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For a long time, accessory developers seemed to be in a deep sleep. New parts: No sign of them. But with the spring awakening, ideas are sprouting again.
Photo: HerstellerThe new competition shorts from SQlab are designed to be ultra-light and maximise comfort. Taped seams and laser-cut leg cuffs are designed to make them durable and flexible, while compression fabric supports the muscles. Despite the padding being just four millimetres thin, the minimalist bib shorts should be the ideal choice for all racers and long-distance bikers.
Photo: HerstellerThe CNC-milled aluminium valves should be able to be filled with tubeless milk directly from the bottle via the extra thick valve body. This saves you the mess of tubeless set-up and allows you to refill without having to pull the tyre off the sidewall. The practical valves are now available in two lengths and five stylish anodised colours.
Photo: HerstellerWith Giro's Spherical technology, two helmet shells with different densities can move against each other by a few millimetres. This is intended to reduce rotational forces particularly effectively on impact. The deep rear is designed to guarantee maximum protection, while a total of 15 large wind tunnels ensure a good draught. Goggle grippers and an adjustable visor are also on board.
Handlebar: Lee Cougan Comptrol Integrated Handlebar
Price: 319 Euro
Weight: 275 grammes
Photo: HerstellerLee Cougan laminates a 275 gram lightweight handlebar-stem unit, which routes up to four cables hidden via a special guide into the headset. The 760 mm wide handlebar is available in a total of three different virtual lengths (85, 95, 105 mm) and comes with an angle of -15 degrees as well as 3.5 degrees upsweep and 8 degrees backsweep and is designed for chasing seconds.
Seatpost: Crankbrothers Highline 11
Price: 400 Euro
Weight: from 398 grams
Photo: HerstellerThe stanchion tube of the new Top Tele post from the US company and the post head are made of carbon fibre and are therefore designed to be particularly lightweight. Igus bearings, high-quality seals and Jagwire cables guarantee a long service life. The Highline 11 is available in 30.9 and 31.6 mm diameters and lengths between 60 and 170 millimetres. The lever is available separately.
Suspension fork: Öhlins RXF34 m.2
Price: 1294 Euro
Weight: 1698 grammes
Photo: Hersteller34-millimetre stanchions, 120 to 130 millimetres of travel - Öhlins wants to shake up the down-country sector with the RXF34, which weighs just under 1700 grams. The OTX18 damping has been specially adapted for lightweight bikes. It weighs 27 per cent less than its downhill counterpart TTX18 and should react particularly sensitively and smoothly to even the smallest bumps.
Photo: HerstellerFast down-country laps, epic trail tours or an overnighter on a gravel bike? Thanks to its grippy profile and medium-stiff nylon sole, the new Terra Atlas is designed to master all types of off-road cycling. Asymmetric Boa lacing secures the foot in the shoe, while numerous laser cuts on the seamless upper material should ensure sufficient ventilation on hot adventures.
Photo: HerstellerMaximum safety with minimum weight - with the extremely lightweight Otocon, POC wants to save enduro bikers from neck stiffness. In addition to MIPS, an NFC medical chip and a Recco reflector are intended to provide additional safety. Integrated ventilation channels and removable cheek pads are designed to increase comfort on connecting stages or the climbs to the next descent.
Photo: HerstellerDespite more than 150 functions and a 1.77 inch colour display, the ROX 11.1 is barely bigger than a matchbox. Navigation, training functions, crash sensor and connection to a smartphone - the smart Sigma has everything that sporty bikers expect from a training computer. The set with chest strap, speed and cadence sensor and an aero mount is available for 250 euros.
Wheels: Fulcrum Red Zone Carbon
Price: 1378 Euro
Weight: 1445 grammes
Photo: HerstellerFulcrum is back with a lightweight cross-country wheel with 28 millimetre wide rims. Asymmetrically arranged spokes are intended to equalise tension, while the design of the rim improves lateral stiffness and vertical damping. Adjustable cone bearings, centre lock mount and available for all common freewheel types - these are the most important facts.
Photo: HerstellerWith the Camber, the Americans are adding an affordable trail helmet to their range, which is already equipped with MIPS and should be particularly easy to adjust to the wearer's head. Unusual: five shell sizes, a streamlined fit for optimum ventilation and the highest safety level in the Virginia Tech helmet ranking. An ANGI crash sensor can be fitted as an option.
Valves: Contec FastAir TL
Price: from 28 Euro
Sizes: 3 lengths
Photo: HerstellerUp to 300 per cent more air than with conventional valves should flow through the new FastAir valves, which should enable tubeless mounting without a compressor. In addition, the valve head should allow inflation through the mounted valve without it being blocked by drying milk. The FastAir TL is available in three lengths between 13.5 and 37.5 millimetres for 8-millimetre Schrader valve holes.
Pedals: PNW Components Loam Pedal
Price: 90 Euro
Weight: 443 grammes
Photo: HerstellerWith the Loam pedal, the young company from Washington claims to have forged a particularly durable flat pedal from aluminium. The extra-flat and slightly convex design with eleven pins per side is intended to offer grip and comfort on long descents. The sealed roller bearings should be easy to maintain and the steel pins particularly easy to replace from the underside.
Stefan Frey is from Lower Bavaria and loves the mossy, loamy trails of the Bavarian Forest as much as the rugged rock of the Dolomites. For technical descents, he is prepared to tackle almost any ascent - under his own steam. As an accessories specialist, he is the first port of call for questions about equipment and add-on parts, while as head of copywriting he sweeps the language crumbs from the pages of the BIKE print editions.
