Winterproof Northwave shoes, Granite’s steerer-tube mounted tool, hi-fi inspired lights and Peaty’s bamboo cleaning cloths
The first month of the 12 months drags on right here within the UK (it have to be the 54th of January by now…), however by no means concern – our newest version of First Look Friday is right here.
But first, let’s have a recap of this week’s deluge of content material out of your favorite biking web site.
The week began with a bang, with our tackle the leaked photos of the certainly upcoming SRAM Red AXS groupset.
On Tuesday, we revealed my hottest highlights from the Velofollies shopper present in Belgium and Warren Rossiter pitched SRAM Force AXS in opposition to Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100.
Wednesday noticed the arrival of Look’s latest-generation Keo Blade street pedals, whereas I had the chance to place the Keo Blade Ceramic pedals via their paces to see in the event that they’re value switching to.
And on Thursday, a valuable 5-star rating was awarded to the GT Grade Carbon X gravel bike, whereas Alex Evans ran the rule over the Time ATAC MX 4 mountain bike pedal.
On the package entrance, we’ve obtained some high-tech winter-busting footwear, cool entrance lights, a neat built-in multi-tool and some eco-friendly cleaning cloths. Let’s get caught in.
Northwave Flagship R GTX winter shoe
The Northwave Flagship R GTX winter footwear are one thing of a departure for me.
I’ve at all times worn overshoes over customary street biking footwear in winter, however now I’m dabbling on this planet of devoted winter footwear.
The Flagship R GTX footwear aren’t precisely low-cost at a contact below £400, however lots of tech has gone into them to assist face up to the hardest winter climate.
As not so subtly hinted by the branding, the footwear characteristic a Gore-Tex Duratherm Kelvin membrane that covers nearly the entire foot.
This is meant to supply a protect in opposition to chilly penetrating winds, but permit good ranges of breathability.
The higher is calmly rubberised with glued seams, providing a water-proof barrier. Northwave says this makes use of its XFrame2 building, which is claimed to supply a wraparound match freed from strain factors, whereas parts of the internal have a fleece lining for added heat.
At the ankle, a neoprene collar (which reaches below the higher) is claimed to carry extra climate safety with out proscribing motion.
On the perimeters, Northwave has used its SLW3 dial-closure system, which has been borrowed from its top-level street footwear.
The dial twists to shut like a Boa system, however has a lever on high that operates a ratchet to launch stress in small increments. The lever may also be pulled backwards to launch the strain utterly.
Simon von Bromley not too long ago discovered the system useful, however not with out its quirks, so will probably be fascinating to see the way it fares when confronted with the soiled water, grit, grime and salt we get from the UK’s handled roads.
The Powershape Carbon 15 sole can also be introduced over from Northwave’s top-line footwear and is the stiffest the model makes.
The cleat holes are adjustable, and the shoe is appropriate with three-bolt cleats and Wahoo Speedplay.
Look out for a full evaluation of the Northwave Flagship R GTX winter shoe, publishing quickly.
- £386.99 / $472.99 / €429.99
Bookman Volume entrance lights
We first noticed Swedish city model Bookman’s new entrance lights at Eurobike 2023 and had been very taken by their various management interface.
Bookman says the twist knob on the facet is inspired by hi-fi programs of years previous, the place as a substitute of distant controls, contact interfaces, apps and voice assistants, the quantity was turned up or down by a very good old style dial.
On every mild – the Volumes are available in two variations, a 1,500 and 800-lumen mannequin – the dial provides 5 modes as soon as switched on utilizing the facility button on high.
In static mode, the dial switches the brightness up or down (precisely like a quantity management dial).
In flashing mode, the dial switches between flash settings, which embody a disruptive day flash.
Unlike the overwhelming majority of rechargeable bike lights, the battery is replaceable via a port within the again.
Bookman says the alternative battery items will turn out to be obtainable a while in 2024, and will contribute to lowering waste (given solely a battery wants changing, reasonably than the entire mild) whereas providing bikepackers and long-distance riders extra burn time.
The Bookman Volume 1500 has a 4,000mAh battery, and is claimed to offer 3-34 hours’ burn time in static mode and 6-105 hours in its flash settings.
The Volume 800 has a smaller battery (at 3,200mAh), however provides related run instances at 3-35 hours in static and 6-120 hours in flash.
Recharging takes place through USB-C port, with a braided USB-A to USB-C cable equipped.
Both lights connect to the bike utilizing a Garmin twist-mount interface, and Bookman provides a normal handlebar mount and an adaptor to suit them below an out-front mount. The lights may connect on to an out-front mount.
The Volume 1500 is simply obtainable in black, however the Volume 800 is accessible in three colors: black, white and orange (pictured).
- Bookman Volume 1500 – £131 / $149 / €149
- Bookman Volume 800 – £87 / $99 / €99
The Granite Stash RCX is a multi-tool designed to suit contained in the spherical steerer tube of your bike.
While compatibility isn’t common, the Stash RCX is claimed to be appropriate for set up on any fork with a steerer tube with an internal diameter between 23.5mm and 27mm.
The high cowl and instrument housing substitute the prevailing high cap, and the bike’s present compression plug or star nut is changed by the Granite’s personal compression plug.
The instrument, which slides contained in the housing as soon as fitted, has eight features – 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm hex keys, plus a T25 and a flathead screwdriver bit.
On the facet of the instrument is a detachable panel, which carries 4 spoke key sizes and a valve core remover.
Handily, this panel attaches firmly to a jigsaw-piece like level that fills the valve core remover, whereas the opposite finish holds a small magnet, which helps it adhere to the 6 and 4mm hex bits.
The Stash RCX multitool is accessible in black and orange colors, with the uppermost lip of the instrument housing seen when fitted.
To the bare eye, the orange colouring on the housing and instrument isn’t fairly an identical, however it’s greater than shut sufficient for a passing inspection and similar to my Fairlight Strael 3.0’s orange Hope Tech bearings.
All-in, it weighs solely 113g on my scales of reality, of which 58g is attributed to the multi-tool itself (inside a whisker of Granite’s 110 and 57g claimed weights, respectively).
- £49.99 / $54.99 / €59.90
Peaty’s Biodegradable Bicycle Cleaning Cloths
It’s the time of 12 months (not less than, within the northern hemisphere) when bike-cleaning sponges and cloths turn out to be one thing of an endangered species.
With that comes waste, however Peaty’s Biodegradable Bicycle Cleaning Cloths are stated to be biodegradable and made out of extra sustainably sourced bamboo (bamboo is claimed to develop as much as one metre per day with out the usage of chemical help).
Microfibre fabric – generally used for bike washing – can also be manufactured from microplastic fibres, the likes of which have made headlines lately, given their propensity to stay round within the atmosphere and native ecosystem.
Peaty’s says its bamboo cloths are sturdy and absorbent, however might be put within the washer and reused simply, whereas being “naturally hypo-allergenic, antimicrobial and antibacterial”.
Each field carries three cloths, with Peaty’s properly opting to make two of them darkish gray (it’s way more possible I’d throw away cloths in the event that they had been clearly stained, for instance).
Needless to say, although, it’s in all probability greatest to not wash them together with your regular garments or biking package.
- £14.99 / $21.95 / €17.99
