It has been a busy week on this planet of biking tech, with main releases from the likes of Rapha, Lapierre and Specialised. The British clothes model has launched its newest collaboration with cloth firm Gore-Tex, bringing the subsequent technology of PFAS-free waterproof biking jackets to the moist and windy climate we’re beginning to get used to once more right here within the UK.
New bikes are on the horizon too. Lapierre has launched a carbon gravel bike, Bianchi has recoloured the Oltre XR4, and Specialised has launched an fascinating new e-bike.
Rapha + Gore Tex Jacket – does it come near Shakedry?
The non-essential PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) ban is now firmly on the horizon. From January subsequent 12 months, producers might be anticipated to completely cease the manufacturing of products the place PFAS chemical substances will not be important to a merchandise goal – and that features rain jackets.
And with this ban comes the demise of the enduring Gore-Tex Shakedry jacket.
The consequence has been an fascinating scramble from cloth firms to develop a membrane that performs in addition to Shakedry whereas conforming with new laws, and Rapha thinks its newest collaboration is one of the best at school but. Gore-Tex appears fairly assured that it could possibly deliver the identical efficiency with new supplies however did warn that cleansing and reproofing could change into a extra frequent want, with contamination resistance being barely decrease than with earlier materials.
The Rapha + Gore-Tex jacket is a extra environmentally pleasant various to Rapha clothes that featured earlier technology Gore-Tex laminate.
(Picture credit score: Rapha)
The brand new jacket has been designed in collaboration with Gore-Tex, and options Rapha’s barely extra relaxed match philosophy, which is designed to work for avid street riders in addition to extra informal commuters alike – however how does it carry out?
I’ve been fortunate sufficient (or not!) to do numerous slightly wet rides within the new jacket earlier than its launch, and I need to say I’ve been typically very happy.
Tech Author Joe Baker was happy with how his Rapha + Gore-Tex Jacket carried out in a wet, autumnal Dijon.
(Picture credit score: Future)
Most vital, after all, is the waterproofing efficiency, and right here the Rapha + Gore-Tex Jacket ranks extremely extremely. Using across the roads of Dijon I fell sufferer to some very heavy showers the place the jacket confirmed no indicators of water ingress. So far as match is worried, I did discover it a bit bit slender on the shoulders – although mine are notably broad for my measurement – however the jacket supplied nice size on the rear, and was not remotely flappy.
Construct high quality is nice. Rapha has included a couple of noteworthy niceties, akin to a strong cinch system for the waistband – which is a pleasant contact. My pre-production pattern did have a small error in that the elastic cuffs have been barely free, however this has now been mounted for manufacturing jackets.
General, first impressions are excellent, which they need to be for a jacket costing £300, however I’m trying ahead to testing it in additional extended downpours throughout the inevitable mucky days that lay forward.
Lapierre Crosshill CF is sensible in addition to quick
The Crosshill CF has a broad spectrum of makes use of together with lengthy distance gravel racing
(Picture credit score: Lapierre)
Lapierre has been producing its Crosshill gravel vary for a couple of years. Up till now, the choices have been strictly aluminium. The brand new CF mannequin nonetheless boasts a UD SL carbon body and fork, with a claimed weight of 1400g.
The French model says it’s opted for a layup that gives “one of the best weight/stiffness/consolation ratio”. To additional support consolation the newly designed body has a couple of fascinating options, together with the elliptical-shaped ‘flexstays’, that are designed to offer vertical flexibility and the ‘double S-shaped break’ which is there to “improve vibration absorption”.
Maybe probably the most distinctive component of the body design although is the free-floating seat tube, which creates extra flexibility. Based on Lapierre, all of it provides as much as 12% extra vibration absorption at 40kph.
Provided in numerous builds, the 8.0 is the range-topper and incorporates a SRAM Power XPLR AXS groupset
(Picture credit score: Lapierre)
That quantity could seem to point a race-orientated bent. Actually, the CF appears well-equipped to cope with the calls for of lengthy gravel races. Alongside the carbon building, the body has inside routing for cables and hoses. The chainstays have additionally been shortened by 5mm in comparison with the alloy fashions; at 430mm they need to make for a responsive journey, whereas nonetheless permitting for tyres as large as 45mm.
This distinctive trying junction leaves the seat tube floating and is designed so as to add flexibility and luxury
(Picture credit score: Lapierre)
Nonetheless, the remainder of the modifications to the geometry level to a motorbike that wishes to be sensible in addition to quick. The highest tube has been shortened, whereas the underside bracket top has been prolonged by a couple of millimetres for improved clearances.
And the CF’s performance doesn’t cease there. It’s suitable with suspension forks, makes use of the UDH hangar normal and comes outfitted with a number of bosses for bike-packing baggage in addition to fenders.
Full construct costs vary from £2,699 for the CF 5.0 mannequin, which incorporates a mechanical Shimano GRX groupset to £5,399 for the CF 8.0, which comes outfitted with SRAM Power XPLR AXS.
Bianchi Oltre embraces color
(Picture credit score: Bianchi)
For some, Bianchi’s solely are available one color.
The enduring Celeste paint scheme is a part of the model’s lore – was it impressed by the skies over Milan or Queen Margarite’s eyes – and has adorned bikes ridden by Italian legends starting from Fausto Coppi to Marco Pantani.
(Picture credit score: Bianchi)
However occasions change and Bianchi are clearly banking on its followers being completely happy to drop with custom and journey its Oltre race bike in a slew of colors aside from the green-blue hue we’ve all change into accustomed to – though that’s nonetheless on supply too.
(Picture credit score: Bianchi)
The highest-of-the-range Oltre RC is now provided in a black carbon end (with Celeste particulars) in addition to a metallic Celeste. The Professional, Comp and Race fashions additionally supply this interpretation of the basic colourway, but in addition include different choices too, together with a blue-grey quantity. The pictures indicated a stunning-looking bike whichever Pantone is utilized.
Supernatural powered Specialised Vado e-bike
The Vado SL 2 LTD lives as much as its title with solely 250 bikes produced
(Picture credit score: Specialised)
It’s not solely drop-bar electrical bikes which might be getting lighter and lighter. Specialised’s newest Vado, the SL 2 Carbon is a hybrid e-bike that weighs as little as 14.9kg relying on the mannequin.
However its efficiency on the scales is much from the bike’s solely speaking level. It’s pushed by Specialised’s SL 1.2 motor, which gives 320 watts of what Spesh describes as “supernatural energy”, whereas the 530Wh battery has a claimed run time of as much as 5 hours.
The Vado SL 2 comes with mounts for entrance and rear racks which have a load capability of as much as 40kg
(Picture credit score: Specialised)
Whereas the carbon body delivers apparent weight benefits, the Vado SL 2 remains to be a sensible bike at coronary heart. It incorporates a MIK HD rear rack (as normal on the 6.0 Outfitted mannequin) that may deal with as much as 27 kg, a entrance Tubus rack that may carry an additional 14kg plus loads of mounts for baggage, baby seats and extra. The onboard pc may even be synched with Apple’s Discover My, in case, heavens forbid, it goes lacking.
Different noteworthy particulars embrace a brand new show and joystick distant, which might work at the side of the Specialised app, the inclusion of the US model’s Future Shock 3.2 suspension system and clearance for as much as 47mm large tyres.
The Vado SL 2 Carbon LTD, of which there are simply 250 accessible, prices £7,500, whereas the ‘common’ fashions begin at £5,500.
