New Arrivals – April 19, 2007 Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Welcome to New Arrivals, a section showcasing the latest equipment that's landed on the Cyclingnews tech desk. Look out for reviews over the next few months when we've clocked up some saddle time with this stuff. Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 clincher The Aeolus line was developed in conjunction Photo ©: James Huang The Aeolus 5.0 clincher is arguably the most versatile in Bontrager's aerodynamic road racing wheelset lineup, with a Steve Hed-designed 50mm deep all-carbon fiber rim and bladed stainless steel spokes and custom hubs by DT Swiss. A 22mm rim section width is said to offer a more seamless transition for today's commonly used 23c tires, and rounded tails on the bonded-on carbon skins are claimed to deliver better performance in crosswinds. Hubs are based on DT Swiss' 240s model and feature oversized axles, hub shells, and freehub bodies all crafted in aluminum. Freehub bodies are easily interchanged between Shimano and Campagnolo spline patterns, and everything rolls on sealed cartridge bearings. Our test wheelset weighs in at 1598g for the pair (698g front/900g rear), and a set of titanium skewers add another 78g. Bontrager carbon-specific brake pad inserts and Presta valve extenders are also included. Price: US$2249.99 Swiss Stop pads Swiss Stop does nothing but brake pads Photo ©: James Huang Swiss Stop claims its Yellow King compound is the ultimate solution for carbon rims, offering superior dry and wet weather performance coupled with excellent modulation and good longevity. Moreover, those of you who train on aluminium rims and race on carbon will be happy to hear that Swiss Stop says the Yellow Kings work great on aluminum rims, too. In total, Swiss Stop actually offers five different road pad compounds for a variety of configurations: all-weather for aluminum rims (Green High Performance); all-weather specifically for softer aluminum rims (Power Black); ceramic-rimmed wheelsets (Blue Sky), and even general replacement pads (Grey Economy). Road pads are also offered in multiple fitments, including Campy 9-speed (Race), Campy 10-speed/Zero Gravity (Race 2000), SRAM/Shimano road (Flash), linear pull brake (Rx), and both smooth post and threaded post cantilever (Rat and Viking, respectively). Price: US$25.20 (Flash GHP, set of four); US$41.60 (Flash Yellow King, set of four); US$35.30 (Race2000 GHP, set of four); US$62.40 (Race2000 Yellow King, set of four). 2XU clothing 2XU is becoming increasingly well-known Photo ©: James Huang According to Melbourne, Australia-based apparel company 2XU, its cycling kit isn't just something you wear; instead, it is designed to enhance your performance potential through advanced fabrics, cuts, and construction (2XU equals "two times you"… get it?). As the official clothing supplier to the Australian Institute of Sport, 2XU offers a wide range of cycling clothing including a line of compression garments that the company claims delivers improved circulation for faster recovery and enhanced 'muscle containment' to reduce fatigue. The fabric used in 2XU's compression gear (which is also used by Team Slipstream) also has little-to-no thermal properties, meaning it can be used year-round. Naturally, dedicated cycling kit is also available, including the Elite Cycle Bib Short and the short-sleeved Elite Cycle Top. The shorts use 2XU's Japanese-sourced Kinetic² fabric for moisture management, abrasion resistance, and built-in antimicrobial characteristics, while a high Lycra Prime Elastane content is also claimed to provide some compression benefits. The Elite Cycle Bib Short also includes the 2XU Fusion Pro four-way stretch multi-density seamless chamois, and everything is stitched together using contrast flat-lock stitching for chafe-free performance. The Elite Cycle Top is made from a combination of 2XU's SMD Cool (Super Micro Denier) and SMD Mesh fabrics. Both are claimed to deliver a soft hand, excellent moisture management capabilities, and permanent antimicrobial properties thanks to impregnated bits of silver. When things cool down a bit, the Cycling Thermal Top's SMD Thermo knit material and higher cut adds a bit of insulation. Topping off our test kit is the 2XU Active Vest with wind- and water-resistant Vapor-plus front and rear panels mated to SMD Thermo sides. An additional mesh panel runs down the spine for extra breathability, and the interior of the vest features a handy pocket for small MP3 player as well as loops to help route headphone wires. Price: US$90 (compression tights); US$115 (Elite Cycle Bib Short); US$60 (Elite Cycle Top); US$75 (Cycling Thermal Top); US$75 (Active Vest). Adidas cool weather clothing The Elastic Power bib shorts feature the adiStar Endurance chamois Photo ©: Mark Zalewski Spring's schizophrenic weather can make gearing up for a ride somewhat of a crap shoot depending on your locale, as cold starts can often lead to warm endings, and vice versa. Adidas' Off-road ClimaWarm 2-in-1 jacket is a middleweight outer layer that offers versatile features to help adapt to those changing conditions. Removable sleeves turn the jacket into a vest, and heavier material up front pairs with lighter material in back to provide warmth and enhanced breathability. A Climalite rear insert further aids in moisture transfer to help keep you dry and warm, and the material is also used for Adidas' short- and long-sleeved base layers. The Elastic Power bib shorts are meant to provide a little extra compression to aid in muscle performance, and Adidas' top-end adiStar Endurance chamois promises long-term comfort (and it had better given its ample padding). A relatively short 28cm (11") inseam may not suit the longer-legged segments of the population, but silicone grippers in the leg openings may aid in keeping things down. Accessory-wise, Adidas offers its ClimaProof sock, which is claimed to deliver lightweight wind resistance, good breathability and even water resistance, and its ClimaWarm gloves come in two varieties for both road and off-road use. The off-road version features a windproof and water resistant membrane and terry cloth back, while the more form-fitting road model includes Adiprene shock absorbing cushioning in the palm area. /MZ Price: US$119.95 (Off-road ClimaWarm 2-in-1 jacket); US$39.95 (long-sleeved Climalite base layer); US$29.95 (short-sleeved ClimaLite base layer); US$129.95 (Elastic Power bib short); US$44.95 (adiStar ClimaWarm glove); US44.95 (Off-road ClimaWarm glove) Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com Bontrager's Aeolus 5.0 clincher is arguably the most versatile model in the Aeolus lineup with a 50mm-deep full-carbon rim section and reasonable weight. The Aeolus line was developed in conjunction with aero guru Steve Hed. Hubs are made by DT Swiss and feature the company's 240s internals. Swiss Stop does nothing but brake pads but are reputed to do them awfully well. Its Yellow King compound is becoming the pad of choice in the racing crowd when using carbon rims. Australian company 2XU offers a full range of cycling clothing, including its Elite Cycle Bib Short and Elite Cycle top, both of which feature advanced fabrics and quality construction. 2XU is becoming increasingly well-known for its line of compression gear, which it claims delivers faster recovery times and reduced muscle fatigue. The Active Vest utilizes wind- and water-resistant front and rear panels plus 2XU's SMD Thermo sides. The center rear is open mesh for better ventilation and a rather tiny pocket is handy for more secure items. Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com Who says its time for summer already? Adidas' Off-road ClimaWarm 2-in-1 Jacket features zip-off sleeves for changing weather conditions. The Elastic Power bib shorts feature the adiStar Endurance chamois and classic Adidas styling. Springtime can be notorious for chilly mornings but Adidas is ready with its Off-road ClimaWarm glove… …and adiStar ClimaWarm glove for the pavement.