Icebike 2015: New products from Genesis Bikes, Madison, Lazer, Hump, Elite, Pearl Izumi, Kryptonite, Ridgeback and Ridley

Madison are one of the UK's biggest cycle distributors and this week their annual Icebike trade-only show offered us a first look at some of the latest products from some of the many brands they look after, from the likes of Ridley, Genesis Bikes, Pearl Izumi, Hump, Lazer, Kryptonite, Elite and Ridgeback.

Tony Gallopin’s yellow Ridley Helium SL

This is Tony Gallopin’s custom painted Ridley Helium SL, produced to match the the yellow jersey he clinched on stage 9 of the 2014 Tour de France. .

Ridley retained the retro inspired panel designed and simply replaced the standard team issue red with yellow. They matched the frame with a yellow saddle and Campagnolo hoods

Genesis Bikes show Monster Cross prototype

Genesis Bikes showed an interesting prototype that is still in development. It's a Monster Cross bike, a sort of cross between a cyclocross and 29er mountain bike. A bit like a cross between their Fortitude and Croix de Fer. It uses a steel frame with a rigid fork and space for up to 2.1in tyres and is compatible with a road or mountain bike groupset, offering numerous build options.

It’s the sort of bike we’ve seen from a couple of other brands in the past. With so much interest in gravel and fat bikes, bikes that can go everywhere, it's an interesting move for the brand If you like your adventure and want a more capable bike than the current gravel and cyclocross bikes, and one that will take some big tyres, then this might be right up your street.

Huge tyre clearance there. No word on when it will be available, pricing or specification yet.

Genesis Equilibrium Disc Titanium

A bike that is available now however, is the Equilibrium Disc Titanium. What a lovely looking bike it is, and looks good without mudguards as well, though I'm sure the absence of mudguards on this bike will offend some readers.

It’s a new model for 2015 and uses a double butted 3AL/2.5V titanium frame with a bi-oval top tube and downtube, with a newly developed carbon fibre fork with mudguard eyelets, and a 27.2mm seatpost.

Equipped with a Shimano 105 and FSA Gossamer mechanical groupset and Shimano RS685 hydraulic brakes, it costs £2,899.

Genesis Zero carbon racer

The Madison-Genesis professional cycling team (launched to the press this week) will have the new Zero, a carbon fibre race bike introduced last year, and the existing Volare at their disposal. The Zero is the company’s first ever carbon offering, a bit of a departure for a brand best known for steel and aluminium bikes.

They've certainly done their homework though. It's not an off-the-shelf carbon frame and it's a sharp looking bike. It has a sub-1kg frame with pencil-thin seatstays and a 27.2mm seatpost and Kamm Tail profile down tube. This is an actual race bike, it belongs to Martyn Irvine, and was used in the 2014 Tour of Britain.

It’s dressed up with a complete Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical groupset and C50 carbon fibre wheels with Continental tyres and PRO handlebars, stem, post and saddle. And as you can see, it's wearing a few scars.

Aside from the race trim bike, several builds will be available this year. This Shimano 105 model costs £1,699 and you get a 52/36 chainset and 11-28 cassette and Continental Ultra Sport II SL 25mm tyres.

All cables are internally routed and the top tube and down tube are flared to provide a large junction with the tapered head tube.

Pearl Izumi

New clothing from Pearl Izumi includes these new Elite Road IV road shoes, costing £149.99. It's essentially a cheaper version of the PRO Leader II shoe that Pearl Izumi launched a year ago.

They have a full bonded upper and use a combination of a BOA dial, fixed to the tongue, and Velcro strap for closure.

There’s a full carbon fibre sole with a 7mm stack height. They’re available in March and you can choose from black or white.

Onto clothing, and this is the new P.R.O. Aero LS Jersey (£79.99), a long sleeve top with a light and breathable fabric and the company’s own Softshell Lite fabric used to provide wind resistance on the front panels. It’ll be available in September.

Pearl Izumi aren’t the first company you think of when shopping for a wool base layer, but the new Transfer Wool LS base layer changes that. It uses a blend of merino wool and polyester so you get the natural benefits of wool with the fit and stretch of the polyester.

There's elastane material under the arms to further improve the fit and provide freedom of movement. It will cost £59.99 when it hits the shops in September.

Elite

Elite are best known for their extensive range of bottle cages and water bottles, but they also do a range of triathlon equipment. 

This is the new Tri Box, a £120 kit bag that is designed to neatly arrange everything you need in the transition area. Bit smarter than an old shopping bag.

Back to bottles, and this is the new Candea bottle. It has a battery and LED light integrated into the base and is meant to provide extra visibility when cycling after dark. The battery lasts a claimed 300 hours and it’ll cost £19.99.

It’s still pretty cold first things in the morning, and if you like to take a warm drink, like hot tea, on a bike ride, this Deboyo Stainless Steel  (£24.99) is a thermal flask that’ll fit right into a regular bottle cage.

Ridgeback launches new e-bikes

This is the new Electron+ from Ridgeback, one of two new e-bikes now available from the British company. This one costs £2,199 and uses an Alfine gear hub, the £1,999 Electron using a Nexus hub, the main difference between the two models.

The Electron has been a hybrid model in the company’s range for many years, and is being used for their new e-bikes. The bike is clearly inspired by European e-bikes with a step-through frame design, making it ideal for urban riding. Inside the belly of the frame is a Shimano STePS DU-E6001 drive unit and battery.

Shimano launched STePS (Shimano Total Electric Power System), a dedicated e-bike groupset, last year and features an integrated power and transmission solution, with a claimed 3.1kg weight. Maximum range is a claimed 120km when in eco mode, with normal mode offering 100km and high mode 80km.

The motor tops out at 25km/h. The 11.6Ah Li-Ion battery battery has a 418Wh capacity and takes 4-hours to charge, and is good for 1,000 charge cycles.

Hump

Hump have a new range of jackets out for 2015, available in long sleeve jackets, jerseys and gilets, and for men and women.

What do you think?

Kryptonite

Lock company Kryptonite showed their Messenger collection, with the Messenger Mini and Mini+ which can be used together to ensure your bike is securely locked.

They also showed the Security WheelNutz. Quite simply, they’re wheel nuts that you attach to the front skewer and prevents the front wheel being whipped out. A pair costs £24.99.

Lazer MOi women's helmet

Lazer were keen to show us their new MOi women’s helmets, which cover a range of prices and includes this range-topping Cosmos at £199.99. That price includes the aeroshell that you can see in the picture.

As well as the promised aero gains, it’s useful for keeping wind, rain and snow out of the many vents, and can be easily removed for warmer weather riding. The MOi range starts from just £29.99 and there’s a choice of colours. All the helmets are packed with the same technology found in the men’s helmets, including the unique RollSys retention system.

Madison clothing

Madison’s line of clothing continues to expand and they have quite a few nice looking garments coming out this spring. Most of the road racing clothing has been influenced by the demands of the Madison-Genesis race team, and they’ve been involved in the development and testing of the new clothing.

Heading up the new range is the Road Race Light jersey. It’s made from a very lightweight and breathable fabric and intended for the hottest days. It’s been constructed using bonded seams, lighter than regular stitched seams. There are on-trend wide and long cuffs with a silicone gripper tape inside.

The price hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it should cost about £75-80.

To go with the new jersey are these bib shorts. They’re made from a similar lightweight fabric with a dense weave fabric and dual density padded insert, designed not for long days in the saddle but short blasts and races. There are a smattering of discrete black reflective details. They’ll cost £90 when they’re available later this year.

Looking further ahead, the clothing brand are working on some interesting autumn and winter garments. This is the Optimum jersey and is their take on the iconic Castelli Gabba jersey, with a 4-way stretch and waterproof fabric, but no taped seams so they’re not calling it a waterproof top, but like the Gabba should keep the worst of the bad weather out.

It has a dropped tail to protect lower back and top of the bottom from rear wheel road spray.

Lastly, this is the Sportive Jacket. It costs £89.99 and features removable sleeves giving you the versatility to adapt to changing conditions. It’s available in two colours, black/red and black/yellow, and has lots of reflective details.