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The road.cc reviews team have been taking full advantage of some of the decent weather so far this year. Here are 12 standout products we reviewed in May, with three of them receiving a hallowed 10/10 score as well as the road.cc Recommends badge of honour…
The full dozen is listed below, and below that we’ve highlighted six to explain why they made the cut.
- Old Man Mountain Hemlock packs with FLiP cages
- Posedla Joyseat 3.0 Pro custom 3D-printed saddle
- Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo wheelset
- Leatt RideViz Pro Photochromic sunglasses
- Orbea Terra Race M31eLTD 1x gravel bike
- Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro
- Scribe Elan Ultra 6 wheels
- Santini Alpha Sleeveless base
- Scott Addict 20
- Truflo Compact Electron Compact Electric Pump
- Estarli G700
- Lusso Paragon Deep Winter socks
Posedla Joyseat 3.0 Pro custom 3D-printed saddle
3D-printed saddles have been around for a few years now, but fully custom versions remain relatively rare. The Posedla Joyseat 3.0 Pro is a lightweight, 3D-printed saddle custom-made to suit your individual riding style and physiology, with 7x9mm oval carbon rails.
Unlike the Fizik One-to-One custom 3D-printed saddle, there’s no need to visit an authorised dealer for pressure mapping. Instead, Posedla sends out a “Smiling Butt Kit”, essentially a foam moulding kit that you use at home. Reviewer Alex noted it’s simple to use, although you only get one attempt to get it right.
In initial testing on the turbo trainer, Alex said: “Without making any effort to either fine-tune height or position it just so fore and aft, the Joyseat Pro was immediately, noticeably comfier.”
The saddle requires a dual investment of both time and money, but you end up with both an excellent saddle and also a clearer idea what to look for next time you need another.
Read our review of the Posedla Joyseat 3.0 Pro custom 3D-printed saddle
Leatt RideViz Pro Photochromic sunglasses
Receiving a perfect 10/10 score, Leatt – new to the world of sunglasses – has nailed it with the RideViz Pro Photochromic Sunglasses. The brand hasn’t held back, with the glasses packed full of tech.
These feature a single-curve cylindrical lens, which means that’s one single piece of impact-tested polycarbonate that consistently wraps around the face. This is the photochromic model that changes from 90 percent visual light transmission (nearly clear, says Leatt) to 25 VLT by reacting to the ambient brightness.
Reviewer Liam says, “Leatt’s RideViz Pro Photochromic glasses have left me incredibly impressedThey’re comfortable and stable while providing a completely unobstructed view. From a performance point of view, the RideViz Pros punch well above their pricetag.”
Read our review of the Leatt RideViz Pro Photochromic sunglasses
Scott Addict 20
Buy for £4,299 from Balfe’s Bikes
The Addict range starts at £2,249 with the Addict 50 and tops out at £6,499 for the Addict Premium, which puts this 20 somewhere in the mid-range at £4,299. The Scott Addict 20 is one of those rare bikes that shows it is possible to have a road machine that feels incredibly light and fast while also offering an endurance style position paired with the highest level of comfort.
It’s well specced for the money too, with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset, WIND 42 DB carbon wheels from Fulcrum wrapped in Schwalbe’s ONE tyres, and Syncors finishing kit including carbon handlebars.
Reviewer Stu said, “taking everything into account from a ride and performance point of view, I rate the Addict as one of the best bikes of its genre out there right now. The ride quality is stunning, so is it’s rider involvement and it has the get up and go to satisfy all but the fastest of racers.”
Read our review of the Scott Addict 20
Scribe Elan Ultra 6 wheels
Scribe is no stranger to our Recommends articles, and its Élan Ultra 6 wheelset – designed with speed in mind – impressed in testing. Build quality on the Élan Ultra 6 is excellent, with the distinctive carbon spokes contributing to a high-end finish.
The rims are 65mm deep, with a 24mm internal width that pairs well with 30mm tyres. Scribe’s ramped rim bed also works effectively, making tubeless installation straightforward.
At 1,287g, the combination of low weight and stiff carbon spokes results in wheels that climb exceptionally well for their depth.
Scribe has designed the hubs well too, being ambitious, but sensible. The machined hub bodies have been lightened where possible, but we were pleased to see an enclosed bed for the straight pull spoke heads.
Read our review of the Scribe Elan Ultra 6 wheels
Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro
This is Huawei’s flagship smartwatch, and it has the features to back it up, making it our pick of smartwatches for cycling. The GT 6 Pro feels like a genuinely premium piece of kit, with a titanium and stainless steel body and a scratch-resistant sapphire glass display.
You’ve got a heart rate monitor, of course, and that will also tell you your blood oxygenation, but there’s also more complex stuff. Te watch will also check your heartbeat for abnormalities and even somehow check on your arterial stiffness. If you’re big into your altitude training, there’s even an altitude adaptation app.
The battery life is also excellent. Reviewer Dave said, “I’ve recorded activities up to an 11-hour, 200km audax, and that consumed about a quarter of the battery, so the claimed 40-hour life when recording – enough for that 600km you’re planning – seems to be about on the money.”
Read our review of the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro
Truflo Compact Electron Compact Electric Pump
Buy for £38 from Fawkes Cycles
The Truflo Electron Compact Electric Pump is indeed mini with a weight of 120g, or 126g with the extra valve, fitting nicely into your back pocket or saddlebag.
It features a large LED display for you to set the target pressure in bars or PSI, and Truflo suggests you’ll be able to get three inflations of a 700 x 38mm hybrid tyre to 50PSI from a single charge. Reviewer Jen found she was getting five inflations of 28mm tyres.
Extra accessories include a ball needle, a Schrader valve, a Schrader valve hose, a lanyard, a storage bag, a Ziplock carry bag and a USB-C charging cable.
Read our review of the Truflo Compact Electron Compact Electric Pump
To see the full archive of products that have been awarded road.cc Recommends badges over the years, head over to the road.cc Recommends section.
