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It’s time for Commuting Week again on road.cc, so we’ve rounded up five items that could make your ride to work safer, drier, more enjoyable, or even more luxurious. From very fancy seats, to affordable e-bikes and pedals with extra visibility, here are the previews, with full reviews coming soon.
Brooks B17 Utmost saddle (£279.99)
If Brooks’ legendary B17 saddle is not regal enough for you, the extra fancy limited edition Utmost version might be just the thing for you.
Brooks says it has used only the finest grade of leather for the Utmost, which is thicker than the leather on the standard B17. That shouldn’t mean a firmer or less comfortable ride, because Brooks reckons the leather will break in beautifully over time. There’s also some softener supplied that goes on the underside of the saddle sparingly.
There’s also a redesigned nose and tension pin at the front, and the rails are tubular stainless steel. You can expect the material to develop a unique patina for a “unique and personal look”, making each saddle unique.
All the extra attention to detail comes with a big ol’ price tag, but can the B17 Utmost justify it? The full review is due very soon.
Buy from Condor Cycles for £279.99
Look Geo City Vision pedals (£79.90)
We were mostly impressed with the previous version of Look’s light-up pedals, but the redesigned versions promise a few bonus features and a lower price tag – the City Grip Vision pedals we reviewed in 2021 were £115, and the Geo City Visions have an RRP of just £75.
You can now expect 360° visibility from the LEDs, with loads of side visibility compared to pretty much none on the previous versions. The light units are detachable for easy charging too, and snap back on magnetically. Look claims the integrated 40-lumen lights are visible from up to 900 metres.
The ultimate flat pedal for the commute? Stand by for a full review soon.
Buy from Balfe’s Bikes for £75.00
Topeak U-Shell Drybag (£44.99)
We’ve just published a review of the Topeak Zi:Rack Essential Quick Mount you can see in the picture, and soon we’ll have the verdict on the U Shell Drybag you can see on top of it.
Aimed at tourers, bikepackers and commuters alike, this waterproof bag has a 10-litre capacity, and even has a built-in air release valve to compress the stuff in your bag when it’s not full. Two 80cm TPE straps are supplied to fasten it securely, and the total weight for the bag plus straps is just under 230g.
Buy from Tweeks Cycles for £34.99
Batribike Route S (£1,299.00)
Our pals at ebiketips have taken delivery of the Batribike Route S, an affordable commuter that is “designed for everyday riding” according to the Batribike.
The step-through frame is built around 27.5″ wheels, and it’s very much about providing a comfortable, predictable ride quality to get you from A to B, with only 43cm or 48cm frame sizes available. It also comes fitted with mudguards as standard, and you can fit a child seat. You can add accessories such as a basket, kickstand or pannier for a bit of extra cash.
The motor is located in the rear hub, and the standard battery offers 374Wh. You can opt for the boost version giving you 504Wh (for an extra £150).
Does it do everything you would need for the commute for a little over a grand? Richard Peace will be reporting back shortly.
Buy from Batribike for £1,299.00
SKS Mia 12 multitool (44.99)
Not all multitools are created equal, and if there was a brand we’d trust to make one that didn’t round off every bolt on your bike, it would be the esteemed German bike accessory specialist SKS.
The Mia 112 has 12 tools as the name suggests, including seven Allen key options from 2-8mm, T10 and T25 torx keys, a flathead, a spoke wrench, and even a chain tool. That’s nearly everything you might need to tighten something you’ve forgotten to tighten, or fix a catastrophic failure on your commute – although I have to admit, I don’t think I’ve ever carried a spare chain on mine, so would still be very late home for tea if my chain snapped (I did see that happen to an unfortunate soul once).
Is it a match made in multitool heaven for reviewer Iwein Dekoninck? The full report will be going up very soon.
For all the latest road.cc test reports, head over to our reviews section. If you want a bit more advice before making an investment, check out our buyer’s guides.
