Gear Break: Another wide range of goods for your viewing pleasure: New clothing from La Passione, wheels from Roval and PEdALED/fizik gravel shoe. Lizard Skins DSP bar tape V2, L’Eroica permanent route and cycling holidays and Muc-Off partners with local companies in PPE production.
La Passione Duo Jersey and Club Bib Shorts
If blue is your favorite color, you’re going to love the La Passione Duo jersey in Lake (a sort of sea blue/turquoise combination) and Club bib shorts in Blue (a dark navy). Together, they make for a striking look that will certainly draw compliments on your next group ride.
• Shop for other cycling jerseys here
La Passione Duo Jersey Lake – $95
This is a race/pro jersey at a surprisingly reasonable price point.
Features include:
● The front panel is made with a highly stretchable fabric, the back is made with a perforated fabric, and side panels are made of an extremely breathable micro mesh
● Laser raw-cut collar and sleeves
● Covered reversed full-length zip with bottom zip garage
● Silicone waist gripper
Chuck Peña, PEZ clothing tester: “It’s definitely a race fit jersey that hugs your torso and even my skinny arms. Completing the Euro Pro race look is the low cut collar. If your riding is all about being aero, this jersey will suit you. In my part of the world (Babylon on the Potomac), it’s that time of year when we’re beginning to experience heat and humidity. On rides with temps in the 80s(F), the side mesh panels and perforated back provide some airflow and wicking to make riding in oppressive heat and humidity a little less oppressive.”
La Passione Club Bib Shorts Blue – $125
Like the Duo jersey, these are a lot of bibs for the money.
Some features:
● Highly compressive main body fabric
● E.I.T. Cytech Italian Pad
● 7cm high Lycra laser raw-cut elastic fabric with inner silicone gripper
● SPF UV 50+ sun protection factor
Chuck Peña, PEZ clothing tester: “These are pretty much tried and true bib shorts in terms of design, construction, and fit. The compression is firm without being overly tight. You really notice this with the leg grippers — no “sausage” effect”. You can definitely feel the chamois but it’s not a diaper. The padding is dense and firm, which is my preference. The bib upper is a mesh material so helps with cooling. The straps themselves have seams which were comfortable for me but if you prefer laser cut, lay flat straps, these are not the droids you’re looking for.”
• Shop for other bibshorts here
La Passione Socks and Gloves
If you want to ride all matchy-matchy, you can complete your look with a pair of Duo Socks Lake ($15) and Duo Gloves Lake ($30).
Chuck Peña, PEZ clothing tester: “These may be the thinnest socks in my sock drawer. The yarn feels like silk. And the weave is “airy.” So both comfortable and cool. I don’t wear gloves for warm weather riding, so can’t comment on the gloves other than to say that they fit well, the padding doesn’t feel overly thick, and they certainly look sharp.”
The Roval Rapide and Alpinist
Attention Speed Demons and Ascending Angels.
There are riders who live for the climbs, and who savor the purity of riding the lightest bike possible. And there are riders who want nothing more than to own every city limit sprint, every time trial, riders who ache to stretch the peloton out from the front and who want the fastest, most slippery wheel possible in every situation. Whether you’re a classic mountain climbing grimpeur, or a high wattage rouleur, Roval has a new wheel for you, specifically designed to amplify on your strengths.
For classic all-round racing, for bagging KOMS and burning the legs off your friends and enemies alike, for all the terrain from flats to rollers to crosswinds, we present the Rapide CLX. Roval’s goal in developing it was to make the fastest all-round wheels in the world. The Rapide CLX is a true do-it-all and do-it-fastest wheelset; successfully merging the light weight of climbing wheels with the lower aerodynamic drag of a dedicated aero setup, yet retaining the steady handling of shallow-rim wheels.
For the climbers and the uncompromising lightweight purists, they offer the Alpinist CLX. The lightest clincher road wheels they’ve ever made, Alpinist CLX delivers the holy grail of minimalist performance; potent acceleration, incredible climbing speed, and the feathery absence of mass that lets your bike disappear beneath you.
Rapide CLX
Complete Speed
Roval believes they’ve made the fastest all-around road wheels in the world. The Rapide CLX wheelset essentially combines the aerodynamic excellence of the UCI TT World Championship dominating CLX64 with the light weight and gentlemanly handling of the Polkadot-Jersey winning CLX32. The result is a wheelset that delivers maximum speed in conditions found in real-world riding; climbing performance, slippery efficiency of a dedicated aero setup, and stable, confident handling, regardless of wind conditions.
Stability Equals Speed
Since Roval’s goal with Rapide CLX was to make the fastest wheelset for real world conditions, they analyzed what it takes to go fast from every angle.
They discovered that instability at the hands of wind gusts significantly reduces speed. At worst, this instability causes crashes. At best, instability causes you to slow down. A new development goal was established; reduce instability from wind gusts in order to increase speed. Spoiler alert; Rapides are 25% more stable than CLX50s.
The quest to increase stability lead them to examine human reaction time and how it intersects with aerodynamics and handling. The average human reaction time is between one and one-and-a-half seconds. That’s why short, sharp gusts have the greatest destabilizing effect. We tend to correct for these at exactly the wrong moment, after the gust has stopped. We slow down because these experiences are unpredictable and unnerving.
Armed with this knowledge, Roval aerodynamicists set out to reduce the impact of side gusts. Since the front wheel induces the vast majority of instability from gusts, we made the front rim shallower and wider than the rear. This shape boosts stability, while boasting impressively low drag. Since the rear wheel impacts stability much less, it is deeper and narrower, optimized more singularly on minimizing drag.
Together, the wheelset yields less drag than most 65mm deep wheels, but with 25% less steering torque from wind gusts than the CLX50.
The bottom line; you’ll ride faster, farther, with more confidence, in a wider range of conditions than you previously imagined possible
MRSPs:
● Front $1100, Rear $1400
● Wheelset $2500
● See more info on the Product Page Link
Alpinist CLX
Light Makes Right
Conquer mountains, flatten hills, and feel your bike come alive with the lightest road clincher wheels Roval has ever made. Mass is the enemy of performance, and there’s no room; nor excuse, for a single excess gram when chasing KOMs and mountaintop primes. Weight has been pared to the absolute minimum in order to capitalize on every watt of energy without sacrificing any of the strength, ride quality and durability that are crucial to long term performance and satisfaction.
Engineered Minimalism
In order to create a 1,248 gram wheelset they had to visualize each wheel as a complete system.
By making wheel systems, not just rims, Roval engineers can control every aspect of the wheel; rim design, hub design, spoke spec and lacing pattern. This eliminates the variables associated with off-the-shelf components. In turn, eliminating variables allows optimization, and optimization means that the Alpinist CLX has precisely the amount and type of material needed, in precisely the correct place, doing precisely what it was designed to do.
This design approach allows Roval to minimize weight and simultaneously optimize strength and durability. For example, by designing the Aero Flange hub and specifying the spokes and nipples, as well as the lacing pattern, Roval knows the exact angle that each spoke will interface with the rim. This enables the to drill the spoke holes in the right diameter for the nipples and at precisely the angle that they will interface with the rim. Stress risers are minimized, every extra gram of excess material is eliminated, and long-term durability is enhanced.
MRSPs:
● Front $1100, Rear $1400
● Wheelset $2500
● Product Page Link
Aero To The Core
The Aero Flange hubs found on both Rapide and Alpinist wheels form the basis of strong, light, slippery fast wheels. Aerodynamically optimized, with wide-bracing angles for increased strength and reduced spoke weight, they also feature ultra-smooth sealed cartridge bearings and the refined precision of DT Swiss’ new EXP freehub internals.
Test To Perfection
Good design only gets you so far. Roval tests relentlessly. Days on end spent in their wind tunnel. Hour upon grueling hour in the test lab, using exaggerated forces to measure durability, strength and stiffness. Field testing, where they draw on a deep pool of talented riders to evaluate wheels in the harshest of real-world conditions. World Champs and domestiques alike campaign on prototypes in World Tour competition. Once the wheels have proven themselves in these arenas, they are ready for you.
Roval’s Commitment
Roval works obsessively to create wheels that are True to Your Ride, but they don’t stop there. As riders, they know that shit happens, so they have your back with a lifetime warranty and a free no-fault crash replacement policy.
Lifetime Warranty
Roval wheels are warrantied against defects in material and workmanship for lifetime of the customer.
“**it Happens” No Fault Crash Replacement Policy
If a rider damages their Roval product while riding within the first two years of ownership, they’ll replace or repair it for free. This policy applies to all Roval products purchased in the USA, whether it came stock on a bike or was purchased aftermarket. For additional details, check out RovalComponents.com/warranty.
FAQS:
Why are the Alpinist CLX and Rapide CLX for use exclusively with tube type clinchers?
● By making them tube-type specific we were able to create lighter and better complete wheels systems for performance road riders. To render these wheels tubeless would have required extra materials, and that extra mass would have outweighed the benefits of tubeless tires. Our goals for these wheels were clear. The Alpinist CLX is the lightest road clincher we have ever made, and the Rapide CLX delivers an unmatched combination of aerodynamics, light-weight, and stability.
● For the time being, in order to achieve these uncompromising goals, as well as the real-world performance that helps us deliver on the promise of “True To Your Ride” we rely on tube-type tires. We do see the promise of tubeless tires, and when it’s possible to create tubeless wheel/tire systems that outperform tube-type clincher systems, that’s what we’ll recommend to riders.
Is there a rider weight limit on these superlight wheels?
● Yes, a big rider! Like all Roval carbon wheels, the Rapide CLX and Alpinist CLX are designed for a maximum rider weight of 240 lbs, or 109 Kg.
Will you be making Alpinist CLX and Rapide CLX in rim-brake models?
● No. These wheels will be available in disc brake models only.
Will Alpinist CLX and Rapide CLX be available for tubulars?
● No, these are clincher only wheels.
Lizard Skins DSP Bar Tape V2
DSP Bar Tape V2 features a new pattern, an upgraded polymer and a screw-in bar plug. The new pattern is more technical with a new design and multiple layers of depth. The polymer has new formula enhanced for more durability and comfort. The new plug provides a clean, tight finish.
● 2.5 millimeter or 3.2 millimeter thickness
● 208 cm (82 inches)
● Weight of 56 g (2.5 mm) or 78 g (3.2 mm)
● Increased shock absorption
● Excellent durability
● Finishing Tape is included
● DSP Bar Tape V2-Sky Blue $39.99
● See all the Lizard Skins range HERE.
● Shop for Lizard Skins Bartapes here.
L’Eroica Permanent Route Road Book Kit
L’Eroica – foto Paolo Penni Martelli
L’Eroica could only have been born in Tuscany. It’s a matter of soul, of land, white roads, landscapes, of genuine food and wine, of culture and passions, of history and of Bartali. Now world-renowned for the special people it involves and for the values it upholds, Eroica encapsulates the very essence of Tuscany, a place that offers a lifestyle that looks to the future, without neglecting its identity and its environment, while also seeking to rediscover the authentic roots of the great sport that is cycling.
A sport that can be enjoyed all year round, thanks to the L’Eroica Permanent Route that passes through landscapes that are the envy of the whole world, in a succession of amazing experiences for any cyclist. Many are preparing to ride the route, while waiting for the Eroica events, which we will be able to enjoy in complete safety sooner or later.
So, the great Eroica adventure is not limited to the first Sunday in October. The route is well signposted and winds its way for 209 km through the heart of the Siena region, from the Chianti area to the Crete Senesi and Val d’Orcia, completing a long voyage through the legendary Tuscan countryside.
The L’Eroica Permanent Route can be completed in one to five days, depending on each rider’s own capabilities, fitness levels and on the time he/she wishes to spend enjoying the postcard scenery and landscapes that flit by or appear on the horizon. Along the route, cyclists can count on finding various types of accommodation where they will receive the warm and cordial welcome they deserve.
The voyage along the L’Eroica Permanent Route can begin at any point along the route. Each affiliated business is recognised as a starting and finishing point on the circuit and is therefore authorised to stamp the Road book, which must be done at each of the 5 ‘checkpoints’: Chianti – Siena e Val d’Arbia – Montalcino – Val d’Asso – Crete Senesi. There should be 6 stamps: 1 Start (free to choose) – 1 For Each Successive Checkpoint (total 4 stamps) – 1 Finish (same as the starting point).
L’Eroica – foto Guido Rubino
Area 1 – The Chianti Valley
The first part of the route takes you up the gentle climb to one of the most beautiful symbols of the Chianti region and of L’Eroica, Brolio Castle. The cypress-lined road leading up to the castle, the section that runs by its walls and the descent to breath-taking panoramas and vineyards, represent one of the most beautiful sections along the permanent route.
Before tackling one of the best sections of white road along the route, a short detour will take you into one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the world: Siena, with its Cathedral, Piazza del Campo and the amazing historical centre.
Technical characteristics: relatively easy 20 km segment, during which the only long uphill climb is to Brolio Castle. On the way down from the castle you will have your first experience on gravel roads (2 km) and we suggest that you proceed with caution, considering that the descent is very steep in places.
Area 2: Siena and Val D’Arbia
Neat cultivations of wheat, grass and sunflowers evolve into a more varied landscape, painted with the traditional Terra di Siena terracotta colours. Soon after leaving the city of Siena, you’ll ride through a very typical segment of the route, located between “Colle Malamerenda” and Radi, deep in the gentle hills of Siena, studded with farmhouses and medieval villages, your ride merging with the Via Francigena route. Views of the village of Murlo will be the backdrop to one of the easiest segments of the whole route, in terms of elevation.
Technical characteristics: long 47 km segment, the area around Siena is a mix of easy hills, with short sections of gravel roads. After Siena you will ride on the busy Cassia road for 2 km before reaching a long 12 km segment of gravel road, which is composed of short steep climbs after the small town of Radi. We suggest that you have something to eat and drink in Vescovado before heading on to Montalcino.
Area 3: Montalcino
Castiglion del Bosco, one of the most challenging segments of white road, made famous by the legendary stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2010, you will find yourselves on the beautiful and panoramic hills that produce Brunello di Montalcino wine. Montalcino, also famous for its olive oil, honey and organic produce, is a charming town that merits a visit, even just to admire the incredible views over the Val d’Orcia area.
Technical characteristics: the segment from Bibbiano to Montalcino is one of the most difficult on the whole route. Passing the golf course at Castiglion del Bosco, you will face a long climb that is almost completely on white roads, surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. Climbs are irregular and often exceed 15% gradient.
L’Eroica – foto Andrea Bruschettini
Area 4: Val D’Oricia
The descent from Montalcino first involves a delicious dive into vineyards, then takes you through smooth, pristine hills until Lucignano d’Asso, where you can take a break with a typical Tuscan snack or just to refill your water bottle. Riding through the Val d’Orcia is a refreshing treat for the eyes and the mind, despite the strain of constant hills. The town of Buonconvento is a delight.
Technical characteristics: the Val d’Orcia area involves 26 km of steep gravel roads out of a total of 30 km to be covered. Be careful around Lucignano d’Asso where you may come across sheepdogs guarding their flocks.
Area 5: Crete Sensi
From vineyards and rolling hills to the stark beauty of a lunar landscape is a short step. Once you leave the villages along the Cassia, you will be immersed in the Crete Senesi with its characteristic hills and gullies. Oak trees and cypresses indicate isolated farms where cheese is produced, and the local cuisine is enriched by the “diamond of the Crete Senesi”: the white truffle. This part of the route includes the difficult gravel road of Monte Sante Marie, the infamous steep hill that will take you back to the Chianti area. The most difficult climbs on the entire route, reaching up to 20% gradient, are found in is section. The climbs are repetitive but are not particularly long.
Technical characteristics: after Pieve a Salti the route becomes easier until you reach Caggiolo, where a difficult gravel section begins, due to the bad road surface and the slope. Once you arrive at Asciano cemetery, we suggest a quick stop in Asciano town centre to refill bottles before riding the long and very challenging Monte Sante Marie segment.
Area 6: Chianti
Return to the Chianti area through Castelnuovo Berardenga, the village on the border with the Crete Senesi. The road to Pianella presents a sort of summary of the varied scenery that you have seen and will see while riding L’Eroica. The long road that climbs softly to Vagliagli and then on to Radda in Chianti passes a series of vineyards and woods, before the final unforgettable descent to Gaiole, riding through the perfect hamlet of Vertine.
Technical characteristics: Castelnuovo Berardenga and the next part of asphalt road will allow you to relax after the effort on Monte Sante Marie, before tackling the climb to Vagliagli along white roads. This last section, which is mostly along gravel roads, will take you to Radda in Chianti, 500 metres above sea level, before enjoying the final views on the descent to Gaiole in Chianti.
Permanent route
Completion of the Route
Once the road book has been completed with six validation stamps, you can request the “Eroica” diploma, personalized with your own name, at a cost of €15 (postage included). In order to receive the diploma, scan the road book and send the copy to [email protected]. Once the completion of the route has been verified via the affixed stamps, you will receive a personalized certificate directly to your home.
*You can request the “Road Book + Certificate” kit at a cost of €22, including postage.
Get the Road Book Kit
L’Eroica and Anima Toscana offer the kit to those who wish to complete the permanent route in total freedom. Request a “road book” kit at a cost of €10, including postage by sending an email to [email protected]. The reply will indicate the payment method.
The kit consists of:
● Road book on which to affix the stamps that certify the completion of the route;
● Route map;
● List of businesses that can issue stamps;
● Information on the route.
● All info: https://eroica.cc/it/gaiole/permanent-route
PEdALED and fizik Partner to Launch New Gravel Cycling Shoe
Strap in and head off the grid with the new Jary Terra Powerstrap X4.
PEdALED has added to their popular gravel-specific cycling apparel collection – Jary, by partnering with experts at fizik to deliver the ultimate gravel adventure shoe. Designed for the dirt, the Jary Terra Powerstrap X4 combines comfort and performance to help riders power up steep climbs, stay locked in on loose descents – even hike with the bike if needed.
From quick escapes down quiet roads to longer trips further afield, the Jary Terra Powerstrap X4 shares the same ethos as the existing Jary Collection and is built for rides that start where the pavement ends.
Redesigned for PEdALED, the Jary Terra Powerstrap X4 gravel shoe comes in the Jary Collection colorway ‘teal’ – the perfect complement to your favorite all-road apparel and ready for all-road adventures.
For an easy, secure shoe fit, fizik reinvented traditional Velcro closure systems with the Powerstrap. Where the double-strap design of many cycling shoes tends to squeeze the foot, leading to discomfort, the fizik Powerstrap provides an enveloping fit that’s individually adjustable at the instep and midfoot to alleviate pressure points and customize comfort.
With a fizik stiffness index rating of 6, the X4 outsole featured on the Jary Terra Powerstap cycling shoe is the ideal blend of responsive pedaling efficiency and all-day comfort. And for times when the path ahead ramps up, or simply falls apart, a reliable rubber tread provides a firm purchase through rocky hike-a-bike sections.
Product Specifications:
● X4 nylon outsole – with rubber tread
● Weight: 292g (size 42, one shoe)
● Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47, also in half sizes)
● The Jary Terra Powerstrap X4 are priced at £136.00, $192.00 and €160.00 and are available HERE.
• Shop for other Fizik shoes here
Muc-Off Partners with Local Companies in PPE Production
Muc-Off, the UK based specialist in bike care, has operated at the pinnacle of bicycle and motorcycle performance for over 25 years. Facing into the pandemic, the team at Poole have switched gear in order to team up with local businesses to create PPE for the NHS and front line key workers.
“We normally create products that help teams win races. This pandemic has shown that we are all in a totally different race now. Acting at speed with other like minded businesses to create a range of support measures for front line key workers isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a necessity.” – Alex Trimnell, Muc-Off CEO.
The team at Muc-Off have been unveiling a range of initiatives to support the fight against Covid-19. From a new range of sanitisers, product donations to front line workers and investment in the World Health Organisations Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund, Muc-Off turned to the production of PPE as part of a mission it calls “Protect & Serve”.
Research & Development engineers at Muc-Off have switched their 3d printers from high performance bike components to PPE. Initially teaming up with Aetha Design, a local Poole based product design consultancy, meant that Muc-Off could commence production of face masks for local medical teams.
The next collaboration for Muc-Off was with another local Poole based business, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. Together, the two teams set about creating, sanitising and delivering hundreds of ear savers which reduce the incidence of chaffing when wearing face masks for prolonged periods of time.
Whilst Lush handled the production of the ear savers, Muc-Off reconfigured their equipment used for high performance bicycle chain optimisation to be able to sanitise and pack the ear savers. The team went on to deliver directly to the local NHS destined for teams in emergency, acute medical, and cardiac departments. The business has also supplied local care & nursing homes, homeless support workers, medical centres and teams handling adult learning programmes.
Mission Protect and Serve is a programme designed to offer protection against Covid-19 and support to front line key workers. Commitments already made by the Muc-Off team include the donation of 100,000 antibacterial products to front line key workers and the investment of 10% of profits generated from the sale of its new sanitiser range to the WHO Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
See the full range at: muc-off.com
• Shop for the Muc-Off Pressure Wash Bike Clean kit here
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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