Would you spend £1,000 on this specialist part from Muc-Off? Plus all of the week’s top tech from Colnago, Wahoo, Rapha, Jack Wolfskin, MAAP & more

We have a whole bunch of cool cycle clothing to tell you about from Rapha, MAAP and Jack Wolfskin, and news of a very pretty Colnago, but we're starting this week with a specialist part from Muc-Off that's been used at the highest level by the likes of Ineos Grenadiers... 

Muc-Off launches £1,000 oversized pulley wheel system

Muc-Off’s Lightweight Oversized Precision Shifting 2.0 system (LOPS 2.0, to its friends), previously available only to sponsored pro teams and athletes, is now available for general sale – although the price is well into the “you could buy a whole bike for that” category. The idea is that it’ll improve your drivetrain efficiency and Muc-Off says it outperforms other key players in this respect.

Muc-Off LOPS 2.0 was designed, developed, tested, and hand built in the UK for Shimano Dura-Ace RD 9100 and Shimano Dura-Ace RD9150 11-speed rear derailleurs.

Yes, 11-speed rather than the newer 12-speed. Interestingly, Muc-Off’s in-house testing found 11-speed chains to be on average 36.6% faster than 12-speed (we need to ask them about that; it's a helluva claim).

“LOPS 2.0 works by placing the chain at an optimised angle to reduce both articulation and friction, when compared to a stock set up – less friction, more speed, greater efficiency,” says Muc-Off.

Muc-Off launches ‘pro-level chain optimisation service’ using new Ultrasonic Tanks

Muc-Off says that in its internal testing LOPS 2.0 proved to be more efficient overall than the CeramicSpeed OSPW, AbsoluteBLACK Hollowcage, Kogel Colossus, and stock Shimano cages (Shimano Dura-Ace RD 9100/9150) – although you’d expect it to say that, wouldn’t you?

Muc-Off says, “The bearing choice inside systems like LOPS 2.0 has a big impact on the overall efficiency. MucOff’s was designed in the UK and has been treated with a special coating which reduces friction.

“Stiffness is also a critical ingredient to efficient shifting, but adding stiffness usually means adding weight. LOPS 2.0 features a ground-breaking lightweight design to minimise this impact, thanks to its construction through additive manufacturing using a combination of 6Al/4V titanium and military-grade carbon fibre.

“The 13-tooth upper pulley wheel and 19-tooth lower are made from aerospace-grade aluminium that features a friction reducing coating meaning it has 88% less friction than aluminium alloy, and 71% less than hard anodised metal.”

The original Muc-Off LOPS 1.0 was developed with Team Bahrain-McLaren in 2019, designed specifically to provide Mikel Landa with enhanced drivetrain efficiency for a time trial in the 2020 Tour de France. Muc-Off’s systems have since been adopted by EF Education EasyPost.

The LOPS 2.0 has a claimed weight of 79.4g and is priced at a whopping £999.99. An equivalent CeramicSpeed OSPW with coated bearings is about half the price. 

Find out more here 

Rapha releases limited edition L39ION kit

Rapha has unveiled a new L39ION of Los Angeles limited edition kit with the first $43,000 (£35,400) in sales to be donated to CYCLE Kids, an organisation that helps grassroots cycling programmes in schools.

The Rapha Legion Tulsa Pro Team Crit Supporters Jersey – available in men’s and women’s versions – is a collaboration with Tulsa-based clothing line Greenwood Ave and is priced at £180.

The Legion Tulsa Pro Team Training Supporters Jersey – also in men’s and women’s cuts – is £95.

Find out more here 

Check out Nathan Haas’ “Purple Rain” Colnago G3-X

Aussie racer Nathan Haas will ride a Colnago G3-X in a special “Purple Rain” finish at the SBT GRVL gravel event in Colorado, USA, this weekend. 

In recent weeks, we’ve shown you his bikes in other finishes for the Unbound and Rift gravel events.

We must say, though, that this one is the coolest of the lot.

Find out more here 

MAAP unveils new season clothing

Yes, it’s blazing sunshine in most of the UK right now but if past experience is anything to go by autumn will be along sooner or later. Those clever folk at MAAP know this and have announced a new clothing collection for the cooler weather.

For the first time, the Evade design is available in a Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey (£180, men’s and women’s versions). We’ll request one for review here on road.cc.

Check out our review of the MAAP Women’s Draft Team Jacket

Popular products like the Evade Pro Base LS Jersey (£145, men’s and women’s) and Draft Team Vest (£105, men’s and women’s) are available in new colours too.

The new clothing is on MAAP’s website now.

Find out more here 

Reynolds: not all steel frames are equally environmentally friendly

Reynolds Technology, the UK-based metal bicycle tubing manufacturer, has published the findings of its first Environmental Impact Study which “aims to quantify the belief that steel is an excellent and sustainable choice for bicycle manufacturers.” 

Reynolds says, “Not all steel frames are created equal. Ferrous steel frames produce the lowest carbon emissions during manufacture, followed by titanium, followed by stainless steel. A conventional ‘double diamond’ ferrous steel frame produces 17.2kg of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent), titanium 53.92kg and stainless 59.44kg. 

“Airfreighting goods to and from Reynolds is the manufacturer’s biggest environmental impact, which has been worsened by logistical challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Reynolds will be working with suppliers and customers to improve planning and avoid airfreight.”

We'll be publishing a feature on the environmental impact of bike frames soon.

Find out more here

Wahoo announces new sports science facility

Wahoo – you know, bike computers, smart trainers, fitness tech generally – has launched its own sports science centre in Boulder, Colorado, that will cover “research, expertise, and testing through physiology, biomechanics of movement, nutrition and sports psychology to consistently deliver leading hardware innovations and training solutions across Wahoo’s physical and digital products.”

Read our review of the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt 

In other words, the idea of the facility is that it’ll help Wahoo offer new tech and, ultimately, improve the athletic performance of its users.

Wahoo says, “This new facility will be at the forefront of driving and informing future innovations – leveraging expert insights and analytics focusing on personalised training, data insights, knowledge and sports science protocol to inform the world of connected fitness.”

Find out more here 

Check out the bikepacking lineup from Jack Wolfskin

Outdoor specialist Jack Wolfskin has a “premium series of apparel” called the Bikepacking Collection that’s designed for… well, you can probably work it out, to be honest.

The Tourer Shorts (£60) are available in both men’s and women’s cuts and feature what Jack Wolfskin calls its brrr° technology, designed to wick moisture away, dry rapidly, and cool your skin.  

The Tourer 2.5L jacket (RRP £160, but priced from £96 at the time of writing, again available in men’s and women’s versions) is intended to be both windproof and waterproof and comes with a stowable hood.

The clothing collection sits alongside Jack Wolfskin’s range of cycling packs and bags.

We’ve reviewed a couple of items from Jack Wolfskin on road.cc in the past – the Allspark Daypack and the Neuron Backpack – and they’ve both done well.

Find out more here 

In case you missed it earlier in the week...

• How can you spot counterfeit bike components and avoid getting ripped off? We spoke to Shimano to find out
   
• Cannondale unveils new SuperSix EVO Leichtbau with a mega-light 750g frame
   
• “Most inclusive” virtual cycling platform CADEsport looks for Kickstarter funding ahead of release
   
• Zipp introduces “lighter and faster” 808 Firecrest and 858 NSW wheels
   

• Five cool things coming soon (but on a budget) from Vittoria, Decathlon, Topeak, Hutchinson and Formbeat