ALL POSTS
-
PEARL iZUMi’s PRO level of apparel are the brands top-tier lineup and feature high-performance fabrics and form-fitting cuts. In this review we’ll be looking at the warm-weather men’s PRO kit with their new Navy/Wild Orchid Jasper color scheme. We specifically have three items for this review: PRO Mesh Jersey, PRO Bib Short and the PRO Barrier jacket. The PRO Mesh` Jersey retails for $150 and is one of their most technical jerseys with a variety of technology such as PRO Transfer Mesh Fabric and recycled polyester construction. With matching color schemes, the $225 PRO Bib Shorts feature the latest Levitate…
-
Shimano 105 is widely known as Shimano’s entry-level performance lineup and sits under the more expensive and lighter Ultegra and top-of-the-line Dura-Ace product lines. The Shimano R7000 series is Shimano’s current 105 series which consists of everything from full groupsets to the SPD-SL pedals we have in this review. With a retail price of $150, the PD-R7000 are lightweight single sided performance pedals designed for Shimano SPD-SL cleats. As with other Shimano 105 products, the PD-R7000 inherits many of the design features and technology from the more expensive products including the carbon composite body and an adjustable entry / release…
-
Oakley’s Encoder sunglasses combine the unique curved lens design of the Oakley Kato but with less polarizing styling. The new Oakley Encoder Strike Vented sunglasses we have here are the latest addition to the Encoder product line and add vents along the top for improved ventilation to avoid fogging. These sunglasses are part of Oakley’s 2023 cycling collection and retail for $255. Aside from the six narrow vents on the top of the lens, the Encoder Strike Vented have similar specs with a frameless construction and Prizm Lens Technology. The large sculpted lens features Oakley’s PhysioMorphic geometry to contour around…
-
The new Falcon XR helmet lineup utilizes that same “deep road” design as Bell’s XR Spherical helmet but at a more accessible price point. This lineup consists of the base XR MIPS, the XRV MIPS which adds a visor and the XRV LED MIPS which includes the visor and a taillight. In this review we have the Bell Falcon XRV LED MIPS which adds a detachable rear taillight for improved visibility on top of the standard Falcon XR MIPS helmet. The helmet retails for $150 which is a $20 premium over the standard XR but significantly cheaper than the XR…
-
Developed specifically for cycling, the new Julbo Edge sunglasses offer an aggressive oversized lens design with a number of performance features. Julbo offers the sunglasses in a variety of variations from $184.95 with a Spectron lens, $259.95 with a REACTIV photochromic lens and a $289.95 option that includes both lenses. The Julbo Edge are full frame sunglasses with a Base 5 curvature and a thin minimalist frame design. Grip Tech temples and nose pad provide soft and flexible contact points that can be easily adjusted for a perfect fit. One of the main features of the Edge is the new…
-
Whether you’re a gravel cyclist with multiple bags already on your bike or a minimalist road cyclist trying to minimize weight, strap-style EDC packs are a great way to carry extra gear. These are simple fabric loops that can be mounted on saddle rails, seaposts or downtubes to carry gear. Topeak’s Elementa frame strap is their newest offering in the EDC space with three different available sizes. There is a $24.95 size small (20” x 1”), $27.95 size medium (27” x 1”) and a $29.95 size large (28” x 1.5”) to choose from. All the variations use a similar anti-slip…
-
While the Shimano S-PHYRE RC9 shoes may get the most media coverage, their high price makes them inaccessible for most cyclists. This is where the Shimano RC300 shoes come in with high-performance features and construction at a mid-level price point. These slot above the RC1 shoes which have Velcro straps, but below the RC7 and RC5 shoe variations. For this review, we have the $125 Shimano RC300 cycling shoes which feature a single BOA L6 dial. Shimano offers these in both a women’s specific version, shown in this review, and a men’s version with slightly different color options. The RC300…
-
Magicshine’s Seemee taillight offers everything from low-output budget options to high powered dual lens taillights. In this review we’ll be looking at one of the latest additions, the Magicshine Seemee 50 which is a budget friendly taillight that’s bright enough for most riders. With a retail price of only $24.99, the Seemee 50 is one of the most affordable options in the Magicshine Seemee lineup. As the name implies, the Seemee 50 has a 50 lumen output with a 430 mAh battery that’s rated for up to 30.5 hours of use. Despite the budget price, the Seemee 50 features an…
-
If you were a fan of the Magicshine’s Seemee 200 but didn’t think 200 lumens were enough, then we have good news for you. The new Magicshine Semee 300 we have here combines all the innovative features of the Semee 200 but adds a second LED to achieve a blinding 300 lumen output. Despite the combination of two focused LEDs, a downward facing OptiTracing LED and a COB LED ring, the Seemee 300 still has an affordable $59.99 retail price. With 300 lumen of output and a variety of flash modes and constant modes to choose from it’s a very…