind the Jiggernaut project who have already hit their US$5,000 target on funding website Kickstarter are transparently honest about the fact the the jig isn't the whole story about making a first workable frame but it looks like a great start.

Details: kickstarter.com

And finally, CyFy wrist-mounted mirror

Another Kickstarter project that we're not quite so enthusiastic about is the CyFy wrist-mounted cycling mirror but as you know we have form on championing mirrors in unconventional places and, anyway, they've already raised the money they needed to get started. Who knows, they could be helpful and they're not asking a fortune?

Details: kickstarter.com