Cyclist January 2022

Actually, as I recall, I shouted a heartfelt ‘good riddance’ to 2020, a year of perpetual lockdowns, cancelled holidays and postponed events. Which is possibly why 2021 seems to have whizzed past in a blur. It may have had its fair share of restrictions, but by comparison to the previous year it was a riot of freedom and frenzied activity. For starters, we managed to get out of the country again to replenish our dwindling stock of Big Ride features (you have no idea how close we came to presenting the ‘Undiscovered roads within the M25’ Big Ride). While it was wonderful to go abroad again, it meant negotiating the minefield of PCR and rapid antigen tests, differing and constantly shifting rules of border crossings, periods of quarantine and the perpetual…

When Czech brand Festka developed its first gravel bike – the Rover, released in 2019 – the company borrowed many of the designs and processes previously employed on its road offerings. That meant the finished product was a punchy and versatile gravel-road hybrid. At same the time, however, it was also working on this, the Scout. ‘We started the project in 2016,’ says Michael Moureček, one of Festka’s co-founders and the brand’s frame designer. ‘We made a prototype that was an off-road adventure bike but a lot of third party components were missing on the market, so we had to wait. Then last year I put all my effort into redesigning the bike from scratch with brand new tubing.’ Moureček is aware that the term ‘gravel’ means different things to different people,…

Designed for off-grid adventure, Maap’s Alt_Road range offers functional items in earthy tones that are also claimed to be sustainable. The long-sleeved jerseys (pictured, €185/approx £160) are made from a blend of merino wool and synthetic fibres, which Maap says is thermo-regulating, soft to the touch and good for the planet. The Alt_Road Cargo bibshorts (€265/approx £230) come with plenty of storage options, including a small rear pocket, a zip pocket and a stretchy stash pocket. The shorts are anti-microbial, odour resistant and lightweight, so they should serve you well on both long and short adventures. The Polartec Alt_Road Tee (€75/approx £65) capitalises on gravel’s more casual approach. Made from 50% recycled PET fibres, the T-shirts have SPF 50 protection and-thermoregulation tech, and come with long or short-sleeves. The range also includes…

The Wasabi helmet was debuted by Ineos Grenadiers at Strade Bianche in March and is being promoted by Kask as the one helmet for year-round road, gravel and cyclocross action. Its party trick is an adjustable airflow system in the form of a centralised vent that can be opened for more airflow or closed for more warmth and better aerodynamics. According to Kask, closing the vent will provide a 1.5°C increase in internal temperature, while opening it will only lose 1 watt of aerodynamic efficiency while riding at 50kmh (as we all do, all the time). At 290g for a size medium, the Wasabi isn’t the lightest of Kask’s top-end helmets (that would be the Valegro at 180g). Nor is it as aerodynamic as the Utopia or as well ventilated as the…

Shimano’s component brand, Pro, has updated its Stealth Team saddle to make it a bit lighter and give it a more modern aesthetic. Like the original, it’s aimed at racers who like to ride in a low, aggressive position, and it retains the stubby shape that allows for a forward pelvis tilt. This latest version has a new carbon-reinforced polymer base, a 12% larger anatomic area than before and weighs 11g less, at a claimed 161g. It comes in either 142mm or 152mm widths and two different shapes, regular or curved, with the latter aimed at riders who tend to move from side to side while pedalling.…

The latest addition to FSA’s K-Force Light range is this Team Edition chainset, showing off the heights of the Italian brand’s carbon fibre and alloy technology. As you’d expect, it’s super-lightweight and extra stiff. This is achieved not just through the use of carbon fibre but also thanks to the monocoque Hollow 3K arms that cut down on material without undermining stiffness, while adding to the product’s aesthetic value with that woven carbon finish. The CNC-machined alloy parts include the one-piece spider and chainrings, and the 30mm BB386EVO spindle that maximises its adaptability for ‘nearly all bicycle frames’. That adds up to one of the lightest chainsets on the market at a claimed 556g for the 50/34t version. FSA also offers the K-Force Team Edition in a wide range of other chainring…