It’s the end of the week and time for another edition of our favorite cycling tech roundup, First Look Friday.
As usual, we’ve got a selection of new and exciting builds to show you, but before we get into that, let’s quickly run through some of the week’s highlights.
Specialized stole the headlines on Wednesday with the announcement of the lower-priced, aluminum Crux DSW gravel bike.
Based on its carbon S-Works Crux and built with D’Aluisio Smartweld (DSW) technology, Specialized claims it’s the lightest alloy gravel frame available, weighing in at just under 1.4kg.
At the other end of the price spectrum, our review of the hyper-light (and hyper-expensive) R-Series MKII R39/44 Partington was published this week.
Their performance and fresh construction definitely make these bikes stand out from the crowd, but at £5,500 / $6,400 / €6,000, we don’t expect to see many sets making their way to your local club anytime soon.
On the back of Shimano launching their new 12-speed GRX Di2 RX825 gravel set, our bumpy tire crew had their say on the things we want to see from the new Shimano XTR Di2 set.
We have no idea when one might arrive, but hopefully it’s time for Shimano to implement all our ideas and create a winning set of e-mountain bikes.
Earlier this week, BikeRadar Executive Editor Gary Walker published the first post of his long-running review of the Temple Adventure Disc 2.
Gary has already described the ride quality of his first gravel bike as “revealing”, although of course he already has a few tweaks and customizations in store.
And finally, it’s not long until La Grande Boucle. That’s right, the Tour de France 2024 is less than a month away, and if you want to know everything about this year’s race, it’s worth picking up our official Tour de France guide.
POC Procen Air Helmet
Launched earlier this year after being teased in the pro peloton at the Tour Down Under, the Procen Air is the latest aero road helmet from POC.
In many ways, the Procen Air simply looks like a scaled-down version of the brand’s latest time trial, the Procen TT.
Taking advantage of the fact that there are no UCI rules against covering ears or long tails in mass start road races, the Procen Air aims to offer the aerodynamic performance of a time trial helmet with the practicality and ventilation of a road bike helmet.
It’s fair to say that the styling of the Procen Air is very performance oriented, to put it mildly. Like POC Tempor, we suspect it will divide opinion.
However, if it’s as slick as it looks, we have no doubt it’ll also find its place among those willing to sacrifice looks for speed.
Like many time trial helmets, the Procen Air uses an integrated magnetic visor to improve aerodynamic performance, and both mirrored and clear visors are included.
Helpfully, the helmet includes a set of magnets on the back that allow the visor to be hidden out of the airflow when not needed.
Priced at £360 / $400 / €400, there are three sizes available; small (50-56cm), medium (54-59cm) and large (56-61cm).
The Procen Air comes in two colors – “Hydrogen White” and “Uranium Black Matte”. Our test sample is the mid-size black model.
According to POC specs, the Procen Air is quite heavy, weighing in at 356g on our scales (six grams more than the claimed weight).
However, this includes an integrated visor, so once you factor in sunglasses with a traditional aero road helmet, the gap closes somewhat.
- POC Procen Air Helmet: £360 / $400 / €400
Hutchinson Caracal Race and Caracal gravel tires
Launched last month, Hutchinson claims its new Caracal Race tire (£54.99 / €59.99) is “the fastest gravel tire on the market”.
Using technologies borrowed from its latest flagship Blackbird tubeless tire, Hutchinson says the Caracal Race outperforms unnamed competing models by “up to 35 percent”.
This, the brand says, is the result of a lighter, more flexible casing and a new tread compound, both of which are claimed to offer significantly reduced rolling resistance.
At the same time, Hutchinson also launched the Caracal tire. Although outwardly similar to the Caracal Race, the standard Caracal uses a thicker casing, a different rubber compound and a special tread protection strip.
This, according to Hutchinson, makes it more suitable for “everyday riding”, while the Caracal Race is only intended for dry and hard gravel racing.
It’s also slightly cheaper at £49.99 / €54.99 per tyre.
Hutchinson claims that both tires – which are only available in one 700x40c size – weigh 475g, but here we see some differences between the two models.
The Caracal Race, with a thinner casing and missing the puncture protection strip, is expected to weigh slightly less at 466g per tyre, while the beefier Caracal weighs 485g per tyre.
Notably, big tires were a key tech trend at this year’s Unbound gravel race (with many racers running 45-50mm wide tires), so while the 700x40c is certainly not small, we wonder if Hutchinson might introduce a market of a larger size if the demand.
- Hutchinson Caracal Race gravel tire: £54.99 / €59.99
- Hutchinson Caracal gravel tire: £49.99 / €54.99
Restrap Race hydration vest
Hydration packs have become increasingly popular among gravel and ultra-distance cyclists in recent years, as they offer a way to carry much more fluids and fuel than on the bike itself.
As the name suggests, Restrap’s Race Hydration Vest uses a compact, minimalist design and is aimed at racers. It has a shorter profile that still allows access to the pockets on the back of tight-fitting cycling jerseys.
Despite this, it still has room for a large 2 liter bladder (which is included), while there are two additional mesh pockets on the back for extra water bottles, snacks or spare parts.
At the front, each shoulder strap has additional mesh pockets for quick and easy access to food or spare parts, while the left strap includes a zip pocket for valuables.
The total capacity of the pack is 7.5 l, 2 l are reserved for the hydration bag.
It comes in two sizes – small/medium and large/XL – and weighs between 368g and 380g.
Designed to handle the unpredictable conditions of long-distance cycling events, Restrap’s Race Hydration Vest is made from X21 water-resistant fabrics and features reflective details for improved visibility in low-light conditions.
- Restrap Race Hydration Vest: £139.99
Oakley Drop In D3O Knee Grd
Along with a mountain bike helmet, a set of MTB knee pads is a key piece of protection on the bike.
The latest Drop In D3O Knee Grds from Oakley [sic] are a downhill-focused design, with “heavy weight protection designed for aggressive riding”.
The Drop In D3O Knee Guards are made from Cordura – a tough, abrasion resistant nylon fabric and include removable D3O EN1621 L1 CE Certification LP1 knee pads for motorcycle level protection.
There is also an extra layer of 3mm EVA foam padding on the outer edge of each pad for extra protection.
As you’d expect, the fit can be adjusted on both the top and bottom of the insoles with durable velcro straps, while the back of the insoles is fully mesh to improve breathability and ventilation.
Available in one color (black) and five sizes, from XS to XL, Oakley’s Drop In D3O Knee Grds cost £92.
- Oakley Drop In D3O Knee Grd: £92