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5 Cool things coming soon from Triban, Prime, Oxford Products, Indik8a and Bioracer

Some more of the best bits we're testing at the moment, with full reviews coming soon...

The latest storm coming in doesn't even have a name apparently, and we're still waiting for some dryer weather to go for a ride without returning completely soaked through again.. until then, we'll carry on testing out plenty of waterproofs and hope for better! Here's the best bits out for review this week...

Triban RC520 Women's Disc Road Bike

£729.99

Triban RC520 Women's Disc Road Bike - riding 3.jpg

Never knowingly undersold, the RC520 from Decathlon's workhouse road bike sub-brand Triban is exceedingly good value on paper as we've come to expect; a carbon fork, mechanical disc brakes and Shimano 105 shifting represents very good value at this price point, and the comfort road geometry should make it suitable for long days out training, commuting and entry-level racing. There are inserts for racks and panniers and it can take up to 36mm tyres if your route to work is on the gnarly side, and the whole bike weighed in at 10.5kg on our scales. Is this the one for getting the most out of your Cycle to Work vouchers? Emma Silversides' verdict will be in next month. 
decathlon.co.uk

Prime Primavera X-Light Carbon Handlebar

£99.99

Prime Primavera X-Light Carbon Handlebar - 1.jpg

Ideal for weight weenies on a budget, the  Primavera X-Light weighs in at 169g and is "unrivalled at its price point" according to Wiggle. They claim you get an ideal blend of stiffness, strength and low weight that will satisfy even the most fussy and demanding racers. The tops are also flared to improve aerodynamics, and the triangular drop design should improve comfort while offering extra control. A 125mm drop and 78mm reach should make for a composed and comfortable position... do they raise the bar amongst lightweight bars? Dave Atkinson is currently finding out.
wiggle.co.uk

Oxford Products CLIQR Cycle Handlebar out-front mount

£29.99

Oxford CLIQR Cycle Handlebar outfront mount.jpg

This handy little mount is also available in a stem-mounted version, with this one taking on the formation of an out-front GPS mount but designed to harbour your phone instead. It's described as tough yet lightweight, coming in at just 61g on our scales, and Oxford say it's quick and easy to install with quality 3M adhesive on the device adaptor. It's designed to fit standard 31.8mm bars, and you can also rotate it so your phone is in portrait or landscape views. Is it good enough for Stu Kerton to have ditched the Garmin (other GPS computers are available) and just use his mobile instead? The review's coming in mid-March. 
oxfordproducts.com

Indik8a cycling indicators

£35.00

Indik8a cycling indicators - worn.jpg

The Indik8a is essentially a pair of straps with a bunch of LED's on, that can be worn on bare hands or over gloves to let traffic know you're indicating. They're USB rechargeable and you can get up to 330 indications out of one charge, with an illuminated directional arrow activated by a switch on each hand. Indik8a say the product was made to make cyclists 'unmissable' when indicating: “As winter approaches, being safe and seen in the mornings and evenings is a top priority for those who rely on their bikes to get them to and from school or work every day. From children to adults, being seen by vehicles behind will give cyclists peace of mind on busy, car-congested roads, and may even save lives."
Did our tester agree, and are they better than sticking a plain old arm out? The review is coming soon... 
indik8a.com

Bioracer One Tempest Protect Pixel Overshoes

£60.00

Bioracer Overshoe 1.jpg

These toasty-looking overshoes are designed "to provide all the needs the winter asks from your kit", say Bioracer, with plenty of insulation and a snug fit. There's also some reflective elements on there to tick safety boxes, and Bioracer's 'Tempest' and 'Pixel' fabrics are wind and water-resistant to protect your feet against the cold, wet and even sweat thanks to the breathability. The 'Easyfit' design also eliminates the need for a zipper on the calves, which Bioracer say improves aerodynamics whilst still being easy to put on. Did they protect Liam Cahill's toesies adequately? His verdict is coming in early March... 
bioracer.com

For all the latest road.cc test reports, head over to our reviews section. If you want some more advice before splashing the cash, check out our buyer's guides

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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6 comments

Avatar
Philltrz | 4 years ago
1 like

I wouldn't get too excited about the Triban RC520, my wife was looking to buy one but it's out of stock in all but Small on their website. Phoned their customer services to be told they won't be selling it anymore.

Avatar
crazy-legs | 4 years ago
5 likes

How many times have cycling indicators been "invented"?! They've been pitched to Dragon's Den, they pop up with tedious monotony almost as often as that L-shaped cranks article and yet the "inventors" never seem to get the idea that THEY'RE SHIT. Total waste of time, effort, money and resources.

I can only imagine that they're bought by well-meaning relatives/friends looking for that Christmas present for the cyclist who has everything - only to be relegated to the back of a drawer somewhere as soon as said relatives are out of the house.

Avatar
roubaixcobbles | 4 years ago
4 likes

Don't need a review to know that the Indik8a's are a total waste of time. Buy a pair of fluorescent gloves for £10 and make clear hand signals and you'll be just as visible and safe, not have to faff around with yet another item to charge, and not use up the planet's dwindling resources. Job's a gooden.

Avatar
ktache replied to roubaixcobbles | 4 years ago
0 likes

I prefer black gloves, especially for the winter ones, anything but gets so filthy.

My hottest temp summer gloves are a bit bright but that was because I couldn't get them in black.

What I do like is bright reflective slapbands (pink mainly) worn nearish the wrist, used to like the Ronhill ones, they had normal plastic backing and could be taped up when they innevitably split, but they stopped making them.  Now it Halfords's ones, £1 each.

My other half did once buy me a set of Bicygnals, which were proper awful, but they would have interfered with my excellent Nightsun Trilights.  I never opened them up and she returned them.  I did buy a horrible little blinker that was a bit positional activated, for the right hand.  Never really worked and I never got another one for the left.

Of all the ones I have seen for a generally pointless cyclist indicator, the Useeme Bicycle Indicator Wristbands seem the best.

 

 

Avatar
MrGear replied to roubaixcobbles | 4 years ago
2 likes
Roubaixcobbles wrote:

Don't need a review to know that the Indik8a's are a total waste of time. Buy a pair of fluorescent gloves for £10 and make clear hand signals and you'll be just as visible and safe, not have to faff around with yet another item to charge, and not use up the planet's dwindling resources. Job's a gooden.

In my experience, it doesn't matter how visible you make yourself. Even dressed up like a Christmas tree people will still try and squeeze past you as you indicate arm-outstretched.

I don't think them seeing you is the problem... I get the distinct impression that it's just shit, unthinking driving.

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
9 likes

Indicators? Let's just skip to the logical conclusion:

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