The Off-road.cc team is always excited about 5 Cool Things but this one is especially exciting as, making its way through the office this week is a handful of weird, wonderful, and potentially game-changing kit that we can’t wait to get testing. Here’s a taster of what we’ve got in for review.
- The best gravel and adventure bikes you can buy for under £1,500
- Buyer’s guide to mountain bike and gravel shoes – flat and clipless option
- The best trail and enduro mountain bike wheelsets, tried and tested
720 Protections Awake 1.0
€219
The eagled eyed among our viewers will have noticed that we ran a news piece on the 720 Protections Awake 1.0 helmet a few weeks ago (see that here) and once we found out what it was all about, we had to get one in for testing. The Awake 1.0 aims to shake up the head protection game with its HexaGo technology, what the brand calls the hexagonal structure inside of the helmet. Unlike traditional lids with styrofoam cores, HexaGo returns to shape promising twice the protection compared to EN standards.
Even though the Awake 1.0 is available to the UK market, we don’t yet have a GBP price.
Timber! Mountain Bike Bell
£25
We had the Granite Designs Cricket in for review and it scored rather well. Now we have some direct competition in for test in the form of the Timber! Mountain Bike Bell. It comes in both a band-on and bolt-on model, and it claims to be completely silent until you don’t want it to be. Once you need to let other trail users that you’re clattering your way towards them, switch the bell into its free mode and it’ll constantly ring, alerting anyone else that you’re on your way.
SMOOVE Universal Chain Lube
£15
SMOOVE takes the best elements of wax and oil-based lubes without any of the negatives, says the brand. It’s created to withstand the pressures that a chain is put through when cycling epic-distance stage races without the need to top up. SMOOVE reckons that the lube can last from 300-600 miles between applications. We’re looking forward to seeing if it can put its money where its mouth is.
Fasst Company Flexx Enduro Carbon
£450
“£450 for a handlebar!?” I hear you scream in horror and yes, usually I would recoil too but this isn’t any old handlebar. The Fasst Co. Flexx handlebar lives up to its name by offering adjustable vertical flex, promising a smoother ride over proper chunky terrain. Its stiffness is adjustable with the use of four different sets of elastomers, offering five degrees of bar-end travel, depending on the length of the bar.
We’ve got the carbon model on test with 8° of backsweep but it also comes in a cheaper but weightier alloy option and a 12° backsweep option in either material.
Mons Royale Women’s Clothing
Mons Royale has sent in an absolute pile of women’s specific clothing, including underwear, socks, jerseys, shorts and even windproof jerseys. On these, you’ll find breathable merino mesh panels, ripstop polyester, drop tails and strategically placed inseams. This is a collection work keeping your eyes open for the full review coming soon.
