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TECH NEWS
five cool things 30/05/23Five cool things for your head, ass and tyres from Trek, Ekoi, Silca, Schwalbe and Ass Magic
This week's edition of Five Cool Things is a bit of everything cycling tech-related, from futuristic tech to, erm, Ass Magic. We also have a £125 mini pump from Silca, Trek's "lightest road helmet" and some glueless patches from Schwalbe to help minmise the fuss of fixing a tube.
£305.98
Up first we have Ekoi's Electric Lenses which are automatic darkening cycling sunglasses that are said to be "mounted with the best LED lens in the world".
Ekoi says that there is a continuous and fully automated tint adjustment that adapts to light conditions by darkening or brightening the lens.
They are powered by solar energy and the lens comes with a 2 year warranty.
£125
Silca's Pocket Impero II Pump is on the expensive side for a mini pump, but Silca claims that it's one of the most efficient mini pump on the market, reducing energy loss from heat compared with other models.
It's primarily made from metal alloy and features a leather piston gasket and a slide-lock silicone sleeve, which are said to improve your grip on the body of the pump.
The pump is 8" in length and weighs in at 169g on the road.cc scales of truth. Check back in a couple of weeks to see if Hollis agrees that this is one of the most efficient mini pumps out there...
£17.99
> Check out the best chamois creams
Many cyclists swear by chamois cream to enhance comfort when they're out riding, and this 200ml tub from Ass Magic is said to be "the finest anti-chafe cream".
Ass Magic Chamois Cream is said to be suitable for men and women as an anti-chafe cream, made from essentials oils, Lanolin and Synthetic Beeswax.
It can be applied directly to the skin or chamois, and Ass Magic recommend anywhere between 5ml and 10ml per ride.
Trek Velocis Mips Road Bike Helmet
£229.99
The Velocis Mips Road Bike Helmet is said to be "an all-around, road-racing helmet that is light, cool, fast and features the added protection of Mips".
This is Trek's lightest road helmet, which it says is now even lighter. George is currently testing this in a medium which weighs in at a competitive 235g.
There is also said to be improved ventilation and the Mips Air System is said to be designed to improve comfort and protection.
> Check out the best lightweight road cycling helmets for 2023
The helmet also features a single-lace BOA fit system which is fully adjustable and there is a rubberised sunglasses docking port for "secure and easy-to-use storage".
It's available in three sizes - S (51-57cm), M (54-60cm), L (58-63cm) and comes with a Crash Replacement Guarantee which provides a free helmet replacement if involved in a crash within the first year of ownership.
£5.99
> Puncture repair — learn how to fix a tube
Following on from some of the puncture repair products we've featured the past couple of weeks, these self-adhesive patches from Schwalbe claim to allow you to repair a flat tube "fast and without any difficulty".
Schwalbe says that the patch will stick to the tube "in the blink of an eye" after sanding around the hole. Come back in a couple of weeks to see if John agrees.
Each pack contains six patches.
For all the latest road.cc test reports, head over to our reviews section. If you want some more advice before splashing the cash, check out our buyer's guides.
This article contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission, but all of our reviews are fully independent.
Emily is our track and road racing specialist, having represented Great Britain at the World and European Track Championships. With a National Title up her sleeve, Emily has just completed her Master’s in Sports Psychology at Loughborough University where she raced for Elite Development Team, Loughborough Lightning.
Emily is our go-to for all things training and when not riding or racing bikes, you can find her online shopping or booking flights…the rest of the office is now considering painting their nails to see if that’s the secret to going fast…
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11 comments
Damn it! I've got a chafing donkey.
Solar powered sunglasses...Well paint me green and call me a cucumber!
So how do they work at night?
Moonlight's just reflected sunlight, innit.
I used to self-identify as a waning moon, but it was just a phase I was going through
hmm...that gets the bullshitometer needle twitching. They found away around thermodynamics? I'm listening.
*Boyle's law has entered the chat*
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyle%27s_law
Charles's Law is far more relevant (Boyle's law does not concern temperature effects).
No, I'm not fun at parties.
See also ideal gas law.
Yeah - I just think of Boyle's when gas laws come up
If you can reduce some of the friction in the seals there might be less heat build up, and it is Silca...
You could be onto something there. They make claims along these lines for the leather piston gasket:
"From a purely functional standpoint, inexpensive o-rings are most commonly used in this application, but no o-ring can match the smooth feel and zero-stiction action of a leather gasket. It is common today to find SILCA leather gasket pumps throughout the professional peloton (especially during the spring classics) as o-ring seal pumps struggle with heat and often are unable to seal once the pump barrel is hot from inflating more than a few wheels."