It's Monday which means it's Five Cool Things time, our weekly roundup of the hottest new products to arrive in the road.cc office. In this edition we've got a nice new bike, a smart trainer, some lovely winter clothing and some coloured tyres.
We first tested the Pilgrims Disc all-road bike from British brand Bowman Cycles back in 2015. It’s since been updated, still made from aluminium for the frame with a carbon fork, and featuring disc brakes, but there are a host of subtle changes. Mat Brett takes a first look in this video, but to recap, it now uses a tubeset loosely based on the award-winning Palace road race bike, but retains the more relaxed geometry and clearance for wider tyres.
What’s this? Coloured tyres? Is it the 1990s all over again? No, but Panaracer has for some reason added a range of coloured tyres to its popular GravelKing range, and we’ve got some in for review. There’s a choice of green, blue and white so you can colour-match to your bike or kit if you really want. Aside from the new colour, it’s the same tyre underneath, so 38mm wide with a smooth tread for predominantly road use and light dirt tracks, and a tubeless-ready carcass design.
www.zyrofisher.co.uk
It needs no introduction, Wahoo’s Kickr helped to kick off the smart trainer craze that is seeing more and more cyclists take to indoor cycling than ever before. This latest version keeps all of the key features of the original, but there are a few significant changes, the most notable is a bigger flywheel and a new internal mechanism that is claimed to completely eliminate noise. The max wattage has been increased to a staggering 2,200 watts. Dave Atkinson is currently deploying his watts to test it at the moment.
Related: The ultimate pain cave setup?
https://uk.wahoofitness.com/
Rapha Women’s Souplesse Shadow Tights £270
Cycling through the winter conditions is tough, but these Souplesse Shadow Tights from Rapha are intended to make riding through the grottiest weather more tolerable, with a water and wind resistant fabric providing protection without a membrane, and thus boosting breathability. They are pre-shaped for maximum comfort and have large lower reflective panels for boosting visibility on murky days. Janine Doggett is finding out if they are any good or not.
www.rapha.cc
7Mesh Rebellion Jacket £280
A reputation for high quality and high prices, 7Mesh knows how do to very nice bicycle clothing. This new Rebellion jacket is made from Gore-Tex Active, a 3-layer waterproof fabric for “ off-season training miles in the wettest conditions” according to the company. There are lots of features from a watertight side pocket to a soft brushed collar, and all internal seams are taped. Last but not least, it’s finished in a highly visible bright yellow with lots of reflective details to help you be seen. Mat is currently putting it through its paces on the roads around Wiltshire.
https://7mesh.com/rebellion-jacket
Remember to check out our reviews section for all the latest road.cc test reports, and if you need more advice before splashing the cash head over to our buyer's guides. See you all again next Monday!
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