Bontrager has certainly put some thought into these 546g bars, starting right at the tips of the extensions. Grooves allow shift cables to form a small aero section while carrying them round to where they tuck inside the cable ports. They’ve even put a neat little cat’s-bum plug at the far end so the cable […]
Ambrosio’s 542g set-up is a good affordable option for anyone after a naturally low, simple bar. Its low position comes from ‘underslung’, while the long ski-bend sections then rise up in front to give you plenty of hand positions to play with. The armrests are also adjustable: about two inches front to back, an inch […]
Profile has been synonymous with good tri-bars at great prices for years, and the 520g T2+ has some really nice features. It comes as standard with long, shallow S-bend extensions that give an impressive range of hand positions. The open-backed clamp means you can easily adjust them to try different reaches and they’re slotted for […]
The RD-400’s monochrome finish and big-windowed hub flanges look classy, and each set is individually handbuilt and numbered. Their 25mm semi-aero rims with a machined sidewall give strength and comfort, while the nipples for the aero spokes are tucked up inside out of wind’s way (luckily a purpose-designed spoke wrench is included). Sealed cartridge bearings […]
Shimano first started using superlight alloy rims with a reinforcing layer of carbon fused on top on its non-aero Dura Ace wheels. The fact you’re now getting similar light, but extremely strong, performance at £400 is a big value bonus. While relatively heavy hubs mean overall weight isn’t particularly low, it’s definitely not slow. Sixteen […]
This Gipiemme wheel is lighter and more aero than the company’s T-Due, but still didn’t particularly impress. (Also, while the wheel stated ‘024’, these are definitely ‘020s’.) Like the T-Due, semi-aero 25mm rims give a pro look at pocket-money price, which the bladed spokes amplify. The weight and hefty rim clunks over rougher road sections, […]
The second set of Pro Lites we’ve tested lately, but despite similar looks the Stelvio is a very different wheel from the Como. It may cost more, but there’s a lot more on offer. You’re still getting 30mm rims for a bit of wind-cutting advantage with alloy nipples for saving weight, and the handbuilt build […]
This 105 level set-up combines modern looks with traditional bearings for an eye-catching choice. The sidewall spoke insertions and paired lacing are gone; there’s still a 3mm asymmetric drilling offset to reduce dish, but otherwise it’s easily-tuneable business as usual. And the tight and even lacing of the straight pull, butted and bladed spokes never […]
Tom Ritchey hates excess weight, which shows in this miniature single-sided version of his MTB pedals. The tiny forged steel body certainly keeps weight down but, combined with the small MTB-style two-bolt cleat, makes engagement tricky. Hit it bang on and you’re fine, but miss even slightly and the smooth sole of road shoes will […]
The Open Pro has been the separate rim for ultra durable competition for decades. The double-eyelet design spreads stress through both inner and outer rim beds while the shallow, low-profile design gives a more forgiving ride than deeper aero-section extrusions. That means more comfort and less chance of a collapse, even if it picks up […]
The Pro Lite range goes right up to the highest carbon disc strata, but even this basic wheel has some likeable features. For a start, Pro Lite is very proud that all its wheels are fully handbuilt. Spoke tension throughout is impressively even and brass nipples make truing them yourself easier. Loose ball bearings also […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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