Gear Break: Silca Bag, Fizik Tape, Wahoo, Santini & Rapha Kit, Muc-Off Pulleys
Wrap, Wear, and Roll
Gear Break: This week’s selection of new cycling gear: SILCA Mattone seat pack, Fizik new mint coloured Vento Solocush tacky bar tape, new cycling kits from Santini, Wahoo & Rapha, and Muc-Off’s new L.O.P.S pulley wheel system.
SILCA Mattone Seat Pack – $46
Leave it to the guys at Silca to take the “seatbag” to the next level – why wouldn’t the same brains who elevated the stately stand up tire pump to a precision inflation tool also dial in a BOA closure to securely cynch your under saddle stowage?
Smaller than their Capsule Premio bag, the Mattone saddle bag is shaped like its Italian namesake “brick”, and opens like a clam shell to reveal two sided storage, separated by a nifty card sleeve – good for your cash, credit, id or other flat items, and also good at keeping rough or sharp edges on levers, chucks, and wrenches from puncturing the spare tube. The red interior is a nice touch, making it easier to see what’s inside.
The 4.5 cm wide strap is made of Dupont’s Hypalon a “synthetic rubber (CSM) noted for its resistance to chemicals, temperature extremes, and ultraviolet light.” It’s wide and a tad stretchy which I found holds the pack very securely, even around seat rail bends.
The BOA enclosure is claimed to have 15 times the holding power of velcro, so you’re pretty sure this bag ain’t going anywhere. Once I’d packed in my tube, larger than average but super sturdy Pedros levers, patches, air canister and Genuine Innovations chuck, I’d pretty much used up all the available 0.61L of volume, but actually thought the strap could be a couple cms longer to more fully enclose the well-stuffed bag. In the words of Goldmember – this one is “Toight – very toight”.
Exterior material looks tough and durable, and the YKK zip is sealed to help keep water out.
In spite of its 13.5cm length x 8.5 cm with x 5.5 height, the Mattone stays slim and outta sight under my saddle.
• Get more info at Silca.cc
• Check prices on the Selle SMP Blaster saddle here
Muc-Off Previews New L.O.P.S Pulley Wheel System at Tour de France
Muc-Off’s Lightweight Oversized Precision Shifting (L.O.P.S) is an oversized pulley wheel system proved in scientific tests to be lighter and stiffer than its leading competitors. It made its world premiere in the pivotal individual time-trial stage on the penultimate day of the 2020 Tour de France.
The system, which unites a highly advanced titanium body with supremely efficient coated pulley wheels and bearings, was used by Team Bahrain McLaren leader Mikel Landa on Saturday September 19 2020 as he made his final push for a place on the podium in Paris a day later.
As with all Muc-Off products, a combination of real-world testing and cutting-edge lab work was a significant part of the development process for L.O.P.S; thousands of miles have been clocked up on various iterations of the pulley system using a selection of custom made scientific equipment and riders from a variety of backgrounds and abilities, from former Olympic athletes to pro tour riders.
Managing Director Alex Trimnell said L.O.P.S, which acknowledges Muc-Off’s heritage as a hardware manufacturer under the X-Lite brand, was the result of innovation, investment and instinct.
“I’m immensely proud of our efforts in creating a class-leading oversized pulley wheel system in the most challenging conditions. Anyone who’s visited our new, leading-edge laboratory and met our PhD-qualified staff will understand the value that Muc-Off places on science, but sometimes you have to trust your instinct, too. Nothing was going to disrupt ‘Project Landa’ – not even COVID-19.”
“Our people dug deep to meet a non-negotiable deadline, and Mikel will now start what might be the most important time-trial of his career with a significant technical advantage.”
“When you’re competing at the sharp end of events like the Tour de France, it’s essential to work with partners who share your commitment to success. Muc-Off’s unstinting efforts in the face of a pandemic to provide Mikel with the most efficient drivetrain imaginable proves that they have a work ethic to match our own.”
“Our partnership with Team Bahrain McLaren presents us with opportunities to work with world-class athletes and world-class engineers. Together, in the earliest days of the partnership, we identified an opportunity to develop an oversized pulley wheel system. To lead on its development and delivery during a pandemic is a testament to the people I’m proud to call colleagues.” Trimnell said.
Despite the pandemic, 2020 has been a year of expansion and investment for Muc-Off, marked by the opening of a new laboratory, recruitment of new and qualified staff, and large-scale deliveries of anti-bacterial products to NHS staff and keyworkers. Continuing partnerships with high-performance organisations, including INEOS Grenadiers, CANYON//SRAM as well as Team Bahrain McLaren, provide evidence of the brand’s unwavering commitment to excellence.
Project Landa
Muc-Off’s work to develop an oversized pulley wheel system, alongside its fastest ever lubricant for Team Bahrain McLaren’s Tour de France leader, was known internally as ‘Project Landa’. Mikel Landa is a Grand Tour stage winner and widely regarded as one of the world’s best climbers.
L.O.P.S
L.O.P.S is an oversized pulley wheel system developed by Muc-Off’s scientists and engineers in partnership with McLaren. Comparative tests conducted using the sophisticated equipment in the new, leading-edge laboratory at the brand’s headquarters in Poole, Dorset, confirmed it as the lightest and stiffest of any of those selected from leading competitors.
The titanium body is created using a sophisticated additive manufacturing process. The pulley wheels (13t upper, 19t lower) are made from aerospace grade aluminium and finished with a supremely efficient coating that delivers friction coefficients over three times lower than hard anodised equivalents.
The bearings were manufactured to aerospace level specification. The size of the bearing used was optimised for the number of rolling elements and application speed to help reduce frictional losses. Ceramic rolling elements are lubricated with a special synthetic hydrocarbon to further reduce the coefficient of friction and tighter radial and axial tolerances improve shift accuracy.
Optimised specifically for the individual time-trial, the final piece of the puzzle to help maximise performance, was the lower sealing requirements, which led to further bearing drag reductions and to incorporate highly compatible material expansion rates.
Lubricant
Following years of development throughout previous Grand Tours and hundreds of hours of screening, formulating, testing and reformulating at our R&D laboratory, we created our fastest ever lubricant and chain combination for Mikel Landa’s Tour de France time-trial. Our development work included more than 40 hours screening base oils and additives to create the lowest friction blend on Muc-Off’s tribology equipment, before embarking on two full weeks of testing, up to 12 hours a day, with Muc-Off’s bespoke chain-link dynamometer.
Drivetrain Optimisation
Coupled with the newly enhanced chain optimisation process, the combination resulted in the fastest ever chain and lubricant Muc-Off has ever created, tested and proven in data.
Laboratory
Muc-Off re-opened their upgraded laboratory at its headquarters in Poole, Dorset in summer 2020 as lockdown eased. Designed to be the world’s leading drivetrain optimisation centre of excellence, its equipment includes tribometers capable of replicating the friction-inducing movements of a bicycle drivetrain with incredible accuracy and repeatability, bespoke dynamometers for application testing of chain lubricant and bearing grease, a white light interferometer and additive manufacture. Equipping the laboratory formed part of a seven-figure investment in research and development, which includes a fully resourced team of experts.
• More information on Project Landa and L.O.P.S can be found here: https://muc-off.com/pages/l-o-p-s.
• See the full range at: muc-off.com.
• Get Muc-Off’s Dirty Chain Clean Machine here.
Fizik Releases New Mint Coloured Vento Solocush Tacky Bar Tape
Riders can now coordinate both colour and comfort with this latest addition to fizik’s Vento line, providing the perfect match for the brand’s striking Antares Versus Evo 00 Adaptive saddle
With its ground-breaking 3D-printed padding, tailored zonal cushioning system and combination of performance and comfort, the launch of fizik’s Antares Versus Evo 00 Adaptive saddle signalled a monumental leap in the evolution of cycling saddles. It also introduced a bold new colour to fizik’s family of high performance products: Mint.
Taking cues for both comfort and colour from the brand’s Adaptive saddles, fizik is bringing its new green to the other end of the bike. Introducing the Vento Solocush Tacky Bar Tape Mint: lightweight, tactile and made to match, the new colourway is available now.
The new Vento Solocush Tacky Bar Tape in ‘Mint’ and ‘the Antares Versus Evo 00 Adaptive saddle
Tale of the Tape
Designed to deliver ultimate control, the new Vento Solocush Tacky Bar Tape Mint utilizes fizik’s streamlined, single-layer Solocush construction. At 2.7mm, Solocush is the brand’s mid-width offering, favoured by competitive road racers for balancing minimal weight with long-distance comfort and cushioning, ideal for long, fast-paced riding. Adding grip and dexterity, the Vento Solocush Tacky Bar Tape Mint features fizik’s Tacky finish, a non-slip surface with a subtly raised texture for unrivalled control in any condition: rain, sweat or shine.
• The Vento Solocush Tacky Bar Tape Mint is available to purchase here.
• To find out more about fizik’s products, including its full range of market-leading bar tape and saddles, visit fizik.com.
• Buy it at Amazon.com here.
Santini’s New Command Bib-Tights: Keeping Dry in the Rain and Visible on the Road
Surprise downpours, increasing damp and humidity, and fog are the enemies of cyclists in autumns. So choosing the right cycling wear is absolutely essential to ensuring you don’t get caught out and stay warm and dry. Road safety is another fundamental factor and so reflective detailing is vital to ensuring you are clearly visible to other road users. Santini’s top suggestion for this autumn is the Command bib-tights made from eco-friendly water-repellent Acquazero© by Sitip fabric with fluorescent details and reflective inserts.
Special promotional offer: the Command bib-tights are available at an introductory price of 119 euro rather than the RRP of 169 euro from September 23 to the end of October 2020 from www.santinicycling.com and participating stores.
The Santini Command bib-tights are the perfect choice now that autumn is just around the corner. Made from a water-repellent fabric, they will keep you warm and dry on rainy days as well as featuring fluorescent details and reflective inserts to ensure you are clearly visible to other road users.
The fabric used for the Command bib-tights is Blizzard Power© thermal fleece which is made in Bergamo, Italy, by Sitip. This warm, stretch fabric has also been given the eco-friendly Acquazero© water-repellent treatment which is fluoride-free and completely safe.
Both braces and the back of the tights are printed with a graduated orange-to-deep red fluorescent motif and are raw-cut to reduce stitching to an absolute minimum. The fluorescent colours on the back reappear on the calf area which also features the Santini motif with reflective dots to keep the wearer safe on the roads. The tights include the Santini-developed NAT chamois pad comprising several layers of foam of different densities around a core made from Next, a cooling gel that offers an incredible seven consecutive hours of shock absorption in the saddle.
Santini is currently offering the Command bib-tights at a special launch price of just 119 euro instead of the RRP of 169 euro. This promotional offer runs from September 23 until the end of October 2020 and is available from the www.santinicycling.com and participating stores.
Santini Cycling Wear was founded in 1965 by Pietro Santini who spotted a market for technical cycling clothing as a result of his abiding passion for the sport and competition. In what would seem like a revolutionary and contrarian choice today, the Bergamo-based company made the pivotal decision to design and manufacture all of its products exclusively in Italy. Each item is designed and developed by a designer team with deep-rooted passion for the two-wheel world to meet four key requirements: fit, performance, comfort and durability.
Santini currently produces 3,500 items of clothing per day and exports 80% of its output. It is deeply committed to ongoing investment in researching and developing innovative textiles and new production methods. However, people – athletes – remain its central focus as it continues to refine its creations to allow cyclists pursue their sporting passions in comfortable but inimitably stylish kit.
• For further information: www.santinicycling.com
• Shop for Wahoo kit HERE:
Rapha: A Guide to Autumn – Women
Rapha exists to make cycling the most popular sport in the world and one of the ways we do this through is by enabling our customers to make informed decisions about what to wear when riding. Earlier this year Rapha launched the #choosecycling campaign to celebrate millions of people around the world who turned to cycling during lockdowns caused by COVID-19. Thousands of cyclists, new and seasoned, joined us in showing their affinity to riding a bicycle.
As the nights draw in and leaves start to fall, we stay positive that interest in cycling will remain just as strong. Cooler temperatures, a more casual pace along with warming cafe stops are just a few virtues of riding at the turn of the seasons. We created this guide in aid of discovering the joys of riding in the autumn without getting caught out should the weather take a turn.
Seasonal Suggestions
Prepare for Chilly Starts
Wear removable layers like gilets, warmers and gloves, then take them off when it warms up.
Be Ready for Rain
Always carry a waterproof jacket or gilet that packs down into a jersey pocket, ready for the rain.
Stay Bright in Low Light
As the nights draw in, reflective garments help ensure you’re visible even in low light conditions.
Key Considerations
Adaptability
The weather can turn quickly in the autumn. Choose removable layers like caps, gloves, arm warmers and leg warmers to make sure your outfit can be configured on the fly to match the conditions.
Packability
To shrug off sudden showers and ward off the worst of the wind, always make space for a packable jacket or gilet that can be stowed in a pocket, pulled out and put on when needed.
Visibility
As the nights draw in, it’s even more important to make sure you’re visible. Pick from our broad range of products with reflective detailing to make sure you stand out.
What to Wear
Each of our collections is designed for a different kind of riding. Whether you’re looking to hold on to late summer racing form or riding through your first autumn, browse the outfits below for technical garments that are tailored to the autumn conditions.
Pro Team
Developed for years to save you seconds, Pro Team is our elite-level racewear, tried and tested in WorldTour competition.
Classic
Made with soft merino wool and luxury lycra, our Classic collection uses only the finest materials to guarantee you the utmost comfort and performance. With timeless styling inspired by cycling’s golden era and quality that lasts, the Classic collection might be our oldest but still leads from the front.
Core
Whoever you are, wherever you ride, the updated Core collection sets the standard in comfort, performance and value.
Our Full Autumn Range
To browse all of our collections together and compare side-by-side, take a look at our full autumn range. From the miracle merino wool base layers to waterproof jackets that make the most of the latest fabric technologies, we’ve got every layer covered
Note: PezCyclingNews ask that you contact the manufacturers before using any products you see here. Only the manufacturer can provide accurate and complete information on proper / safe use, handling, maintenance and or installation of products as well as any conditional information or product limitations.
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