Cyclist Australia

In truth, bikes are simple machines, and welding and brazing are learned processes, not alchemy. So why do we revere the maker of steel bikes so much more than the maker of shopping trolleys? It comes down to romance. It’s the sense of history, the amber-hued image of the artisan in their dusty workshop, dog snoozing in the corner, music drifting from the paint-spattered wireless, the heat of the blowtorch, the smell of the burning flux, the surfaces blanketed with a fine layer of metal filings from hours spent mitring tubes. In the myth of the master framebuilder, fillet brazing is elevated to an artform, and only the knowledge of generations can create machines worthy of a Merckx or an Indurain. Few people embodied the essence of the artisan framebuilder more than Dario…

Enve has always emphasised that it’s the interaction between a bike’s frame and components, and how the rider fits on top of them, that ultimately determines aerodynamic efficiency. So it’s little surprise that the US brand, best known for its wheels and cockpits, is now making framesets. If anything, the surprise is that it has taken it this long to dive in. ‘Whether we recognised it consciously or not, in hindsight bikes have been thought of from the beginning,’ says Kevin Nelson, Enve’s chief engineer. Enve is world-renowned for the quality of its composite components, but despite its reputation the company remains comparatively small, preferring to focus on quality above volume. ‘We’ve been trying to grow, but it is imperative we stay good while we’re doing that,’ says Nelson. ‘Until now we’ve…

$144 (jersey), $144 (knicks), oakley.com.au Oakley and cycling go together like, well… Oakley and cycling. The brand’s affinity with our sport spans four decades, all the way back to 1985, when Australia’s Phil Anderson and USA’s Greg LeMond rocked the Eyeshades in the pro ranks for the first time. From there, Oakley’s rise was meteoric, quickly becoming one of the most consistently high-performing and sought-after brands on the planet. Today, cycling’s sunglasses market is arguably at its most competitive, so to ensure it keeps pace, Oakley has branched out into gear for fans of the brand. First with helmets and, for the past few seasons, clothing. Oakley’s Road Cycling Collection features high-stretch, breathable, abrasionresistant and aerodynamic fabrics, along with reflective branding elements for visibility. It’s comfy, and it looks great.…

$1,299, garmin.com/en-au Garmin has updated its popular Edge 1030 device with the new Edge 1040 Solar – which, as the name suggests, introduces solar charging capabilities to the brand’s flagship bike computer, extending battery life by a claimed 100 hours in battery saver mode, or 45 hours in more demanding conditions. While we didn’t quite reach 100 hours during our review period, we can attest that over a fortnight of riding we didn’t need to charge the device at all. Set-up of the 3.5-inch device is simple. If you’re already a Garmin user, all data transfers across seamlessly via the Garmin Connect smartphone app; if it’s your first time, the on-screen prompts are quick and easy to follow. Other big changes include multi-band GNSS technology, improving the Edge’s positional accuracy and coverage;…

$590, cadex-cycling.com/au As the gravel game grows, so do the options for custom or bespoke builds. We all know Cadex is Giant’s parts and accessories brand, and as Giant is among the best in the business working with carbon, it’s no surprise these handlebars are absolutely on point. They’re a one-piece mould to maximise stiffness, reduce weight and ensure no failure due to joining defects. Each of the four sizes from 40-46cm have a five-degree out and backsweep and a 16-degree flare on the drops. They have provisions for internal cables through the bars and entering the stem making them compatible with modern frames. Giant rider or non-Giant rider is no matter; these bars are black with minimal graphics, so if you’re into lightweight gravel bars with a 70mm reach, 115mm drop, these…

$199, kask.com The Sintesi is something of a marketing breakthrough for the cycling industry: a helmet Kask says can be used for any sort of riding. Shock horror! It’s unusual in 2023 for a brand to deliver something that can be used for road, gravel and mountain bike, and we at Cyclist love it. Indeed, many of us have been known to own a road helmet, a commuter lid and a dirt helmet, and never the twain (or is that thrain?) shall meet. The Sintesi grants permission to commute in the same helmet you use for tearing up the fire trail or sitting in a bunch at 50kmh, and that’s a great thing for all consumers. Even better is that it retails for a shade under $200. The Sintesi is a good-looking and…