2015 new products from Giro, Schwalbe, Muc-Off, Canyon, Brooks, Garmin, Sealskinz

Eurobike 2014, the world's biggest bicycle show, provided the ideal opportunity to see the latest cycling products and here's our roundup of parts and accessories that caught our eye.

Giro expands shoe lineup

Giro are really pushing forward with their shoes lineup for for 2015. We’ve already shown you the new superlight Empire SLX road shoe, and there’s now a cyclocross version on the way, the Empire VR90.

Like the Empire SLX, the VR90 comes with a one-piece laced upper and an Easton EC90 carbon-fibre sole but with the addition of a lugged rubber outsole for keeping you upright in the mud. That sole will also take steel toe spikes/studs.

Giro are claiming a weight of 315g per shoe for size 42.5.

We imagine that the Empire VR90 is going to prove as popular with urban/commuting riders as it is with cyclocrossers.

The Alpinenduro is another new model, designed as a rugged mountain bike shoe with a waterproof upper and a grippy Vibram outsole. Primaloft insulation and a heat retaining foil layer in the footbed are there to keep your feet warm.

The soles take two-bolt cleats – so small Shimano SPDs, for example, rather than SPD-SLs.

The Rumble VR is new too. Coming with a Vibram outsole, it is designed to provide the comfort of a light hiking shoe, so it’s going to find fans among those who want something they can wear both on and off the bike.

Like the Alpinenduro, it’s compatible with two-bolt cleats.

Loads of brands are offering neoprene gloves these days and here is Giro’s: the Neo Blaze. The textured palm is intended to provide grip while reflective print on the back should help you get seen at night.

The Rivet glove has been updated and becomes the Rivet II, not surprisingly. It’s a lightweight full-finger glove without palm padding for those who want plenty of handlebar feel.

www.giro.com

Garmin Vector S: half the price of the original

Garmin have launched Vector S, which uses a single non-driveside pedal-based power meter. The most appealing factor of the new single-side power meter is its lower price: it costs £750, about half the price of the standard Vector’s £1,350.

Like the Stages single-sided power meter, and possibly due to its success, the Vector S measures power produced just by the left leg and works out your total power based on that figure. However, and rather interestingly, you can upgrade Vector S to the full-blown Vector system by buying the other half at a later date.

We’d imagine the power measuring of the single-sided system is good enough for most people buying it.

Schwalbe Durano tyre gets lighter

Schwalbe have updated their popular Durano tyre with a completely new profile and it’s now 10g lighter. It’s available in three versions, the regular weighs 225g for a 23mm (with 25 and 28mm available), Durano DD with Double Defense puncture protection (275g for 23mm, 25mm available) and Durano Plus.

This last one offers “maximum puncture protection for race bikes,” says the company. It achieves this by using a similar SmartGuard belt to the venerable Marathon Plus but it’s not as deep, to keep the weight lower. Claimed weight is 340g for a 23mm. 25 and 28mm options are available.

Schwalbe One tyres now available in colours

Previously available in any colour as long as it was black, Schwalbe’s range-topping One tyre is now being offered in a range of colours. It’s mostly still a black affair, but they’ve added a slim strip of colour above the sidewall. You can choose from white, red, blue or dark silver stripes. The tyre is available in more sizes now too, 20, 24 and 26in wheel diameters.

The Schwalbe One is available in a tubular with this beige sidewall which would look good on the right bike, possibly a steel frame and fork.

CycleOps launch new disc-compatible PowerTap

There’s a new disc-specific PowerTap which is aimed at the mountain bike market, but with the growth of disc-equipped road bikes and cyclo-cross bikes at the moment, this is a well-timed release.

It’s available with either a 153mm quick release axle or 142 x 12mm thru-axle. You can choose between 24 or 28 hole spoke drilling (claimed weights 348g and 353g respectively) and it’s Shimano, SRAM  and Campagnolo compatible up to 11-speed. Iit’s even compatible with SRAM’s XD driver body which lets you use a 10-42 11-speed cassette and a 10-tooth small cog.

There is, of course, a matching front hub,. Both hubs use Shimano’s Centerlock disc rotor mount but you can equally use a six bolt rotor with a supplied adapter.

Canyon produce own handlebar and stem range

Canyon have until now being using Ritchey components on their bikes but going forward they’ll be using their own range of handlebars, stems and seatposts, and they were showing them at Eurobike. It’s not clear yet if they’ll be selling these parts separately but with the integrated handlebar which they’ve had quite a bit of interest in, we hope they will.

Canyon have used a compact shape with a short reach and a narrower diameter on the drops than the tops to provide a comfortable handlebar. The Aerocockpit CF integrated aero bar was first seen at the Tour de France on their new Aeroad aero road bike, and uses internal cable routing and is available in narrower widths for improved aerodynamics. Canyon did a lot of aero testing and found, as you'd probably imagine, that decreasing the space between the arms offered aero gains.

Canyon will add two new carbon-fibre rigid seatposts alongside their existing VCLS 2.0 flex post.

Lastly, they offer a range of stems which feature face plates with a “unique asymmetric construction and highly durable screws to aid correct setup for enhanced reliability”.

RaceFace cranks aim for adaptability 

Not a road-specific product, but possibly of interest to cyclo-cross fans, RaceFace have launched the Cinch system on their 2015 cranks, a chainset design that uses a locking ring on the spider which is aimed at future-proofing the cranks for maximum compatibility, so you can fit a single ring or double or triple chainrings. It’s also designed to be compatible with any bottom bracket standard currently available.

They’re offering it on their carbon Next crank, SixC and Turbine models. There's no news on a road version yet but RaceFace have produced a road crank in the past so maybe they'll introduce a road version at some stage?

Muc-Off expands with ‘athlete protection’ range + new bike products

Muc-Off might be best known for bike cleaning and lubing products, but the company is expanding into products aimed at keeping the rider in tip top condition, with a range of ‘athlete protection’ products.

So they’ve produced a warm up cream for slapping on your legs, a cream that apparently delivers amino acids to the body through the skin to increase endurance (we can’t wait to test the claims of that product), a recovery balm, chamois cream, shaving cream and a spray on skin lubricant that is essentially a sort of silicone spray for your legs. This one has cyclo-cross written all over it, and we’ll be getting some in to try out for the upcoming ‘cross season.

Back to the products that Muc-Off are known for, and they have a new spray version of their wet lube.

Carbon seatpost slipping in your carbon frame? You need this Carbon Gripper, a carbon paste that prevents it.

Here is their new Bio Grease, an eco-friendly bicycle grease as used by Team Sky.

We’ve saved the best until last. This is a new Fabric Protector that adds a waterproof treatment to any fabric it’s applied to. We were given a demonstration and the results are impressive. Muc-Off tell us they have experimented on a range of clothing, from arm warmers to wind jackets, and had good results.

To apply you simply pour onto the applicator sponge and wipe onto the garment you want to waterproof. And that’s it. We’ll definitely be asking for some of this to test and chucking it at a load of garments to see how well it works. We'll pit it onto oversocks for the autumn.

Brooks folding helmet leather strap

Got a folding helmet? If not, you can move along. But if you do, how about this Brooks leather strap as a stylish way to hold the helmet in its folded state for easy transportation?

Coloured bottle cages from Cube

Can't find a bottle cage to match the colour of your bike? Cube can probably help you out because they have a huge range of colours to choose from.

Sealskinz offer autumn/winter essentials

As you’ll know if you’ve been paying attention, autumn and winter are on their way and Britain’s Sealskinz have many items designed to keep you dry and warm.

This Cycling Cap (£25) is waterproof, for example.

As is this Belgian Style Cap (£28).

And the same goes for the Hardwick Jacquard Beanie (£28).

Sealskinz are probably best known for their waterproof/breathable socks, each one checked individually before leaving the factory. You get merino wool next to your skin, then the waterproof membrane layer, and a nylon outer. You choose between three thicknesses.

These are the Mid-weight Mid-length Sea Eagle socks (£32)

As well as Neoprene overshoes, Sealskinz offer Cycle Over Socks (£35) using the same technology as their socks. The advantage over conventional overshoes is that you can take them off, roll them up and store them easily in a jersey pocket mid-ride because they’re much lower bulk.

Sealskinz’ have spent a lot of time redesigning their gloves recently. The gloves are three layer with the different layers attached to one another so you can’t accidentally pull out the inner when you take them off.

The DragonEye (£38) is a hard-wearing glove which allows you to operate touchscreen devices on your bike.

The All-Weather Cycle Gloves (£40) come with padding on the palms and silicone print to provide extra grip on the bars.

The Ultra Grip Gauntlet gloves are available in various colours, including this hi-vis yellow option. You get a merino wool lining, dots on the palms and fingers for grip, and an extra long cuff for keeping your wrists protected.

www.sealskinz.com

7mesh to launch first products in spring 

7mesh is a new clothing company that will launch its first range in spring 2015, but here’s a sneak peek at a couple of items.

This is the waterproof Revolution Jacket made from Gore-Tex Pro fabric with a watertight zip.

It’s a slim fit, designed to fit best when you’re leaning forward in a riding position.

You get zipped side vents, forearm vents and hand pockets, plus a hood that’s designed to fit underneath a helmet. If you don’t fancy that, it’s removeable.

The Resistance Jacket is made from Windstopper Active and it’s designed to be breathable, highly water resistant and ultra-lightweight.

Although it’s only 120-125g, you get a zipped side pocket, taped seams and a gripper elastic hem. The cuffs feature mesh vents.

The whole thing will pack down small enough to fit easily into a jersey’s rear pocket.

We hope to give you more news and reviews when 7mesh products become available.

www.7meshinc.com

Additional words by Mat Brett.