Core Bike is mere days away, a chance for distributors of new and desirable products to place their wares before retailers keen to fill their shops with kit to tempt discerning cyclists.
It’s trade only, but fear not – we’ll be on site to bring you news on the hottest new items set to hit the stores in the coming months.
Reynolds Eighty One wheel set: £2049.99 per set.
Deep section carbon wheels are an attractive addition to any machine, and Reynolds’ Eight One (its 81mm deep, quelle surprise) is deeper than most. It’s available as a clincher or a tub, satisfying riders immune to gluing tyres as well as those seeking additional ‘feel’. Shimano and Campagnolo options are available, so cassette compatibility will not be an issue for fans of the Italian and Japanese manufacturers. Worried about cross winds with such deep rims? Reynolds claim to have sudden side drafts covered with their patented Swirl Lip Generator (really), broadening the leading edge of the rim at the spoke for better air flow. A composite brake track is paired with Reynolds’ Cryo Blue brake pads. Trialed by the AG2R team at last year’s Tour De France, if it’s good enough for Roche et al, it’s probably good enough for the rest of us.
Kinesis Racelight TK2 with winter build and 2012 Tiagra group: £1044.98
With February, March, and April showers still ahead of us, it’s not too late to be thinking about a winter bike. Kinesis UK will be showing their 2012 Racelight TK2, an aluminum framed, carbon forked steed equipped with mudguards, an affordable and so winter-friendly Shimano Tiagra groupset, and an FSA finishing kit. A suitable machine to ride through the winter gloom while you’re carbon beauty remains under wraps, or for some lightweight touring when the weather improves.
Micro Shift XONA ten speed transmission: Shifters £199.99 / Rear Mech £59.99 / Front Mech £39.99
Far Eastern enterprise Micro Shift have established a reputation by making components for other brands, and now release products under their own monicker, endorsed by no lesser force than the Cofidis Pro Continental team.
Enter the Xona 10-speed transmission, competitively priced and constructed with cold forged alloy components, they offer an option for riders seeking an alternative to, but are compatible with, the Campag, Shimano, SRAM hegemony.
Dual control shifters and a front mech accompany the rear mech pictured, and are available separately.
Lezyne Tech Drive mini pump with new ABS hose: £24.99
Leyzne make rather desireable products, but all that quality commands a certain price.
Not so with the Tech Drive, an affordable, high pressure mini pump equipped with the Air Bleed System hose found on Lezyne’s upscale models. ABS releases back pressure from the hose before it is unscrewed form the valve, easing the process and eliminating the risk of unscrewing the valve core. Neat.
Lezyne claim inflation to riding pressure in 30 per cent fewer strokes than conventional pumps. Aluminium is used for the construction of the handle, barrel, and shaft. The black model pictured is complemented in the range by a bare aluminium finish,
Lezyne Sport Floor Drive with ABS and CM base £36.99
Fight the debilitating effects of inflation with a floor pump. Mini pumps are an essential tool for roadside repairs, but hard work. Not so with the floor pump.
Lezyne have cut no corners in the construction of its Sport Drive, including a composite base, a steel barrel and piston, and an attractive handle of varnished wood. An easy to read gauge completes the set-up.
Not quite as sexy as Lezyne’s CNC or alloy equivalents, but admittedly more affordable, the Sport Floor Drive makes a practical addition to the home workshop.
