ALL POSTS
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Shimano’s S-PHYRE lineup of shoes are well known for their top-of-the-line technology and high performance design. The new S-PHYRE RX910 shoes are the latest S-PHYRE product that blends features from the Shimano RC9 road cycling shoes and the S-PHYRE XC9 cross-country together. The shoes are specifically for the challenges of gravel racing which require road-level power transfer for efficiency and off-road traction off the bike. Retail price for the RX910 shoes is the same $480 as the S-PHYRE RC9 and XC9 shoes along with the same BOA Fit System with dual BOA Li2 Dials. For extra traction the RX910 shoes…
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Shimano’s Dura-Ace groupset is the brand’s top-of-the-line product lineup and offers the highest performance and latest technology. While most people are familiar with the Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain, Shimano also offers a full wheelset lineup under the Dura-Ace series with three wheelsets: C36, C50 and a C60. For this review, we have the Dura-Ace C50 which offers a perfect blend of low weight and aerodynamic performance. Retail price for the C50 is $2099.99 and, as the name implies, the wheels have a 50mm deep carbon rim. Shimano has designed the wheelset with modern 21 mm inner width and 28 mm external…
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Tubeless tire technology has become almost ubiquitous in road cycling with almost all popular tire brands pivoting toward tubeless ready tire options. The not-so-secret fact is that many riders still use tube setups, even with TLR tired due to the simplicity and easier maintenance. Pirelli has embraced this with the P Zero Race RS which promise to be light and fast tires specifically for tube setups. With a retail price of $89.91, the P Zero Race RS utilizes the same SmartEvo compound and FSC certified natural rubber as other P Zero tires but has optimized the tires for tube setups.…
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One of the most controversial topics in cycling is the debate over round vs oval chain rings. While round chain rings are still the most common and popular design, oval chain rings have rapidly gained and lost popularity over the years. absoluteBLACK claims to have a proven solution with their oval rings and studies to prove their effectiveness in improving pedal efficiency and smoothness rather than claiming power gain. For SRAM 110/5 cranks, the retail price is $125.95 for 50 / 52 T outer rings and $59.95 34 / 36 T which is actually lower than the price of OEM…
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3D printing has been a game changing technology that lets you quickly prototype and create unique designs. Trek’s new Aeolus AirLoom saddles embrace the 3D printing technology with their AirLoom 3D printed lattice structure that replaces traditional saddle covers and foam. Trek offers the saddle in multiple variations from the $174.99 Elite AirLoom, a mid-level $274.99 Pro and the top-of-the-line $424.99 RSL version we have for this review. As the top model, the RSL features a OCLV carbon shell and oversized 7x10mm OCLV carbon rails. The saddle is available in 135, 145 and 155mm widths to accommodate different bike fits…
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Aero Tech Designs is an affordable cycling apparel brand offering fun prints and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All their apparel is designed, printed, cut, sewn, and shipped in-house. They’re a size inclusive company offering up to 5XL on some products. This review is for the Aero Tech Designs Women’s Cat jersey and All Day Padded cycling shorts. In a sea of solid colors, Aero Tech Designs stands out in its fun print offerings.
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There are a variety of bike storage bag options from standard top tube bags to full on frame bags that fill the entire triangular region to make it easier to carry gear on a bike. One of the often overlooked areas is the area in front of the seatpost on the top tube. Tailfin’s Rear Top Tube Bag is a lightweight bag that was specifically designed to wedge into that spot for both road and mountain bikes. Tailfin offers two versions of the bag: a 0.8L designed for mountain bikes and a slightly larger 0.9L version for road and gravel…
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Trek’s Ion and Flare lights have been a popular choice with road cyclists thanks to their compact form factor and focused single LEDs. While they aren’t bright enough to light up the road they are perfect for daytime riding and are easy to mount on city or road bikes. After being on the market for years, Trek has finally updated the lights with the big highlight being fast USB-C charging and a battery gauge. Retail price on the individual lights is $44.99 while the combination lightset comes at a slightly discounted $84.99. The Ion R has 100 lumen output while…
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The Bontrager Girona RSL TLR gravel tire is marketed as the Bontrager’s fastest gravel tire to date. Inspired by Girona, Spain, the tires feature a lightly-treaded fast-rolling design with dual-compounds to optimize speed on hardpacked gravel roads. The retail price of the tires is $76.99 and they are offered in three widths currently: 35, 38 and 42mm as well as black and tan sidewall colors. Bontrager also has a PRO variation of the tires for $54.99 but it lacks the 220 TPI casing of the RSL version. The tires have a dual tread design with a smooth center section and…