With a short-nose shape just updated this past autumn, a new Fizik Argo X1 level of the gravel & off-road racing saddle sheds weight with a carbon rail upgrade. I’ve been riding & training on this saddle in 2 different spec levels for almost half a year, and it’s hard to argue with…

Fizik Vento Argo X1 off-road racing saddle gets carbon upgrade

Fizik revamped their short-nosed road Vento Argo saddles for more off-road riding & racing with the Vento Argo X a couple of months ago. But now gravel, cyclocross, and even cross-country mountain bike racers can opt for a new lighter Argo X1 with carbon rails.

Built for fast-paced off-road riding, the Fizik Argo X rounds off all the corners of its road sibling, keeping the gently curved top that is comfortable as you move around on the bike. Then, it adds a shade thicker foam, a flatter nose to perch on for steep climbs, and a reshaped ergonomic cutout for improved comfort over bumpy terrain. so your crotch doesn’t get caked in mud. Plus, that cutout gets a rubber mud flap so your crotch doesn’t get caked in grime.

Now you can get it with chromoly, titanium, or… carbon rails.

Riding Impressions

Even though it was only officially introduced last November, I’ve actually been riding the revamped Argo X since last summer on the latest Canyon Grail CF SLX, with ti rails. And now, the new carbon-railed Fizik Argo X1 is sitting on my cross bike. Strapped to my indoor trainer for a little warm-up vibes before CX Worlds this coming weekend.

The feel is exactly the same on both bikes. And that’s a good thing. The saddle has firm but supportive padding. Its fiber-reinforced shell is plenty stiff. But then, there’s still a bit of compliant flex in its wings, to not feel unyielding when pedaling. And the large central cutout prevents any undue pressure. While the small mud flap then keeps road & trail spray off my butt, with a tiny vent slit that lets a little airflow through and allows rainwater to drain out on those wettest rides.

The X1 & X3 share identical construction, but for the material of the rails. That’s a great feature in my book. As it means you can pick the model you prefer based on price, weight, and compatibility with your seatpost. My 140mm X1 weighs three grams more than claimed, at an actual 195g.

In my mind, you wouldn’t go wrong with any of the three spec-levels.

Tech Specs

• Length: 265mm
• Width: 140mm or 150mm
• Height at 75mm width: 45mm
• Length from nose to 75mm width: 120mm
• Claimed Weight: 192g (140) & 199g (150)
• Shell: fiber-reinforced nylon
• Rails: 7x9mm oval carbon
• Made in China

Fizik Argo X1 – Pricing, options & availability

The new carbon-railed Fizik Argo X1 gravel saddle sells for $210 / 199€, and comes in 140 or 150mm widths. If that is altogether out of your price range, the same shape, padding & shell are available at the X3 level for $160/150€ with Kium ti rails, or at the X5 level for just $110/110€ with S-Alloy steel rails, 41g & 52g heavier, respectively.

Get them all now at Fizik retailers, or online direct from:

fizik.com

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This time last year, Shimano announced their upgraded RIDESCAPE lens technology for their existing S-Phyre and Aerolite sunglasses. Today, they are introducing three cycling sunglass models with the redesigned Technium and the new Technium L and Twinspark, all of which come with Shimano’s RIDESCAPE lenses with six “options that are tuned for different riding conditions and terrain types”. I was lucky to get my hands on the new Technium and Technium L last week, and after several rides, I’ve got some first impressions. But first, some details about Shimano’s latest additions to their growing lineup of cycling sunglasses.

RIDESCAPE Lenses

All three new models are built around Shimano’s RIDESCAPE lenses, a collection of six lenses designed specifically for different types of riding and light conditions. These lenses aim to cover all the bases from trail, gravel, and road, to super bright, daylight, and dim lighting. All of the lenses offer full UV400 protection, have been treated for scratch resistance and water repellency, and are made from a BPA-free polyamide material.

• RIDESCAPE ES: Bright Vision: Extra sunny-tuned lenses minimize light transmittance to shield your eyes from extreme sunshine and blinding road glare. This reduces eye strain and makes differences in the ground’s texture easier to see.
• RIDESCAPE HC: Daylight Vision: Daylight-tuned lenses filter out harsh asphalt glare to boost contrast and sharpen surface details. Richer colors and higher resolution give you a clearer view of the world for more confident and comfortable daily riding.
• RIDESCAPE RD: Road Vision: All-around road-tuned lenses enhance certain colors and suppress others to boost asphalt contrast and visibility. This reduces eye strain and makes it easier to spot and react to hazards like potholes and rocks from afar.
• RIDESCAPE GR: Gravel Vision: Gravel-tuned lenses boost the contrast of a wide range of surfaces to highlight subtle transitions between gravel, dirt, and asphalt.
• RIDESCAPE OR: Trail Vision: Off-road-tuned lenses reduce glare from sun leaks when riding in and out of the shade and sharpen visual awareness so you can react more quickly to various trail surfaces (rocks, soil, sand) and common obstacles (roots, stumps, gaps).
• RIDESCAPE CL: Dark Vision: Cloudy-tuned lenses boost light transmittance for better visual performance in dark, cloudy, and wet riding situations. Anti-reflection coating reduces oncoming headlight glare.

Technium

The new Technium sunglasses feature a full-frame design and a large, one-piece lens. They offer ample coverage with cylindrical lenses that I measured at 145mm wide and 55mm tall (including the frame). The lenses have small cut-outs on the upper and lower corners intended to allow a little airflow and reduce the chances of fogging. The Technium glasses come with your choice of the RIDESCAPE RD, GR, and OR lenses and come with a spare clear lens and a storage/lens cleaning bag.

The frame is made with 45% Arkema Rilsan® clear G850 Rnew, a bio-based polyamide material. The arms are dropped slightly which helps avoid interference with extended temple coverage on some modern helmets, and the tips have textured rubber grippers to help them stay secure on your head. Additionally, the textured rubber nose-piece is reversible and allows the user to quickly and easily adjust the nose bridge fit with thicker and thinner sides.

Technium Specs:

• Frame Colors: Matte Black, Matte White, Crimson, Smoky Navy, Dark Olive, Bronze Gold
• Frame Material: 45% Arkema Rilsan clear G850 Rnew bio-based materials
• Weight: 27.4 grams
• Lens Options: RIDESCAPE RD, OR, and GR
• Spare Lens: Clear
• MSRP: $100 USD, €99.95

Technium L

The Technium L sunglasses are a new half-frame model that is very similar to the full-frame Technium, just without the lower portion of the frame. The frames are made from the same material and also feature the reversible nosepiece and textured rubber grippers on the arms. While the one-piece cylindrical lens is roughly the same size, they look and measure a tad smaller overall without the lower frame. We measured the lens width at 140mm and height at 52mm (including the upper frame).

The Technium L is a tiny bit lighter at 26 grams and is available with the RIDESCAPE RD, OR, and GR lenses, as well as a Photochromic Gray. They also come with a spare clear lens and a storage/lens cleaning bag.

Technium L Specs:

• Frame Colors: Matte Black, Matte White, Crimson, Smoky Navy, Dark Olive, Bronze Gold
• Frame Material: 45% Arkema Rilsan clear G850 Rnew bio-based materials
• Weight: 26 grams
• Lens Options: RIDESCAPE RD, OR, GR, and Photochromic Gray
• Spare Lens: Clear
• MSRP: $100 USD, €99.95

Twinspark

The new Twinspark is Shimano’s value-oriented offering that’s a half-frame design paired with the RIDESCAPE HC Daylight Vision lens. It looks somewhat similar to the half-frame Technium L, but buyers are not given lens options, nor do they come with a spare clear lens. Regardless, the Twinspark seems like a solid value with the RIDESCAPE HC lens and a retail price of just $65 USD.

Twinspark Specs:

• Frame Colors: Black, White, Deep Red, Smoky Navy
• Weight: 25.3 grams
• Lens: RIDESCAPE HC
• MSRP: $65 USD, €54.95

First Impressions: Riding in the Technium and Technium L

Thanks to some unusually mild winter conditions here in the mountains of northern California, I’ve had the chance to test out both the Technium and the Technium L glasses, and so far, I’ve been impressed by both their comfort and the quality of the RIDESCAPE lens optics.

Unboxing

Both the Technium and Technium L come in a small cardboard box with a folding magnetic lid. While I certainly appreciate a fancier zippered hard case, I could see this box being useful for travel or long-term storage. Inside, the glasses come in a microfiber storage/lens cleaning bag that has a dedicated sleeve for storing the spare clear lens.

Fit and Coverage

I’m a big fan of large coverage sunglasses and I appreciate the size of both the Technium and Technium L. They both provide excellent coverage without completely dominating my face the way some larger sunglasses can. Shimano seems to have the sweet spot in terms of curvature, for me anyway, where the glasses sit close enough to my face to block the sun at extreme angles and keep birt or mud from flinging into my eyeballs without making any contact with my cheeks or brow. Additionally, the upper part of the lens extends high enough that I can’t really see the upper frame when I’m down in the drops on the gravel bike or riding steep terrain on singletrack trails.

I appreciate the dropped arm design as I’ve experienced some helmet and sunglass combinations that haven’t been ideal due to them making contact while riding. The lowered arms avoid that situation entirely. The arms are also a well-considered length that doesn’t extend too far back behind the ears, and I had no issues with them conflicting with either the helmet shell or the retention system on the three different helmets I tried them with. The fit adjustments are limited to the reversible nosepiece, but it is quick and easy to flip around and it makes a noticeable change to the fit on the bridge of your nose. I found the textured rubber of the nosepiece to be quite comfortable, and along with the rubber on the arms, it kept the glasses very stable on my face at all times.

Lens Performance

I had the opportunity to try two different lenses since the Technium and Technium L came with the RIDESCAPE OR (Trail) and RIDESCAPE GR (Gravel) lenses, respectively. Luckily, I was able to go on both gravel and trail rides in the past week to see how they performed in the conditions for which they were designed.

The full-frame Technium glasses came with the RIDESCAPE OR lens that’s intended for off-road/trail use. Shimano doesn’t specify a VLT (visible light transmission) percentage for any of the lenses, but it’s definitely on the lighter/brighter end of the spectrum. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably right in the ballpark of 35 – 40% VLT. They have a rosy tint and are very pleasant to look through with super sharp and distortion-free optics. They seem to boost contrast quite well and perform great in mixed lighting conditions, like those experienced on forested trails while mountain biking. I tend to gravitate toward lenses that aren’t too dark, and I’ve always been a fan of a rose tint for riding in and out of shadows, so I really enjoyed the OR lens.

The Technium L glasses I tested came with Shimano’s RIDESCAPE GR lens that’s been tuned for gravel riding. The GR lens is quite a bit darker than the OR lens (best guess around 20 – 25% VLT), and it has a greenish/grey tint that has more of a cooling effect. I took them out for a mixed surface gravel/road ride and found them to work very well for that application. Again, the lenses were super sharp and distortion-free while doing an excellent job of reducing glare and muting the harshness of the low-angle January sun. They tend to mute colors a bit as well, but the contrast was excellent and I could see every bit of surface texture on both paved and gravel roads.

Parting Thoughts

I’ve only spent a little time riding in the new Shimano Technium and Technium L sunglasses so far, but my initial impression is that they are really good. They fit me well, provide ample coverage for my sensitive eyes, are stable in use, and have quality optics that rival the best in the business. And, while $100 isn’t exactly “cheap”, it is super competitive and comparatively quite affordable in the context of premium cycling sunglasses, many of which cost more than double that price. I’ll be spending significantly more time riding in both models this winter and spring to see how they stack up against the best cycling sunglasses on the market in the long term.

More info at bike.shimano.com

The post First Look: Shimano’s New Technium, Technium L, and Twinspark Cycling Sunglasses appeared first on Bikerumor.

Ortlieb has a new Duffle RC combination waterproof duffle bag and backpack. It’s not only cheaper than their standard duffle, but simpler and much easier to use in practice. Inspired by the design of the roll closure Rack-Pack, the new Ortlieb Duffle RC comes in two sizes – big or huge. And we’ve started stuffing our gear inside the smaller 49L one to keep everything protected from the nasty wet winter weather outside…

Review: Ortlieb Duffle RC 49L waterproof backpack/duffle bag

The new Duffle RC is kinda the combination of some of best features of several popular made-in-Germany Ortlieb bags. Or course it starts with their signature heavy-duty waterproof coated polyester fabric and high-frequency welded seams.

It adapts the split clamshell design from their Atrack & Duffle backpacks that keeps your back clean & dry. It directly uses the same adjustable & removable shoulder straps and extra lashing points from the Duffle. And then, it inherits the easy-access wide mouth roll top closure of the Rack Packs.

No zippers, no extra pockets, no unnecessary features. Just a cavernous opening to stuff full of gear you want to keep clean and dry.

Tech details

The defining feature of the Duffle RC is the long 60cm Roll Closure that opens wide to let you stuff your gear in. The standard Ortlieb Duffle uses a long TiZip zipper, which to be waterproof uses giant stiff teeth that aren’t super easy to use. In fact, I’ve gotten my skin caught when yanking one closed, and I no longer have any desire to get another bag with a zip like that. That does mean the Duffle RC is only IP64 waterproof – meaning dustproof & protected against splashing water from all directions. Not quite the IP67 rating that lets you dunk the original Duffle underwater for a half hour.

I’ll happily take that compromise. And try not to end up underwater with an Ortlieb Duffle RC on my back.

The Duffle RC 49L (2990in³) measures 61cm long x 34cm in diameter when stuffed full.

And my 49L bag weighs 967g, a bit less than the 1kg Ortlieb claims.

Its 2 lightly padded & ergo-shaped shoulder strap are adjustable or removable. They include a neat velcro strap offset near the middle that joins them together for an easy-carry handle. Or, run one strap diagonally as an over-the-shoulder sling strap. There are also 4 daisy chain loops on each side of the roll-top to attach extra cargo straps or to strap the duffel down to a bike rack.

Sustainability

It is made of a PVC-coated fabric, which is durable and waterproof, but not really nice for the environment when disposed of improperly. Ortlieb are ongoing with sustainability evolutions to transition more products to be PVC-free. But they live by the idea their long product life & repairability are the first step anyway. Including in-house consumer repairs.

And Ortlieb knows they have “a long way to go” for improvement. So, they will always take back gear with PVC at the end-of-life for the product, so it gets handled correctly.

First Impressions Review

As I alluded to in the details above, the Ortlieb Duffle RC 49L bag is still new to me, but I’m already quite pleased with it. It’s really a no-nonsense way to keep gear protected. I love the simple roll closure for getting inside. That big opening is so much easier than anything else to dig deep in a bag. My only thought is that I probably should have gotten the light colored orange bag to make it easier to see deep into the dark crevices inside.

It’s also great that the opening is on the same side as the shoulder straps. So I can drop it onto the muddy ground, open it up to get my stuff, roll it back closed, then put the clean side back onto my back. I have another duffel that has shoulder straps and a padded back on the opposite side of the opening, and opening it on wet/snowy/muddy ground is a mess.

And, I’m already a fan of using small & light musettes to organize my gear inside. Ortlieb also has new Packing Cube bags for organization, that I’m going to try out as well.

So far, I’ve only used it in backpack mode, and tossed it into the box of my cargo bike. Those simple shoulder straps are surprisingly comfortable and stable.

But I can also imagine strapping it down onto a big rear bike rack – there’s plenty of space on the back of this silly thing to lash down a 60cm long stuffed Duffle RC. It is too big for a regular rear rack, but strapping it to any cargo bike would be a solid way to keep your stuff dry, and transition easily off the bike.

Ortlieb Duffle RC – Pricing, availability & options

The benefit to the simplified Ortlieb Duffle RC design is that it’s more than a third cheaper than the standard Duffle, even though it’s still 100% made-in-Germany. My smaller but still big Duffle RC 49L sells for $130 / 120€. And the huge 89L one is just a bit more at $150 / 140€. (Compare that to $230/185€ & $250/195€ for the closest size Duffle 60L & 85L, respectively.)

The versatile Duffle RC comes in black, olive green & coral orange. And is available now from Ortlieb direct in the USA or EU. Or through regular Ortlieb retailers.

Ortlieb.com

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We’ve seen the world’s best wearing the Kask Elemento this season. That includes everyone from mountain bike champions like Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, to the entire INEOS Grenadiers squad on the road. The helmet bears all the style and pedigree of a new do-it-all lid for the masses (that can afford it).

Kask Elemento helmet – What is it?

For those new to the Elemento, you can check out our tech piece here. But what sets the Elemento apart from the crowd (besides the slippery new shape) is a new Fluid Carbon 12 composite technopolymer and 3D-printed padding.

The padding is super lightweight, ventilated, and easily conforms to different head shapes. The material of the Fluid Carbon 12 shell is said to absorb the impact and then can distribute that force more evenly across the helmet. Kask also claims that the Fluid Carbon allows for less EPS foam inside the helmet which improves ventilation while making for a smaller helmet overall for increased aerodynamics. Further, it may increase crash safety by providing a low friction surface between the helmet and whatever it hits (like the road).

The outer shell wraps all they way around the helmet’s underside, which gives the internal foam protection against caustic sweat and dents.

How’s the fit of the Kask Elemento?

I wear a size medium in the Kask Protone (and most helmets) and the Elemento in a size medium (52-58cm) fit like a glove, er..helmet. The updated Kask Octofit+ works very well. With thick or thin gloves, the adjustment dial is easy to use on the fly. The retention system cradles the base of the skull and has a sliding (slightly indexed) height adjustment.

The height adjustment for the Octofit+ has a slight index but doesn’t lock in place like some helmets. This floating height adjustment requires a dial-in before every ride, which is good if you wear a helmet liner or thick cap for winter. For those who like the “set it and forget it” style fit, the Elemento requires some pre-ride fiddling.

The new 3D padding and generous foam padding give the Elemento a great fit out of the box. The 3D padding on the top of the head has a slightly different feel from traditional foam but is very open to airflow in comparison.

Tech Specs KASK Elemento

• Sizes: SM (50 – 56), MED (52 – 58)*, LRG (59 – 62) *tested
• Weight: 260 grams (size M)
• Colors: Classic Black or White, New metallic finishes: Beetle Green, Oxford Blue (pictured), Red, and Silver.
• Price: USD $400, EUR 375€, GBP £335.

Ride Impressions

I used the Elemento nearly exclusively since its launch. I’ve taken it through XC, gravel, road, and cyclocross races.

Nearly all of my ride impressions with the Kask Elemento have been positive. The way the Elemento can go from a crit to a cross-country mountain bike race is fantastic. It’s a do-it-all helmet; there is no questioning that.

In the heat, the Elemento is breezy; the air flows right through. The ports in the front of the helmet are set up right on the money for cooling and airflow. The helmet’s light weight adds to this sensation, giving the Elemento an excellent on-bike feel.

After I hit the four-month riding mark, I noticed the front padding (non-3D) lost most of its sweat retention and padding. Kask offers replacement padding for the Elemento for an extra $30. The 3D padding kept its shape perfectly but started to peel away slightly on the narrow sections of the top.

The ports could be better for all sunglasses, though, and I found that even my KOO glasses had difficulty staying in place when docked. The glasses fit okay, but the lack of a gripper or rubber grommet on the vent allows them to slide, and a look down could cost you your shades.

Padding and sunglass holding aside, my Elemento took a beating this season—lots of travel and baking heat. Then, muddy cyclocross races with a shouldered bike knocking into my head when I ran. With all this, the Elemento still looks nearly as good as the day I received it. The shell shows no signs of denting, and the shine returns quickly with some polish.

Final Thoughts – Kask Elemento

The Kask Elemento is an excellent performance helmet, but the $400 price tag is a tough pill to swallow. Yes, there are some padding issues, but those are a quick fix with glue and a new pad kit. But should you have to replace the pads on a helmet that quickly? It’s up to the end user and what they deem the most important. The helmet’s overall race performance and comfort are amongst my top favorites.

I recommend the Kask Elemento for riders looking for a top-of-the-line helmet for all their race efforts. If you have an aero road helmet, cross country helmet, gravel helmet (whatever that is), and trade those for one Elemento, the price should be worth it.

For more information and to purchase the Kask Elemento, check out Kask.com

The post Kask Elemento Helmet Review: Is 3D-Printed Padding worth the $400 Price Tag? appeared first on Bikerumor.

This is always one of my favorite posts to write because I get to gush over the things that really impressed me each year. No need to sound impartial here, these are the things I love.

A quick primer on me to put my choices into perspective. I’ve been riding most of my life, as a “cyclist” for 30 years, and enjoy all the things, from road biking to gravel to enduro, with most of my time leaning more toward the XC/trail side of MTB. Not because of a preference, that’s just what we’ve got locally.

I also really enjoy e-bikes, particularly for city commuting, cargo bikes, and long-travel mountain bikes. I’ve noticed that the only people who don’t like them are the people who haven’t tried them. I know at least one guy who doesn’t want to try them for exactly that reason. I love to travel, and did quite a bit of it this year, which is almost always an opportunity to ride new bikes in new places with new people, and it’s awesome. Highly recommend it.

On that note, here are my picks for the best products of 2023…

Experience

An overland, MTB & gravel road trip with my son

This trip’s itinerary kept changing almost until the day we left, and I don’t think it could have been better. Out of 16 days on the road, more than half had some sort of adventure. We mountain biked Mt. Nebo (AR), Bentonville (AR), Palo Duro (TX), and South Mountain (AZ). We rode gravel in Organ Pipe National Monument (AZ), after offroading for two days from Yuma to Ajo on El Camino del Diablo (check out that story here). And we hiked the North Rim and Guadalupe Mtn.

We saw friends and family in numerous states, ate amazing Mexican food (perhaps the best we’ve ever had), and boondocked among lava rocks and alpine forests. I got to upgrade the van with a GMRS radio, water tank, and fuel can and play with new apps for route planning. We even got to (finally!) use my recovery gear to get out of soft sand. If you know me, you know I love gadgets and tech, but none of these were the highlight.

The best part of the trip was spending time adventuring with my son. He constantly surprised me on the trail with an uncanny (and typical 18yo fearless) ability to stay on my wheel no matter what the terrain, even pushing ahead and leading through some seriously rocky, techy sections with a lot of exposure. I taught him to drive through soft sand and negotiate rough terrain in the Vandoit, and we both learned how to tow it out (thanks Ron!).

I have a lot of friends, but there are only a handful I could hang with 24/7 for more than a few days. So the absolute best part of this trip is knowing that my son is one of them.

Pisgah Monstercross gravel race

The Pisgah Monstercross barely registers as Type 2 fun. It’s that hard. The 73-mile course has almost 9,000 feet of climbing, but not just any climbing. It’s chunky, rough Pisgah Forest “road” climbing. Some of it’s quite steep. Or loose. Or both. And there’s a lot of it, with most of the mileage found far off the paved roads.

I thought I was prepared. My bike was, and the new Shimano GRX 12-speed group and wheels performed flawlessly (bike shown further below). But it was a stark reminder that I am not a climber and that such courses are meant to make me suffer. The reason I include it here is because I think we all need a reminder that we can do hard things and appreciate them for what they reveal about us. Eric and his crew put on an excellent event. It’s not as highly polished as some, but it’s well-run with great feed stations and burritos and beer at the finish. The campground across the street is fantastic (and convenient!), making this a low-key sufferfest that’s perfect to do with friends.

Bikes

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Lauf Úthald Road Bike

One of the (many) things I love about Lauf is that they aren’t afraid to do weird things if they believe in them. Their leaf spring gravel suspension forks are highly visible proof of that. Less obvious is the new Úthald road bike, which certainly has a unique look thanks to the curved and bent seat tube and deep-drop seatstays. But those are only a tiny part of what makes it special.

The geometry is more akin to XC mountain bikes than road, with a slack head angle and long fork trail, that makes it unbelievably stable at speed. Lauf’s goal was to actually make riders faster rather than just make a bike that “felt” fast, and they succeeded beyond measure. Normally I get sketched out over 42mph. On my first test ride, we hit easily 50mph and I was wishing I had more gear so I could go faster. I’ve never in my life felt so stable, confident, and safe on a road bike at speed, and I don’t think I’ve found my limit on this one.

It’s easy to adhere to tradition and simply meet expectations. Lauf gets my Editor’s Choice not only for making an amazing bike, but also for showing that there are still ways to surprise and delight riders. If you’re in the market for a new road bike, you owe it to yourself to try this one.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Ride1Up Prodigy V2 Commuter e-Bike

I’m as surprised as you are. I’ll have a full review up soon, but suffice it to say this budget e-bike delivers way more quality than should be possible for its price. The Ride1UP Prodigy V2 comes with Gates Belt Drive, Brose mid-mount motor, Enviolo CVT (continuously variable stepless gearing) rear hub, Maxxis Rekon Race tubeless-ready tires, and Tektro 4-piston hydraulic brakes. That’s a lot of high quality, brand name parts for a $2,400 e-bike.

It even comes with a decent-if-unbranded air suspension fork, broad-coverage aluminum fenders, front and rear lights, and a metal rear rack. It’s a Class 3 bike that gets up to 28mph (feels like more, actually), with smooth power delivery and a great torque curve that matches output with effort in a way that feels on par with bikes costing much more. It’s not just me, either, my whole family loves this bike, and all we have to do is adjust the seat height to fit everyone in our house. At 6’2″, I could use another inch of seatpost, but that’s literally my only complaint, and it’s an easy fix.

HONORABLE MENTION: Santa Cruz Heckler SL eMTB

I rode one of Santa Cruz’s earlier e-mountain bikes and was nonplussed, I think mainly because the coil shock never felt right for me, but who knows. I just didn’t feel dialed riding it. So I wanted to give them another shot with the new Heckler SL, and I’m glad I did. It gets an Honorable Mention because I’m still figuring a few things out and need to get more miles on it, but first impressions are very good.

The Heckler SL is reasonably light, weighing 43.1lbs for an XL with Reserve carbon wheels and SRAM Transmission. And it’s reasonably powerful, with the Fazua Ride 60 system getting me up the hills much faster, but still requiring some work on my end, so it feels like I’m really mountain biking. What impressed me is how nimble it is. Climbing a rapid succession of very tight, steep, technical switchbacks at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Texas, I fought the urge to dab and the Heckler SL rewarded my trust with perfect traction and just the right amount of assist. If you’re a fan of the brand, this one feels very much like a Santa Cruz, just faster.

Drivetrains

EDITOR’S CHOICE: SRAM Transmission

SRAM’s Transmission drivetrain shifts exactly as well as they promised, which is perfectly. It’s pretty easy to set up, seems bombproof, and perfectly leverages their long march toward a universal mounting interface, which benefits every rider whether or not you ever ride this group. Even the shifter pods are growing on me, with a design that’s clearly made for a future full of electronically controlled devices.

That they could bring it to market in the height of everyone else’s supply chain woes is impressive, too. And then they trickled it all the way down to GX group ($1,099 at Backcountry) just a few months after launching the top levels. Additional Kudos for seeing the move to internal stealth brake routing and being first to market with levers that send the hoses parallel to the bar. Even if your frame uses standard cable ports, they make for a very clean cockpit! Well done, SRAM.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: TRP EVO 12 mechanical group

If you’re squarely in the mechanical camp, the new TRP EVO 12 group is worth a look, too. It’s hard enough dancing around Shimano and SRAM patents, but they did that and introduced clever new features (Hall Lock) that keep the derailleur rock solid and completely quiet, even on the roughest trails. Shifter feel is good, with a satisfying mechanical clink and the ability to customize paddle position and the number of gears per push. There’s a lot to like about this group, and it’s refreshing to see competition coming back to the high-end mechanical drivetrain category. Read my full review here for all the details.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: MicroSHIFT Sword 1×10 gravel group

Another mechanical group that really impressed me is MicroSHIFT’s Sword drivetrain. It’s fully mechanical, has 10 speeds, and works like a champ. The best part? The complete 1×10 group, including cranks, chainring, cassette, derailleur and shifter/brake levers is as little as $400 with options to add a higher-end cassette, left-hand dropper remote brake lever, or make it a 2×10 group with a double chainring and front derailleur.

Not only does it work great, I never really found myself missing the extra two cogs. The 11-48 cassette has plenty of range, the clutch keeps the chain onboard and quiet, and the hood and lever ergonomics are fantastic. I paired it with TRP’s HyRD disc brakes and a KMC chain and it’s been flawless. The bike aficionado shop folks that have tried all love it, too. If you wanna gravel without grinding away your savings, this is a great option.

HONORABLE MENTION: Shimano GRX 12-speed

Shimano’s latest GRX 12-speed group wasn’t a groundbreaking change from the 11-speed version, but it is an important update worth recognizing. It brings all of their top-level drop bar groups to 12 speeds. The hood ergonomics are even better than they already were. They get dedicated gravel derailleurs for all cassette sizes, with the ability to swap pulley cages to go between 1x and 2x rather than replace the entire part.

And they stuck with a mechanical option to keep it affordable (don’t worry, Di2 is coming in 2024). I appreciate that you don’t always need to be dramatic with your improvements (or your marketing) to offer something new and better, and this is proof.

Their updated RX880 carbon gravel wheels are also worth a shoutout. They’re as light as most other top-end gravel wheels (1394g), have Shimano’s smooth-as-butter cup and cone bearings with their first-ever swappable freehub body, and are wide enough to handle 50mm tires. And they’re a very reasonable $1,549. I raced the complete group in the Pisgah Monster Cross and it finished stronger than I did.

Components

EDITOR’S CHOICE: OneUp Alloy Handlebar

I avoid alloy handlebars as much as possible. Compared to carbon, they’re harsher and stiffer, transmitting more bumps and vibrations to my hands. OneUp’s carbon handlebar is one of my favorites thanks to an ovalized profile on either side of the stem, creating a flex point that allows just enough compliance to soften any blow. So I was intrigued when they launched an alloy version of it…how could it possibly compare?

Turns out, pretty darn good. It’s immediately my favorite aluminum mountain bike handlebar ever. I swapped it for another handlebar on my Fezzari La Sal Peak with a Rockshox Zeb. Even with 170mm of travel, vibrations and bumps still get through, but it was a noticeable improvement as soon as I installed the OneUp bar. It shares the ovalized tube shaping, and it works almost as well as their carbon bar, but for $70 less. If you have carbon dreams on an alloy budget, the Oneup Alloy Handlebar is the way to go.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Prologo Scratch NDR XC saddle

I’ve generally liked Prologo’s NDR saddle line, but the new Scratch NDR XC race saddle is the best thing they’ve ever made. The various foam densities are perfectly placed, with a softer center over a cutout to relieve pressure points and a flat, wide nose that’s easy to perch upon on the steepest climbs.

The padding on the back is supportive, with a good shape for powerful pedaling but flat enough to easily get behind it. Not sure what the extended carbon tail is for, but it makes a nice little mud flap. It comes with Tirox (hollow steel) or Nack (carbon) rails, and the latter creates a wonderfully light 166g saddle. MSRP is $200 as tested, and the Tirox version is $127.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Granite Designs Aux Bottle Cage

Granite’s carbon-and-thermoplastic Aux Bottle Cage is a side loader that’s compact to easily fit in tight spaces, particularly on smaller and full suspension frames. I love the stealthy matte finish, but the best part is that it’s incredibly easy to get the bottle in and out, yet it holds it super secure. I have it on my trail bike and have never lost a bottle, even a larger 24oz bottle, over any terrain. And it’s only $21.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Industry Nine iRiX headset

Headsets seem like the hardest spot to bring innovation to, but Industry Nine did it with two cool features on the iRiX. Dual lip seals top and bottom keep crud from reaching the bearings, and tiny spacer rings let you adjust the gap between the upper cap and the frame.

That’s a small thing that makes a big difference. Where a standard top cap would need to maintain a larger gap to accommodate different frame tolerances, now you can get an extremely flush appearance without having it rub your frame. Combine that with the brand’s signature good looks, style, and color options and it’s a winner. (Read my review and launch coverage for more)

Wheels

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Hunt Proven Race XC UD Carbon

Hunt’s top-of-the-line Proven Race XC UD Carbon wheels get a very wide 30mm (internal) but shallow (22mm deep) ultralight rims with front- and rear-specific layups, laced with UD carbon spokes, to come in at just 1,271g on my scale (Micro Spline, rim tape, but no valve stems). That’s exceptionally light for a 29er mountain bike wheelset, and they accelerate exactly as good as you’d expect. They’re also very laterally stiff but also comfortably compliant.

I rip corners so fast with these wheels, and climbing feels effortless (as much as it ever will for me). I’ve ridden other ultralight MTB wheels, but these are something special because they give nothing up to achieve their low weight. And they’re only $1,699.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Scribe Elan Carbon 32D

Weighing just 1,345g on my scale (with rim tape but no valve stems), and retailing for just $1,499, the Scribe Élan Carbon wheels are a helluva good deal for a lightweight set. But it’s their performance that makes them a top pick. Wide carbon rims (21mm internal) are paired with ultralight carbon spokes (2.6g each), ceramic bearings, and a 54-tooth single-sided ratchet (6.6º engagement).

That combination of lightweight, stiff-but-not-too-stiff construction, quick engagement, and smooth rolling makes them a potent partner in chasing speed. I tested the 32mm deep model, they also come in 42, 50, and 60-millimeter depths. They also offer options for race bearings with lighter seals and grease, and even 15mm front and QR axle options on top of the standard 12mm thru axle. I want to get more miles on them before writing a long-term review, but I’ve got enough good rides on them to know I like them. A lot.

HONORABLE MENTION: Astral Luna Carbon Approach

The Astral Luna Carbon Approach wheelset is handbuilt in the USA with their Approach hubs, which are made by sister brand White Industries. So you’re basically getting White Industry hub internals, but with a steel freehub body rather than titanium. And they have the same frictionless, effortless spin as White’s hubs, too, with Enduro bearings inside.

Their carbon rim design uses mini bead hooks to make tubeless setup easy and secure, but with a modernly wide 25mm (internal) rim that gives 28-30mm tires a great shape. Or throw gravel tires on them and head off road. They’re reasonably light at 1,538g (on my scale, well under the 1,600g claimed weight, and the included valve stems only add 16g). They’re also reasonably priced at $1,899. If you’re looking for an all-road, all-purpose wheelset that’ll do it job all year round, year after year, this is it.

Tires & Inserts

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Vittoria Air-Liner Light

If I had to name a “Product of the Year”, this would be it. I’ve always understood the benefits of tire inserts, but never wanted to pay the weight penalty. But, the Vittoria Air-Liner Light inserts ($70 at Backcountry) are only 50g each, and they elevate the tire’s performance to a new level. Here’s why: Their semi-permeable closed-cell design will slowly absorb air, meaning that it’ll initially compress when you inflate your tire, but then expand back to normal size over ~8 hours. Then if you puncture, it’ll expand to fill your tire so you can keep riding. Freakin’ magic.

It’s enough to finish a race, or at least get back to the trailhead, without destroying your rim or tire. Not only that, but it supports the tire so well that I can run 3-5psi less than normal, which gives me monstrous amounts of traction and comfort. These are amazing and I want them on all of my mountain bikes. Now they just need to make a gravel version.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Maxxis MaxxSpeed XC tires

Years ago, I got to ride a set of team tires from Maxxis with a ridiculously high TPI casing. They were amazingly supple and felt like they literally melted around every bump and imperfection in the trail. But they weren’t for consumers, sadly, and they would’ve been prohibitively expensive.

Fast forward to 2023 and the new MaxxSpeed lineup gets us pretty close. They’re “only” 120tpi, not the 180-200tpi I recall riding, but the new MaxxSpeed rubber compound makes the most of it, especially since it’s only available on the widest 2.35-2.4″ sizes. That extra volume allows for lower pressures and a supple ride, even with the EXO sidewall layer, and the ultra-grippy MaxxSpeed rubber keeps them planted. I feel faster than ever on these tires. I paired a Rekon Race (front) with an Aspen (rear), but the compound is also available on Ikon and Severe XC tires. If you’re looking for an edge, this is it.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Vittoria Corsa Pro cotton casing road tires

The Vittoria Corsa Pro is their top racing tire, with a ridiculously soft 320tpi cotton casing, grippy Silica & Graphene infused rubber, and tubeless-ready design. They come in 24/26/28/30/32 millimeter widths. I’ve been riding the 700×32 and they’re glorious. They weighed 306g & 309g on my scale, less than the 320g claimed weight.

Many of my road rides include stints on gravel connectors or dirt country roads, and I’ve been able to bring them down to 52psi, at which point they make small gravel and chip seal disappear. Like, totally disappear. It’s uncanny. And that’s with a double ply of Aramid for puncture protection, so they’re tough on the inside. I was worried that the lightly coated sidewall exteriors wouldn’t hold up to those gravel sections, but so far there’s no signs of wear. The only downside? They’re $105 each.

Clothing & Gear

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Velocio MTB clothing

Velocio got into mountain bike clothing this year, and they nailed it. I’ve been wearing their Mesh Bib Liner, Trail Ultralight Short & Micromodal Trail Jersey (pictured above) along with their Merino Tee, and they’re all fantastic. The shorts come with an Arcade belt, which is super low-profile and works way better than velcro straps for keeping the waist comfortably snug. They also dry quickly, making a fine swimsuit in a pinch.

On cooler days, I really like their Ultralight Trail Hooded Jacket and Anorak, the former easily stuffing into a pocket. The Trail Access Hardshell is a heartier jacket, good for the really wet days, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite raincoats for daily use, too. It fits great on the bike, but also off of it, helping to justify the $389 price. Some road brands struggle to do MTB well, but Velocio’s collection is dialed for everything from downcountry to enduro.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Rab Cinder bike clothing

Outdoor clothing and gear brand Rab’s debut Cinder cycling collection is an impressive freshman effort, showing that they paid attention to what cyclists (and particularly gravel cyclists) need rather than just slapping their label on something. The short-sleeve jersey (center image, on my buddy Greg from Pedal Vision) has hidden reinforcements down the back to prevent it from sagging with loaded pockets, and a large center zip pocket makes it easy to stash cash and cards.

The Cinder Cargo Bibs have mesh pockets that’ll just fit a (non “plus”) iPhone with case, but the top edge is flipped inward to create a lip that prevents contents from slipping out. The windbreaker rolls up and its integrated stretch loop and hook lets you wrap it around a top tube, saddle rails (both shown on right), or handlebar. It’s hood has a bendable plastic strip that magically holds its shape even after you smash it into a ball for storage.

The rest of the collection, from a long sleeve tee to insulated jacket and baggie shell shorts are all great, too. I owe them a full review, and there are a couple of things I’d like to tweak, but overall it’s a great bit of kit that I’ve been wearing quite a bit. Also available in women’s versions.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Trek Velocis helmet

The Trek Velocis MIPS road bike helmet is possibly the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever worn. It’s also really light, has huge vents, and is feature rich. Rubber docking ports hold your shades, and a BOA dial wraps its retention system evenly around your head. The cradle folds forward into the helmet when you’re not wearing it, making it easier to pack or rest on a table at the cafe.

MIPS Air adds a bit of rotational safety without adding weight, and OCLV carbon overlays add a bit of strength while actually saving 6g over the prior version. A beveled front edge not only keeps it out of view when you’re biting the stem on a tough climb, and it sits high enough on the forehead to work with the most ridiculously oversized cycling sunglasses. It even has a 5-Star rating from Virginia Tech.

Tools & Such

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Park Tool Flat Snip

The Park Tool Flush Cut Pliers are my new favorite tool. They have a flat side that cuts zip ties perfectly flat, no more pointy remnants to scrape my calves or snag my shorts. They’re the perfect finishing tool, giving your bike a clean, professional look. They’re $25 and worth every penny.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Chap-Snap lip balm holster

I thought the Chap-Snap was silly when I first saw it, and then I went riding in the desert and had to keep fishing my lip balm out of my pocket every 10 minutes. Now I get it. The silicone housing straps to your stem (or wherever), then you remove the cap from your favorite Chap Stick flavor and stick it in there. It keeps it at the ready, and you don’t have to fiddle with a cap while you’re riding, either. That also makes it perfect for riding in winter, making it easy to use even with thick winter gloves, too, and it’s only $10.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Bluetti AC60 Portable Power Station

It took me using the Bluetti AC60 side by side with several other brands of portable battery power stations to appreciate what makes it unique. There’s no charging brick or special adapter, you just plug it into the wall to recharge it. That’s a small thing, but it’s a big deal if you ever lose those proprietary charging cables. The built-in light (on the back) is bigger than others, too, and it can recharge in as little as 60 minutes.

The AC60 is compact and light, but stores 403Wh of power and outputs up to 600W, enough for most little outings and portable devices. All outlets are covered against moisture, dust and dirt, too, and it works with their (or any) 200W solar panels for off-grid recharging using standard MC4 connector cables. It’ll power a smart trainer for pre-race warmups, and I use it in my car to charge my laptop more efficiently (and more quietly!) than a plug-in DC/AC converter. If your goal is simply to work remote or have an affordable backup for the fridge at home, this is a great little unit.

Many more great products have passed through our hands this year, but this collection highlights the best I’ve seen or ridden. Full disclosure: Each of these products has been chosen purely on their performance and/or technological merits for the reasons described above. Under no circumstances were any of our selections paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to advertisers or brands who invite us on trips. Our selections are limited to products that we’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So, a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples, does make it more likely that we will have considered their products simply because we’ve had a chance to try them firsthand.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2023 – Tyler’s Top Picks appeared first on Bikerumor.

It’s that time of year again. As the year winds down, I end up thinking back and looking over my pieces for 2023 and awarding my picks for Editor’s Choice. I noticed while doing so, that I didn’t review a whole lot this year… at least not as much as I would’ve liked. And I didn’t do a lot of travel this year.

What travel I did do for the two shows I attended, I could drive to… I didn’t have to get on a plane, which was nice.

I am in a temporary workspace, so I didn’t have a lot of space to store stuff to review… like bicycles. As a result, I only reviewed one full bicycle this year.

I’m not complaining at all. I had a great year, and I know I have a dream job. And, I feel lucky every day to have the opportunity to share bike stuff with you guys. I appreciate you guys. You are a huge part of the success of Bikerumor. I love sharing my thoughts and opinions with you, and I enjoy reading yours.

So, let’s start this year-end Editor’s Choice Awards ritual with a big one for the readers….all of you, even the snarky ones. I do appreciate the crap outta you guys. And, I appreciate the time you take to geek out with us every day, it’s pretty awesome!

You guys butter my biscuits!

Let’s get to the other awards for the year.

Best Bike Experience

Editor’s Choice: MADE Bike Show

As I mentioned earlier, I did attend two shows this year. One was the always fun and crazy Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA. The other was the MADE Show which was held in Portland, Oregon. 2023 was the inaugural run of this particular show. MADE is the brainchild of Billy “Souphorse” Sinkford of ECHOS Communication. Billy has an unmatched and contagious passion for the bicycle and all of the culture that surrounds it.

The show was put together to showcase the wonders of the handmade bicycle frame fabricators and the small cottage industry of artisans, parts makers, inventors, and tinkerers that support the handmade bike world. The show wasn’t held in a sterile, boring convention hall, it was held at a cool venue called Zidell Yards. A huge open-air, 100-year-old barge manufacturing building, Zidell Yards matched the feel and aesthetics of the show perfectly. When all was said and done, it was the perfect venue for this show.

Billy’s scope of the show – to turn the world’s attention to the small independent bicycle frame makers, came to fruition with attendance hitting an impressive 5000+ mark for the three days. And to help all of the brands, even international brands take part in the magic, the exhibitor’s booths were very reasonably priced. This was great, as so many of these small brands are true cottage industries with only a single owner/operator.

It was a fun and magical few days in the PNW.

The best bike show of 2023 goes hands down, to MADE 2023. And I’m looking forward to attending in 2024!

Best Drop Bar ATB

Editor’s Choice: Sklar Super Something

The Sklar Super Something was the only bicycle I had the opportunity to review in 2023. And let me tell you, I’ve ridden a lot of bicycles in my day, and the Super Something is pretty amazing. It’s a wonderfully designed bicycle.

It’s also one of the easiest and best-handling bikes I have ever ridden. The geometry isn’t anything trendy, or groundbreaking it’s just a rock-solid blend of perfect angles that lead to a superb handling bicycle. The tire clearance on the Super Something is fantastic, lending to the bike being able to be set up in so many different ways, like a true ATB.

The Super Something I reviewed was the top-tier model of the five Radavist versions made available last year. The new Super Something framesets are designed by Adam Sklar in Boseman, Montana, and manufactured in Taiwan. They retail for $1500 and for a bike that rides like the Super Something, that price is a steal.

My choice for the best bicycle for 2023 is the Sklar Super Something… I will own one very soon.

Best Place for Your Tush

Editor’s Choice: Brooks B17 Special Ti Saddle

Those who know, know. And those that don’t know, don’t care to know. But, that’s OK… here are the facts, Brooks England makes a great bicycle saddle. The most comfortable one. And their B17 model is the only saddle I’ve used for the last 10 years. Sure, I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s the cat’s meow for me.

The Brooks B17 Ti saddle is in no way, light… even with all titanium rails and frame. It is, though, a lot lighter than a traditional B17 Special. A traditional B17 Special (retail: $200) weighs in at 540g, while the B17 Special Ti (retail: $300) version comes in at 444g. It’s not a saddle that you would use while racing a road bike, or racing any bike for that matter. But, if comfort is what you want while getting in those “smiles per hour”, or you hate riding with a pillow between your legs (a chamois), then the Brooks B17, B17 Special, or B17 Special Ti saddle could be your jam.

I have been riding blissfully lycra-free for approx 10 years, and the Brooks B17 has been a big part of the equation when it comes to my comfort while doing so. It does take approx. a hundred miles or so, in my experience, to truly break the B17 in. But man, when it’s broken in and molds to your sit bone anatomy like a butt-glove, it’s magic.

The B17 Ti ramps saddle comfort up a few notches by the added compliance in the titanium rails and saddle frame. This Ti version of this saddle rides like no other B17 I own. It’s the epitome of gluteus maximus comfort.

For my behind, the best saddle for comfort in 2023 is the Brooks B17 Special Ti… butts down.

Best Bar Tape… Ever

Editor’s Choice: Camp and Go Slow Western Rattler Bar Tape

No hyperbole, the Camp and Go Slow Eastern and Western Rattler bar tape is the greatest bar tape available to mankind. I’ve been using the Western Rattler bar tape exclusively for a little over 3 years now. I am in the process of finally getting a formal review of this tape.

But all kidding aside, it’s no joke… this tape is pretty remarkable. Not only is it super-duper handsome, adding a wonderful aesthetic to just about any bike, but it’s also washable and reusable. The colors of either “coast” match leather saddles perfectly…so, you got that going for ya. I’ve used the same tape on three different bar swaps, it still wrapped beautifully and feels great. The tape also comes in a nice little reusable nylon rip-stop bag, that’s made in Pennsylvania.

Coming in two rolls of 3300mm in length, the woven tape can wrap the widest of bars. It’s made of a long-wearing, durable nylon blend. It’s only slightly padded (1.5mm), and the weave of the tape lends to riding gloveless quite nicely as it is very comfortable. It retails for $44 and comes packaged in a USA-made rip-stop bag. No plugs or finishing tape is included.

So, yeah… my pick of the best bar tape in 2023 (and forever….shhhh).

‘Nuff said.

Best Roof Rack

Editor’s Choice: Yakima Rib Cage for Jeep JL

When we got our “new” 2021 Jeep JL back in July of 2023 I immediately started researching racks that could accommodate a rooftop tent. I was shocked by the sheer amount that was available. They were all very expensive and other than one of the methods, all of them required drilling the top of the Jeep.

The top of Jeep Wranglers are fiberglass and removable. So, the rack systems that can hold the occupants of a rooftop tent need to incorporate the inside structure of the Jeep. Drilling through the top, like in this case, is done to use the roll bar for its weight bearing.

While scrolling YouTube, I found an installation video, by Yakima, on their Rib Cage rack system for a Jeep JL 4-door. It looked like a simple-ish install. So, I looked on the Yakima site and was shocked that their rack system was, literally half the cost ($600) of the others I was considering and had almost double the dynamic weight capacity (330lbs). Dynamic weight capacity is, in my opinion, the most important of the weight ratings for a vehicle like a Jeep.

One of the most attractive things about the Rib Cage is that, without load bars on it, it virtually disappears while on the vehicle. Also, the Rib Cage, after being installed, still allows you to take the roof off your Jeep if you so desire.

I installed it almost immediately after receiving it. I watched the video 3-4 times, and other than the daunting task of drilling the roof, the installation went fairly easily. I’ve driven close to 6000 miles, and have done a dozen off-road trips with the SkyRise Rooftop Tent on it, and the rack remains silent with not a single creak to be heard. Impressive.

Best roof rack system for Jeep JLs with 4-doors, the Yakima Rib Cage gets the award!

Best Top Tube Bag

Editor’s Choice: Orucase Top Tube Bag

Magnetic zippers…who’d a thunk? That’s the feature that drove me to review the Orucase Top Tube Bag in the first place. I mean, I think top tube bags are useful and, in some cases, essential gear, but there usually isn’t a lot to “review” about them

Not the case with the Orucase. What makes the Orucase unique is the magnetic zippers. They were a shocking game changer for me when accessing my snacks or phone for photos while riding. In a true one-step/one-handed operation I just dipped my hand into the bag and pulled out my phone… boom, the bag closed right back up, and Bob’s yer Uncle, all in less than a second.

The Orucase Top Tube bag fits my large phone (Google Pixel 6 Pro) too, with no problem. It has a cool cable port which is great for earphones or charging your light or phone. But for me, it’s great for running a charging cord from my phone in the bag down to my dynamo light to charge my phone while riding. It holds my phone, a bandana, a fig bar, sunglasses, and even a banana if you Tetris it in there. It retails for only $50.

It’s a great lil’ bag and my pick for the best Top Tube Bag of 2023.

Best Cycling Shoe

Editor’s Choice: Stomp Lox Slack

I’ve reviewed three different cycling shoes in 2023, One was great, one was close to if not as great, and one was very far from great (for me).

The great pair of shoes is the Stomp Lox Slack – a unique, handsome, sturdy, well-made, comfy cycling shoe that has a nostalgic aesthetic. I’ve got a few hundred miles on them and they are holding up very well. Being that they are closed, suede leather shoes, you pair them with a pair of Pinebury wool socks, and your feet will be toasty warm on cold night rides to drink beer or an early morning #coffeeoutside session.

They’re head-turners and conversation starters as well, as they are reminiscent of 1960s hiking boots. You could even say that they look like the shoes that the MTB pioneers were wearing while flying down Repack.

They are effortless when it comes to clipping in and out of my XT Trail pedals. They are also nice for regular walking during those “off-the-bike” moments. They are great while hike-a-biking too.

Look, they’re a great cycling shoe. The supple soft interior leather, especially in the heel cup, comfortably keeps you from suffering “heel slip”.

Coming from riding, mostly exclusively in Bedrock Sandals, the wide-toe box of the Slacks looked appealing to me. The toe box is wide, but not gratuitously so. It’s perfect for my feet.

The best bike shoe for 2023 goes to Stomp Lox for the unique and versatile Slack cycling shoe.

Parting Thoughts

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed the list. I had a great time testing the gear out and loved sharing my thoughts about them with you guys.

Until next year!

Each of these products was entirely chosen purely on their technical merits, by me personally, and for the reasons described above. More great products passed through my hands in 2023. Under no circumstances were any of my picks, paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to brand or advertiser. My selections are exclusively limited to products I’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples can make it more likely that we will have considered their products, if only because we can share our real, firsthand experiences.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2023 – Frazelle’s Fun Faves for the Year appeared first on Bikerumor.

This summer at Crankworx Whistler, Leatt presented their upcoming 2024 Gravity 6.0 full-face helmet and Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles to a select group of MTB media. They kindly provided samples for review, so since then I’ve been riding with both pieces. The helmet and goggles have now officially launched, so here are the key details and my impressions of how they feel on the trails.

The 2024 Gravity 6.0 full-face helmet uses a new kind of carbon construction called M-Forge. This material flexes more than traditional carbon to help absorb impact energy, while keeping it super light. I found the Gravity 6.0 to offer great ventilation, comfortable interior padding, and a very reasonable weight.

Leatt’s new Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles introduce a new level of ventilation with their heavily cut-out frames. They proved to be comfortable and kept mud and water off my eyes (except for one specific incident). They also kept wind to a tolerable level, and are much cooler on your face than other goggles.

Gravity 6.0 Full-Face Helmet:

The 2024 Gravity 6.0 helmet boasts a new kind of carbon for most of its shell, called M-Forge. The M-Forge carbon is more flexible than traditional carbon fiber, so it helps reduce rebound to decelerate impact forces.  The chin bar is made from composite, and beneath the shell is an EPS + EPO impact foam liner.

The Gravity 6.0 has 22 vents, and a fairly cut-out chin bar with a removable mud/bug guard.

Protection is a top concern for Leatt, so they’ve outfitted the Gravity 6.0 with their 360 Turbine Technology. Leatt says these pads reduce peak brain acceleration by up to 30% at impact speeds that can cause concussions. Since they can shift in all directions, the pads also reduce rotational acceleration of the brain by up to 40%.

To further mitigate impact forces in a crash, Leatt gave the Gravity 6.0 a breakaway visor. They also designed this helmet to work well with neck braces.

The Gravity 6.0’s Dri-Lex interior padding is breathable and moisture-wicking. It also has anti-odor properties and is washable. Leatt stuck with a traditional double D-ring chin buckle for this lid.

Leatt makes two shell sizes for the Gravity 6.0, but with different sets of interior padding, they can offer S/M/L/XL sizes. The size range covers heads from 55-62 cm.  

As for weight, Leatt estimates 700-800g depending on size, but that seems a bit optimistic. My scale shows the medium Gravity 6.0 at 873g. The Gravity 6.0 helmet sells for $380. There are three color options: White Stealth, or Gold (as tested).

Ride Impressions:

Since Crankworx Whistler I’ve been riding the Gravity 6.0 helmet in the Whistler Bike Park and on my local trails. The first thing I’m happy to report is that it fits my head quite comfortably. I have a slightly shallow and narrow head, and the Gravity 6.0 sits right where it should be on me. The interior shape lines up nicely with my skull, and I never experienced any discomfort from this lid.

As this helmet is designed for DH more than anything, Leatt gave it substantial interior padding. The padding is comfortable, and the sizeable cheek pads keep the helmet snug without squeezing my cheeks.

I’ve measured my head at 56cm, but I’m wearing Leatt’s size medium helmet which is listed as 57-58cm. I got small and medium padding sets with the helmet, but the medium pads were tight enough for me. After all my test rides, the padding hasn’t packed out to any noticeable degree.

Ventilation:

My first ride with the Gravity 6.0 helmet was a three-hour summer session in the Whistler Bike Park. The weather was warm at the base and pleasantly cool up top with a good breeze blowing.

The Gravity 6.0’s ventilation is excellent. The big forehead vents are great; the entire top of my head and face were getting plenty of airflow. My head never felt hot in this lid, even while riding the gondola or hanging around the mountain’s base (and I left it on just to find out!).  On my local trail rides, I also noticed good ventilation around my ears from the side vents. Leatt also shaped the helmet’s shell so there are no vents that get blocked by your goggle strap.

Now the Gravity 6.0’s ventilation is very good, but I have a hunch it could be improved upon. The interior padding partially or almost completely blocks several of the vents, and some areas have vent holes but they’re small. I wonder how much airflow could be improved by trimming the interior pads to keep all the vents unobstructed.

While this is really a well-vented downhill helmet, it is airy and lightweight enough that it can be worn for enduro/trail rides. I did a bit of pedaling in it and found it almost as trail-friendly as some fully enduro-focused full-faces.

I’m happy with this helmet’s weight; it’s not a heavy lid at 873g. Leatt said they felt some superlight full faces aren’t as confidence-inspiring as one that feels a bit more solid, so they kept the 6.0 on the light side but used every gram they could to ensure good protection.

One thing I wasn’t wild about is how the Gravity 6.0’s chin bar is a bit high. Thankfully it’s not visually problematic, it just leaves a little less field-of-view than most other full-faces I’ve worn. I was still able to pedal up climbs without it blocking my view of the trail below.

Visor:

I’m not a huge fan of the Gravity 6.0’s visor, as it’s not much help in keeping the sun off your eyes. The breakaway visor is non-adjustable and is fixed in a pretty high position. One day I was riding along flat ground facing the sun, and the visor wasn’t shading my face at all. Looking at the helmet, it’s obvious the visor is designed to direct airflow into the vents (which it does well). I still think a height adjustment would be ideal so the visor can block the sun better.

Goggle compatibility was great with the Gravity 6.0. Leatt’s Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles fit perfectly with the helmet and every other pair of goggles I have fit into the face opening easily. While gearing up, it’s easy to feel the ridge in the helmet and line up your goggle strap properly.

For super sloppy days, Leatt provides a clip-on visor extender, which is translucent to allow light through. Since I was trying to get the X-Flow goggles splattered whenever possible, I never rode with the extender.

Overall I think the Gravity 6.0 is a nice looking lid, but the branding is a bit excessive. The word Leatt shows up 27 times on this helmet! It’s just my opinion, but I think the graphics would look nicer if they removed some of the Leatt logos.

Velocity 4.0 X-Flow Goggles:

Ventilation is the name of the game with Leatt’s new Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles. These goggles were designed around a chopped-away frame, which leaves the bottom completely open and has no foam in the top vents. They are intended to encourage DH or enduro riders who would typically wear sunglasses to enjoy the protection of a goggle without the usual added warmth or condensation. 

Leatt kept the foam minimal to keep these goggles cool, but there is foam at the top and sides for comfort and to keep sweat from running into your eyes. The Iriz lens models get a triple-layer, dual-density foam with an anti-sweat fleece backing. The clear lens models get dual-density foam. Since there’s no need to seal the X-Flows against your face, they can be worn a bit looser than typical goggles.

The Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles are available with two lens options – Rideviz Iriz lenses with a permanent anti-fog and scratch-resistant coating, or RideViz clear lenses. If you’re familiar with Leatt’s goggles, you might know their lenses are bulletproof! 

Leatt’s WideVision lenses provide 170° visibility. The X-Flow frames were designed to fit into helmets easily and to fit over eyeglasses.

The X-Flow’s mesh straps are designed to maintain airflow if they happen to block the vents on your helmet. The straps are 45mm on Iriz models or 50mm wide on clear lens models and have an anti-slip coating to keep them adjusted correctly. They also have silicone gripper strips to keep them secure on your helmet.

The Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles retail for $90 with mirrored Iriz lenses, or $70 with a clear lens. Frame color options are Blue, Red, or Granite (Iriz lens), Black, Stripe, or Timber (clear lens).

Ride Impressions:

The Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles fit my face well, and I found them comfortable. You might wonder if they would create any pressure points at the bottom of the sides, but after my first few hours wearing them I didn’t find this to be a problem. If anything, there is a bit more pressure on your nose than usual, but the foam padding was good enough to keep my nose happy.

Depending on how the goggles fit with your helmet, this can be slightly better or worse; With a Bell Sanction full-face, I felt less pressure on the nose than I did with Leatt’s Gravity 6.0 helmet or my ABUS AirDrop. At worst, it was still only a minor difference versus normal goggles and I never came home with a sore nose.

Protection:

With the huge vents on these goggles, you’re probably thinking water, mud, or dust might get inside the lens while you’re riding. I only had one issue with water getting in from the top vents, but otherwise, I never managed to get any spray or splatter in my eyes.

On one run in the very dry Whistler Bike Park, I chased a few riders through a serious cloud of dust and none of it got to my eyes. Through fall and early winter, I went for a few rides in wet conditions, in both light rain and wet snow. The open bottoms of the goggles didn’t allow anything to get up behind the lens, even with my open-faced Oakley DRT5 helmet providing no protection from below.

Once I had an issue with the top vents allowing water in – On my snowy ride the trees were dripping on my DRT5 helmet as I climbed, and when I put the goggles on for my descent, water dripped from my wet helmet onto the inside of the X-Flow’s lens. A little foam in the top vents would likely have prevented this.

I never had any issues with too much wind flowing through the goggles. On a near-freezing ride, I could feel the cold air flowing around my eyes almost enough to make them water – but not quite. On that ride, it occurred to me these goggles are comparable to a pair of larger-lensed sunglasses in terms of wind protection. You will feel air flowing all over your face with the X-Flows, but they kept the direct wind off my eyes well enough.

Condensation:

The upside of the Velocity 4.0 X-Flow’s generous airflow is they are far cooler on your face than most goggles. On hot days not sealing off half my face felt great, and my face remained much cooler than normal goggles would allow. I could only imagine anyone preferring full-framed goggles for sub-zero rides where you want to stay warm wherever possible.

One thing these goggles do amazingly well is resist condensation. From sweaty summer days to snowy rides, I never got any fog on the X-Flow’s lenses. Even after wearing them for short climbs and while pedaling home from the trails, I could not produce one bit of condensation. The Velocity 4.0 X-Flows easily beat any other pair of goggles I’ve ridden in this regard. You’d have to ride in a sauna to fog these things up!

My final comment on the X-Flow goggles is about one benefit you might not have foreseen. They provide excellent lower visibility, as you can actually see through the open bottom sections! This was a nice bonus when looking down to check your bike, or your phone, or enjoying a mid-ride snack. 

leatt.com

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As summer faded into fall, then early winter, it was great to have 7mesh’s Flightpath pants and Cache anorak to ride in. The Flightpath pants turned out to be a great all-purpose option, managing a vast range of temperatures well and offering unrestricted mobility. The Cache anorak also impressed me with its excellent breathability and weather resistance.

I did have one notable issue with the waist adjuster on the Flightpath pants, but aside from that I have nothing negative to say about them. The Cache anorak quickly became a new favorite, as it performed well on-trail, looks great, and offers a perfect fit.

Flightpath Pants: Construction

The Flightpath pants are made from a high-tenacity Nylon material with a raised yarn to help resist abrasions. This fabric offers a high level of stretch and good breathability. The Flightpaths are a bit heavier than 7mesh’s Glidepath pants, but they’re still on the cooler side and can be worn through mid-summer temperatures.  The legs on the Flightpaths feature an articulated knee stretch panel and taper down around the ankles. 

At the waist is an ultra-suede hook and ladder closure with six positions of adjustment. Beneath that is a zippered fly with a single button. I’ve always liked how 7mesh keeps components like waist closures small and lightweight – the tiny buckle on the adjuster goes completely unnoticed on rides.

The Flightpath pants offer two hand pockets and two zippered side pockets. The right side pocket also has an internal mesh sleeve to hold a lift pass/credit card, etc.

Fit:

I started out with size medium pants (listed as 31-33”), and they fit me pretty well but were a bit loose on my roughly 31” waist. Even with the adjuster cinched in all the way, the waist was just tight enough to stay on my hips. The medium pants were roomy, but not excessively baggy so I was perfectly happy riding in them. The leg length on the mediums was perfect for me; they’re just long enough keep my legs fully covered in any riding position.

One day during a ride, I had a technical failure with the Flightpaths. The pants felt extra loose, and when I looked down I realized the waist strap was suddenly about 3” longer than before. It seemed the strap had pulled away from an anchor point somewhere within the waistband.

I got in touch with 7mesh, who immediately offered to repair the pants. However, since they fit a bit big I asked for a size small replacement. They agreed, and the smalls were a much better fit. I can now tighten the waist enough with room to spare on the adjuster. I did notice the size small’s legs and lower cuffs are a bit slimmer. The only thing I liked better about the medium pants was leg length; at 5’10” I would gladly take another inch or two on the smalls’ legs. Thankfully they are long enough to sit just above my shoes.

This summer I tested a pair of Dainese’s slim, light-duty Trail Skins Lite kneepads, which I specifically chose to try under riding pants. Even with the size small pants, they easily fit underneath without hanging up or limiting mobility at all.

The Flightpath’s hand pockets are deep and have a tapered shape, so they hold a smartphone securely and comfortably. The side pockets offer more storage, which is great, but my smartphone would bounce around a bit in those pockets. Lightweight string zipper pulls make for easy access with gloved hands.

There is simply no limit to mobility in the Flightpath pants. Their articulated cut is great, so you hardly even have to rely on the fabric’s ability to stretch. Despite their free movement, the crotch area fits closely enough that it wasn’t prone to catching on my saddle.

Temperature Range:

I rode the Flightpath pants over a wide range of temperatures and always remained comfortable. On a 20° C (68º F) summer day, they felt impressively cool even with longer socks and kneepads underneath. The pants don’t have any vents, they rely on their fabric to keep you cool and it does a fine job. It was clear the pants were breathing well enough to keep my legs from getting overly hot or sweaty.

As the seasons changed I’ve now ridden the Flightpaths down to near-freezing temperatures. While they’re a thin pant, they still hold warmth in much better than shorts so I’m loving them for cooler rides.

Aside from the waist adjuster issue with the medium pants, I haven’t done any damage to the Flightpaths. 7mesh built these pants to be durable and the fabric has held up very well, showing no noticeable wear after several rides. The Flightpaths offer a DWR coating for water resistance, which easily fended off puddle splashes. I never got myself soaked in the pants, as they’re not claimed to be waterproof.

The men’s 7Mesh Flightpath Pants are available in sizes XS-XXL, and they come in Black, Bottle Blue or Peat (as tested) colors. MSRP is $250, and women’s models are also available.

Cache Anorak – Construction:

The Cache Anorak is one of 7mesh’s first pieces from their Airmap collection. The Airmap clothing was created in response to the industry-wide ban on PFAS chemicals, which were used to improve waterproofing. Without them, 7mesh has shifted to new fabrics that aim to offer the most weather resistance and breathability possible. The good news is, I found the Cache anorak was a great performer in both regards. It works so well, in fact, that it made it into our selection of the best mountain bike jackets.

Airmap garments use up to three layers of fabric in different areas to optimize breathability and weather resistance. The Cache anorak uses three layers in the body, and two layers for the rear side panels, hem and cuffs. It also features fully taped seams.

Intended for MTB or gravel riding, the Cache Anorak is a hooded pullover with a half zipper. As is typical with 7mesh it features lean elasticized cuffs, and small lightweight drawstring adjusters inside the hem. String pulls on all zippers make for easy gloved access while keeping things light.

For primary storage, you get a zippered kangaroo pocket. There is another small pocket inside it, which is usable but also doubles as 7mesh’s Stash System pouch. With the Stash System, the anorak can be packed up and strapped to your bike when not needed. 

Fit:

7mesh describes the Cache’s fit as ‘relaxed and articulated’ and I’d have to agree. It’s roomy enough to accommodate layers underneath, yet it still feels fairly lean on the bike. Arm length and body length are easily ample for me, and the half zipper makes it easy to pull the anorak on and off with a helmet on.

The hood is large enough to fit over a helmet, but riding with it up might be a stretch. It’ll keep you covered when standing around on the trailside, but it isn’t quite big enough for me to ride in. With my Oakley DRT5, one of my smaller shelled helmets, the hood was tight enough that it would tug the jacket around while I rode. I suspect 7mesh tried to nail down an ideal size for the hood, as it has no cinches or adjusters.

The anorak’s collar is great. It’s high enough to hide behind in crappy weather, but doesn’t rub on your chin or neck. Fully zipped, it holds itself up and away from your face. With the zipper down, the collar falls out to the sides evenly.

Temperature Range:

With no pit zips, the Cache anorak relies on its Airmap fabric to manage heat and moisture. Thankfully it does a very good job! At first I underestimated how warm this thin jacket would be, and took it out on a 14-16° (57º – 60º F) day with a long sleeved jersey underneath.  I started off nice and warm and noticed good wind protection from the jacket. After about 10 minutes of climbing, I was starting to sweat and had to pull it off.

I went for another ride in varying conditions, ranging from 13-17° (55º – 62º F) with a mix of sun and cloud cover. With a ¾ jersey underneath, I still got to the point of sweating and took the jacket off for the last part of my climb. Soon afterwards, it got cloudy and cooled down a bit. It was just cool enough to put the anorak back on while shooting a few photos and for my descent.

After these warmer rides I can say the anorak definitely breathes better than anything that’s fully waterproof. I also noticed opening the front zipper helps dump body heat, especially when there’s a breeze blowing.

Temperatures continued to drop as winter came in. With a warm midlayer underneath, I’ve now ridden the anorak in temps as low as 5° (41º F) and remained comfortable. Again, the Airmap fabrics seem to breathe very well; I never wound up a sweaty mess under this jacket.

The Cache anorak packs down nicely, but stashing it on the frame isn’t super slick. The stash pouch is fairly wide and the straps just barely stretch enough to lash it to the bike. It totally works, it just looks a bit bulky. I don’t know why 7mesh made the straps hold the packed-up anorak widthwise across your top tube rather than lengthwise along it (it can’t sit lengthwise due to the buckles). I’m a bit concerned about how long those straps will last since they have to stretch so much.

Water Resistance:

One day I got the perfect chance to test the Cache’s water resistance. I rode for 45 minutes, fully exposed for most of the ride, in conditions ranging from a light drizzle to steady rain. The anorak got home totally dry on the inside despite the rain getting heavier throughout my ride. The arms and shoulders looked like they were close to saturation, but did not soak through. I’d say that’s impressive for a fabric that isn’t slick or rubbery like fully waterproof fabrics. As for coverage, the anorak’s arm length is easily adequate, and the tail is long enough to keep all spray and splatter off my jersey. 

The Cache Anorak sells for $330. Men’s sizes go from XS-XXL, and color options are Black, Prince (purple), or Butterscotch (as tested). 7mesh offers women’s models as well.

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After enjoying many previous items from Dainese, I was stoked to test more of their gear this year. I got my hands on their HGC Shell and HGR Pants, plus a pair of HGR gloves and their Trail Skins Lite kneepads.

Unfortunately I wasn’t too impressed with the weather resistance of the shell or pants, and had issues with the fit of both as well. Luckily the gloves and kneepads fit properly, and after many test rides I came away pretty happy with those pieces.

Trail Skins Lite Kneepads

The Trail Skins Lite kneepads are a slim, flexible pair designed for XC or Trail riding more than enduro… but I specifically wanted to see how they worked with different trail riding pants.

The Trail Skins Lites fit under 7mesh’s Flightpath pants easily, and the pants don’t hang up on them while you pedal. They also fit under Dainese’s HGR pants (pictured above), which are slimmer than the Flightpaths, and still pedal just fine.

I’m wearing size XS pads. The lower hems are snug on my calves, and the top hems are just snug enough on my thighs. As you’d hope given their thin construction, these are easily the least motion-restricting kneepads I’ve pedaled in. Throughout all my test rides, I never experienced any discomfort from any part of the pads.

I wish Dainese had trimmed down the length of the pads’ sleeve sections more. There is a fair bit of sleeve length above the pad itself plus some below, and I’m not sure it’s necessary. Even with shorter socks and a chamois on, the pads almost completely covered my shins and well overlapped the chamois’ legs.

Despite their leg coverage, the Trail Skins Lites are cooler to wear than most other kneepads. I could feel air coming through the perforated pads while riding, and the thin sleeves don’t trap much heat in. 

Now of course the price you pay for flexibility and coolness is the Trail Skins Lites’ light-duty protection. I never smashed a knee during my test rides, but it’s safe to say these pads are limited to the ‘better than nothing’ class of protection.

Hems vs. Chamois

I learned one lesson with these pads – I went for a ride with the top hems over top of my chamois legs, giving the grippers no chance to grab my skin. The top hems slipped down easily, leaving the pad sitting in front of my kneecap instead of covering it. When I wore the pads under my chamois legs, the grippers did grab my skin and the pads held their position. For the next few weeks, they stayed put consistently for up to 3-hour loops with no adjustments.

However, I had one recent ride where the right pad simply wouldn’t stay up. I was wearing an older chamois with loose-fitting legs, and I suspect without the legs helping to hold up the pads’ hems, they were able to slip downwards. With my tighter-fitting chamois the Trail Skins Lites always did great, but on this ride, the right pad wouldn’t stay up. The left pad was fine for most of the ride… but then it gave up and slipped downwards too.

It’s possible the hems are stretching out, as I’ve worn these pads quite a few times. This is why I think an adjustment strap on the top hem would be a worthy addition. Despite that, I’ve found if I stick to wearing my tight-legged chamois’ the pads will stay in place. And as long as they do, they’re exactly the under-pants option I was looking for!

The Trail Skins Lite kneepads come in black only, and in sizes XS-XL. MSRP is $75.

HGC Shell

Designed to protect you from nasty weather, the HGC Shell is made from a 2.5 layer, 10,000mm waterproof fabric with taped seams. The fabric offers some stretch, and the shell’s hood is largeenough to fit over a helmet. 

For storage you get two large mesh backed pockets/vents on the front, and one large zippered pocket across the lower back. Other details include a silicone gripper in the lower hem, a waist drawstring, glove-friendly pulls on all zippers, and adjustable cuffs.

Fit

I’m wearing a size medium jacket – Aside from one significant issue, the HGC Shell fits me well. The body length is perfect with the front reaching just below my waist and the dropped tail covering my butt. Unfortunately in my case, the HGC’s sleeves are too short! In riding position the sleeves pull up my arms leaving a considerable gap between my gloves and the jacket. I’d need another two to three inches to ensure proper arm coverage.

I like the HGC Shell’s collar design, but how it sits can be a bit unpredictable because of the shell’s stiff water-resistant zipper.  Fully zipped, the collar sits high enough for you to tuck your chin inside on wetter or colder rides, which is great. However, sometimes the collar creeps under your chin and sits against your neck. Since the zipper props up the jacket, the sides of the collar don’t fall away when you partially unzip it. Standing on their own, they can get in your face and be a bit irritating. Dainese did include a fabric hood to keep the zipper itself from touching your chin and neck.

Temperature and Coverage

One of my first trail rides with the HGC Shell was in damp 13° C (55º F) weather. With a thin long long-sleeved jersey underneath, I was sweating after 15 minutes of climbing. I opened the shell’s front vents and the zipper halfway, and that kept me warm but not overly hot for the remainder of the ride.

I went for another ride at 15° (59º F) with a thin SS jersey underneath, and I got sweaty. While the chest vents are noticeable, the HGC Shell’s arm and armpit ventilation is not great. I think pit zips or vents would be a worthy addition to this jacket; without them, the front zipper becomes an essential means of dropping heat (even with the front vents).

As winter set in I found the HGC Shell could be worn into pretty cool temperatures, paired with two thin layers or one insulated jersey underneath. Since the fabric itself is quite windproof and doesn’t breathe particularly well, keeping the zippers closed will hold your warmth inside.

Aside from the short sleeves, the shell provided good coverage for me and never restricted motion in any way. I usually came home with two inches of mud spray on the bottom of my jerseys at most, and only got my jersey’s lower hem wet in the front on one rainy ride. 

The HGC Shell’s large hood fits over a helmet and leaves enough room to ride comfortably; in fact, I had to cinch it down to keep it from blowing off! It would be awesome if you could button the hood down while not in use, as it’s pretty big and floppy.

Water Resistance

During Crankworx Whistler I got to test the HGC Shell in warm, damp conditions. After a ride in intermittent light rain for nearly an hour, the jacket mostly kept me dry but the sleeves were wet inside. I suspect this was from my arms sweating, as it never happened again in cooler temperatures.

I finally got a chance to get properly wet in the HGC Shell, and wasn’t too impressed with its water resistance. Unfortunately Dainese describing this shell as ‘totally waterproof’ did not match my test results…

I rode in steady rain for just under an hour, mostly in exposed areas. This time, I made sure to ride slowly and casually to ensure I wasn’t getting sweaty. By the time I got home, most of the HGC Shell’s inside was wet. Only the lower back portion was dry inside – the sleeves, shoulders, hood and front were soaked. I was only dry because my mid layer hadn’t soaked through yet. The HGC Shell will keep you protected from light showers, splashes, and splatter, but a steady rainfall will get through this jacket before long.

The HGC Shell is available in Tradewinds (as tested) or Periscope colors. Men’s sizes go from XS-XXL. Women’s models are available in Tradewinds only and in XS-XXL sizes.  The HGC Shell sells for $240.

HGR Pants:

Dainese’s HGR pants are designed with durability in mind, and they offer a streamlined fit. I had some issues with the sizing, but rode the pants regardless to see how they performed on-trail. 

As for construction the HGR pants are slim in the legs but feature articulated knees. The legs taper down towards the ankles, where you’ll find simple cuffs with no stretch panels or zippers. Built for durability, the pants’ fabric isn’t particularly light or thin.

The HGR Pants provide two zippered hand pockets, which are not huge but I’m happy to have them – they offer secure storage and remained comfortable with smartphones and keys inside.  One final touch is Dainese’sHook Button system, which allows you to carry Dainese’s gloves on your waist and save some pocket space.

Fit

Now, regarding sizing: The sizing guide led me to request XS pants which are listed on Dainese’s Italy website as size “USA-UK 32″ (these pants are not shown on the USA site). However, looking at a different size chart our editor found XS pants waist size listed as 27.2-29.5”, which is far more accurate.

Discovering that discrepancy explains why the XS pants are very tight on my waist, which is around 31”. The waist features a zippered fly with Dainese’s Slide-Fit closure that provides three notches for adjustment, but they’re not evenly spaced. Two sit close together and the third seems to ensure those with smaller waists can clinch down the pants further. I’m using the largest notch and thanks to the fabric’s stretch, I can just squeeze into the pants. After several rides in them, the waist isn’t loosening up at all.

The other fit issue I had was the legs – they are far too short, though this would make sense given that I should be in a larger size. I could easily use another 2-3 inches of length to keep my ankles covered up.

Weather Resistance

Despite having a very lean cut (and being too small for me) I can say the pants pedalled perfectly well, with no restriction of motion. While I wouldn’t call them excessively warm, the HGRs are not the coolest pants. On most rides, I noticed my phone got wet with sweat, even in temperatures down to roughly 10° Celsius (50º F).  

During some rainy rides I found out the HGR pants are not very waterproof like the jacket. After about half an hour pedaling fully exposed to steady rain, my thighs were soaking through and my legs started feeling wet. By the end of the 50-minute ride, my thighs were saturated. The saddle area also soaked through, so I wish Dainese had made at least that area of the pants more waterproof. Puddle splashes and mud splatters were easily fended off by the pants, but they didn’t hold up to much actual rain. 

The HGR Pants are available in Tradewinds, Sand, or Black colors. Sizes go from XS-XXL. MSRP is 179.95€.

HGR Gloves:

Dainese’s HGR gloves have left me with nothing to complain about, proving to be a durable, tactile and comfortable pair. I’ve worn these gloves quite a few times over this summer and fall, and they hardly look used.

I’m wearing size smalls, and they fit me very nicely. They are snug, but with a bit of stretch to the fabric they offer a precise fit. Finger length is perfect for me, and the cuffs easily cover my wrists. The Velcro wrist closure provides a snug, secure fit, and has remained perfectly comfortable. I’ve had no issues with irritating seams, stitches or bunchy areas anywhere on the HGR gloves.  

Even with some silicone printing for grip, the HGR gloves’ palm fabric is thin and provides great grip feel. I noticed these gloves were tactile enough that I rarely removed them when fiddling with my phone or camera. Conveniently, the fingers are very touchscreen-friendly.

Temperature-wise, these gloves are pretty typical. The perforated palms, thin back panels and mesh between the fingers all vent heat well. There are lighter mesh-backed gloves out there, but the HGRs are perfectly suitable for spring, fall, and hot summer rides.

I only have one minor suggestion regarding the HGR gloves: I think the pull tabs on the cuffs could be trimmed down a bit. That’s the worst I can say!

The HGR gloves are available in Black, Military Green, Grey, or Sand colors. Sizes XXS-XXL are available, for the price of $45.

dainese.com

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For 2023 Bell updated their entry-level Sanction full-face helmet, and they’re offering it in two models. Consumers can choose between the basic Sanction 2, or spend a little more and get the Sanction 2 DLX, which includes a few added features (most notably MIPS crash protection).

The new Sanction 2 and Sanction 2 DLX boast a nicely updated appearance versus the previous Sanction helmets. They also offer good ventilation and comfortable interior padding. Check out my launch article for full details on the updated Sanction 2 helmets: In this article, we’ll cover how they feel on the trails.

Sanction 2 DLX:

The Sanction 2 DLX fit me pretty well overall and presented no comfort issues throughout my test. Although I have a narrow, shallower head, I do find Bell’s helmets a bit shallow themselves. Also, their sizing splits at 55cm, and my 56cm head fits a little snugly in their size XS/S. They fit me well enough to ride in comfortably, but perfection would be if my head sat a bit deeper in the shell.

I’d have to say the Sanction 2 DLX is pretty good warmth-wise for a full-face DH helmet. Its vents do allow generous airflow over the top of the head, and the chin bar vents are OK, but there’s nothing groundbreaking about the Sanction 2’s airflow. I guess for $180-200 Bell’s not giving up the advanced ventilation system found on their much pricier Full 10.

I’m usually not too excited about Fidlock buckles, but the Sanction 2 DLX’s seemed better than others I’ve previously tested. If you even get the two ends of the buckle close to each other, they find each other and snap in very easily. It’s easy to undo with gloves on too, so I appreciated the Fidlock buckle on the Sanction 2 DLX.

The face opening on the Sanction 2 DLX worked fine with most of the goggles I tried. My Smith Squad and 661 Radia goggles fit nicely, but a larger pair of Leatt Velocity 5.0’s didn’t work out, winding up sitting too high on my face. On the trails, I noticed it’s easy to find the back panel that guides your goggle strap with your hands. 

I’ve ridden several helmets with MIPS, and there’s usually a little noise associated with the shifting of the liner. While I remember noticeable creaking from Bell’s Spherical MIPS systems, the Sanction 2 DLX’s MIPS Essential liner is quieter.  You can still hear a shifting sound, but so far there have been no creaks from my DLX.

Bell’s visor is just visible in its lowest position. Fully lowered it will keep the sun off your eyes, but it can be lifted right out of view when sun protection is not needed. The visor lifts up pretty high, but not high enough to stash goggles on the forehead. There’s ample room for a POV cam under it, but there’s no mount included on or with the helmet.

On the bike the Sanction 2 DLX didn’t seem too heavy. It’s not bad, but not amazingly light at 963g (size XS/S). Bell is nearly spot on about weight, as the sticker claims 960g.

Sanction 2:

The base model Sanction 2 is almost the same helmet as the DLX model above, but it doesn’t get MIPS, the anti-microbial Ionic padding, or the Fidlock chin buckle. Otherwise, it has the same ABS shell/EPS liner and the same interior padding layout.

I found there wasn’t a noticeable difference in the fit between the Sanction 2 and the DLX model. I wondered if the MIPS system would make the DLX fit a bit tighter, but it doesn’t seem to. The base model Sanction 2 remained perfectly comfortable through all my test riding.

The Sanction 2 offers the same ventilation, visor, and goggle fit as the DLX model described above. One added note: I was happy to find the Sanction 2’s chin bar sits low enough to provide a great field of view. I liked the new Fidlock buckle on the DLX, but I don’t mind the basic buckle on the Sanction 2.

Bell’s ventilated DH Air padding keeps all of the vents fully open (DLX and base model). That said, your goggle straps do sit over the two higher rear vents. One benefit of the non-MIPS liner is no noise whatsoever!

Without the MIPS system, the XS/S Sanction 2 full-face weighs a bit less than the DLX at 941g. The sticker is slightly optimistic, claiming 930g.

The Sanction 2 and Sanction 2 DLX full-face helmets are available now. The Sanction 2 DLX comes in seven colorways (including some wilder graphic options), and sizes XS/S, M, and L. MSRP is $180 for stock colorways, or $200 for special colors or signature models.

The Sanction 2 comes in five colors, and this model offers an XXS size (in select colors only) in addition to XS/S, M, and L. The Sanction 2 retails for $120.

bellhelmets.com

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