Blackburn's AirTower 5 CF
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Blackburn AirTower 5
Blackburn offers its top-of-the-line track pump in two versions,
one with a plain aluminium body - the AirTower 5 - and one made
from carbon fiber dubbed the AirTower 5 CF. Both pumps feature a
foot switch that flips them from a low-pressure/high-volume mode
for initial inflation and mountain bike tyres to a high-pressure/low
volume configuration for getting your 23mm tyres up to 120 psi.
Both Air Tower 5s have a pressure gauge at the top of the body
for ease of use, and a head that clamps around both Presta and Schrader
valves.
We'd hoped to be able to tell traveling mechanics that the carbon
version was worth a look to save some weight in the tool kit that
race mechanics have to wrestle in and out of trucks and on and off
planes, but our scales say otherwise. The AirTower 5 CF weighs 2.23kg,
while the aluminium AirTower 5 comes in at 2.245kg. The CF version's
carbon fiber and red-anodised finish sure looks a million dollars
though./JS
Prices: AirTower 5, $99.99; AirTower 5 CF, $199.95
More information: www.blackburndesign.com
The Nobby Nic
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The Racing Ralph
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Schwalbe Nobby Nic and Racing Ralph MTB tires
Tires, tires, and more tires… Schwalbe's Nobby Nic is billed as
the world's first "triple compound" MTB tire. High-rebound Qualifier
base compound is used for fast rolling and knob support, which is
then wrapped in Off-road Racing Compound down the center for good
traction and durability and with softer Maximum Grip Compound on
the sides for better cornering traction.
For mixed conditions, Schwalbe recommends the gripper Nobby Nic
up front paired with their even faster rolling Racing Ralph out
back so this is how we'll test them. Our test pair of Nobby Nic
26x2.25" UST tires weigh in at 804g each (±2g) while the Racing
Ralph 26x2.25" UST are a bit lighter at 734g a piece (±10g)./JH
More information: www.schwalbetires.com
Thule’s T2
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Thule T2 bicycle carrier
Thule recently acquired the passenger car division of Sportworks
and has wasted little time in integrating the company's innovative
bicycle carriers into its lineup. The T2 incorporates most of the
original Sportworks design, most importantly the simple-to-use and
quick-loading single locking arm design and multi-position articulating
main beam which allows users to fold the rack up when not in use,
or tilt it down (with bikes attached) for liftgate access.
Models designed for 2" receiver hitches can accommodate up to four
bikes of nearly any frame configuration or wheel size. Our 1 ¼"
test model offers the same flexibility but is limited to two bikes
and has a MSRP of US$360./JH
More information: www.thule.com
Fox’s Float RP23
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Fox RP23
Fox has taken the lessons learned from last year's Float RP3 and
rolled them into its new Float RP23 (say "two-three"). The old three
position ProPedal switch has been abandoned in favor of a two position
switch that finally has solid stops at either end of the throw.
The new lever toggles the shock between a fully-open and ProPedal
platform damping mode, and three different levels of ProPedal can
be preset making for more usable on-the-fly adjustments. Weight
of our 7.875" x 2.0" test shock is a superlight 267g, including
reducer hardware for our Ellsworth Epiphany test sled. MSRP is US$369./JH
More information: www.foxracingshox.com
Felt’s F1C
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Felt F1C
Felt's sizeable road fleet is captained by their carbon fiber F1C,
which was recently piloted to victory by Mark McCormack at the CSC
Invitational in Arlington, VA. The F1C's ultra-high modulus carbon
fiber frame is actually composed of three separate sections: the
main triangle, seatstays, and chainstays. Felt claims that this
allows for more control over the frame's ride characteristics. More
significantly, though, this "semi-monocoque" style of frame construction
is clearly becoming more popular as carbon fiber technology matures.
Our stock F1C comes equipped with a nearly complete Dura-Ace kit,
and Mavic's Ksyrium ES wheels and a smattering of Ritchey, FSA,
and Selle Italia bits round out the parts mix. We'll report soon
with how Felt's flagship performs on the road, but one thing is
for certain already: at just 15.0lbs/6.8kgs straight out of the
box (for a 54cm frame without pedals), the F1C is no anvil. Suggested
retail is US$5699./JH
More information: www.feltracing.com
Brooks Swallow Classic
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Brooks Classic Swallow
Back in the middle of the twentieth century everyone used saddles
that comprised a piece of tanned cowhide stretched over a metal
frame, and the saddles that almost everyone used came from British
manufacturer Brooks.
These days Brooks is part of Italian saddle manufacturer Selle
Royal which has continued to make classic, popular saddles like
the Brooks B17 (reviewed
on Cyclingnews a couple of years ago). But the most sought-after
Brooks seat among aficionados of period bike gear was the narrow,
cutaway Swallow Champion, introduced in 1936 and used by legends
like Bottecchia, Bartali, Coppi and Anquetil.
Last year, Brooks produced a limited edition of 999 Swallow saddles,
and, the company says, they sold out in weeks. To satisfy the remaining
demand Brooks has recreated the Swallow as the Classic Swallow,
which is the same shape as the Swallow but doesn't have the hand-stitching
that made the original extremely expensive.
In a concession to today's concern about weight, the Classic Swallow
is built on a titanium frame, rather than the original's steel chassis.
That helps keep the weight down to 365g, which is not featherweight
by any stretch, but it's also not the boat anchor we were expecting.
We suspect, however, that weight won't be a major concern for most
buyers of this saddle. Instead, they will be attracted by the legendary
comfort of the design. It takes a while for rider and saddle to
accommodate to each other, but once they do, according to fans of
all-leather saddles, they are the most comfortable thing you can
ride.
The Brooks Classic Swallow is also unarguably a thing of beauty,
and to keep it looking good Brooks includes a small tin of Proofide
sealant, a cleaning cloth and a waterproof cover in case you have
to park your bike out in the rain. There's also a special spanner
to adjust the tension of the saddle.
At around US$300 the Classic Swallow is far from cheap, but we
suspect that if your taste runs to such classic equipment, you'll
be happy to own it long, long after the price is forgotten./JS
More information: www.brooksengland.com
ÖÂ Pro Glaze
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Unconventional Medicinals ÖÂ Pro Glaze
Just in time for the cooler weather toward the end of the season,
here's Unconventional Medicinals' medium-strength warm up balm.
Pro Glaze contains capsicum, menthol, and oils of eucalyptus, camphor,
wintergreen, orange, rosemary and tea tree, all contained in a base
of olive oil and grapeseed oil./JS
More information: www.unconmed.com
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