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Exciting new products... that you can't actually buy yet

You spot a shiny new thing you just need to have, only to find it's not actually out for weeks! Here's our pick of the most exciting bikes, components and accessories around, that you can't quite get your hands on just yet...

It's common now for online retailers to list products that aren't yet ready to ship out, and we've even heard cases whereby the stock hasn't even been ordered from their distributor yet!

It means you're in for a nice surprise when your pre-ordered present arrives, whether that's a few weeks or even months later, but problems can arise when launch dates get delayed. Whether you're in agreement with the practise of products being out there to ogle at and/or pay for long before you can really have them, here's a selection of the most highly-anticipated bikes and gear out there prior to landing on the shop floor.

Shimano Ultegra R8000

Shimano Ultegra R8000  mechanical and rim brake- 1.jpg

Prices and info for Shimano's latest second-tier groupset have been out for a while now, but UK shipping dates are currently estimated at early August for the mechanical version and the electronic Di2 is still TBC. Improvements compared to the previous Ultegra groupset include trickle-down technology from the top-end Dura Ace components such as SynchroShift technology and better feedback through the levers - you can read more here. 

cycle.shimano-europe.com

Edit: it's been pointed out to us that Ribble Cycles are already stocking Ultegra R8000, but only with 50/34t chainrings and 172.5mm cranks so far. 

 

ShimanoDuraAceFC-R9100-P Power Meter Chainset

Shimano power meter - 6.jpg

Another highly anticipated Shimano release, this time their first ever power meter. It's in the form of an integrated chainset, requires calibration after every ride and has an ANT+ sensor in the right crank where the unit can be recharged.We took a first ride back in January, and we're still waiting for the units to land along with everyone else - shipping was earmarked for late June, but after a quick search online some retailers are now listing estimated delivery at late September.

cycle.shimano-europe.com

Cannondale Synapse

cannondale synapse 201815.jpg

We've already got the lowdown on the latest Synapse from Cannondale and the 2018 version of this popular workhorse has a lighter, stiffer frame, mudguard mounts and disc brakes. Online retailers who are listing the Synapse already are estimating delivery dates at early October, with a range of specs available to pre-order.

www.cannondale.com/en/europe

Lezyne Laser Rear Projector

Lezyne laser rear projector.png

Lezyne's UK distributor is still showing these new lights as being four weeks away from landing with them, and Wiggle are estimating stock to arrive near the end of August. This clever light has a 40 LED lumen main beam and two laser strips each side that create a luminous bike lane either side of you to really improve visibility on the road. Charging is simple via USB, as is mounting with just a rubber strap to wrap round your seat post.

www.upgradebikes.co.uk

Hammerhead Karoo

Hammerhead Karoo

The Hammerhead Karoo is making waves amongst cyclists, with a popular social media campaign to win units garnering plenty of attention and the spec list drawing inquisitive riders towards its claim to be the most comprehensive cycling computer to date. Hammerhead promise unrivalled mobile connectivity, big battery life and an extensive mapping feature that makes Karoo a sat nav, phone and GPS bike computer in one.Although pricing is still TBC, you can sign up for an early offers list to get a 'special price' when the first units ship out. The Karoois only available direct through Hammerhead's website.

www.hammerhead.io

Giro Factor Techlace​

Giro_S_ProlightTechlace_Black_34.jpg

We reported on Giro's new £349 Techlace shoe last week, with its patented lace and strap system and extremely low weight of just 150g for a size 42. You can't pre-order the Prolight Techlace yet, but it's on Giro's website with an option to be notified when the shoe becomes available.

www.giro.com/eu

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6

2018 Specialized Tarmac S-Works Ultralight.jpeg

This £9,500 superbike is reworked for 2018, and versions of it have already been seen at the Tour de France this year being ridden by the likes of Peter Sagan and Philippe Gilbert. The frame is now under 800g, tyre clearance is up to 30mm and aero improvements have been made to the seatstays, seatpost, seat tube and fork. This top spec Tarmac isn't in stock until late September on Evans' website, but if your budget is more modest then you can already get the sub-£2k SL4 version and the SL5 with new Ultegra R8000 groupset is set to land in late August.

www.specialized.com/gb

What do you think about retailers listing products super early… exciting and useful,or downright annoying? Let us know in the comments!

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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14 comments

Avatar
Silversurfmonkey | 6 years ago
0 likes

Early bird pricing on the Hammerhead Karoo was $299 USD. No idea what that comes to with shipping, sales tax and duty (which they stressed the buyer was liable for).

Avatar
slake | 6 years ago
0 likes

highonbikes has the R8000 groupset in stock, and tredz also has all components available in 1-3 days
you can also order from Mantel and some german shops

Avatar
StraelGuy | 6 years ago
0 likes

The Karoo computer looks amazing but the video on their website is pathetic. Man puts computer on bike and goes for a ten second bike ride while computer shows how fast he isn't going...

Avatar
reliablemeatloaf | 6 years ago
0 likes

Products that I can't "actually" buy yet? They're not "actually" out? Is that "actually" so?

"Actually"? Was this article "actually" written by a grammar-challenged writer?

C-

Avatar
Spacer replied to reliablemeatloaf | 6 years ago
0 likes

reliablemeatloaf wrote:

Products that I can't "actually" buy yet? They're not "actually" out? Is that "actually" so?

"Actually"? Was this article "actually" written by a grammar-challenged writer?

C-

You might object to overuse of the word but there's no problem with the grammar. It is used correctly here. 

Avatar
reliablemeatloaf replied to Spacer | 6 years ago
0 likes

Spacer wrote:

reliablemeatloaf wrote:

Products that I can't "actually" buy yet? They're not "actually" out? Is that "actually" so?

"Actually"? Was this article "actually" written by a grammar-challenged writer?

C-

You might object to overuse of the word but there's no problem with the grammar. It is used correctly here. 

 

Oh, okay.

Only an idiot defends idiocy.

Avatar
Wolfcastle50 replied to reliablemeatloaf | 6 years ago
4 likes
reliablemeatloaf wrote:

Products that I can't "actually" buy yet? They're not "actually" out? Is that "actually" so?

"Actually"? Was this article "actually" written by a grammar-challenged writer?

C-

No, but this post was.

Avatar
palacetim | 6 years ago
0 likes

Already in stock and on sale here in Australia.

Avatar
part_robot | 6 years ago
0 likes

Not Hydro though. Dura Ace mech Hydro has been delayed by at least 6 months already... I see the dates are shifting on Ultegra too now judging by CRC's listings.... Tredz and a couple of others are saying October already.

Avatar
part_robot | 6 years ago
1 like

August this year for R8000? I'll believe that when I see it.

Avatar
Liaman replied to part_robot | 6 years ago
0 likes

part_robot wrote:

August this year for R8000? I'll believe that when I see it.

 

Ribble have got units available to buy already

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/index/?product_family...

Avatar
Jack Sexty replied to Liaman | 6 years ago
0 likes

Liaman wrote:

part_robot wrote:

August this year for R8000? I'll believe that when I see it.

 

Ribble have got units available to buy already

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/index/?product_family...

 

Thanks for pointing this out! It's interesting because it doesn't come up in searches and they only have the compact chainsets and 172.5mm crank options available. By my reckoning these were over-ordered from bike builds, it appears they haven't got the full range of options on sale yet. 

Avatar
Mad cuclist replied to part_robot | 6 years ago
0 likes

part_robot wrote:

August this year for R8000? I'll believe that when I see it.

 

i have a complete mechanical group apart from chainset , with calliper brakes  

Avatar
part_robot replied to Mad cuclist | 6 years ago
0 likes

Mad cuclist wrote:

part_robot wrote:

August this year for R8000? I'll believe that when I see it.

 

i have a complete mechanical group apart from chainset , with calliper brakes  

 

Good. But not hydro though as per my second remark.

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