1,653 reviews found
This is über-bling: a light (120g), all-carbon, functional (because of the inherent stiffness of the material) rear derailleur – all for a penny… under 800 quid! Not cheap, but things of great beauty very rarely are. We had it working perfectly with Campagnolo’s Chorus 10 drivetrain, even if it made our test bike look like […]
The Scorpion is a new design from Bloc and incorporates harder-edged sculpturing for a streamlined look; perhaps a bit large for women’s faces but ideal for chaps’. They’re ideal for tri training or racing; super-light yet grippy, you’ll hardly notice they’re there. They don’t move an inch, even when you’re head-down, stretching your hamstrings. But […]
The Zenith is Zoot’s top-of-the-range suit, updated for 2009. BIOwrap balance technology makes the suit stand out in a crowd, giving it the look of a super-hero’s outfit, with padded panels mimicking the body’s musculature. But does it deliver a super-powered performance? 2mm Yamamoto neoprene exterior and 3mm balance panels on the interior allow the […]
The most powerful rear view light here, but let down by sideways visibility and switch issues. The 0.5 watt red LED sitting at the top of the keyhole-shaped unit is certainly an attention grabber. Not only will cars clock you from miles away, it’s also enough of a mind melter in random flash mode to […]
Costing a mere tenner, Niterider’s little safety scarab is a decent if delicate basic unit. We say delicate because it exploded first drop during our simulated, off-bike fall phase of testing. The good news is that once we’d found and re-assembled all the bits and batteries, it still worked fine and didn’t spill its guts […]
Cateye was the first company to build a rear LED and reflector that met British Safety standards and effectively made bulbed rear lights extinct overnight. Their latest multi-LED grenade blows the opposition away. While each LED might not be the brightest, the effect of all eight rear diodes going off in sequence is hypnotically noticeable. […]
Sanyo’s Eaglefly matched its name with a soaring performance to start with… but it didn’t take long to admit that we’d been a tad too hasty with our initial praise. The semi-reflector design looks basic but the LEDs are seriously bright. They even eclipsed the mighty Cateye in the Space Invader/flapping wings flashing mode that […]
Twenty pounds for this tiny dot of a light seems a lot, but then it’s got some typically cunning Blackburn features. While it’s not big or dazzling enough to be a main light, it’s small and light enough to sit on the back of your helmet, bag loop or even overshoe top without wobbling. This […]
Hed’s Vantage 8 name comes from its eight-axis positional adjustment, making this bar a smart option for riders with ‘princess and pea’ tendencies. Boasting a broad profile, the wings are joined with a conventional single-tube, oversized centre-stem clamp section. Longer, dead straight tubular horns sit on the tips ready to plug in whatever brakes you […]
These caused some positive murmurings from our support crew thanks to the flexible forefoot. Trail shoes can often be a little too sturdy for those of us looking for a bit of pace, but the cut of these shoes and their responsiveness, thanks to a dual-density midsole, is very good. The aggressive outsole is also […]
This is the pinnacle piece of race apparel from American tri experts Zoot, and delivers a good balance of comfort and performance. The fabric provides a fine level of compression, but the short (seven-inch) inseam means this manifests mid-thigh. For more muscular athletes this could be a source of discomfort. That said, the hem is […]
As a long-established author of several running titles, Sam Murphy has transferred that great authority to the multisport arena, while the tri expertise here is provided by none other than Richard Allen, one of the country’s finest-ever triathletes. Sam’s understanding of basic training principles – what you should eat and what gear you need – […]
This is a very cushioned shoe – ‘plush’ is the word Brooks use – so it was no surprise to find it was a pleasure to run in from the first wear. And even better was the fact that the quicker you run, the better they perform. But note: these are for lighter runners looking […]
Wicking base layers are a godsend and Camelbak bladders make hydration on the move simple. Combine the two and you should have a winner, right? Well… almost. The first problem was getting it on with the full bladder in place. It wasn’t easy without assistance – not great if you train on your own. Out […]
The ‘Green Monstrosity’, as this top soon became known, is another of Nike’s iconic Dri-FIT range, which will no doubt become a staple part of many a triathlete’s wardrobe in some shape or form. The quick-wicking fabric (a polyester, in this case, that can wick moisture away from the body), combined with a flat-seam construction […]
From the Germans at Abus you’d expect a very good quality, functional product… and the S-Force delivers just that. This lid is extremely lightweight, has 24 vents to maximise cooling and is available in plain white, which makes sense for summer riding. The medium size tested was one of the most comfortable helmets we’ve ever […]
This is not just a lightweight disc wheel – this is the Lightweight disc wheel. At 820g for the rear road version, there isn’t another disc near it for weight, and that individual quality transcends to its instantly identifiable (and slightly hypnotic) looks. Apart from being round, a rear wheel has two further properties: it […]
Aqua Sphere and Ironman have partnered up to launch a new range of triathlon wetsuits. The WRacer represents the ‘pro’ (mid-range) level for women… and very nice it is, too. Specifically designed for the female frame, it fits well and offers enough flexibility in key areas to keep capable swimmers feeling unrestricted in the water. […]
With its aggressive-looking, Klingon warbird-style bar, the Missile is a predatory (if somewhat pricey) performer – and certainly aptly-named. The steeply down-sloped outer wing means the low-set horns give an even more aggressive position than the extensions. At 420mm wide they offer a nice broad, controlled feel, but the riding position takes some getting used […]
Okay, the price is mad, but for a piece of bike-pimping exotica these brakes take some beating. However, good looks and being the world’s lightest equivalent brake at 150 grammes each isn’t the whole story. These stoppers also do the business on the bike. On the R960s, function hasn’t been sacrificed for form. You get […]
This good-looking bra from Shock Absorber will keep everything in place during biking, running or gym sessions. A level three (of a possible four) bra, it offers fantastic support, although the manufacturers don’t claim it will offer optimal levels of support for anyone over a C-cup. It dries quickly and is smart enough to wear […]
Milk can be a perfect recovery food, but these super-enriched cartons of milk are more for the gym-goer than runner or triathlete. This is because they contain a whopping 33g protein due to the added whey protein concentrate; 27g more than an equivalent serving of ‘regular’ milk. This exceeds the needs of most endurance athletes […]
Rollers or turbo trainer? Ah, the cyclist’s indoor training dilemma. A turbo offers more resistance and you don’t need to have circus performer skills to ride one, but rollers are great for developing balance, spinning fast and impressing your mates. Elite’s V-Arion rollers are the crème de la crème of rollers in terms of price, […]
These Bontrager-branded aero wheels match a Steve Hed-designed 50mm deep-section carbon fairing with an aluminium rim and Bontrager hub. They come in at 1,660g per pair so aren’t a mountain climber’s first choice (Lightweight’s carbon set comes in at 1,000g), but equally they won’t hold you up on rolling terrain. Rather than the spokes attaching […]
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