Very affordably priced compared to many pedals on the market, Time’s Xen E is a decent performer… despite initial impressions. The basic design and cleat are exactly the same as the company’s RXS series, but with a white plastic resin body that reduces manufacturing costs. This feels and looks decidedly plasticky – especially after a […]
First impressions: the EA70s look great. It’s a positivity that remained on every ride… The 26mm deep-section rim is pointed enough to add some aero edge, but still gives a competitive weight and a responsive feel that a lot of more expensive wheels would be happy to match. The machined braking surface also means good […]
Spending a bit more on Speedplay than you would on its Light Action Cro Mo pedals gets you these slightly lighter 324g stainless-axled versions, but otherwise it’s the same inverted pedal pros and cons. The Zero cleats adjust unsprung float anywhere between 0° and 15° and, once learned, double-sided entry means no flip or tip […]
A very affordable set of wheels. The double-spoke set-up is eye-catching and the white painted rims with machined braking surfaces look plenty pro. But don’t expect miracles: several makers have tried the paired-spoke design and most have quickly returned to conventional spoking. This set had really slack spoke tension throughout and creaked alarmingly as a […]
These pedals are right at the top of Look’s extensive range but, if you want the best connection to your bike, they have to be on your shortlist. Top money gets you a titanium axle in a carbon-fibre body, which Look also employ on their bikes. The result is the lightest full-size pedal here (282g). […]
At first sight, the Exustar pedal is a direct copy of Look’s classic Keo pedal, but there are some subtle differences in detail and feel. The Look Keo is certainly a very good benchmark to copy, with its broad platform and easy toe-in engagement, making for a solid, stable and reliable connection on the bike, […]
The 324g Spiuk is a good fit for many riders, but still hot and heavy for the money. The Nexion is another lid trying to bluff its way with a ‘one size fits all’ shell, but at least this one is shaped well enough to avoid obvious rock and wobble. The twin tab ratchet strap […]
We got a bit of a shock when we price-checked the LAS because it looked and performed like a much cheaper pot. For a start the large, 260g, one-size-fits-all shell didn’t fit anyone very well at all. There was sideways rock on smaller heads and a really perched feel on larger lumps. Cranking up the […]
Shimano has tried various types of clipless road pedals, but its latest Look-style versions are definitely the best. Toe-in engagement of the three-bolt cleat is identical to Look’s, but with a much harder, abrupt ‘clack’ in and out, even on the lowest tension setting. On a positive note, the broad body and stiff roll-free feel […]
The sharply styled 308g Estro is no generic jelly mould design, but its airy fit needs looking after. With its push-button ratchets, the skeletal cradle gives an immediately comfortable, sweat- and pressure-free fit. Medium and large shell sizes should give a decent close fit for most riders, too. Big vents covering deep ribs mean a […]
Giro has contributed significantly to developments in helmet technology, but the Monza doesn’t really contribute anything new despite its relatively high cost. The third-generation Roc Loc grabs the back of your head securely in a girth- and height-adjustable grasp. Add three sizes for a close fit, plus easily adjusted cam-lock buckles at the strap ‘Y’, […]
Helmets are a relatively recent addition to BBB’s product portfolio, but this cool-running 274g lid gets things off to a good start. It looks slightly basic from the outside, but it’s actually got a lot of quality features beneath its shell. For a start the rear cradle uses exactly the same closure set-up as the […]
Bell has been making helmets for longer than most and the 314g Ghisallo is a fully-fledged, high-performance, high-protection helmet. The big dial-adjust ‘GPS’ cradle gives a super-secure feel straight away and the deep shell drops right down over your ears for a real feeling of enhanced protection. Three shell sizes also mean an accurate basic […]
Rudy’s mid-price 252g melon protector isn’t the coolest or most protective, but it’s a snug, stylish fit with a quality feel for the money. Our small to medium sample is definitely on the small side, perching on top of your head rather than extending lower round your skull. The dial-adjust cradle means it’s not going […]
Campagnolo has never been afraid to go their own way, but we’re not sure it pays off with these pedals. For a start, they weigh in at a very heavy 416g for the price, with the 266g (pedal only) Ti Axle Record Pro a toe curling £197.99. And their short platform, with the locking mechanism […]
Don’t let its ‘recreational’ tag put you off: this 290g helmet fits and performs a lot better than many more expensive lids. For a start, the four-point retention cradle slides on without any head-wriggling and grasps your head in a gentle but secure hold. It’s actually the same cradle used on the top-end Specialized lids. […]
Limar only design helmets, which should make them experts. The 737 is, however, something of a mixed bag. The 278g helmet’s stiff Super System 2 cradle means initial fit is easy, and the big rubber dial is easy to adjust even in gloves. Insectophobes will also appreciate the bug mesh behind the front vents, while […]
Speedplay’s lollipop design reverses conventional cleat and pedal logic, but adds some unique advantages as well as some downsides. Once you’ve got used to the flat entry and slight twist, they engage easily, with the double-sided design a definite bonus. The extremely low height means a really connected feel to the bike, and there’s a […]
One of the cheapest helmets we’ve tested, the Neon is also the most basic but, if £30 is your limit, it’s well-featured and, at just 254g, one of the lightest around. There’s an optional clip-on visor that’s actually big enough to be useful, a retention cradle and decent-sized, mesh-protected front vents. However, while the front […]
Zipp is better known for wheels than for bars… and you’re going to have to be a wheeler-dealer to afford this costly cockpit! The base bar with central stem-mount tube and twin barrel receivers for the extensions are similar to USE’s Tula. The broad teardrop outer wings get an anhedral droop and you get hummingbird-shaped […]
The radical modular construction of the 924g Jetstream has both pros and cons. The base bar is innovative, using biplane wings to increase stiffness across the 400mm span. The small horns with built-in carbon brake levers also get a pommel-style pimple to stop your hands sliding forward. Things get even more radical with the ‘tri […]
This crescent-shaped wing has been used to devastating effect by racing legends like Fabian Cancellara and Carlos Sastre, and it’s easy to see why. Its amazing aerodynamics are obvious as soon as you look at the wafer-thin teardrop wing, super-shallow horns, blade-like brake levers and streamlined clamp zone. The thin bar isn’t overly flexy, and […]
Although VisionTech’s hybrid construction TriMax has an impressive pro win record, it’s low on adjustment. At 946g, it’s also high on weight for the cost, the excess weight coming from the alloy centre section, in particular the massive tapered teardrop clamp at the back of the in-built stem. This allows a thin profile to the […]
Although VisionTech’s hybrid construction TriMax has an impressive pro win record, it’s low on adjustment. At 946g, it’s also high on weight for the cost, the excess weight coming from the alloy centre section, in particular the massive tapered teardrop clamp at the back of the in-built stem. This allows a thin profile to the […]
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