This week, we’ve got a host of cool things from Wolf Tooth with a new set of pedals that may set a new standard for SPD, DMR’s latest grips, and fresh kicks from Fox Racing. On top of all that, we’re going to take a good look at e*thirteen’s answer to pedal kickback and Lauf’s third go at its leaf-sprung fork.
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But first, let’s go over what happened during the week. We started off by rounding up everything that happened at the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships, with the Dutch ruling the women’s pack and interesting tactics being the main story of the weekend. Then, as things are certainly getting wetter and colder, we brought our best advice on how to set up your mountain bike for winter. That’s not all, as riding in the dark is going to become a part of everyone’s weekly riding schedule, so get your glow on with our top tips for riding at night.
As for reviews, we took a deep dive into OneUp Components’ rather unique Wave Pedals, had a post-flight review of Buds Sports’ Rollbag Pro, asked whether Brooks’ Cambium bar tape brings the grip, and looked at Kenda’s entry into gravel rubber with the Crusher.
To round off the week, I presented the bike I rode the RiftMTB on, the Lauf Elja. As I was faced with 295km of riding, I made some changes to make it more comfortable, and more convenient to live with.
Wolf Tooth Components CTRL pedals
£189
Introducing its first clipless pedal range last week, Wolf Tooth has taken the tried and tested SPD platform and given it its own spin, and that’s perhaps the most obvious with the CTRL. It’s the trail pedal in the range, and yep, it uses that SPD mechanism, but as you can see, it’s built with extended wings. Wolf Tooth says that this extra-large platform improves the rider’s connection with the bike and boosts control. But importantly, we reckon that it might provide a solid middle ground between full platformed clipless pedals and the smaller mechanism-only offerings on the market.
That platform is built from CNC-machined aluminium and we’re told that it’s very thin, which should boost pedal clearance against rock strikes. Inside, there’s an igus bushing and three custom cartridge bearings but there’s something a little more to this pedal than meets the eye.
It comes with an adjustable Q factor, or really, an adjustable spindle length. By arranging the bearings and bushing inside, and even adding spacers, the CTRL can offer different axle lengths in four millimetre increments. There are slimmer spacers available, which fine-tune that adjustment to two millimetre increments.
Lauf Grit 3rd Gen fork
$1,190
Lauf has built its name for its leaf spring technology, launching onto the market with the TR29 XC fork in 2012. Now, that tech has come a long way in 13 years, and this is the third-generation Grit fork from the brand. As before, it uses the distinctive leaf springs to achieve its 30mm of gravel-specific suspension travel while reaching an unsprung weight of 250g (claimed). With that, Lauf claims that the third-generation fork is smoother, faster, and grippier.
Of course, as this uses leaf springs, it doesn’t require any maintenance whatsoever, so it’ll be extra appealing to any gravel riders who prioritise simplicity, and the S2 glass fibre springs have been tested to over a million and a half cycles. They then achieve a progressive spring rate, says the brand, so the springs become stiffer with the more the fork is compressed. This should retain good small bump compliance while avoiding bottoming out.
The third-generation fork also features more tyre clearance thanks to wider ‘shoulders’, or a crown, depending on how you look at it, and this, in turn, boosts lateral stiffness, we’re told. That’s all without adding weight, too.
e*thirteen Sidekick hub
£469.95
While the battle against pedal kickback has been long fought, e*thirteen has thrown its hub-based anti-kickback system into the ring. Coming before the somewhat similar DT Swiss DF system we looked at a couple of weeks ago, it works similarly, but achieves its result differently.
That red ring is largely to credit for the hub’s adjustability, and its ability to quieten pedal kickback. By turning it and lining up the arrows, the user can choose from 12, 15 and 18 degrees of ‘deadband’, or free movement before the hub engages under pedalling loads. The result of this smidgeon of hub freedom then filters the chain tension from a bike’s suspension movement, so it should smooth the suspension even more.
Where the hub looks a little more normal, it uses a 60T ratchet ring and an interesting pusher-driven pawl system that results in a silent freehub and reduced drag, according to e*thirteen.
Fox Racing Union Canvas Mid shoes
£120
Fox’s Union lineup has proven to be a rather successful addition to the shoe market, and it’s expanding pretty quickly as the brand has taken its affordable Union Canvas shoe and has given it a mid-top design. Not only does this boost protection against the cranks, but it also makes them look rather casual.
As with the rest of Fox’s shoes, these use an Ultratac rubber compound for pedal grip, and there’s a reinforced toe box, upping protection further. The tread is low profile, too, in a bid to help a pedal’s pins sink into that rubber. The Union Canvas Mid isn’t all about stylishly casual looks, however, as inside there’s a stiffening plate that’s said to boost power transfer when pedalling.
DMR Gridlock grips
£18
Although DMR is better known for Brendan Fairclough’s signature grip, the Deathgrip, the brand has a few more offerings, including the very new Gridlock. It’s inspired by the push-on Grid Grip, but it opens up the versatility and perhaps the appeal, with a single locking collar.
It’s a mighty long grip too, measuring at 150mm including the collar, and it’s available in three diameters to suit different hand sizes and preferences. It then uses a soft compound rubber in order to fend off arm pump. Where the Grid Grip inspiration comes in is the textures, as it uses a mushroom pattern for the most part, with a classic waffle for the fingers.
