Cycling equipment

LOOK 695

2010-07-01T11:23:00.001-07:00

Lighter and stiffer

There are two versions: the 695 SR (super rigid) is aimed at maximum performance and power transfer, while the regular 695 is engineered with 15 percent less overall stiffness for more compliance and a smoother ride while retaining a high level of performance.

Ignore the ‘SL’ decals on the bike in the pictures – they are pre-production graphics that won’t make it to showrooms. The different levels of stiffness are achieved through carefully altering the carbon layup; the two frames are otherwise identical. The 695 frame is claimed to weigh just 900g (1.98lb, including seatmast), which is nine percent lighter than the 595 and 10 percent stiffer (in SR form).

In I-pack form – LOOK’s complete integrated chassis package with cranks, seatpost, stem and pedals – the complete bike is said to weigh less than all its rivals in the same trim except for the Scott Addict R1. A typical high-spec build weighs around 6.6kg (14.55lb) without pedals, though one LOOK employee had a 695 with carbon brake callipers and tubular Edge wheels that weighed 6.1kg (13.45lb) with its Keo Carbon pedals in place.

One-piece carbon cranks and other kit highlights

The most attention grabbing of the new parts in the I-pack is the ZED 2 crankset. The crank arms, axle and chainring spider comprise a one-piece carbon fibre monocoque claimed to have the best stiffness-to-weight ratio available. It’s a development from the first ZED crankset seen on the 596 time trial bike and fits into the same huge BB65 bottom bracket, so called for its 65mm bearing diameter rather than its width.

The crankset threads through from the drive side of the bike. To reduce production costs, and help dealers and customers, there is only one size of ZED 2 cranks, with a clever rotating three-lobe insert providing options of 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm effective arm lengths. Whereas its predecessor required a specific LOOK pedal, the ZED 2 can be used with any pedal.

Ready for action

The 695 SR immediately goes into race action under the Cofidis team at the Tour de France. Cofidis have the option of the softer 695 for stage 3 to better deal with the cobbled sections, though it isn’t confirmed whether they'll use it. Pay special attention on Bastille Day, 14 July, when the team will run LOOK’s iconic Mondrian colour scheme, an option that will later be available to buy at a small premium.

In all there will be five colours and six sizes (XS-XXL), and there is now a Bike Builder function on the website. UK prices are:

I-pack (frame, fork cranks, seatpost, stem and pedals): £3,499.99
I-pack with SRAM Rival and AL27 wheels: £4,299.99
I-pack with SRAM Force and AL30 Race wheels: £4,799.99
I-pack with SRAM Red and AL30 Race wheels: £5,099.99

Riding the 695 SR

We had two chances to give the 695 SR a work

out; first on the magnificent Magny Cours F1 race circuit that’s a short drive from the LOOK factory, and later on a 20km spin around local country roads. Between the two it was enough to give us a very clear impression of the bike’s ride and handling.

There’s no mistaking that it’s a pure race bike. It’s light, responsive, agile and incredibly stiff, yet without ever feeling nervous or impatient. The geometry doesn’t force you into an extreme position so you could happily do away with the optional 17mm spacer and fine-tune using the stem angle. With our normal fit data applied we felt comfortable and at home immediately.

Underlining their competitive mindset, the team from LOOK organised a prologue-style time trial over one lap of the race track. The 695’s responsiveness and rigid power transfer at once both encouraged us to give our best (average 178bpm) and rewarded the effort with more speed (we’ll keep the average to ourselves, thanks).

The road ride included some lanes with a very similar surface to UK B-roads, and even some cobbles. The 695 SR took the slightly rough roads in its stride, providing a decent level of comfort for a race bike and never feeling excessively harsh.

The elastomer-equipped seatpost makes a big contribution as there’s a significant difference between the level of vibration that can be felt through the pedals and the level that comes through the saddle. It’s enough to convince us that we could live with the SR version for regular road riding.

Keo Blade Aero

LOOK also took the opportunity to reveal their new time trial and triathlon pedal, the Keo Blade Aero, at their pre-Tour technical presentation – a final prototype of which will be used at the Tour de France by Alberto Contador. It was developed in the wind tunnel at Magny Cours over several iterations.

The result is a fully enclosed underside and a claimed two percent power saving. The carbon fibre shell weighs only 5g and the whole pedal is 120g. The pedal body has been stiffened but is otherwise the same as the Keo Blade Carbon, so expect the same positive click entry and wide platform. It'll be available from November, for £229.99.

Oakley BMX Chrome Sunglass Collection Released

2010-06-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

Oakley releases a new collection celebrating BMX known as BMX Chrome, and adds the tagline chromed bikes of kids who became today’s champions”. Using the popular Oakley Jawbone and Radar, the BMX Chrome collection uses a chrome finish just like most BMX bikes back in the days, and since BMXers would slap on various colored stickers, each Oakley BMX Chrome sunglasses comes with three different lenses and earsocks.

The Oakley BMX Chrome Sunglasses Collection comes with Violet Iridium, Red Iridium, and Jade Iridium lenses. Releasing in a limited quantity, Oakley.com lists the Jawbones at $350.00, while the Radars retail with the same price.

Amira S-Works from Specialized

2010-06-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

The S-Works Amira road bike by Specialized has an aggressive geometric design and top-shelf spec and is a carbon fiber race bike with a specified size tubing. It is the 2010 new women’s bike by the California Company, Specialized. The bike is specifically created with an integrated S-Works crank and deep-section Royal 45 wheels of Shimano Dura-Ace, weighing 14.7 pounds in a 51cm bike.

The Amira replaces the Ruby, as it is categorized as an endurance road bike; it stays in the line, though. The Ruby has a higher head tube and vibration-damping Zertz inserts in the chainstays and in the fork legs. In comparison, the Amira seat tube tapers from a massive junction at the bottom bracket to a rounder tube at the top tube.

The Amira is available with the new S-Works 52/36 chainrings or with the standard 53/39. It also features the head tube tapers from 1 1/8 in at the top to a 1 3/8in at the lower to allow front-end-stiffness as compared to the Tarmac. The Amira comes with the latest S-Works shallow-drop carbon handlebar, with a flat top that smoothly curved drops.

Since 2008, Specialized has been coming out with women’s bikes with Shimano Dura-Ace. There were Dura-Ace and SRAM Red options released last year. Product manager for women’s bike, Rachel Lambert said, “We believe it’s important to offer the very best spec’ in women’s.” She further added that second-tier parts for women’s bike spec’ could be slighting to most women. The Amira is issued in five different sizes from 44cm to 56cm. MSRP is $7,200.00.

Shimano Carbon 2011 Dura Ace PD-7900 SPD-SL Pedals

2010-06-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

First we showed you a new wheelset from Shimano, and now for 2011 Shimano brings out the carbon Dura Ace pedals, known as the PD-7900 SPD-SL. The Shimano Carbon 2011 Dura Ace PD-7900 SPD-SL Pedals takes away the aluminum body and adds carbon fiber, which slims the pedals down by 30 grams.

The Shimano 2011 Dura Ace Pedals use a stainless steel plate allowing a nice durable surface for the cleat, plus you can move your foot around without tearing into the carbon. Following, the axles and bearings are held with a billet aluminum cylinder which is bonded to the interior, and each pedal has three sets of bearings. Weighing in at 248 grams, releasing September 2010. Retail price is $349.99.

EEBrake Set

2010-06-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

eeBrakes under the brand eeCyle Works takes the original and builds on for a improved brake. First, the EEBrake Set geometry has changed to fit wider rims, while the leverage received a fine tuning for power and consistency. EECycle made sure the EEBrake set will work with all levers on the market, including Shimano products. Lastly, the cable adjustment features a redesign for overall better cable alignment. Retail price ranges from $569 to $609 depending on the finish and pads you choose.

2011 XTR Mountain Bike Components from Shimano

2010-06-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

2011 XTR Mountain Bike Components from Shimano

Shimano comes out with the 2011 XTR mountain bike component group. In accordance to the 10 speed mountain biking market’s needs, the group caters to two styles, race and trail. This is based on the cranking configuration. The “Race” highlights lightweight pedals and starts with a 2 ring crank. Shimano employs its Dyna-Sys technology for an intuitive gear combination that allows the rider, the bike and the trail to become one.

The FC-M980 Crankset is designed for trail. It has the Hollowtech II design to maintain stiffness while retaining its lightweight feature. To keep you stable as well, it has outward bearings. The HG-X chainring tooth profile is present with the Dual Spike to keep front shifting smooth. It has a threaded BB and weighs about 755 grams.

The FC-M985 Crankset is set for racing. The Q-factor was decreased by 3 mm on each side and the carbon/titanium middle ring gives better rigidity to allow precision turns, twists and shifting easy. The estimated weight is 698 grams. It also has a threaded BB.

The PD-M985-SPD/Platform Trail Pedal promises a whopping 158% more shoe/pedal contact and has a wider bearing placement to give better stable pedaling. If you ride without clipping, the integrated pedal cage can keep your pedaling comfortably. For less mud retention, it has an oval shaped axle body housing and weighs around 398 grams.

The rest of the Shimano XTR mountain bike components include the Shadow Rear Derailleur, which is available in medium and long cage and weighs about 175 grams; the SL-M980 RapidFire Plus Shift Lever, which you can use for a double or triple front chainwheel; the Hydraulic Brake System for XC and Race, which has 13 mm wide two finger brake lever with anti-slip texture and estimated weight of 215 grams in front and 229 grams for rear brakes; and the Hydraulic Brake Caliper System for Trail, which has a 14 mm wide brake lever and weighs about 247 grams in the front and 261 grams at the rear.

Cycling Sunglasses

2010-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

Ryders Eyewear offers terrific performance, fit and appearance for demanding cyclists at a very reasonable price. These sunglasses are made with high-tech materials, and in our tests we had no problems with slippage or fogging. You won't find any better-made glasses at this price.

Pros

Well-made eyewear at a great price
Quality construction should provide lasting performance
Comfortable and well-fitting
High-tech design and materials provides top performance

Cons

Intersect Interchangeable sunglasses lacked instructions how to on swap out lenses
Company website and product information is out of date

Description

Constructed with light yet rigid TR90 Duraflex frames.
Hydrophilic temple tips and adjustable nose pads - comfortable and easy to keep clean.
The Slipstream glasses have flexible wire-core temple tips, which allow for more precise fit.
Lenses are adaptable to most prescriptions.
Shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses and 100-percent UVA, UVB and UVC protection

Guide Review - Cycling Sunglasses by Ryders Eyewear

I don't know about you, but every time I take a look at the "big" names in cycling eyewear -- and you know who I mean -- I do a double take and swallow hard when I see the price tag on some of these pairs of sunglasses. I mean, seriously - unless your name is Warbucks or Rockefeller, who isn't going to think twice about forking out $200 or $300 for a pair of sunglasses? Especially given my track record of sitting on them, losing them in my car or having them simply vanish at least once a month.

At the same time, as a serious cyclist, I know how important it is to have quality eyewear. Quite simply, you need to see to be safe. Even when you're sweating. Even when it's early a.m. or late in the evening. Even when the wind is blowing hard and kicking up all kinds of dirt and junk and trying to scour it directly into your eyeballs.

That's why I was pleased at what I found in this trial of Ryders Eyewear, with the chance to test two pairs of sunglasses from Ryders current line -- the Intersect Interchangeable ($59.99) which features three different sets of lenses to swap out for varying conditions, and the Intersect Slipstream sunglasses ($39.99). After trying out both pairs, I can recommend them to you.

In this trial, I found these Ryders Eyewear to be top-notch in most every way. The documentation was short on the interchangeable lenses, but hey, they're sunglasses. They fit good, they look good and they do their job in helping you see. Both pairs have shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses and 100-percent UVA, UVB and UVC protection and well-fitting, light and comfortable frames. I've worn both pairs in a variety of conditions and have been very satisfied with the performance, fit and look of these glasses by Ryders Eyewear, and I think you will too. These are great sunglasses for cyclists at half or less of what you'd pay for bigger names.

Cat Eye Strada Cyclocomputer

2010-06-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to check out Cat Eye’s Strada Cyclocomputer (CC RD-100) recently and found that it has a lot to like.

The Strada hits the right balance of quality design and construction, ease of use and a very reasonable price.

Strada Sidesteps Common Problems

There are a couple of problems with many entry level cyclocomputers that the Strada sidesteps nicely. Cheaper models will have LED screens that tend to turn black given warm temps and/or bright sunlight. This does not happen with the Strada. Also, the challenge that designers face with putting together a cyclocomputer is how to allow a cyclist to control all functions with one finger while zipping down the road. Rather than the usual answer --install a couple of smallish buttons that are sometimes difficult to manipulate – Cat Eye’s answer to this in the Strada is to the make the entire face “clickable” on this device. Pressing on the screen cycles the Strada through its eight functions.

These functions are:

Current speed
Average speed
Odometer
Maximum speed
Trip Distance 1
Trip Distance 2

Well Built, Well Designed

Another common problem in entry-level cyclocomputers is that poor design and/or construction creates a situation where it is easy for the wire connecting the display from the sensor to get yanked out of one end or the other, effectively wrecking the whole device. Cat Eye’s designers did a good job with this wiring, routing and securing it so that it will not easily be pulled loose.

There are no negatives to point out about the basic Strada model. The screen is nice and big, allowing easy-to-read information on the display. Installation was easy and quick, and the sensor on the spoke attaches well and doesn’t seem prone to moving. The basic Strada doesn’t have a cadence feature and is not wireless, but those features are available on the higher level Strada models, called fittingly enough, the Strada Cadence (CC RD-200) and Strada Wireless (RD-300W). The Strada is a basic, well-built cyclocomputer, ideal for cyclists who want a quality device to give them the most useful pieces of information about their ride, but don’t need to drop a big pile of dough in the process.

Specs and Features

Features

ClickTec® button interface
Programmable Odometer
Auto start/stop
Auto power-saving mode
Pace arrow
Universal speed sensor and magnet
Dual tire size
Measurements in kilometers or miles
Flex-Tight universal mounting bracket

Specifications

Handlebar or stem size: 22-31.8mm
Fork mount size: 11-55mm
Battery: CR1620

Bumper Issue Hydration Pack by Crumpler

2010-06-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

- In a world of hydration packs that seem to be either black, gray or some other dull color, Bumper Issue hydration packs are a breath of fresh air. With color combinations that include bright blue/green matching or a frenetic red/yellow/rotten orange pairing, these packs are funky and fun.

And when you add the Bumper Issue's solid, comfortable construction, coupled with a smart, well-organized design that has lots of pockets, big and little and all readily accessible, the Bumper Issue hydration pack comes recommended at a list retail of $95.

Pros

Funky, non-traditional colors to liven your ride
Smartly designed pockets on the outside hold accessories handy
Roomy interior compartments keep your stuff organized
Comfortable fit with wide mesh straps

Cons

Chest straps can be snug depending on your sizing
Instructions on reservoir and mouthpiece use are lacking

Description

Weight: 1 lb, 13 oz, including reservoir
Reservoir capacity: 70 oz.
Pack Capacity: 440 cubic inches
Construction: water-resistant 600D material with ripstop lining.
2 reflective "eyes" on front clip & 4 reflective side clips
Emergency whistle housed in adjustable chest strap

Guide Review - Reviewed: Bumper Issue Hydration Pack by Crumpler

Most hydration packs look like they were designed by people with no fashion sense or imagination. I mean, I'm all for function and utility, but sometimes it's nice to have some fun. That's what Crumpler has done with their Bumper Issue hydration packs.

These colorful packs stand out from the boring others that line the racks, but fortunately the lively palatte is not the only thing these bags offer. With a roomy interior that is smartly divided into a main pocket to hold the 70-oz reservoir and a couple of other large pockets sizable enough to hold plenty of your other stuff, whether that's a rain jacket, your tools or just a big lunch, you'll appreciate the payload this bag carries. The exterior pockets are handily placed and easily accessible for the kinds of items you want more readily available.

A plug for this pack is the way the pockets stay secured. Riding on a sloppy day, I wiped a couple of times on my mountain bike but still had no troubles with tools, wallet, etc., anything else in either the main pockets (secured by a cover flap) or the outside pockets coming out. That's huge given the problems that could be caused by losing one of this important things on a long ride.

The fit of the Bumper Issue is comfortable enough though it may sit more snugly against some rider's backs than would be preferred. The wide mesh straps are comfortable, though the front chest straps that hold the pack on are maybe a touch too snug, depending on your sizing.

The only other knock that I had against the Bumper Issue was a lack of instructions on how to fill the reservior and use the mouthpiece. Though it may be intuitive for some, and unnecessary for those riders who have used hydration packs before, at least some sort of instructions on how to fill the reservior and use the mouthpiece to drink would be helpful for first-time users.

Word-Lock Bike Lock

2010-06-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

- The Word-Lock cable bike lock uses letters combinations instead of numbers to open the lock. Create an easy-to-remember word that means something to you as your combination and never be stuck unable to open your lock. Ideal for kids or people who for whatever reason have trouble remembering number combinations. If theft is a real risk, you'll want something stronger than a Word-Lock cable bike lock though to protect your bike against a more determined and experienced thief as a bolt-cutter will snip through the cable in a hurry.

Pros

Letters form words for easy-to-remember combination
Combination can be a word you choose
Combinations can be reset as needed - create a new word any time

Cons

Word-Lock cable bike lock is not particularly durable against a determined thief
Plastic housing surrounding tumblers has tendency to pull away

Description

Wordlock has letters instead of numbers allowing 10,000 possible combinations.
Self-coiling, plastic coated steel cable won't scratch your bike's finish.
Lock Size 6' feet long (fully stretched out) x 12mm thick.
Includes seatpost bracket for easy mounting and transport.

Guide Review - Review: Word-Lock Bike Lock

FAST. SHED. BOOT. BIKE. All these are word combinations possible with the Wordlock Cable Bike Lock, a clever little device that uses letters instead of numbers as a combination for the lock. Four tumblers with letters and vowels offer 10,000 different combinations, allow you can pick words that are easy for you to remember but nearly impossible for anyone to guess. The password is easy to set, with a twist of the dial, and you can change your password whenever you want.

The lock is ideal for kids on bikes as the combination is easy to remember and the self-coiling 12mm steel cable lock includes a seat-post bracket for easy mounting and transport. Plus it's fun to select your own four-letter word for a combination, limited only by what you can come up with using the most-common vowels and consonants that fill the Word-Lock's four tumblers. And resetting it is a snap if you disclose your password to someone or simply decide you like DAVE better than JAKE.

The downside to the Word-Lock is simply that carried by all cable locks: they are not as durable as a hardened U-lock and can be relatively quickly snipped by someone with a bolt-cutters. So, feel free to go with this lock if you plan to use this where theft is not a big risk and you're really only trying to deter another kid from taking your bike. Get another lock if you're going to be parking your bike somewhere that theft from experienced

Bicycle gearing

2007-12-27T02:30:00.000-08:00

A modern racing bicycles is often equipped with a double-chainring crankset at the front and a 9-speed or 10-speed cassette at the back. Since wheel size is standardized, the gearing system is often described by stating the number of teeth in the chainrings and cogs. For example, the front chainring gearing is denoted "53/39", meaning that it has 53- and 39-tooth chainrings on the crankset. The rear cassette is denoted by its smallest and its largest. For example, a "12-25" means that the smallest has 12 teeth, and the largest has 25 teeth. Nowadays 9- and 10-speed cassettes are commonplace, which make the choice of intermediate gears less important than when there were only 5 cogs available in a cassette. These cassettes typically have a 7% step on the top 6 or 7 gears, and an 11% step on the lower gears.