New Arrivals – June 28, 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. Giro Ionos helmet Giro's new range-topping Ionos helmet Photo ©: James Huang We first showed you spy shots of Giro's new top-end Ionos helmet at last year's Tour de France but production versions of the new lid are now available to the public. The striking new appearance includes a network of twenty-one internally and externally sculpted vents which Giro claims delivers 15% more cooling air flow than its current Atmos model, and padding is now made from anti-bacterial and anti-odor X-Static material. As with the Atmos, the gaping vents are also reinforced with a visible co-molded fiber composite sub-frame. The Ionos also incorporates Giro's laundry list of premium features, including In-mold construction, a vertically-adjustable Roc Loc 4 retention system, and registered graphics (meaning they line up perfectly with the helmet's physical features). Giro will offer the Ionos in three sizes and seven color schemes (including Discovery Channel, Rabobank, and Caisse d'Epargne team editions), and our medium-sized tester weighs just 295g. We first showed you spy shots of Giro's new top-end Ionos helmet at last year's Tour de France but production versions of the new lid will finally be available to the public come the end of July. Price: US$225 Lake Cycling CX330 C road shoes Lake's new CX 330 C shoes Photo ©: James Huang Lake Cycling continues to buck the fully synthetic trend with its new CX330 C road shoes which are built with a K-Lite kangaroo leather and mesh upper. Temperature-regulating Outlast material is also integrated into the heel and tongue liner for supposedly increased comfort across a wider range of conditions. The BOA ratcheting cable system offers the pressure-free fit of traditional laces (but without its inconveniences) and its unconventional heel-mounted location is also designed to simultaneously pull the foot back into the heel cup for reduced heel lift. A new vented one-piece carbon fiber sole (drilled exclusively for three-hole cleat patterns) promised excellent power transmission. Lake offers the CX 330 C in three color schemes and a wide range of sizes, including 39-48 (with half sizes up to 46.5) and an additional sz50. Our sz44 testers weigh 600g per pair. Price: US$279.99 Capoforma summer clothing Capoforma's Gavia Jersey and Peloton Bib Short Photo ©: James Huang Relative newcomer Capoforma continues to make inroads in the highly competitive cycling clothing market with its diverse range of distinctly Euro-flavored kit. Included in our set of test gear are the CSS Ghisallo Jersey and Bib Short, Gavia Jersey, Peloton Bib Short, Euro Socks, and Euro Web Socks. The Ghisallo Jersey uses Capoforma's wicking Atmos Karo dual-layer premium fabric enhanced with Traforex mesh side and arm panels, while the Gavia Jersey is built from a similar dual-layer Tessport Micro Quattro fabric body and Traforex side panels but does without the mesh arms. Both are enhanced with a full front zip for added breathability and ventilation in warmer conditions, silicone gel waist grippers for a more stable fit, and the standard accoutrement of three rear pockets. Capoforma makes liberal use of DuPont Power Lycra fabric for the Ghisallo Bib Short and Peloton Bib Short, and the latter is further augmented with Traforex mesh panels. Both shorts also feature full mesh Y-back upper sections, flat-lock stitching throughout, and silicone gel leg grippers, and both utilize a 4-way stretch Italian chamois courtesy of Elastic Interface Technology. Need new socks? Capoforma also offers a wide range of styles including the currently en vogue longer cuffs on the Euro Coolmax and Euro Web socks. The aptly-named Euro Coolmax socks use a predominantly Coolmax blend to help your feet dry and comfortable, while the full mesh Euro Web socks are built with more advanced anti-bacterial Meryl Skinlife materials. Price: US$109.99 (Ghisallo jersey); US$79.99 (Gavia jersey); US$159.99 (Ghisallo bib short); US$149.99 (Peloton bib short); US$11.99 (Euro Coolmax socks); US$12.99 (Euro Web socks) Sidi Eagle 6 MTB shoes The Eagle 6 SRS is one of SiDi's new for 2007 off-road shoes. Photo ©: Ben Atkins To go with the pair of Genius 6.6 road shoes that arrived a few months back, Sidi has now sent us a pair of their new-for-2007, off-road companion: the MTB Eagle 6 SRS. The Eagle 6 is a further development of the (still available) Eagle 5, and now shares the range-topping Dragon 2's Sole Replacement System (SRS) with optional toe spikes to supplement the soft-compound screw-on tread inserts. Like the Genius 6.6, the Eagle 6 has a lightweight Lorica and nylon mesh upper and is secured to the foot using Sidi's Ultra SL buckle ratchet system and two Velcro straps with integrated nylon locking teeth. Also included is the new Heel Security System for a more secure fit around the heel cup. The MTB Eagle 6 SRS is available in sizes from 39-48 (with half sizes up to 47), and as is usual with SiDi, they are available in a choice of colour schemes depending on your particular market. Our sz43.5 test pair weighs in at a pretty respectable 796g. Price: €222.00 Sports Optical custom prescription sunglass lenses Denver-based Sports Optical custom-grinds Photo ©: Mark Zalewski Prescription inserts for interchangeable lens sunglasses has typically required a heavy and bulky secondary frame that sandwiched the corrective lens behind the primary optic as adopting the lens prescription to the close fit and wrap-around of sport sunglasses has proved to be a difficult task for most manufacturers. However, a new "direct lens technology" developed by Sports Optical owner Bret Hunter eliminates that redundancy by replacing the original lens with a custom-ground prescription version that is made to fit your frame of choice. The Sports Optical custom-ground lenses are obviously slightly thicker than standard lenses, but are offered in a wide variety of lens colours (twenty-one to be exact) that allow users to match tints to the surrounding conditions. Hunter can ground lenses to fit most models from Rudy Project, Smith, Adidas, Oakley, and other brands. Our test set came with three sets of lenses to fit our tester's favourite old reliable Rudy Project Ekynox SX frame: a gray polarizing lens with an added blue mirror finish to reduce glare; a red tint for overcast and flat-light conditions; and a requisite clear lens for those twilight criteriums that also boasts an anti-glare coating. Sports Optical also included a new Rudy Project Rydon frame with a red-base photochromic lens ground in an original custom lens shape that Hunter calls "K." Prices: US$359 ('K' photochomic); $279 (gray polar); $159 (red); $199 (clear) (prices do not included frames) Sigma BC 1706HR computer Sigma Sport's new BC 1706HR computer Photo ©: James Huang Germany-based Sigma Sport melds a fully-featured cycle computer and heart rate monitor for its fully wireless BC 1706HR. Digitally-coded transmitters for both speed/distance and heart rate pair with the compact head to provide a clean and uncluttered look that supposedly is nearly impervious to interference from overhead power lines and other electronic noise. In spite of its tidy dimension, the BC 1706HR still incorporates a highly legible backlit three-line display, and four-button operation makes for quicker access to desired information. A built-in battery meter lets users know when it's time to swap to fresh power and an on-board memory chip retains data and settings in the interim. Like many computers, Sigma Sport's newest model can also be set up to run on two different bicycles; however, the BC 1706HR will also automatically detect which wireless speed/distance transmitter it is connected to and self-switches from there. According to Sigma USA Managing Director Brian Orloff, "The BC1706HR is the one unit any cycling enthusiast should have. We have combined our top-of-the-line cycling computer with our digitally coded EKG exact heart rate monitor and gave it an amazing retail price." Indeed, suggested pricing for the BC 1706HR is just US$99.99. Weight for the complete setup is 130g including all associated hardware and the wireless chest strap. Price: US$99.99 Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com Giro's new range-topping Ionos helmet blends top-shelf technology with outstanding styling. Twenty-one vents boast a supposed 15% improvement in cooling relative to the current Atmos. Exhaust ports help evacuate hot air. A composite reinforcement structure is visible nearly throughout the entire helmet. Aggressive internal channeling helps speed air flow across the head. New X-Static pads feature antimicrobial properties to keep the Ionos fresher longer. Lake's new CX 330 C shoes feature K-Lite kangaroo leather and mesh uppers fashioned in an understated style that belies its advanced technology. A heel-mounted BOA cable system secures the foot and also pulls the heel back into the heel cup for a more secure fit. A full carbon fiber sole puts the power down. Capoforma's Gavia Jersey and Peloton Bib Short are ready for summer weather with wicking fabrics and mesh panels. A full front zip adds much-needed ventilation when the going gets hot. Mesh panels in the legs help keep things cool. The four-way stretch chamois is provided by Italy-based Elastic Interface Technology. The decidedly Euro-chic Ghisallo Jersey and Bib Short could almost pass as a skinsuit from afar. The Ghisallo chamois is also made by E.I.T. Capoforma Euro Web socks feature a taller cuff and soft-feeling Meryl Skinlife mesh materials. The Euro Coolmax socks boast similar styling but with more conventional Coolmax construction. Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com The Eagle 6 SRS is one of SiDi's new for 2007 off-road shoes. It is a further development of the Eagle 5 shoe and shares its upper with its road going counterpart: the Genius 6.6 The Eagle 6 shares the SRS sole with the Dragon shoe a system of four replaceable tread inserts, as well as the facility for a couple of toe studs Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com Denver-based Sports Optical custom-grinds prescription lenses to fit directly into a variety of makes and models of performance eyewear. Sports Optical's proprietary 'K' lens shape cut specifically for the Rudy Project Rydon frame. Optional photochromic lenses automatically adjust to varying light conditions. Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com Sigma Sport's new BC 1706HR computer blends full cyclecomputer and heart rate functions into a tidy package with full digital wireless transmission for supposed interference-free performance.