We’re covering a lot of ground in this edition of Tech of the Week, with everything from child bike seats, to the latest aero tech, to gravel and beyond…
The Conker Seat has a unique protective shell to shield your little one… and its creator has plenty of family history when it comes to innovation
The Conker Seat – a new take on the child bike seat with an automotive grade ABS outer shell for extra protection for its occupant – is the work of Sinclair Innovation Limited. If that rings a bell, it’s because founder Crispin Sinclair is the son of Sir Clive Sinclair, the late legendary inventor who brought the first mass-market home computer to the UK in the 1980s, and the doomed but somewhat fondly remembered Sinclair C5 battery-powered trike.
The Conker Seat attaches to a standard rear rack, and with the outer shell paired with soft internal foam – part of a patent-pending system named OIS – it’s claimed that the Conker Seat provides much better protection than a standard bike seat for the occupant’s body in the event of a fall. The design is also said to prevent road rash, because the outer shell hits the road rather than the child.
Because the occupant is mostly contained, Conker Seat claims your child will be protected from the worst of the weather. It also claims the bright colours with reflective details – plus the imposing size of the Conker seat – improves visibility.
There are even some aero claims attached. Conker Seat says the product offers “Neutral Aerodynamics (almost!)” because it’s tucked behind the rider. We’re told that CFD modelling and real-world testing shown a reduction of 3.5% CdA, which equates to 0.5mph slower at 12mph than riding without your offspring: “A small speed penalty to pay for a big safety gain”, says Conker Seat.
Interested? You can pre-order on the Conker website with a £20 deposit, or back it on Kickstarter with a £299 pledge.
Brooks redesigns its legendary B17 saddle, calling the new Utmost edition “the finest we’ve ever made”
Having been in the trade for 160 years, Brooks knows a thing or two about bike seats – and claims to have poured all that knowledge into an updated version (sorry, the “finest expression” according to Brooks) of arguably its most revered saddle.
Brooks says the B17 Utmost – priced at £280 – uses the finest grade of leather, and has a redesigned nose and tension pin at the front. The rails are tubular stainless steel and, like regular Brooks leather saddles, the natural material will develop a patina over time for a “unique and personal look”. Lovely.
We’ve asked for one to try out against a standard B17 to see if it truly is an extra level of luxurious.
Van Rysel’s new EDR Menstrual bib shorts tackle “the realities of riding as a woman”
Van Rysel has launched two new pairs of women’s cycling shorts, including the EDR Menstrual Short with a dedicated chamois pad that is said to be equivalent in absorption to a super-plus tampon or night-time sanitary pad.
“The EDR Menstrual Short [is] designed to support cyclists during their menstrual cycle, a reality that has historically been overlooked in product development”, says Van Rysel.
“The objective is simple: allow riders to stay focused on the ride, not on discomfort or logistics.”
There’s also the EDR Ultra Bibshort, with an innovative ‘Back Ease’ feature that allows for comfort breaks without having to remove your jersey or bib shorts.
The EDR Ultra shorts are priced at £99.99, and the EDR Menstrual Shorts are £34.99.
Wasted Watts real-time drag measurement device is now on Kickstarter and has already smashed its crowdfunding target…
Wasted Watts – the aero device that shows you how much drag you are producing in real time – is now on Kickstarter, and has already attracted several backers to obliterate its modest £8k crowdfunding target. At over a grand a pop for the device and with considerable PR and investment put behind it already, we’re assuming the folks behind Wasted Watts aren’t relying on the Kickstarter funds to go into production – but it’s a good opportunity to get one for less than the RRP if you’re interested.
Trying out the system last month, our head of video Liam was largely impressed with how he was able to use the device to inform his aero position in real time, but was less convinced by its accuracy when testing out equipment.
The earlybird price is €1,630 (around £1,400) which is said to be around a 25% discount on the eventual RRP – if you’re prepared to have a good look at the T+Cs and accept the usual risks involved with backing a Kickstarter project, you can check out the campaign here.
…as aero-sensing rival Body Rocket sells off its assets
Things aren’t looking optimistic elsewhere in the world of premium aero sensors, as Body Rocket – which claimed to have manufactured “the world’s first device to provide real-time aerodynamic data for cyclists, with wind tunnel accuracy” – is selling off everything from its equipment to the Body Rocket name and patents.
Founded in 2018, it was only last year that Body Rocket launched what it claimed was the “world’s most accurate cycling power meter”, and we were impressed by its real-time drag measurement device back in 2024 – but due to a lack of funding, founder Eric DeGolier told Cycling Weekly that the company is heading towards liquidation.
Offers for Body Rocket’s assets can be made here until 18th June.
HoverAir makes an even more jersey-pocket friendly AI-powered drone
HoverAir has launched its featherweight X1 Smart drone in the UK, bringing a 99g pocket-sized flying camera to cyclists, priced at £359. The sub-100g weight is particularly relevant in the UK, where drones weighing 100g or more require a Flyer ID – meaning the X1 Smart sits just below the registration threshold.
HoverAir says the device is “designed to make aerial content more accessible to everyone”, opening up drone use to people who may never have considered it before.
Like the more expensive X1 ProMax, the X1 Smart shoots in up to 8K and features Active Collision Detection, speeds of up to 42 km/h, and dedicated cycling follow modes. Speeds of up to 42 km/h should be enough for gravel rides and climbing but may struggle on road descents.
We’ve found HoverAir drones to be resilient and easy to use, although battery life can be a limitation, with the ProMax offering a claimed 16 minutes of flight time. Battery life for the X1 Smart has not yet been confirmed but we would expect it to be similar to this.
Pirelli expands gravel range with new 55mm tyres
Italian tyre giant Pirelli has increased the maximum width of its gravel tyre range to 55mm with the launch of the new Cinturato Gravel RH and Cinturato Gravel RM. Both tyres are also available in 40, 45 and 50mm widths, while the Gravel RM also comes in a 35mm option.
RH stands for Race Hardpack and RM for Race Mixed, with Pirelli claiming the new tyres have been developed to “meet the demands of modern gravel riding”. The brand also says they offer significantly lower rolling resistance, with reductions of 17% for the RH and up to 20% for the RM.
This is partly thanks to the latest generation SmartEVO GR compound which Pirelli says is designed to combine “low rolling resistance with reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions”.
The new tyres are available to buy now and are offered in four sidewall options (Black, Classic, Retro and Team Edition), priced at £76.99 each.
Castelli’s latest range is designed especially for the hottest days of the year
UK riders don’t often see 30°C+ heat, but Castelli’s Hot Weather Collection is designed to “excel when the heat is on”, performing best in conditions between 22 and 40°C.
Castelli says the collection is guided by three core principles: maximising airflow, accelerating evaporation and providing advanced UPF protection. While many lightweight summer jerseys prioritise cooling over UV protection, Castelli has designed this collection to deliver both airflow and high UPF coverage.
The jerseys appear less see-through than you might typically expect from hot weather cycling kit, and Castelli emphasises that style hasn’t been overlooked in the pursuit of performance. “Of course, as with any Castelli garment, they also need to look fresh and desirable too, and with the Hot Weather collection, we’ve definitely delivered that.”
The Hot Weather Collection is available for both men and women and key products are: Climber’s AC Jersey (£125), UPF Jersey (£129), Superleggera Bibshorts (£225) and A/C Bibshorts (£170).
Missed all the top tech news and features on road.cc this week? We’re not angry just disappointed, but you can atone for your sins by catching up here instead:
> Megamo launches dedicated e-road bike powered by super-powerful Avinox motor
