This week we have new road wheels and tires from Chris King, Specialized and Vittoria, plus an all-road bike from Vitus, but it’s really the new mountain bikes that take center stage. Pinarello and Cervelo both launched new XC bikes, Moots goes singlespeed, and Canyon drops in with a monster freeride eMTB!
Add in new tech from Suunto and Garmin, and cool bits and kits from Cedaero, Fjällräven, Smith, and more, and it was a lot! Here’s the best new stuff this week:
- Chris King AR wheels
- Vitus Venon
- Vittoria Corsa Pro
- Specialized Mondo
- Pinarello Dogma XC
- Cervelo ZFS-5
- Canyon Strive ON eMTB
- Moots Womble SS
- Ceramicspeed Wet Wax
- Suunto Vertical
- Garmin e-Bike Radar
- Specialized x Fjallraven
- Pearl Izumi Contours
- Cedaero Fork Lift
- Selle Italia plugged bar tape
Chris King ARD44 aero all-road FusionFiber wheels
The new Chris King ARD44 aero road wheels aim to provide a smoother, faster ride with better traction than any traditional carbon rim by using the carbon-plus-nylon FusionFiber material, which essentially replaces traditional resins with a recyclable thermoplastic to enhance compliance and damping.
Laced to your choice of Chris King R45D hub colors, the 25mm wide (internal, 30.5mm external), 44mm deep hookless rim is aerodynamically optimized for 28-30mm tires, and tough enough for light gravel roads…and can handle up to 700×47 tires. MSRP is $2,850, weights are 705g (F) & 820g (R), rim is 435g. (video here)
Vitus Venon EVO is a road and gravel bike depending on tires
Clearing 700×45 tires and coming in road and gravel builds, the new Vitus Venon EVO lets you ride it on any surface. Thin, low-set seatstays keep it comfy, and a removable bridge lets you add a fender, or not.
It’s a performance bike meant to be ridden fast, with aero shaping and integrated cable routing and lacking extra mounts for packs. Complete bikes are as light as 17lbs and run $3,399 to $4,699. Framesets are $1,999.
Pinarello Dogma XC mountain bike packs a ton of cool tech
The new Pinarello Dogma XC uses their signature asymmetric design to create a single-pivot bike that relies on flex stays to deliver efficient pedaling performance, with an interlocking main pivot spindle (kinda like Campy cranks) that connects the distinct left and right rear triangle halves so they move in sync without needing a chainstay bridge.
That design is lighter, opens up bigger tire clearance (29×2.35), and allows shorter chainstays. The upper shock mount is adjustable to run different shock strokes & lengths, letting you switch between 90-100mm rear travel (with 100-120mm forks).
Head angle is 67.5-68º depending on frame size, seat angle is ~75.3º, and chainstay length is a very short 427.5mm. A one-piece cockpit hides all lines inside, and has a 60º stopper to prevent over-rotation.
Pidcock & Ferrand-Prévot will race it at Nove Mesto WC XCO this weekend, both on prototype SR Suntour electronically controlled suspension, but it won’t go on sale until March 2024. (video here)
Cervelo ZFS-5 full suspension XC bike debuts, too
The new Cervelo ZFS-5 is also a fully internally routed, single-pivot design with flex stays, but uses a simpler (and probably lighter) frame that gets much more modern geometry than last summer’s very road-like hardtail.
Head angle is 67.8º, but other measurements vary by frame size. Seat angle is 76.5º to 76º, and chainstays grow from 432-440mm. Rear travel is 100mm, paired with 100-120mm forks, the latter making things ~1º slacker. Pricing and other details will come when it goes on sale this summer.
Canyon Torque:ON CF freeride eMTB
With 175mm rear travel and 180mm forks, a new carbon frame, and mixed 29/27.5″ wheels, the Canyon Torque:ON CF makes a huge leap from the original alloy version.
Switching to carbon dropped 1.5kg (~3.3lbs) and made room for a massive 900Wh battery (720Wh on size small), slot a custom triangle-shaped water bottle through the top tube, and move motor & shock weight lower for playful yet planted handling.
The top model’s livery is inspired by MX racer Ken Roczen and ships this summer for $8,500. Two models below that are available now for $5,500 to $6,500.
Moots Womble Slider singlespeed ti hardtail
Designed with the same geometry as the geared version, the new Moots Womble SS switches to a Paragon sliding dropout so you can run it singlespeed. Or, swap in their UDH-compatible hanger and go geared.
The titanium frame is designed around 140mm forks, dropper posts, and 29×2.6″ tires. Frameset starts at $4,975, the complete build shown here is $9,999.
Vittoria Corsa Pro gets a fused rubber & cotton construction
The new Vittoria Corsa Pro electrically vulcanizes and fuses the tread to a super-supple 320tpi cotton casing, creating a seamless construction that adapts to the terrain much faster. Its dual compound tread puts more Silica in the center for better durability and lower rolling resistance, and more Graphene in the corners for better grip.
The PRO model gets a puncture protection belt in the middle and comes in 24-26-28-30-32 sizes ($99, 265-320g). The PRO Control model adds thicker rubber and a fishbone tread pattern for rougher, wetter surfaces (26-28-30-32-34, $99, 295-370g). Both are Tubeless Ready, tan sidewall only, and the PRO has Tubular options, too. Available now at BTD.
Specialized Mondo says it’s the fastest endurance all-road tire
The new Specialized Mondo has 11% less rolling resistance and is 5% lighter than, they claim, any similar tire on the road. It’s designed to be supple, fast, comfortable, and confident on the worst roads, even cobbles.
It has a 120tpi casing with a mix of their fast-rolling T2 compound with grippier T5 on the corner treads. The GRID Race sidewall breaker is extremely flexible but highly abrasion resistant and combines with a new Black Belt Aramid center strip to provide better durability and puncture protection.
It’s tubeless-ready for hooked & hookless rims, available in 28mm (310g), 32mm (330g) and 35mm (360g). MSRP is $/€80. (video here)
Ceramicspeed Wet Conditions & Indoor wax chain lubes
Ceramicspeed has added a new UFO Drip Wet Conditions wax chain coating that lasts longer on rainy, muddy rides, that trades a bit of cleanliness for more durable protection compared to their (very excellent) original formula, which is now called All Conditions.
The new Indoor & Track version further changes the wax-to-lubricant ratio to reduce shedding so it won’t drop as many waxy flakes on your floor during trainer rides, or on velodrome planks. The UFO Drivetrain Cleaner dissolves old wax when it’s time to reapply.
Suunto Vertical doubles battery life and satellite reception
The new Suunto Vertical gets a bigger (49mm vs 43mm) bezel and screen than the 9 Peak Pro, and adds a solar-recharging option that can extend battery life for up to a full year! It’s also their first GPS adventure watch with Dual Band satellite reception, helping it track you better and pick up signals faster.
32GB onboard storage holds more map data, with routes, heatmaps & more visible (and scrollable) on the touch screen face. Continuous HR, barometer, compass, elevation, and other sensors are there, too. MSRP is $629 (stainless steel non-solar) to $839 (titanium solar, which is the one you want).
Garmin Varia radar taillight now plugs into your e-bike
Garmin’s new Varia eRLT615 radar combines its traffic-sensing alerts and tail lights into a new form factor that can be powered by your e-bike’s battery. There’s no built-in battery, so you’ll need to choose between three cables to attach to Shimano or Bosch systems, or a standard USB-A cable, and plug it into your bike. MSRP $330 w/ one cable.
Specialized Fjallraven Exchange, Drop #3
The third drop from Specialized x Fjällräven Exchange includes some funky kits (like a onesie field suit…?) and clever bits (an expandable hip pack that converts to a backpack) for exploring “the great nearby”.
Designed for backpacking of varying seriousness, there are some legit pieces like the Sleep Poncho and Sun Shirt, and funner around-town pieces like a Poncho and Handlebar Rolltop Bag w/ Rain Cover. Color-matched shirts, vests, helmets & bottles, too.
Pearl Izumi Contours collection celebrates gravel in style
The limited edition Pearl Izumi Contours collection mimics the elevation maps and varied terrain of a good gravel ride. Available on their Expedition Pro Bibshort and lightweight, summer-friendly Pro Mesh Jersey, which also has anti-odor properties. Available in Men’s and Women’s cuts.
Cedaero Fork Lift bikepacking bag
Most fork-mount bikepacking bags use a rolltop closure, but the new 3.3L Cedaero Fork Lift has a wrap-around zippered flap that opens wide for quicker, easier access. Yes, it fits your sticker-covered 32oz Nalgene bottle.
It’s designed to slide over the 3-bolt King Cage Manything cage, making it quick and easy to remove and take to camp, too. Available in 25 colors plus custom for $90 each.
Selle Italia Smart Tape caps & wraps bars in one piece
Selle Italia’s Smart Tape combines the bar-end plug with the tape, using the same rubbery material to cap and wrap your handlebar. The backside has mini “suction cups” to hold tight without adhesive.
They say this lets your wrap your bar 20% faster, and re-wrap them without destroying the tape. MSRP is $20, black only, and it’ll be available whenever they feel like it, apparently.
Pro Tip
“Do things that make you smile! Enjoyment of sport starts with your daily decisions and goals – be willing to look ahead and change things up and the results you want will come! For me that includes at least one ride a week that is ‘adventurous’ and might include multiple coffee stops. This keeps me excited to explore what’s around me and those days typically end up being great training days anyway!”
– Alexey Vermeulen, Pro Gravel Racer (and Willie the Weiner Dog’s pilot)
Small Bites
- The global annual Ride of Silence is next Wed., May 17
- Red Bull Race Tapes interview pro MTB’ers as they kick off 2023
- Here’s a video about how Canyon makes those huge e-bike batteries
- And here’s how to build a bike with square tank track wheels
- Rapha Excess Collection turns scrap fabric into premium kits
- Ornot x McNally Sketchy artist series trail shirts are pretty
- All Mountain Style has a pocket-sized portable kickstand
- The JBL Wind 3 Bluetooth speaker mounts to your handlebar
- Here’s how to recycle your e-bike batteries
- Use code ONEDOLLARDEMO to try a Spot MTB for a buck
- Waterford and Gunnar cycles are both going out of business
- The Borderlands 4-state MTB adventure race series looks rad
Overland & Vanlife
- Roev is converting Toyota Hilux’s into full electric overland rigs
- Unicamp turns your Kia minivan into a pop-top camper van
- The 2024 Ford Ranger has debuted, and yes there’s a Raptor
- The Argo Centaur XT might be the most bad-ass offroad vehicle ever
Deals
- Get 20% off Velocio kits when you bundle a top and bottom
- Sea to Summit has bundle deals on sleep pads & bags, too
- JensonUSA’s Spring Bike Sale has bikes, gear & more
- REI has almost everything up to 50% off
- Jackery has BOGO & big deals on camp-friendly solar generators
- Backcountry has their new MTB kits (and a lot more) up to 40% off
- Use code GIRO20 for 20% off a full-price item at Competitive Cyclist
The Lunch Ride is a weekly TL;DR recap of the best new cycling products and tech, written for Riders, not Algorithms. SUBSCRIBE HERE to get it in your inbox every Friday.
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