Streams of running water were next to impossible to avoid when riding the lanes at the weekend...but our team of hardy reviewers were out testing some neat bits of kit, which will be in need of a thorough clean now for sure!
£2,299
Ribble says the highly versatile CGR Ti Sport is designed to do it all whether that’s road, gravel or trail riding. The 3AL/2.5V Titanium frame and tapered carbon moncoque forks are equipped with Shimano’s 105 11-speed groupset and hydraulic disc brakes. Mavic Aksium wheels come wrapped with 40mm wide Schwalbe G-One tubeless-ready tyres which Dave Atkinson rated 9/10 for their all-rounder capability across “roads, ruts and rocks”—plus, they feature tan walls.
Ribble’s 46mm reinforced plastic mudguards have been fitted for all-season riding and the frame features mounting points for a rear pannier rack, which also opens up this ride for longer adventures. Stuart Kerton has been putting Ribble’s versatility claims to the test on all-terrain rides—his review is well on its way.
www.ribblecycles.co.uk
£160
Le Col’s Therma Blackout Bib Shorts are designed to provide some extra thermal comfort during transitional weather and can be paired with leg warmers when it turns colder. The water repellency of its Aqua Zero Fabric is said to deal with spray and showers, while the thermal lining makes these suitable for the more wintry days. Fitted with a Dolomiti Stelvio Gel Pad and featuring Le Col’s silicone leg gripper, these 100 per cent Polyester bib shorts should provide a comfortable riding experience. Putting this to the test is Liam Cahill, who will be sharing his verdict soon.
www.lecol.cc
$299.99
The CadenceX from PedalCell has two USB Type-C ports (one safety-prioritised 600mA, 5V, and one high-powered 2.4A, 5V) to provide fast charging speeds for your devices while out on the open road on longer adventures.
GPS units for navigation, smartphones and lights can all be charged on the go and are powered by your bike with a fork mounted generator. Unlike other systems, the stem-mounted patented ultracapacitor receiving the variable power input on the CadenceX promises to release this as a steady output to devices. Made from weather-resistant 30% Fiberglass Nylon and Aluminum Casing it should cope with changeable weather conditions, and it comes with a 2-year warranty. Mike Stead will be giving us his verdict.
www.pedalcell.store
£79
While it is giving off a bit of a vintage army vibe, at 392g Dashel’s urban helmet should be quite a bit lighter than the lids worn by Tommies in the early 20th century. It's also got five air vents, which should keep you suitably fresh while city riding. A Fidlock Magnetic clasp will prevent accidently pinched skin when fastening the helmet, and two sizes of washable fitting pads are included to tailor the fit.
Made from a recyclable ABS and EPS foam, Dashel will recycle the safe certified CE EN1078 helmet and you’ll get some money off your next purchase. When will we be giving our final verdict? Don't panic! Hollis Jones (not Lance Corporal Jones unfortunately) will be submitting his review in early December.
www.dashel.co.uk
£25
Lezyne’s tiny Pocket Drive promises to offer plenty of pumping efficiency at a weight of just 79g and, at 140mm long, it will easily fit into a jersey pocket. Made from durable CNC-machined aluminium and including Lezyne’s flexible hose, this Presta and Schrader-compatible pump looks to be well made... but how efficient can this compact and lightweight mini pump be? Hollis Jones will be sending in a report soon.
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
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.
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14 comments
Does that Dashel helmet come with a 'pickel', or just a big white 'W' sticker?
Whoo, Le Col, get you with 100% polyester. None of your rubbish "polyester rich" blends with cheaper materials diluting the ultimate yet understated luxury of polyester. No idea how they manage it for just £160 frankly.
Man, if a person showed up to a winter club ride with mudguards as short as those on the Ribble then they'd be asked to sit right at the back!
Agreed.
I they're deemed too long by a buyer they can be shorted easily. As they are adding a flap wouldn't add much length.
Yep, rear guard is very short.
Right at the start I thought "why such short mudguards". I put longboards on my bike last year and find they do an fantastic job. My shoes and lower legs have never been so clean when I get home from a winter ride.
Really? I have some longboards, but have been disappointed - I seem to get a lot of spray out the sides, leaving feet and BB wet. Coverage seems worse than the chromoplastics I have on my commuter, but maybe it's something to do with the tyre / guard differentials on the two bikes - the chromoplastics are 50mm over a 35mm tyre, longboards are I think 35(?) over a 28 tyre.
Could be to do with the width, mine are 45mm over 30mm tyres but I think it has a lot to do with the mudflap. I find speed is a factor as well. Last winter, on a wetter day than usual, I went down a short hill at over 30mph and copped a lot of spray blown back off the front wheel. I guess that is to be expected.
I'm also probably not drawing a fair comparison because I'm never on my commuter for more than about 50mins, whereas the other one does winter audaxes where any spray is going to be more noticeable!
The fork crown mount is too far forward on the the Longboard. Move it back 20 mm and the back spray (more of a dribble at my speed) is much reduced.
Yet another "I agree with you".
Who designs such things?
Yes, they look a bit pathetic. There are a couple of guys posting footage of their CGRs on YouTube and a recurring theme seems to be to upgrade the mudguards to SKS when customising the build.
That ribble is just mighty value. Please have a threaded BB
According to their website it is... Bottom Bracket - Shimano BB-R60 BSA 68mm
Lezyne PocketDrive is already on my Christmas list as it's a little shorter than the tiny Lezyne pump that's currently a bit tight in my saddle pack.