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TECH NEWS

12 components/accessories we’re excited about using this year

Brand new products from Shimano, Kask, Specialized, Bont, Hunt, Hammerhead and more

We'll see hundreds of new components and accessories over the next few months but here are some of the ones that we're looking forward to most.

Kask Utopia helmet

Utopia 3.jpg

Team Sky first used the Kask Utopia helmet at last month’s Santos Tour Down Under. Kask says that the Utopia is the “fastest ever road helmet”, claiming that it can save up to six watts when riding at 50km/h (31mph) compared to the best competitor helmet.

Find out more about the Kask Utopia helmet here.

The plan is for the Utopia to be released later in the year although no price has yet been released.

www.kask.com

Loads of new power meters4iiii_PrecisionPodiiiium_CrankIsolated.jpg

4iiii unveiled its new Precision Podiiiium power meter at last year’s Interbike, available in both dual-sided and single-sided options. It communicates via ANT+ and Bluetooth, has a claimed accuracy of 1.5% and a 60 hour runtime.

The new Podiiiium is said to be based on the same technology as the Precision power meter that we reviewed about 18 months ago http://road.cc/content/review/205484-4iiii-precision-power-meter but has a lower profile design with a rechargeable battery instead of a replaceable coin cell battery.

We have a Podiiiium coming in for review at road.cc very soon.

Find out more about the 4iiii Precision Podiiiium here.

Shimano Dura-Ace R9100-P power meter - 19.jpg

We already have a Shimano Dura-Ace R9100-P power meter in for review and it’s currently being thrashed around the West Country’s roads, so standby for a full review on that soon.

Specialized also has a power meter in the works – it has been spotted on pro riders’ bikes already. We couldn’t tell you when it’ll be launched, though. 

Bont Helix shoes

Bont Helix Eurobike 2017 - 1.jpg

We spotted the Bont Helix shoes at Eurobike last September and we’ve been hassling to get a pair in for review ever since.

They look a lot like the existing Vaypors but with a different closure system. The lace for the Boa dial goes into the upper and then runs right underneath the foot and into the upper on the other side. Bont says that fully surrounding the foot leads to a great fit while saving weight.

It’s an interesting proposition and we can’t wait to find out how it works in practice.

Check out our review of the existing Bont Vaypor S here. 

www.bontcycling.com

SRAM eTap 1x

This one is a bit more speculative. We don’t know for sure that SRAM eTap 1x is on the way – we’re not party to any secret information – but it would make sense.

SRAM’s Apex, Rival and Force road groupsets are all already available in 1x versions (with a single chainring), it’s only Red that isn’t. And Red is the only one of SRAM’s groupset that’s available in an eTap version with electronic shifting.

We’re guessing that SRAM will combine the two technologies at some stage, either introducing a 1x version of Red eTap, or extending eTap down a level to Force. Either way, you’ll end up with a 1x groupset with electronic shifting. 

Oh, and it might go 12-speed sooner or later! 

Wahoo Kickr Climb

Wahoo KICKR CLIMB_Zwift (2).jpg

The Wahoo Kickr Climb was announced at the backend of last summer and we were able to have a quick go at Eurobike – but not long enough for a full review.

The Kickr is an indoor trainer grade simulator that alters your bike’s position to mimic outdoor terrain when you’re using a new Kickr smart trainer. You mount your fork to it and the front end of your bike goes up and down according to the terrain on screen. 

Find out more about the Wahoo Kickr Climb here.

https://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers

New Shimano 105

This is another speculative one, but based on solid reasoning. Shimano tends to renew each of its groupsets every three to four years. The first year it’ll update Dura-Ace, the next year Ultegra, then 105. Shimano revealed Dura-Ace R9100 in 2016 and Ultegra R8000 in 2017 so we’re due a 105 announcement this year.

What will it involve? That’s more tricky to predict. Shimano has said before that it’s not interested in extending Di2 down to 105 level – not for the time being, at least – so electronic shifting isn’t on the cards. Other than that, though, pretty much anything that’s currently in the Dura-Ace and Ultegra groupsets could get trickled down to a more accessible price point.

Shimano S-Phyre eyewearShimano S-Phyre eyewear 2018 - 1.jpg

Sticking with Shimano, the brand announced just last week that its new S-Phyre eyewear will be available from April. They’re shaped to reduce airflow turbulence and fit snugly around the temples. They’re available with various lenses including a photochromic option for changeable conditions. 

Find out all about Shimano’s S-Phyre eyewear here. 

Hunt’s aero disc-specific wheels8.jpg

We're following the creation of Hunt Wheels' new model from prototype to finished product. It’s a disc-specific aero wheelset for 28mm tubeless tyres. 

Will it be ready this year? So far Hunt has developed prototypes, taken them to the wind tunnel in Germany and been excited by the results, but the wheelset is still a long way from completion, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Check out Reinventing the (aero disc-specific) wheel with Hunt - Pt I for the full story. 

HJC helmets

HTC helmets - 8.jpg

If you’ve been watching pro racing this year, HJC is providing the helmets for André Greipel and his Lotto-Soudal team-mates. A South Korean brand with a background in the world of motorcycling, HJC is new to the cycling world. It has launched the aero Furion (£150) and the more airy Ibex at £180.

Find out more about HJC helmets here.

www.extrauk.co.uk

Updated Cycliq Fly6 and Fly12 lights/cameras

Cycliq Fly12 - 1.jpg

Only last week we saw the updated versions of Cycliq’s Fly6 (£169.99) and Fly12 (£254.99) – bike lights with built-in high-definition cameras – and they now look a whole lot sleeker than before. 

Check out our review of the Cycliq Fly12 here. 

They shoot at up to 60 frames per second in 1920 x 1080p resolution.

https://cycliq.com/

Hammerhead Karoo GPS

Hammerhead_Karoo_TopView_RoutesApp.jpg

Hammerhead’s Karoo GPS has been a long time coming but it’s now shipping. This new head unit runs off a cycling-specific Android operating system that has a whole host of bespoke apps for navigation, exploration, training, and sharing that constantly expands via over-the-air updates. 

Phone connectivity allows you to keep your mobile charged and stowed away without having to stop and sync. Everything, including mapping, can be recorded and logged instantly, which means you can record a Strava route and have it fully mapped and stored in the device before you've got home.

Find out more about the Hammerhead Karoo here. 

The Karoo offers a 10 hour battery life and is IP67 waterproof.

https://www.hammerhead.io/pages/karo

Topeak Joe Blow Sport III

Joe Blow Sport III.jpg

Can you be excited about using a track pump? That might be pushing it but the Topeak Joe Blow Sport has always been a very good one at a reasonable price. Our man Dave Atkinson first reviewed one here on road.cc way back in 2009. 

Version three is out now at a price of £39.99 and a review sample is winging its way to road.cc right now. We’re hoping it puts in the same level of performance as the previous incarnations.

https://www.extrauk.co.uk/product/detail/Topeak/Floor_Pumps/5454/

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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15 comments

Avatar
cdamian | 6 years ago
0 likes

Whatever happened to the Kask Valegro? https://www.kask.com/en/cycling/helmets/valegro_24_48.htm

I see some retailers seem/pretend to have it (Wiggle pulled it again).

But there haven't been any reviews so far. It does look like a good Summer helmet.

Avatar
Fluffed | 6 years ago
0 likes

That Karoo thing looks like a beta product in DCrainmaker review, it's also the size of a small house. Maybe the Hammerhead 2 will be ok in 18 months time..

Avatar
Paul7189 replied to Fluffed | 6 years ago
0 likes

Quote:

Specialized also has a power meter in the works – it has been spotted on pro riders’ bikes already. We couldn’t tell you when it’ll be launched, though. 

 

Knowing specialized from the MTB world their power meters will probably be some wierd new standard that only fits top of the range S-Works frames and they will stop making spares or providing support for it 3 hours after it has been released forcing you to buy a new bike from them to fit the new replacement parts...

Avatar
me | 6 years ago
1 like

Hmm, mine arrived today.  Can't decide whether to open it or return it.

Don't really care about the beep as most of the time I can't hear my garmin beep over the wind and traffic noise.  Don't care about the delayed shipping.  Don't care that some features are coming as that's what updates are for.

Do really, really care that the only way to get any rides off it to upload them to HH or Strava or the like.  It doesn't mount as a drive when connected to a computer.

On the positive side, it's not a garmin  1

Avatar
peted76 | 6 years ago
0 likes

I like the look of that HJC Furion helmet!

Avatar
gonedownhill | 6 years ago
3 likes

Regarding the 105 update - the only thing they need to do is sort out those hideous hydraulic  shifters!

Avatar
RobD replied to gonedownhill | 6 years ago
1 like

gonedownhill wrote:

Regarding the 105 update - the only thing they need to do is sort out those hideous hydraulic  shifters!

Agreed, there are a couple of bikes where I'd probably go for the 105 version if it just had the Ultegra shifters, hopefully the next version will be more similar, although it's got to be getting to the point where they're running out of updates without making the case for a higher end groupset redundant.

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
1 like

True it is an absolute beep up!

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paulrattew | 6 years ago
0 likes

I know they are pushing through lots of updates, but it seems like both the firmware and the software for the Hammerhead Karoo is a long way behind where it needs to be to be a genuine contender with the top GPS computers on the market. Also, for me (others may have different views) the hardware lacking an audio signal is a bit of a mistep - I don't spend my whole time staring at my computer, even when following a route, so would end up missing lots of turns without the audio signal to get my attention for upcoming turns. 

Avatar
fukawitribe | 6 years ago
0 likes

Quote:

Specialized also has a power meter in the works – it has been spotted on pro riders’ bikes already. We couldn’t tell you when it’ll be launched, though.

 

It may already have been launched. Or not. Or part of it....

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/01/a-closer-look-at-the-specialized-pow...

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to fukawitribe | 6 years ago
0 likes

fukawitribe wrote:

Quote:

Specialized also has a power meter in the works – it has been spotted on pro riders’ bikes already. We couldn’t tell you when it’ll be launched, though.

 

It may already have been launched. Or not. Or part of it....

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/01/a-closer-look-at-the-specialized-pow...

 

It hasn't been officially launched yet, but it has been spotted on bikes at the Tour Down Under, which is enough to lead to lots of speculation about the key details. We weren't at the race to take a closer look ourselves unfortunately 

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to David Arthur @davearthur | 6 years ago
0 likes

David Arthur @davearthur wrote:

fukawitribe wrote:

Quote:

Specialized also has a power meter in the works – it has been spotted on pro riders’ bikes already. We couldn’t tell you when it’ll be launched, though.

 

It may already have been launched. Or not. Or part of it....

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/01/a-closer-look-at-the-specialized-pow...

 

It hasn't been officially launched yet, but it has been spotted on bikes at the Tour Down Under, which is enough to lead to lots of speculation about the key details. We weren't at the race to take a closer look ourselves unfortunately 

Indeed - that was sort of the point and the reason for the link  1

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
4 likes

But my spokey dokeys will fall off!

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
8 likes

Look to me like Hunt are working on hubless wheels. What a time to be alive!

Avatar
leqin replied to hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
0 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

Look to me like Hunt are working on hubless wheels. What a time to be alive!

Fantastic new technology and I am so looking forward to using it - if only Hunt can get the bike manufacturers onboard with it... imagine the weight saving yes

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